Blazing beams of fire flies,
flutter viciously past my eyes.
Summer night's air is ripe with
the scent of swamp.

Frogs freak dance croak-
S'pload toad throat soak-
In time with the slug slime,
slithering in the dark.

In the wet grass it died,
shoved off the pavement to the side-
where the cars whizzed by close
As its guts dripped from its nose.

Its death was more than grim
And it did not die by spear for meat
But as it bounded across the street
The choice was me or him.

What do I want out of life?
What do you want?
Why do you bother asking me?
If I had an answer, to that
particular question, would I be here?

I became disatisfied with my life-
just about three years ago-
when I realized I had done
just about everything (I thought)
I was destined to do.

And now, I wander
instead of wonder.
Now, I parade
instead of plan.
Now, I accept
rather than achieve.
Now, I tolerate
instead of try.

At least you relate
when I cry.

this head presses back against the soft cushion of my chair
a sideways tilted chin and a face is bathed in the harsh glow
of a computer monitor while the evening hours dwindle
toward the morning din of people doing what they do to
live this life of exchange

and exchanges are made
we exchange free time for work and
work for money and money for consumables

we exchange lust for love
we exchange love for a cool friendship
and friendships for social networking

we exchange truth for the satisfaction of judgments
and justice is exchanged for speedy process
and process is exchanged for the bottom line

and while the virtues of Jesus Christ are
exchanged for the vices of Machiavelli
Mother Mary is only a lyric in a song by
a group of bugs and the devil applauds.

these nearly empty rooms
like the first day
of a new year of school
or the first time
you thought about
kissing a boy

you have
romantic plans for
fresh beginnings
although you realize
there were moments
you were frightened
by the seconds just
before you walked through
the doors and sat
down at your assigned desk
or the seconds before
the inevitable impact
of his soft lips
as his face moved so
close to yours
you had to close
your eyes-

and there you are
with eyes wide open
dreaming in these
nearly empty rooms
full of possibilities

Close your eyes now, as you lay in the dark.
The force with which your mind can move a
thought may generate a lightening spark-
It is best to rest now. Let it rest now you've
given it enough time and been careful to nurture
the qualities you require meet a bright future.
Under your covers on your pillow so deep
Close your eyes now and let lightening sleep.

The fray comes nigh and I am not shaken.
The spinning thoughts cease and desist.
When the morning comes and I awaken,
all swords shall be sheathed by the mist.
A salubrious breath satiates my breast.
My muscles elongate and then retract.
Your heart could console my head upon your chest.
I am compelled to dream but not to act.
The time is not right, though it is fleeting.
My organic clock can has taken a beating.
Although no blood may now spill forth.
There are other ways to prove my worth.
Sand and salt and rock and clay,
create the earth upon which I stand.
And while I stand solidly against the fray.
I look for the solace found in your hand-
that I imagine softly slides across my cheek,
while I yearn to possess what it is you seek.

Please do not sit there so still the next time the winter wind blows.
Hypothermia can murder a Mastodon and in your sooth you know-
That you are not a creature of such massive size. Experience shows
you must not amble on to petrify but instead pick up the pace and run.
While it is also true that fear can freeze, Father Time shall not be stunned.
When the water of the world stagnates, pray for the rain to fall anew.
Noah saw the water alter- his thirst was not quenched by dew.

To my skin Ill apply a steel wool pad and scrub off the burr
that attached when I clung to a drowning tree. From the muck I stir ...
If I must bleed for my vigilance, this pain I shall outlast.
"You have no choice." says the voice. You cannot change the past.