RIDING THE STORM

When they turn on you

Beware

The wind is at their backs

Freedom has a hold

On your baby’s eyes

Searching for a way in

For a way out

They are riding the storm

First Attempt at a Blue’s song by a White guy   (Zoo Bar Blues)

I got blue

In a bag of colors

Baby what went wrong?

I had you

For a while

But not for long

Like a cut

That wouldn’t heal

Who’s going to finish this song?

Well you didn’t look over a shoulder

When you walked through the door   

But now you say you miss me

Well I’m not a pawn

Some say love

Is dying

I say love

Is a blue crayon

I got blue

In a bag of colors

Nothing else

Will turn me on

You can leave

Without hearing this song

So you keep walking

Till your gone

Blue in a bag of colors

Baby what went wrong?

First Attempt at a Blue’s song by a White guy   (Zoo Bar Blues)

I got blue

In a bag of colors

Baby what went wrong?

I had you

For a while

But not for long

Like a cut

That wouldn’t heal

Who’s going to finish this song?

Well you didn’t look over a shoulder

When you walked through the door   

But now you say you miss me

Well I’m not a pawn

Some say love

Is dying

I say love

Is a blue crayon

I got blue

In a bag of colors

Nothing else

Will turn me on

You can leave

Without hearing this song

So you keep walking

Till your gone

Blue in a bag of colors

Baby what went wrong?

Five Minutes After Watching “Rent”

When you have a song to sing

Sing it

A poem to share

Share it

When you got nothing to bring

Bring it anyway

You won’t be turned away

A second ago

Might as well been a year

Now is your time

Embrace the fear

You’re something to behold

If only you knew

You won’t be turned away

When you have a dance to dance

Dance it

When you have the chance to take

Chance it

When you have nothing to lose

Lose it

The past is past

You won’t be turned away

Faith

          Hold on to faith

          It comes, goes, comes

          In the end

          We want it

          In the beginning

          We know it

          Mid stream it separates

          We paddle hard to find it

          It makes little difference

          It smiles at the end of the journey

          Oh ye of little faith

          Keep paddling                                               

                                                

Birthday Girl (For M)

Oh my

Oh me

It’s the special day for you

Fourteen years ago

You came upon the stage

Haven’t changed that much

Except for your age

You’re still that beautiful girl

Who loves friends and family

Who’s smarter then a cat

And bound for history

And, you guessed it

You will always be

My fantastic daughter

My forever baby

            Depression/Recession

            She strode through the bar

            Like a gun slinging whore

            Looking for trouble

            Aimed to burst his bubble

            With the bill he forgot to pay

Easy Listening

Your eyes grabbed me

And we became one

Then

Your body electrified me

And I knew I was ready

Knew it

You touched my hair

The current jumped a kilowatt

Who says love is gone

They don’t know anything

About love and lovers like us

We danced by the sea

The roar of the ocean

Was our personal band

You took what was yours

That beautiful day

When our eyes met

Knew it

Knew it more for you then me

I can’t sleep again

Please wake my soul again

Who says love is gone

They don’t know anything

About love and lovers like us

We danced by the sea

To the roar of the ocean

And the warmth of the breeze

FACING FIRE

If you have a match

I have the matches

Kindle those profiles

Watch the smoke

Drifting toward heaven

We can’t live this way?

Maybe we can.

Facing fire with photos

Long buried in the sand.

Did you ever meet a lover?

In a lap top coffee house?

At the end of a mouse?

Or smoking in the bathroom

At the Junior Prom?

So what strikes you?

What ignites you?

The desire to fit a mold?

The hope, to fail at not wasting life

Reading between the lines

If you have a match

I have the matches

Tomorrow is Blooming

Yesterday is Swooning

Today is Thinking about Next Week

Dad (Thoughts on Roshashana 2011)

When he had nothing to lose

He was a man among men

When the tears were streaming

And the family screaming

He grabbed his sister from the burning wind

And touched the souls of the ones around him

He felt guilty when the war broke- friends going there

Thought they were not thinking the best

‘Wondering if hes seeking a deferment from the Holocaust?’

He was caring for his sister

Struck with the polio knife

So in a sense, he was content,

To go to the death fields

Get rid of the guilt

Sailed to the Seas

Of the Philippines

He carried mortar but not the cement

And the sights that were there

He could never forget

That battlefield hell

But gained a certain focus

And understanding as well

That you can’t think of death

When its hand is near

On returning, he was sick 

Bitten with the malaria tick 

He recovered so fast it was truly amazing

Married, children and a home 

Grandchildren and many friends

He cared for them all as best as he could

Respected in our neighborhood

Some 69 years passed when he succumbed to a heart

That was strong on the outside

But inside couldn’t start

An organ gone crazy

Looking for peace

So what is his life to me?

As I go to the temple

To chant an ancient decree

Sitting with mourners

And standing with angels

As depression wanes and waxes

My thoughts are clearer with each day

He had his faults 

He had his moments

He’s at peace now with them all

Those last few months

Are clearer then years

He taught me humility in that little time

Taught me to cheer for the slightest rebound

To suffer pain but to be proud

To laugh when I could

And try to learn

He wasn’t religious

At least that’s what was said

But he was raised almost Orthodox

A strange bed 

He said he thought G-d

Was in Nature

Kind of hard to argue with that 

So the wind blows

Warm sometimes cold

We all grow old

A lesson to be learned?

Maybe not now

But my Dad

In my heart, he will remain

A towering force

Of an ethical man

And a smile

A healing smile

For all

Open Your Eyes

Nothing like a woman in bed

With me

Sleeping

Entwined

Warm noise

I am here and there

Always fair

Slow

And old

Play the blues

On an electric tickle board

When she goes

Cry me to sleep

 Retreat

 To the nether world

 Life don’t always rhyme

Free verse uncomfortable

To English majors and minors

But who’s to say

What’s literary?

Feels so good

A woman in bed with me

BASEBALL

The Information Age

Aged

All that was left

Was Satchel’s

Curve ball

SWEET SORROW

It’s fine with me

That your going

No complaints to air

Just leave me a twenty…honey

Fill up the fridge

With some beer

If I’m to old for you

Then I’m to young for me

MOURNING SONG

Post card pictures in the sky
Keep floating by my riddled mind
When things get tough
I can not cry
or wonder where I've been

Writing with a sturdy feather
Dipped in ink that's gone forever
As the clouds float by

When your love has gone
It's hard
It's done
For you
For everyone
Till we meet again

HURRICANE

News

Have you heard?

Land

Fall

5

We Just Got It

Just found out about you

Pig

Can’t forgive

Can’t hide who you are

Or what you did

We just found out 

Bitch

 

Thought you could fool forever

No 
This knife will sever

What’s left of your soul

Throw it in the river

Hungry fish 

Your out of the boat  

Chum
You cant float 

Walk away

Or run

Your last day

You got to go
Can’t take another day

Bury you in mud

Watch your fetid breath

The last laugh

Is always the best

“How does it feel?

To be without a home

With no direction known

Like a complete unknown

Like a rolling stone”

HEAVEN'S DOOR

Cutting me through

Opening my veins

Draining my heart

I aint gonna die that way

Hear me

I’ll do it my way

Not in the metal

But with whatever spirit

I have left

Got few things to control

Few things to own

Who does

So hear me

I’ll do it my way

Raising my hand

To heaven

A once and final

Bow

If I think of the dark

I’ll never see the light

It’s my blood

My weakness

My strength

And with whatever spirit

I have left

I will lift myself

To the angels

Or die trying

SLEEP

Nothing like a woman in bed

With me

Sleeping

Entwined

Warm noise

I am here and there

Always fair

Slow

And old

Play the blues

On an electric tickle board

When she goes

Cry me to sleep

 Retreat

 To the nether world

 Life don’t always rhyme

Free verse uncomfortable

To English majors and minors

But who’s to say

What’s literary?

Feels so good

A woman in bed with me

NOT EVEN A COUPLET

Tomorrow is Blooming

Yesterday is Swooning

Today is Thinking about Next Week

EASY LISTENING

Your eyes grabbed me

And we became one

Then

Your body electrified me

And I knew I was ready

Knew it

You touched my hair

The current jumped a kilowatt

Who says love is gone

They don’t know anything

About love and lovers like us

We danced by the sea

The roar of the ocean

Was our personal band

You took what was yours

That beautiful day

When our eyes met

Knew it

Knew it more for you then me

I can’t sleep again

Please wake my soul again

Who says love is gone

They don’t know anything

About love and lovers like us

We danced by the sea

To the roar of the ocean

And the warmth of the breeze

60s'

Was walking by the fire house

To see the firemen

But all I saw

Was a clock Big Ben

So I hurried to the church and

Sipped on a coke

I knew the end was near

When I saw that English Bloke

So what are you gonna do

When you

Get happy

Yeah

What are you gonna do when you get crazy

Well I jumped into my  car

Got up to 150

Counted all the tires making sure 

I was driving safely

And what are you gonna do

When you

Get Happy

A thousand marching soldiers

Came to visit my home

I let them in but none

Could use my phone 

They said that it was urgent

I said I understand

But I just got a cell

I’m not wired for this land

And when are you gonna be happy

The mystery woman

Came jumping into my bed

Saying I can do strange things to you

I said …..I bet

But you don’t have the flare

Of the magician in the corner

Whose sucking his toes and says hes gonna

Be happy

So this crazy song is almost

Done

My pizza’s on the floor

But I lost my special pills; so I bolt for the door

Back in the car  headed for the pharmacy

But they wouldn’t let me have them

on account of some law

oh say can you see, screwed once more. 

The pharm dude took pity

Said come over here my man

Here’s a special pill

Straight from Vietnam

And he whispered in my ear 

So no one could hear

That I would soon be happy

Get It (Retro Blues 2012)

Where are they?

Delusional, freedom folks

In the streets of America

Percolating?

That Vietnam success

Put us to rest

Don’t be scared of preaching

Those Retro Blues

Touch and go

Like a tornado

If you feel the cold 

You better jump the rail

As fast as you can

           

Moses down the mountain

Saw the jokers

Dancing to gold

Climbed up again

He wasn’t old

Its been sung before

It’s been done before

By Colonial Gypsies

At Boston harbor

Dumping tea  

In the boiling sea

Our pranksters  

Dance in Congressional suites  

Tossing scraps

To a hypnotized crowd

Anyone want to go back up the mountain?

Touch and go

You know what’s blowing

You’re not to old

To lend a hand

And get it

Again

GA GA MELODY........I WANT TO LOVE YOU

I want to love

Till the night goes grey

I want to love you

Till there’s nothing to say

I want to love you

For a hundred years

I want to love you

Without any tears

            You’re my baby wonder girl

My baby wonder girl

            You get it right

            Or you don’t get it at all

I want to love you

Till the moon goes out

I want to love you

Till you scream and shout

I want to love you

Till the end of time

I want to love you

Till you say your mine

            My baby wonder girl

            My baby wonder girl

            You get it right

            Or you don’t get it at all

I want to love you

Till you can’t wait

I want to love you

So you will never escape

I want to love you

Till mountains move

I want to love you

Till I match your groove

My baby wonder girl

            My baby wonder girl

            You get it right

            Or you don’t get it at all

I want to love you

Till you want me too

I want to love you

Not just screw

I want to love you

Till the morning sun

I want to love you

Till we are one

                       

My baby wonder girl

            My baby wonder girl

            You get it right

            Or you don’t get it at all

No More Basketball

He just woke up

With an ax headache

Split down his skull

Felt like a gardening rake

Every muscle was quivering

Every bone ached

Stumbled to the kitchen

To see what was what

The cats were waiting saying

Where’s the food Pop?

But his eyes couldn’t focus

His brain was a sham

The old fart wasn’t drunk

Just a round ball man

            You just can’t run

            You just cant’ pass

            And oh my lord

            He made an ass

            Of his days of youth

            When he had it all 

           

Hey Pops!

Your 64!

You shouldn’t play basketball!

            Hey Pops!

Your 64!

You shouldn’t play basketball!

            (Repeat verses as long as you can)

TILL THE END OF TIME

I

For Kurt Vonnegut

From the Kitchen Window

Was Standing Nude

Watching acid rain

Sweet Music

To some Company’s bottom line

But don’t worry

It’s snowing in the desert!

Saw it myself from my Kitchen Window

Don’t send me love songs

As the planet explodes

Babe you had your chance

So It Goes

ACE OF DIAMONDS

She had everything going

Was the ace of diamonds

In a New York Subway

Singing folk songs

And strumming her guitar

I thought she would go far

So we offered her a ride

To the West Side

An audition

At the Lincoln Center

The spot

Embraced her

She walked to the

Microphone

And played a tune

A good night for her

Made enough in quarters

To buy food

Ha Chews

Woke up

To the sound

Of birds crying

Some were dying

In my living room

                       

Skid marks

My underwear

So serene

Not clean

                       

There’s lox to like

In Nova Scotia

                       

Nobody remembers Nelson Rockefeller

Maybe a few ice skaters

                       

Execution Canadian style

There’s the Falls boy

And here’s your barrel

                       

Texas is not a State

It’s a state

                       

                                                                                                                                   

Cell phone problem

Gas stations

Electric fire

And one blown tire

WHAT A WAY TO GO

It’s early in the mourning

Dark as hell

The fog is moving in

No warning bell

I’m looking out the window

At a shrouded figurine

A misty glass lady

With a blood curdling scream

Her eyes lock

Below the Golden Gate

Her hard smile

Sealing souls fate

No time to pack

No time to pace

No tunnel light

No magic
No cheers 

No disgrace

Turning from the window

I jump into my clothes.

If this is how it ends

Don’t want to miss the show

MY OLD NEW SUIT 

When I wake up

From this frozen Dream

From these cold steel bars

Nightly screams

I will walk the earth

With an alien smile

Lightly tread a while

Gain my legs

Adjust to the light

And see America

For the second time

Won't Deceive Me

Red Coup Believer

Music begins Then vocals:

She can’t believe me

But won’t deceive me

She drinks martinis you know

Then goes to the city

With a swagger of her own

I can’t be sad

Can’t be down

When this girl is near

Who made her calm?

In the storm

Who taught her to persevere?  

That being real isn’t wrong

Shut up and drink that beer

She won’t go slow

In that red sport coup

Covered with black snow

The New York City Skyline just like a white rainbow

She won’t play games

Don’t care bout fame

Could last the whole night threw

Who am I- to even try?

To get a word in or two

Who painted her serene?

Who made her laugh -that silent crafted melody?

I can’t put my finger on it

Just hold on fast

To this lighting dream

Oh,

She knows that life

Is a gulp of someone else’s beer

Who am I to say I’m wise

When there’s a lady with no fear

Oh

She can’t believe me

But won’t deceive me

She drinks martinis all night long

Goes to the city- don’t take pity

On all that is wrong

Oh

She got a swagger all her own 

And everythings fine

When the night turns the morning home

(Music fades)

WAITING

 

Will the wind

Push open the door

Right me

Tie my heart

Lift me up

Again

Sitting here

Nursing fear

Waiting

Alert for a sign

That tonight

She returns

Time is no friend

At the end