Pretty Words

Pretty Words

“Honor, integrity and respect.”
What pretty words. Each a poem in and of itself. Together... a talisman of hope and a promise; a wonderful idea and a sweet dream of the goodness in others.
But such is not so.
Pretty words, yes, but hollow and without substance. They are an idea, and no more. Some cling to the idea and try to live their lives according to the dream. But the dream is like a dark cloud that holds no rain... it promises to sprinkle small drops of life but never actually waters the earth.
I see the ghosts of these words stalk among the people I care for and adore. I marvel at the fluidity of the ghost's movement and the unwavering attention they give to the living creatures they attend. I watch in awe as the ghosts try to make solid impact on a world that they are not a part of.
Then comes the inevitable. The living creatures attended to so freely by these ghosts fall prey to the true mortal world and in doing so exorcize the ghosts back to the dream world from which they were spawned. Only then do the mortals realize that the pretty words are merely that... words; Guttural sounds without meaning... pneumonics worth little more than the ink used to scribble them down.
Honor - a scent on the breeze... a fleeting hint of something with no discernable origin or destination, and most certainly not something that could be captured and kept.
Integrity - a fragile snowflake... a thing that no two people have ever seen in the same design and that cannot survive the heat of a single breath.
Respect - a shadow cast on darkness... a thing that should be there, that one wants to be there, and yet cannot be discerned but in the imagination.
Pretty words from a funny thought that provokes no laughter. Dream your dream. Dance with your ghosts. I would dream such a dream myself, were I able to sleep... were I able to dream. I would sleep away my whole life should I be able to dream myself into a company of these ghost players. But I lay awake, tossing in my bed, wanting the dream and unable to find it with open eyes.
Tend your ghosts as they tend you, and I pray you not to wake.

lines of red.....

lines of red...

chinks in the armor... hidden, unknown
flaws in the protective walls... invisible, unattended
vulnerabilities to the fortress... missing bricks, loose mortar
covert attacks... under the radar, holes in the wire

the gun jammed
the lock failed
the alarm bypassed

careful safeguards gone astray... vulnerabilities exposed
security measures gone for not... targets left open
courage stunned... strength paused

sorrow
tears
desperation

lines of red across a white landscape

ugly
terrible
horrific

Honor, Integrity and Respect

Honor, Integrity and Respect

I do not expect honor from others, but I try to live well in the world.
I do not expect integrity from others, but I try to keep true to my word.
I do not expect respect from others, but I try to accept others as they are.

I do not expect honor from others, for they have not acted honorably to me.
I do not expect integrity from others, for they did not keep the words given to me.
I do not expect respect from others, for I have not been accepted for who and what I am.

I do not expect honor from others, but I show them what honor I have.
I do not expect integrity from others, but I keep the promises I give them.
I do not expect respect from others, but I respect them for the lives they choose.

I do not expect honor from others, what they offer is a tarnished cup that bitters the wine I have fermented.
I do not expect integrity from others, what they offer is a tattered basket that rots the fruit I have grown.
I do not expect respect from others, what they offer is a rusted bowl that sours the milk I have gathered.

I do not expect honor from others, but how succulent a gift when received.
I do not expect integrity from others, but how happy to accept when offered.
I do not expect respect from others, but thank you for your respect.

I do not expect honor, integrity or respect from life.
For life's only honor is in birth - life's only integrity is in living - life's only respect is in death.
I expect none of these from others.

By Ropes, Chains and Serving

By Ropes, Chains and Serving

The shades are drawn
my choices gone
The night, begun churning
Alone for now
i don’t know how
i’ve come to this yearning

The room is dark
And furnished stark
A cross in the corner
The chains that clink
The ropes that sink
Into skin with fervor

i cannot see
my eyes will be
Covered most relentless
Without a gap
The blindfold wraps
i won’t see my Tempest

my wrists are bound
No freedom found
Drawn high up above me
The cuffs that bite
Steel tempered might
Hold secure their duty

Thick leather bound
my ankles round
The bar spreading widely
But still held more
Secured to floor
i hang stretching idly

i make no sound
Silence surrounds
Soft whimpers and groaning
my jaw held tight
Against all fight
Gag leaves only moaning

Beyond closed door
Past miles of floor
Soft voices discussing
As night gets late
Terms of my fate
my pulse swiftly rushing

Though i can’t see
Objects that be
Hanging ore’ the room round
The tools of pain
That come to rain
On my skin with sharp sounds

The waiting hard
For any shard
of leather that bites me
How long i’ve hung
From ceiling’s rung
The time has escaped me

The door unlocks
The sound sends shocks
Of anticipation
Things to be felt
That raise the welts
Lustful pain sensations

Footfalls explore
Across the floor
No word has been spoken
Throughout the room
The lurking doom
The silence unbroken

i hear the sound
Of objects found
For pain - tools of passion
Then back near me
Time come to be
Her toy, Her possession

Lust being fed
Skin turning red
Sweet pain rushing through me
Gag-muffled screams
Fulfilling dreams
Beg for Her to use me

Welts rising high
Bruise-colored thighs
The session exquisite
Deep redness wins
Heat from my skin
Such a scalding visit

i hang there spent
my strength all lent
To whip, crop and flogger
The session run
my will be gone
My body is for Her

i am helped down
my limbs unbound
i lay on the cold floor
She leaves me there
to others’ care
Tonight there is no more

Once on my feet
She speaks to me
A good pet i have been
Sent on my way
‘til the next day
Chance comes to serve Her whim

submissive life
That blossoms ripe
Wishing pain and hurting
The life i lead
i have been freed
By rope, chains and serving

....... To Go On .......

....... TO GO ON .......

The tireless clatter of child's play,
will stir the froth of hectic days;
yet daddy still goes on.

Stranger's noise assault the ear,
as the time clock marks the passing year;
yet daddy still goes on.

Money come has gone too fast,
nerves that threaten not to last;
yet daddy still goes on.

Children's future so unsure,
problems with expensive cures;
yet daddy still goes on.

Credit checks and nasty bills,
face and fight a world of ills;
yet daddy still goes on.

Baby smile and child play,
precious light on darkened days;
help daddy still go on.

Loving wife with gentle touch,
soothes the soul and heals so much;
help daddy still go on.

Life's reward beneath the storm,
family - fortress safe and warm;
why daddy still goes on.

Thief of Hearts

THIEF OF HEARTS

Witch that wanders through the land,
holds her future in her hand.

Thief of hearts has lost his own.
His nerves, now shaking, once solid as stone.

Future uncertain, preasent unsure;
feelings not planned on beginning to stir.

Other so near and longing to hold,
wards off the lonely - keeps out the cold.

Runners still running without looking back,
runs across what their wanderings lack.

Thief to witch and hand to spell;
to the soft touch the hard man fell.

To stop the race that's been run so long,
is the purpose to their hearts' song.

No more running causes fear.
will it save two hearts so dear?

Riddle of the Heart

That which holds with a powerful grip;
from its reach you cannot slip.
It has no hands to use to hold.
To the one is new, to the many old.
You cannot run. Don't try to hide.
This mystic force will steal your pride.
It speaks to you without a voice.
You have to listen. You have no choice.
No matter if you're weak or strong;
It may lead you right or lead you wrong.

An Arsonist's Tale

AN ARSONIST'S TALE

Once upon a midnight dreary;
while I pondered weak and weary,
over a many plot and plan of monetary score.
In a candle’s flame I was inspired
to gravely go and light a fire,
This way, of money, I should acquire.
Of arson my desire of money shall explore,
I shall know poverty - NEVERMORE!

Firemen look and police men wonder
how the house became asunder.
They wanted knowledge of how the house began to roar.
Then suddenly it came to mind;
what, by chance, if they should find
just what started this fiery plight.
In which, someone died tonight.
My trouble was great, my problem intense. I now must set the final score.
The dead get even - NEVERMORE!


"The reason was," to them I said.
"That I was the only one undead,
at the movies, there was I, intensely watching blood gore."
A sudden sound then hit my ears.
A helpful clue had just appeared,
something that should not be there.
My heart then told me to beware.
As the arson squad came to the scene, a message I heard in the siren's roar.
I may have freedom - NEVERMORE.


This group of nosey little men
came and left and came again;
asking questions, looking around, investigating this bad eyesore.
To the police a message went.
"This fatal fire had intent.
The house that just had been burnt down
was meant to come crashing to the ground."
The investigators turned from me. They stood upon the charcoaled floor.
This house would be here - NEVERMORE.

The insurance money came to me.
A wealthy man I was to be.
But the insurance company did not like making rich of poor.
It came to me in my dismay,
that they're investigating that day.
If they should cause what caused the blaze,
I would be back in poorer days.
To stop them something must be done. I had to protect my enriching score,
or I'd be wealthy - NEVERMORE.


I must get rid of all the signs
that the burning fault was fully mine.
Evidence of the fire must be found no more.
I went to the troubled place.
I must do my job with haste.
I hurriedly rushed to remove in all,
that which would cause my own downfall.
Quickly I worked throughout the night; this disgusting and very dirty chore.
There would be evidence - NEVERMORE


The filthy nights work that I have done,
has , I think, fooled everyone.
The case was thrown from court and police came to me no more.
The money that had come to me,
mine forever was meant to be.
My crime was never proven by law.
The plan had no discovered flaw.
This night to my window a bird did come. I remember I heard as did he soar;
quote the raven - NEVERMORE.

Fire!

FIRE!

A thundering crash broke the silence.
A bolt of lightning raced out of the sky
and struck a near-by tree.

I cried FIRE!

A shot rang out from the jungle in front of me.
A bullet sliced through the air
and splintered a branch to my left.

I yelled FIRE!

A crisp snap revealed itself in the night.
A match flickered into life to dispel
the surrounding darkness.

I sighed fire.

A gentle crackling called out over the drifts.
A hearth held out its warmth in defiance
to the frozen snow.

I called fire.

The sounds of laughter was rising high.
Spirits soared as friends and lovers enjoyed
each other for the evening.

This too, FIRE.

Ballet Dreams

BALLET DREAMS

I witnessed.... a ballet.... of sorts.... a time ago.

The costumes were of extravagant elegance. Their colors waved between the hues of blues and greens. Some were of such sheerness that the beauty of the dancers beneath them shown through in crystalline radiance. The fabrics fluttered across the stage in streams of silken dreams. All that moved across my vision paraded in harmonic unison. It was a dream of vision.

The music of the stage was conceived of subtle tones. They skipped and pranced on the air with sensual grace. The melodies of the dance kissed my ears with joy. They told of pleasures untold. They whispered of wishes undreamed. It was a dream of sound.

The sound touched the vision and I witnessed a ballet of love. The silken colors caressed the velvet sounds. Together they carried me to ecstasy. I floated in a sea of compassion. I rode on a wave of joy. I dove into a pool of calmness. I drank from a cup of warmth.

I watched.... a sky.... full of rain.... today.

Q . E . D .

The Night Before Beltain

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE BELTAIN, AND ALL THROUGH THE WOOD,
ALL THE PAGANS WERE STIRRING, AS GOOD PAGANS SHOULD.
ALL THE RIBBONS WERE HUNG ON THE MAY POLE WITH CARE;
WITH HOPES AND WITH DREAMS OF THE NEW BLOOMING YEAR.
THE CHILDREN WERE DANCING BY THE BEL-FIRE WITH GLEE,
AS THE WOODS BECAME STEAMY FOR MY LADY AND ME.
WHEN WHAT TO MY LUST RIDDEN EYES SHOULD I SEE,
BUT A HERD FULL OF RABBITS AND THE SWEET GODDESS BREED.
THEY JUMPED AND THEY HOPPED AS THEY ENTERED THE GLADE.
AND BREED DANCED AMONG THEM AND SHE CALLED THEM BY NAME.
"COME PHALLUS, COME PENIS, COME ROD, TAKE THE LEAD.
COME MUFF AND COME TWAT AND COME SNATCH TO THE SEED."
SHE TOUCHED ALL THE PLANTS AS HER SIX RABBITS PLAYED,
AND THE GREENERY BLOSSOMED ON THE PATH THAT SHE MADE.
MY LADY AND I SAT AND WATCHED HER WITH GLEE.
THAT'S WHEN SHE SAW US, MY LADY AND ME.
BREED SAID NOT A WORD AS SHE CAME TO MY LOVE.
SHE TOUCHED MY SWEET LADY AS SOFT AS A DOVE.
MY SWEET LADY CHANGED BEFORE MY OWN EYES.
THE TOOL OF MY LUST THEN STARTED TO RISE.
WE ROLLED THROUGH THE MEADOW, THE WOODS, AND THE HAY.
WE ROMPED AND WE FROLICKED 'TIL THE BREAK OF THE DAY.
I HEARD BREED CALL OUT AS THE FIRST LIGHT WAS STRUCK,
"HAPPY BELTAIN TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD FUCK!"

.... Nevermore

.... Nevermore

a large bird perches on a tree branch
the illusion of evil is seen in black plumage
superstitious hearts look up and panic
foreboding invades the minds of the unenlightened
rocks are thrown, ruffling feathers
the tree is shaken, breaking loose weak limbs
but the dark eyes and midnight plumes do not abandon the tree
the guttural caws send shivers of defiance through the fearful
the winds of change blow through the tree
the wings of shadow’s hue are spread
lift found, flight achieved
Odin’s messenger on the air, dancing with the clouds
and returning to the tree as to a bust of Pallas
a short flight on fledgling wings
a long stride towards life among the clouds
the shadowed one flies, no longer held by the restraints of gravity
woe to those who fear the night
for it has come on dark wings to fly through the light of day

Earth

TREE PLANT FLOWER

MOUNTAIN BOULDER STONE

SOIL SAND

EARTH

STEEL SHELTER

LIFE GROWTH STRENGTH

MAN WOMAN CHILD

Another....

Another....

another dream forgotten upon waking...
another morning...
another day...
another week gone by...
another year older...
another wish for another candle...
another look ahead...
another hope for something to happen...
another desire for someone to see...
another sunset...
another night to sleep alone...
another dream to be forgotten upon waking...

The Sunny Rain

THE SUNNY RAIN

The rain, it falls upon us;
from the heavens shadowed gray.

We stand beneath the shower;
and try to wait the day.

We forget the sun is shining;
above the darkened sky.

We let the clouds depress us;
without a wonder why.

But as I watch the weather;
and feel the soggy ground.

I imagine what the rain will bring;
and the blessings to be found.

I smell the springtime flowers;
in my mind as clear as day.

I feel soft grass beneath my feet;
as my children laugh and play.

I know the life that's growing green;
will grow and thrive and play.

The Rain will reward tomorrow;
for the Sun I give up today.

War Songs

WAR SONGS

No one is singing war songs like they use to sing before. No more Halls of Montezuma or "Johnny's" any more. Did we finally ask the question no one thought to ask before? With all the pain this madness brings, what were we singing for?

I volunteered for freedom; to fight to keep it free. I loved my country dearly and prayed that it loved me. They gave me pride and honor to stand among the few. They showed me what I stood for and things that I must do. But they left out all the heart-ache, the sorrow and the pain. I never thought I'd leave my home and not return the same.

The Corps is a jealous mistress with a lust from passion's fire. She'll steal a young man's heart away and keep it 'til he dies. I lost my heart at seventeen to a Corp of red and gold. I was proud to fight among the ranks of Marine Corp brave and bold.

When we fought for freedom and died to keep it free, who cared about my brothers and wives they would not see. I was just a soldier fighting for my land. We were all in love with freedom. United we would stand.

No one is singing war songs.....

My Kitty Stalks French Toast

MY KITTY STALKS FRENCH TOAST

I buy her things to play with
they lay around the house
I give her string and catnip toys
and a little rubber mouse
Tin foil wadded into a ball
and paper from my desk
A lace that drags behind my shoe
or a grape that’s not so fresh
I’ve seen her play with all these things
and even chase a ghost
but I just do not understand
MY KITTY STALKS FRENCH TOAST

I buy her the very best of food
her bowl is always full
I give her milk and table scraps
and water to keep her cool
All kinds of little flavored treats
I have for her on hand
I share my every meal with her
as if she has it planned
I’ve seen her eat all kinds of things
even bugs so gross
but I just do not understand
MY KITTY STALKS FRENCH TOAST

She won’t eat bread of any kind
she just turns up her nose
I try sometimes to feed her eggs
she turns around and goes
She knows when I’m in the kitchen
and cooking makes her stare
She tries to find a place to hide
and spy upon my wares
When I make a special morning meal
the one she likes the most
and all the cooking has been done
MY KITTY STALKS FRENCH TOAST

She waits until my back is turned
to make her bandit play
she jumps up on the counter top
in that hunting kitty way
She slinks and crawls across the sink
and over to the plate
She spies her prey and sets her feet
the toast has met its fate
She grabs a piece and runs away
and never thanks her host
The jungle cat has killed her prey
MY KITTY STALKS FRENCH TOAST

WONDER

WONDER

A kiss on the cheek from a far distant love;
a caress, warm and gentle, from a soft satin glove.

The clouds on their highway, racing along;
a note, deep and sounding, as an unwritten song.

A cry from a child, not so happy today;
a stern mother's warning not to stray far away.

A scream in the darkness of dangers to come;
the wails of a warrior as the battle drums drum.

The breath in the lungs of a new baby girl;
a kite on a string with a spin and a swirl.

The face of the heavens, unleashed on the land;
the gails and the breezes that dance on the sand.

See this as you stand between earth and sky;
and wonder in reverence as the wind rushes by.