Highwaymen

You've got
your piece
of mind
perfectly sliced,
bite-sized.
Nobody can
teach you
a song now-
now that
you've got
your peace.
In the corner
against a lamp
is my coat,
resting on laurels
of a lint
stained carpet.
Wish I could
vacuum it all
nice and neat
less messy.
But I've left
my hoover behind
so I pick
by hand only
to find more
in my tracks.

Lemons

It's a bitter cell
of white walls
and open doors
I call home now.
Marked by the
buzzing from above
and short finger nails.
Free to leave
but not to go-
banned from peace.
Having been trapped
in fear of light
by weakness that
preferred pits
I found courage
in the last
grain of sand.
Hung from my rope
neatly drawn
so not to leave
visible burns.
I'm a master magician
fooling oceans of eyes
with my illusions
yet unable to
trick my own.

My Worst Enemy

How could you?
You are
not my friend.
Nor were
you ever.
At my darkest
you fled
took my torch
abandoned me
to my fates.

No I despise
the thought
of you
your smile
your scent
your words
every ugly memory.

If not
for fear
of superstition-
a seven year
sentence-
i would
shatter you.

Show me the way

shower me
with you smiles
your kisses
show me the way
to your heart
and lead me
out of this foggy land
to where I belong

bring me to your side
that you may keep
me there forever
to flood you with passion
erasing innocense
and heartache

let me in
out of the storm
i'll bring you
to shelter too
to a safe place
covered in clover
where flowers picked
cease to die
and showers never cool

tell me to come
cross the ocean
to wade in yours
hand in hand
as we dance
on satin clouds
beneath the stars
and each other

tell me you can't
take it anymore
tell me you won't
wait another day
tell me you don't
need wyoming
that you won't
ever let me go

and I will be there tomorrow

So.....

Look where
don't fight it
got us-
fighting time
and space.

If hours
feel like weeks
how will I ever
make it
to the fall?

Thirty-one
will bring you
less than thirty
from me-
but that's still
eighty-something
away.

Close your eyes
ride your dreams
to our ranch
to find me
on the porch
with a smile
and pocket dog.

So......
Tell me
something nice
to make the day
a little less
cold and empty
without you.

Clover Field

My ear is still
warmed by
your voice
and my heart
is pounding
so hard
that I wonder
if you can hear it
from where
you are-
so far away.

I want to scream
your name so loud
that the echo
finds your heart
and caresses away
every drop
of loneliness.

I hold this map
in my hands
that shows the beautiful
pathway to you...
but I feel lost
without your arms
to welcome me home.

I can see you
holding Iris
smiling at me
asking for drinks...
tire of that
I could never.
Come here-
come home-
to one who loves you.

My Arboretum

There's the most
amazing garden
at the arboretum
where one flower
stands above the rest.
There are moments
when it rains
that the strangers
who gaze in amazement
are unwelcome
and infectious,
for few
if any
ever see beyond
the petals.

But I-
I can relate.

There are days
when I just want
to be plucked
and taken home,
or up-root myself-
catch a young
wild wave
ride it all the way
to Australia-
never look back.

One day
we will all wilt
and die
but today is sunny-
warm-
-without rain
and I think I see
my wave coming.