It’s that time of year

It’s that time of year
When I feel like taking flight
To avoid the creeping fear
Of a day forever night

Who gave the wind permission
To blow a freezing gale
To hold me in submission
A tiger by the tail

All my friends from seasons past
That winter couldn’t keep
They’ve all gone away, alas
Their all dead or fast asleep

Bundle up and don your down
Watch the mercury descend
Stoke the fire, gather round
All I have is time to spend

Lost in thought and trapped inside
I’ll be climbing up the walls
Where to hide I can’t decide
I can hear equator calls

I’ve tried a dozen times
and There’s no escape I know
I can read Miami signs
While I’m standing in the snow

Because winters in my heart
I know I can stay right here
Only spring can make us part
because It’s that time of year

The Beer

As the vessel tips I part my lips
and feel the bubbles dance
Effervescent spell that damns to hell
I’ve not the slightest chance
A familiar tomb, this festive doom
demands participation
Impending swills, impeding will
resigned inebriation
The mornings light reveals my plight
with blinding certainty
Continued trips to parted lips
does not bode well for me

Still

Stillness sounds
a cold that cracks
a rain that stacks
on brittle ground

Washed in white
the shadows die
a blinded eye
reflected light

Warming nest
a lovers touch
a mitten clutch
the quilted rest

Flakes unique
inverted self
ambition shelved
for sake to keep

Second hand tick
a bated breath
scared to deaf
December tricks

Hibernation
internal clock
a slumber rock
no punctuation

Frosted pane
a petri dish
a winters wish
how true it came

Heartless kill
a slowing beat
an easy feat
but beautiful still


Work

In his eyes he held the look
of the most acute prostration
From all the hours left unslept
to toil at his station

The fruits of all his labor
seemed too under ripe to pluck
So he doubled all his efforts
and he placed his faith in luck

His hair had turned from red to white
his back from straight to bent
But still no sign of better times
he started to lament

Too late for permutations
his life was fully squandered
So he set his mind to one more job
only pain now when he pondered

When death had come to put an end
to this life of long production
He found the man with feeble hands
carving out instruction

Death had never seen a resting place
with craftsmanship so fine
And he felt compelled to grant the wish
the man had left behind

I’ve worked hard all my life it read
I've tried to do my best
So when you take my soul from me
could you please just let it rest?

Surprises

The cold had shattered records
That January morn
And in my bed I slumbered
Like a baby newly born

In a flash I was exposed
To the bedrooms Icy chill
My wife threw off the covers
With a threat that she would kill

It seems I left the seat up
I did not possess a soul
And she cursed the day she met me
When she sat inside the bowl

Poker Room

My mother lives in the poker room
inside the house of vice
She will not be tempted with roulette
her hands will shake no dice
Turns up her nose at all of those
people playing slots
She prefers to sit and test her wit
while waiting for the flop
There is no clock to note the time
she cares not for the hour
She has the patience to abide
the chips supply the power
It’s been ages since we spoken
and to see her would be nice
But my mother lives in the poker room
inside the house of vice


The After

After earth has moved
and the lovers sweat has dried
After soft percussion
gives way to heavy sigh

After well placed kisses
have kindled primal flame
After knowing there’s another
who’s wanting just the same

After drowning in the fire
of reciprocated urge
And emerging from the deluge
to ride upon the surge

After cautions out the window
and consequence seems fair
After blissfully betraying
the other beds they share

After sharing in an ecstasy
ascending through the rafters
After time had stole away
the softness of their laughter
It was then that they had realized
That now the time was after


Stay

Someone stop that child
He’s growing much too fast
He races toward adulthood
Expanding on his past

Milestones are common
In the riverbed of youth
Look for them when you’re older
And you’ll find a bitter truth

Someone stop that child
He doesn’t understand
All the freedom he possesses
Or the ransom life demands


Time is in abundance
With a single digit age
But years can bring reluctance
When it’s time to turn the page

Someone stop that child
He’s daily gaining height
And all his fun is over
When he can reach the light

Ignorance is bliss
Truer words were never spoken
The treat is in the trick
May this spell go unbroken


Someone stop that child
With his innocence intact
Take him home at intermission
He can miss the second act

Oh what I wouldn’t give
To have just one more day
To know the pure delight
To be just a child at play

Someone stop that child
He knows not what he’ll be
Someone stop that child
Before that child is me


The end

No peace in her presence
No presents left to open
No return policy

She trimmed my fuse
She carries a lighter
Impervious to my explosion

Please send help!

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Publication Date: 12-17-2009

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