My Ballerina

Skipping through the Flatiron Cliffs
Always on stage in the arena
In a wave pool of faceless people
The surrender of love for my ballerina.

Young and fresh but quickly bored
Her beauty sings like the skys
Charming the strangers on the street
The wonder of dreams, her face belies.

A piece of Heaven loaned for now
Born in a bath of blue white light
In a journey down an endless highway
Praying softly in a starless night.

The Beauty of the Bride

The moon was bright behind the clouds
The air was cold and damp.
Snow laden, the branches bowed
The far off glow of a reading lamp.

The muddy trail beneath my feet
A tunnel so gray and blue
The scent of pine is bettersweet
My life is gone, I live anew.

The smell of smoke offers hope
The endless walk has no pain
No hills, no ruts, no slippery slopes
A flickered clearing on the plane.

No change in pace - a steady walk
The stoney sky turns to blue
I want to know, I try to talk
The leather's soaked from dew.

The clearing comes as I stand still
Words are written in the air
The Master's Plan brings a chill.
A shudder, light and a scare.

Should I be calm or should I fear
The events that will surely be,
For the ones I left, hold so dear
Or will their doom set them free?

There's beauty in the dying star,
The galaxys glow when they collide.
The fire's destruction from afar
Foretells the beauty of the Bride.

Reality

Temptation reigns in the heirs of the separatists
The vision of perfection is seen in Man, not spirit
Ignoring the brush fire of Islamic supremacists.
Lead her to the truth, but you can't make her hear it.

When the truth is painful, she creates a diversion.
The core problems go against her sensibilities
To find real solutions would require a conversion
To the inevitability of pain and her vulnerabilities.

She can't see the tyranny cloaked in compassion
The time is short in the thick sea of tranquility
The sun struggles to pierce the fad and the fashion
But the light of truth knows no credibility.

Potential forgotten, lost in humanitarian gifts
A sourceless passion to help remove all need
Opens the evil ones to capture so swift,
Through the lust for power, government greed.

There is no special statement, no enlightened rule
No epiphany dawn by any mystical creature
To rescue her from being the most common fool
That denies the consistency of human nature.

The Encounter

She looks across the barren street of missing themes
Hanging in the balance of life's forgotten hope.
She waits for him to look her way amid a silent scream.
As sanity like life itself slips down a crooked slope.

Capturing his gaze she looks away, acting so demur
In a world of loss, the church bell sounds a lonesome knell
To fate, a missing destiny, her moment to defer
Looking back before he leaves, her eyes reveal her tell.

He slowly walks across the street with just an ounce of fear
She waits for him in another world, slipping oh so slow
Into a state of wantonness,  as his approach comes near.
Nothing said, nothing remembered, nothing more to know..

A Dusty Old Man's Rust

In the land of greatness where dreams are broken,
Going through a life of stuff, he reflects
On the times and words never meant to be spoken.

His mystery of family, and friends vengefully moved away.
He picks what to keep and what to trash
From a life of lost hopes, half completed projects, he prays.

Cigar smoke yellows a dusty beard, his brown spit drools.
Deciding the fate of cherished junk
A box for metal, one for burning, a chest to keep his tools.

A old man of sorrow looking inward for a flicker of joy.
What was the point of the struggles?
To be alone in this rusty body with the dreams of a boy.

A life of watching other men succeed and achieve
Looking for reasons in the things kept.
For the ones gone before him, in vain to grieve.

Metal with a use long forgotten clanked to the trash
He curses the interruption of his thoughts,
Puffs his cigar back to life, his beard dusted with ash.

A Farmall H, his last companion, broken and rusted alike
No intention of starting, becomes his last chair
In the well-sorted refuse of his efforts, relieved of strife.

A motionless dust covered face in the dirt on the floor
Watching his cigar die and go cold
His petty paced shadow upon the stage is heard no more.

An Epic Blues Song

I'm hidin' in the country between three narrow hills
I'm hidin' in the country between narrow grassy hills
Three miles past the washout
'Cause I just can't pay my bills

My fender skirts are rusty my baby's in town
My skirts are getting rusty, my sweetheart's in town 
You're not gonna find salvation
With your mortgage upside down.

I can't buy access, can't go and speak my piece
I can't buy access, can't go and speak my piece
My best friend, my mechanic
Is going to help me with some grease.

My friend, my bootlegger, reads Henry David Thoreau
My bootlegger, the scholar, reads Henry David Thoreau
He says things should be simple
Plant beans and watch them grow.

Sufferin' from arthritis, his dog moans on the floor
Sufferin' from arthritis, Ole Blue's on the floor
He loves that dog more than life itself
He put him down with a 44.

Ridin' back from Springfield, his truck full of booze.
Ridin' back from Springfield, his truck full of booze.
Cop asked if he'd been drinkin'
Said "No, that's too much to lose."


The church bells are ringing, callin' me back home
The church bells are ringing, babe, callin' me back home
God's forsaken the nation
To let it aimlessly roam.

We're packin" to go down south, the last refuge
We're packin" to go down to Dixie, the last refuge
It's more like home there,
Less regulation subterfuge.

The kids don't care about freedom, it's an old man thing
The kids don't care about freedom, it's an old man thing
They'd rather be nested down
And givin' everything

Goin' to the dance tonight, sawdust on the floor
Goin' to the dance tonight, sawdust on the floor
Stick with me tonight, babe
Don't leave me standin' in the door

We'll go into town tonight, see friends and drink
We'll go into town tonight, see friends, eat and drink
You look for some happiness,
When you're livin' on the brink

 Don't leave me tonight, Babe. Don't fall apart
 Don't leave me tonight, Babe. Don't fall apart
Stay close and hold me
There's no reason for Descartes.

My brother collects stuff, he has no perceivable goal
My brother collects stuff, he has no perceivable goal
He's in it for himself
He's got no heart, got no soul.

He took everything, he took my dignity, my youth
He took it all, Man, he took my dignity, my youth
Lost the middle of my life
Trying to get back to the truth.

The house started on fire, I remember what was said
The house started on fire, I remember what was said.
Went to get some help
They all thought I fled.

The preacher's in Waukesha to pay his alimony
The preacher drove to Waukesha to pay his alimony
Claims his ex is a nasty, dirty,
Backstabbin’ bitchy phony.

John's up fishin' there, knows the preacher's ex well.
John's up fishin' there, knows the preacher's ex well.
He agrees with his assesment
He knows just how she fell.

She went to college there on the Madison Mall
She went to college there on the Madison Mall
Mixed drugs with politics
From the high left she did fall.

I work for myself now, I used to be a union man
I work for myself now, I used to be a union man
Payroll taxes are killing me
Now I'm a company man.

I pay the workers, they don't seem to care.
I write the payroll checks, They just don't care.
The street don't greet you kid,
The world's just not fair.

They work for quittin' time, not future growth
They work for quittin' time, not future growth
They get paid first
They're unaware of my oath.


A man can never be sure just what a woman needs
I never know exactly just what that a woman needs
A man just wants his freedom
And all the books he can read.

My baby adores me, wants me to dance and sing 
My baby adores me, wants me to dance and sing
Buys me Scotch and cigars.
Says being a man is the thing.

When I need her the most, she shows up here,
When life is dark and uncertain, she show up here.
She'd give her life for me,
Unless I took her beer. 

My Dad died and left me, he taught me how to vote
My Dad died and left me, he taught me how to vote
Take on responsibilities and
Get paid for what you wrote.

My sister drives a Pontiac, four on the floor
My sister drives a Pontiac, Hurst shifter on the floor
She took the Panama Limited
I can't see her anymore.

My mother dressed the chickens, kept us well fed
My mother dressed the chickens, kept us well fed
"Watch a man's actions
"Talk's cheap," is what she said.

The sun's goin' down now, the sky's glowing red
The sun's goin' down now, the sky's glowing red
The Devil wants my soul tonight
He put a mark upon my head.

Temptation surrounds me, I may be getting weak.
Temptation surrounds me, Lord, I may be getting weak.
Desperation exposes me
The beast knows what I seek.. 

The stoney sky darkens, starts to blow and swirl.
The stoney sky darkens, starts to blow and swirl.
I ask God to protect me;
Me and my best girl.


I went down to the river, to fish the bottom deep
I went down to the river, to fish the bottom deep
Carp and suckers live there
You sew what you reep.

The Congress met today, to help the working man
The Congress met today, to help the working man
There's not one person over there
With a callous on his hand.

The Senator eats with us, drinks and dabs his chin
The Senator eats with us, drinks and dabs his chin
Says if I send money today
Our enemies can't win..

The senator came down here, he's a straight shooter
The senator came down here, he's a straight shooter
He listens to Leo Kotke,
Likes John Prine, and Ry Cooter.

They tell me I'm paranoid, mad, lost my mind
They tell me I'm paranoid, mad, lost my mind
It's not a conspiricy,
They're thoughts are all aligned.


My baby checks the speed limit with her stop watch
My baby checks the speed limit, she has a stop watch
She taught me to slow down.
I help her find the Sasquatch.

Woke up in Illinois again, I should be Dixie bound
Woke up in Illinois again, I should be Dixie bound
The streets are dead up here
The truth is nowhere to be found.

Goin' down the back roads livin' the countryside
Goin' down the back roads livin' the countryside
Looking for salvation
With my baby in my ride.

We need compromise, so women can have their fun
We need compromise, so women can have their fun
Kill all the babies you want
You just have to use a gun.

They think we men always get what we want
They think we men grew up getting everything we want  
You just thought we did.
Cause we acted nonchalant.

Jenny went into the city to get the procedure done
Jenny went into the city to get the procedure done 
It's a small price to pay
Cause girls just want to have fun.  

Walked 500 miles to get here, I never did get paid
Walked 500 miles to get here, I never did get paid
You create more sorrow
Just to see how it's made.

You study the TV, opinions you try to sway
You study the TV, opinions you try to sway

The shadow of verity
Escapes what you say

The fire of your ambition blinds the naked eye
The fire of your ambition blinds the naked eye
Your ruthlessness
Makes your own children cry.

Ted Jones delivers the mail, he gets a good pension
My cousin Ted's a mailman, waitin' for a pension.
He likes to read Franz Kafka
It helps him think and pay attention.


We ride to New Diggings, even though the roads are risky
We ride out to New Diggings, we know it's kinda risky
The country roads are narrow
But they don't sell no whiskey.

Sterling protected Vanilla Ice, he carried a 45
Big Sterling worked for Vanilla Ice, used a 45
It had pearl handles
And kept Ole Vanilla alive

My son, he got arrested, had him flat on the ground
My son, he got arrested, had him flat on the ground
I wouldn't have gone his bail,
But his mother was around.

I worked for Bob Stone, stayed up late breakin' the news
I worked for Bob Stone, worked late breakin' the news
He didn't teach me anything
I couldn't learn from the blues.

My heart's in South, it's where I call home
My heart's in South, it's where I call home
Some day I'll go back there
Never more to roam.

My daughter's beautiful, she doesn't get that from me
My daughter's beautiful, she doesn't get that from me
She's got three fine kids
And a Phi Beta Kappa Key


Crazy Lester was shot last night a mile from his home
Crazy Lester was shot last night a mile from his home
He left his Luger at home last night
To go to a gun-free zone

It's time to move again, last time was in '83
It's time to move again, last time was in '83
My freedom's disappearing here
The city's encroaching on me.

I worked in Arizona, went there to make a wage
I worked in Arizona, went there to make a wage
Couldn't take staying there
Everything was beige.

There are famines and earthquakes in various places
There are famines and earthquakes in various places
Looks like the end is near
I can see it on their faces.

I had a Ford truck, three speed on the column
I had a white Ford truck, three speed on the column
It had a good AM radio
But could not adjust the volume.

Zack's in New York City writing computer code.
Zack's in New York City writing computer code.
The country boy does well there
He might find a back road.


Ruby's self sufficient, she grows her own chives
Ruby's self sufficient, she grows her own chives
She has her own windmill
She adds value to our lives

Fiona is an actress, her face makes people happy.
Fiona is an actress, her face makes people happy.
She looks innocent enough
But she can be scrappy.

Jay's life is confusing, he's torn between two worlds
Jay's life is confusing, he's torn between two worlds
Just when he gets anchored in one
Into the other he is hurled.

Milo is a minderbinder, his life doesn't quiet fit
Milo is a minderbinder, his life doesn't quiet fit
The world isn't right for him
He can't start; he can't quit.

My friend Don is a poet, likes to hunt and shoot birds
My friend Don is a poet, likes to hunt and shoot birds
He's a modern artist,
He's like a cubist with words.

The snow's fallen here, winter won't let go
The snow's fallen here, winter won't let go
Went down to Tennessee
To watch the wind blow.

I'm winding down now, the pages left are few
I get slow sometimes, the pages left are few
When this story's over,
I get to start anew.

My Protector

A makeshift hut base-circled an old tree
Young-boy built with rough barn wood ties.
A dark board hole in a four-year-old to see.
Sand and dirt was blown into my eyes
By My Protector.

Always my hero as I look up to see
His strong face of confident bravery.
With the hope to like him someday be
I rejoiced with pride in my knavery
To My Protector.

As perversions were done and exhibited
To my unformulated and immature senses.
Which fear, worship, my idolatry prohibited
Any reason to suspect anything offensive
From My Protector.

Teaming up in my battles with my foes
Joining with them who hurt me the most
Helping them execute a volley of blows
Above it all is heard my prideful boast
Of My Protector.

Plotting with our cousins to ostracize
The quiet kid who doesn't belong,
While in my mind his action justifies
Never attributing anything as wrong
To My Protector

Believing the words of the older one
I assumed the correct estimations
Of my inferiority, the butt of their fun
Never questioning the calculations
Of My Protector

Whoever said wounds are healed by time
Has never had them refreshed yearly.
By a childhood of unspeakable crime
Planted in a young mind and fed severely
By My Protector

Growing in the shadow of one so honored
The apple and pride of his father's eye
From his shadow of sorrow I never wandered
Pleasing them both was the impossible lie
With My Protector

By growing up as our lives had to split
I never realized the source of my pain
I grew joyful comfort in being able to quit
Jobs, relationships, projects, trying in vain
To forget My Protector

Unable to love, to care, living in solitude
Needing something strong to dull my mind
Escaping the pain of thoughts pursued
Chasing synthetic shelters to hide
From My Protector

Even as adults his torment remained
Physical pain turns to mental anguish
Attacks, more subtle, still unrestrained
The agenda to dominate, total vanquish
By My Protector

Failing in drive's ambition to finish a plan
Life's failures became so easy to obtain
Each job, each endeavor, becoming a man,
You name it, I was filled with self disdain
From My Protector

Slowly through the sorrowful agonized time
With one whose love I did not deserve
The source, the seed, the rhythm and rhyme
Forced me to confront that which unnerved
My Protector

He's gone and out of my life, I deceive
Myself to believe as evil is lurking
In days of comfort which become naive.
I'm startled alive by the plan still working
For My Protector.

Until a new morning through a clear image
The source of my torment clearly exposed
By someone who could see all the damage
From a childhood any observer would oppose
With My Protector
 
My love shields me from the shadows of pain
She seeks out to destroy every piece or crumb
Of the memory of a life of inferior restrain.
Finally, in peace she has in truth become
My Protector

God's Lament

Justice, fairness, equality are not my choices.
Your breathing's just a pin prick in time.
I could, if I wanted to, silence your voices,
With me, creation seems just about fine.

You read I am a loving, kind sort of thing,
Reaping vengeance from the depths of the sea.
I exploded the light and made the darkness ring
In justice and mercy, I am what I will be.

My system is of variety, species and race,
With gifts, skills, in a whirlpool of faults.
And die if you look into my beautiful face,
And it's I and I alone who all should exalt.

I am everything; I make peace, create evil.
Past and future, unaware of time,
I am infinite, both faithful and forever bestial.
Without life or time, motives are more sublime.

You pray to me to touch your daily worry.
You ask me for the mundane of things
With an everlasting time, what's your hurry?
The future is past and what tomorrow brings.

Too often a jealous and a vengeful spirit,
I can make all your dreams disappear.
Selfish in your prayers, I'd rather not hear it.
You've nothing to want, nothing to fear.

Is there reason in the vapor of the fleeted?
Are my emotions similar to yours?
Do I feel compassion for all that I created?
Do I care about your peace, or your wars?

Does your suffering hurt me; do I care?
Is there meaning beyond conception?
What is your purpose? Why aren't things fair?
Am I with yours when facing expiration?

What do you get for following my rules?
What is the advantage of using my name?
Why do I make you look like faithful fools?
If you can't help but sin, why do I blame?

I could end these questions with a flick of the wrist.
I could explain everything to everyman.
We could add that to your never-ending list,
You are not designed to understand.

From beginning to end I create, destroy.
You can see it on earth and in space.
Every means at my hands I do employ.
And, I give you salvation free with grace.

You must die to join me in paradise.
Until you get here, my answers are sealed.
Until then, reading my verses suffice.
When we meet, everything will be revealed.

Until then you are not to make assumptions
As I move in and out of your physics.
Keep studying and discovering these functions
As you attempt to explain me to the cynics.

As those who believe dwindle down to one
That second called life, deteriorates.
The rest will pursue only fairness and fun.
The world won't end, it capitulates.

Without purpose, less than a second of life
In the violence of space and time,
With instants of pleasure, but mostly of strife
Becomes more important than that heart of mine.

Guns in a Gun Free Zone

The difference between a Gun Free and a Physically Secure Location is that the former is enforced by a sign and a misguided perception of the natural goodness of people and their desire to obey rules.  The latter is secured at all entrances by armed guards with the possible addition of surveillance equipment and metal and explosive detection.

Gun Free Zones are sought out by the deranged as a safe place to bring firearms and perform massacres.  The concept may have come from how peer pressure enforces Smoke Free Zones.  But peer pressure is not an effective weapon to bring to a gun fight.  The need to protect oneself in a Gun Free Zone creates a conundrum.

In Physically Secure Locations people are screened at the entrances and possibly the area perimeters by metal detectors, x-ray equipment, surveillance, and sometimes personal searches.  Airport gates, federal buildings, court houses, and other government buildings, along with special events where people under threat appear, some concerts, and other venues and events that one may suspect an attempt on a person's life to occur are Physically Secure Locations.

There is no need for armed personal protection inside Physically Secure Locations.  These areas are free from the kind of weapons that would seriously cause personal injury.  The entrance security minimizes that threat in varying degrees.

The Devil Comes up to Dance

He looks so peaceful with smiling eyes,
His grin, the warm kindness of a priest.
The cloak of truth covers all his lies,
Imprisoned in fear yet now released.

Darkness arrives with the noon day light.
The gifts you're given are not by chance.
Lifting of pain in Heavenly sight,
The Devil has come up here to dance

Making instant friends to all he meets,
Promises believed in dogma speech.
A latent memory just after he speaks,
His words become a universal reach.

Every neighbor wants to pick a fight.
It's not safe to take a backward glance.
Prayers said in secret out of sight,
The Devil has come up here to dance

The hills of rage show a beaten path,
But nothing but kindness gifts to bear.
Confrontations in the canyons of wrath,
Rain pouring from ruin clouds of fear.

Gamblers' Highway to Babylon's shore
Hide in wilderness of circumstance.
Life and nation you loved is no more,
The Devil has come up here to dance.

Your best friend and my worse enemy.
Son, pay attention to what I said before.
Behind the eyes, kind words are angry,
Freedom's dead at the feet of a whore.

So many have come to worship and bow.
One look, like a lover, creates the trance.
Unquestioned by most, the sacred cow
And the Devil have come here to dance.

Shame and disgrace will clothe the ones who
Rage against you and expose the lie.
The bells are silent, dust on the pew,
Bloody streets; soldiers unable to cry.

Seven golden lamps melted and coined,
Bronze feet are hammered into a lance.
Salvation promised to those who joined,
The Devil has come up here to dance.

Sins repealed, bed of suffering decoyed,
The sea of glass, iron scepters broken
Respect, discipline, repentance voided,
Doors closed without last words spoken.

Time fails both the scientists and priest
Who both march to his gay hoofed prance,
And turn to love that they trust the least,
When the Devil comes up here to dance.

The pale horse gallops to the steeple
Posting news of the richest's demise.
Everything's has been made fair and equal
From molting layers of skin, slitted eyes.

His tattooed name on every man's hand,
His face painted on sheets of romance.
Many futures were carefully planned,
The Devil has come up here to dance.

But woe to the truth, the earth, and sea
With his wound healed, the man of peace,
When troubled, is all you need him to be.
With his tender touch all stress will cease.

With the foulest words, he teaches speech
To the parents and the children enhance
What his demons at the schools can preach,
When the Devil comes up here to dance.

His days are numbered, his dance subsides, the scrolls resealed.
The damage is done, but not easily denied; nothing is revealed.