Shiny Side Up, Sticky Side Down: A Collection of Poems

A collection of poems for my friends. ( I hope they don't mind. )

In sum, swell doggerel

I thought
If these could be
But seen and heard
Past these pages...
I say,
Man you script
In some swell doggerel.

She said
If these could be
Butt scene and herd
Passed, these pages...
Aye c'est,
Manuscript
In sum, swell doggerel.

inflection, or two isomorphisms

Often he plays, the fool.
Oh you won!
A way with words; kiss me, hear?
Common meet, two for play.
Happy are we now and two in love!
Never know.

Often he plays the fool.
Owe you one;
Away with words; kiss me here!
Common meat to foreplay...
Happy are we now and too in love?
Never, no.

Chemistry

Hypergolic girl
Catalyzes desire,
Oxidation and reduction
Fuel exothermic fire.
Balanced reaction
Hot flash, no ash;
Equation satisfaction.

Reciprocal Affection

Beyond any contradiction,
It's a certain conviction
Yes without correction,
For reciprocal affection
This truth is no fiction,
Love is more than friction.

some sweet sister

Sunshine siren so sweetly singing,
A green-eyed cutey, a real beauty.
Some sweet sister she was mister,
There wasn't no way to resist her.
No I should have never kissed her
Then these lips couldn't miss her,
Wouldn't be no wish to untwist her.

Once when

Once when I was most a child
The little girls drove me wild.
Those looks purely provocative,
Of desire so surely evocative.
Pushed by some precocity
And excess early velocity,
I chased them with ferocity.
But since then my friend
I've grown a bit older
And somehow become colder,
Mostly just show a shoulder.
Could it be some sad experience
Has led me to this defense?

killing fields

In the killing fields,
Thrilling yields
Mount the body count.
In the daily news,
Editorial views
Flount the proud count.
War's become a game,
Such a shame
A score, nothing more.

a time or two

At least a time or two
I tried returning those calls,
Those telephone calls from you...
More'n a quite few times
I've dropped dollars in dimes,
Yes on trying to connect with you...
Even when I do get through
Yeah on the telephone to you,
There's always a line between us...
Talking these desires through
Yeah over these wires to you,
Oh little operator this'll never do...
Pick up on that first ring
Won't mean one damn thing,
No 'cause you never been the answer...
So excuse me while I redial
And check this correction,
Gonna try to make a better connection...

hard to hack, haiku

Hard to hack, haiku.
Fitting some form ain't my norm,
Poetry by rule.

Haiku you do

Be provactive,
of feeling evocative,
syllabically.

some sweet sylph

Some sweet sylph strolling
such symmetric synthesis,
svelte synergism.

by the bottle bye

Drinking and dying
by the bottle by and by,
suicide on rye.

There are some women

There are some women,
take your soul if you let them;
best you forget them.

Just forget this fight

Just forget this fight,
smile and walk away from you;
wish I knew how to.

but one utility

Needn't read these pages carefully,
they give but one utility;
best these humble attempts at rhyme
only help pass some else idle time.
These words in lines all entwined,
just here to entertain the mind;
intent hoped easy to find,
simplicity is my design.

after the crash

One, two, many
pushes and returns;
one too many
pops...
Silly silicon syndrome;
stack scattered, system shattered.
Bits of bytes,
certain symbols,
arcane artifacts,
and the occasional Hex character.
Now all we can find,
these remnants of a kind,
memories of a metallic mind.

Pascal's patches

When our one wish of worth
Had been confessed without pretension
(no, and not to disrupture structure);
Well it was no wicked want,
But some certain hurtin'
That desire a level higher,
Was Type RECORD we wished to acquire...
Would our one wish of Wirth
Had been possessed without extension;
Oh, and not to disrupt your structure.

The Left Behind of the Great Society

We are the ratted on,
The spat upon,
The left behind of the Great Society.
We are the unemployed,
The unenjoyed,
The left behind of the Great Society.
We are the junkhead,
The good as dead,
The left behind of the Great Society.
We are the wanderer,
The soul squanderer,
The left behind of the Great Society.
We are the crying,
The lost men dying,
The left behind of the Great Society.

In my mystic forest

In my mystic forest
With just me and Mary
Behind the locked door,
I squat on my haunches
And pull one toke more.
Sitting here in the dark
The only reality the floor,
Closed secure in this womb.
A construction of silence
And a darkened room.
Stoned solo late at night
High here in this half light,
And nobody with me any more.
Just my shadow on the floor
And it ain't the same as before.

Burnt Doubt

Some summer storm's
Leaping licking lightning
Bolt blasted black
Fire fried fingers
Sad skeletal stretch
Screams silently
To a sullen sky.

Cold city's beast

This is about Bernard Goetz, the subway shooter
Cold city's beast
rumbles in the East.
Stumbles. Falls, crawls.
Goetz up.
Beast rumbles in the East.
For youths bored, cold city's beast.
Four youths board city's cold beast.
Some trade to ply,
they have tools.
Drivers of the screw.
Four loosening dollars, true.
Some trade to ply,
a cheap peace. Of conversation for funds.
Easy mark.
Five dollars?
For each of you?
A cheap piece. For conservation of funds.
Conversation for fun.
Four each of you.
The iron dog barks, makes sparks.
Easy marks. True.
Four each of you,
shot through.
Goetz off.
For youths bored,
city's cold piece.

wet dreams

My girl smell sweet 'n' squeaky clean,
Yeah you know what it is that I mean
My little girl she a scrubbing machine.
Oh yes she turn the whirlpool on high,
Scrub from her nose on down her thigh
Soon she begin to bubble bye an' bye.
And when I carry in my bar of soap,
That rub a dub girl always tugs the rope
Scrubs and rubs til it raises more'n hope.
Yes she rub and shine till it gleams,
And you have to 'scuse me if it seems
This gotta be the best of wet dreams.

wicked wounds, worn well

Reading these poems all night,
some
Scripted sheets, soft sell
from my
Burning bright, Bonnie belle.
Through tears blurring sight,
see
Serious scars, slashed shell
hold her
Hacked heart, hidden hell.
Crying for my heart's delight,
now
Shared stanzas, sad spell
show me
Wicked wounds, worn well.

Twenty One

Well I just turned twenty one,
Might say my life's just begun.
Less'n a quarter century gone by,
My how the time do seem to fly.
But even now I can see a setting sun,
A sign that life is too soon done.
And you wonder why I sit and cry,
With so much time left you and I.
Let me tell you how it is my friend,
Of things I'll not do before the end.

Owed to a Drunken Poet

The drunken poet pukes
Lies in the gutter,
Crys in the gutter,
Dies in the gutter;
With the flies in the gutter.
The drunken poet's puke
Fries in the gutter,
Lies in the gutter,
Drys in the gutter;
With the flies in the gutter.

After Three In the Morning

So it's after three in the morning,
and me with tears in the eye.
Some friends tried to gimme a warning,
knew this silly love'd make me cry.
And for me to dream of holding you,
ah yes these arms enfolding you.
Oh no no baby this'll never do,
gotta forget these feelings for you.
Some sad singer spendin' her lifetime,
yeah livin' on just makin believe.
Don't sound like no plan of mine,
hey I got better'n me to deceive.
I think of you often now we're apart,
when I do it simply breaks my heart.
No I never really been so smart,
shoulda known better'n let it start.
Say tomorrow's gonna be a brand new day,
might not think 'bout you the same way.
But if I do hey then all I gotta say,
hope these memories just fade away.

just confused

Crippled and can't dance,
like this dead romance. Never had a chance,
past circumstance.
You led with that smile,
weighed the worth of a wile. Said maybe in a while,
like time was a trial.
Asked me if what I had,
did I have it real bad. Said love made you glad,
didn't leave you sad.
Asked if you're being chased,
and I said yes, with haste. No plans then laid waste,
this fool's heart began to race.
You were innocence and charm,
sweetness from the farm. Turkey boy saw no harm,
neck snapped without alarm.
When you finish your little game,
does it always end the same? Love a bit more tame,
discard the pawn with no shame?
Or just checking my profile,
and reaction to denial? And safe in some file,
a score for style?
And now you want to be excused,
say you're just confused. Then why do I feel used,
the lady laughing and amused?
So broken hearted thought I'd die,
For a month all I did was cry. Now I just sad sigh,
and let another day go by.
Once this was all new to me,
now there's no mystery. It's become easy to see,
you repeat your history.
And hey you needn't thank me,
for revealing this discovery. Just let me go free,
to continue my recovery.

winking eye

soft lover's sigh, winking eye
sweet lips
silk glove, soft winking eye, winked its eye
lover's trips
soft like a sigh too shy, winked its eye
lover's trips
soft like a sigh, never no til ya try
smooth hips
lover's trips
winked its eye, soft lover's thigh
smooth lipped love,
before the sigh, winked its eye
soft, like a sigh too shy, winked its eye
lover's trips
soft love, never know til ya try, winked its eye
smooth hips, lover's trips
before the sigh winked its eye
sweet lips
winked its thigh before the sigh, sweet eye
lover's trips
like a cry before the sigh, soft thigh
lover's trips
soft, love, too shy to sigh, winked its eye
smooth hips
lover's trips
soft lover's thigh,
soft silk glove never no til ya try
before the sigh winked its eye
lover's trips
soft lover's sigh, never know til ya try
sweet lips, lover's trips

Lesson Never

Like a egg in a bowl,
My brain is scrambled.
Yes, I'm out of control
Strange kinda feelin
Gotta hold a my soul.

(chorus) Yes I must admit that it's true
And there's nothing I can do
Don't try,
You won't get burned
That's a lesson
[I never learned...
Woman I've fallen in love with you.

Yeah fun ta be a flashin,
With a lady on your arm.
But it ain't just the fashion
Got my mind a reelin
It's a lover's passion.

(chorus)

Pretty laughing eyes,
And the way she smile
It ain't no surprise
With that happy feelin,
Heart just up and flies.

(chorus)

Workin in the war,
Woman ain't no fool
Yes she know the score,
I can't see no reason
To want anything more.

(chorus)

Yes I must admit that it's true
And there's nothing I'd rather do
Oh woman I been so happy
Since I've fallen in love with you.
Don't try,
You won't get burned
That's a lesson
I never learned...

parental guidance

Just us boys in the band,
No sudden surprises planned.
The song has no hidden satirics
Ain't nothing clever to the lyrics,
We got no hard to figure esoterics,
And the obvious don't bring hysterics.
Blood and guts, wounds and gore,
Flip the channel, catch some more.
After all, what's entertainment for
Good guys, bad guys,
Nobody keepin score.
Money and crime, death and hate,
Big movie screens, ain't it great.
Hurry along, don't wanna be late
Good guys, bad guys,
All to incinerate.
Just us boys in the band,
No sudden surprises planned.
The song has no hidden satirics
Ain't nothing clever to the lyrics,
We got no hard to figure esoterics,
And the obvious don't bring hysterics.
Ships to sink, armies to kill,
Blazing glory, what a thrill.
Villages to burn, blood to spill
Good guys, bad guys,
Both die with skill.
We watch it all, have our checks,
No naked ladies, no bedroom treks.
Can't have that, an audience to vex
Good guys, bad guys,
Doing it with no sex.
It's a joke, humor indeed to me,
Laugh a bit, for it's funny to see.
Children watching inquisitively
Good guys, bad guys,
Wondering how they came to be.

poor moth

My desire has
Such a pretty name,
Such a pretty flame.
Poor moth.
Never gonna be the same.
She says, "Only time will tell."
And when it does, will it yell?
Rise gentle from the dream,
Or wake with a shout, a scream?
My desire has
Such a pretty game,
Such a pretty flame.
Poor moth.
There's no one to blame.
She says, "Only time will tell."
And when it does, will it yell?
Rise gentle from the dream,
Or wake with a shout, a scream?
My desire has
Such a pretty frame,
Such a pretty flame.
Poor moth.
Really has no shame.
She says, "Only time will tell."
And when it does, will it yell?
Rise gentle from the dream,
Or wake with a shout, a scream?
My desire is
Such a pretty dame,
Such a pretty flame.
Poor moth.
Tired of playing tame.
She says, "Only time will tell."
And when it does, will it yell?
Rise gentle from the dream,
Or wake with a shout, a scream?

My Rock 'n' Roll Music

Yes if I hadn't been born lazy,
Been dropped and gone half crazy,
I'd know better'n dream like I do.
But I got my rock 'n' roll music
And it always pulls me through.
When my latest scheme falls thru
And I'm feelin out, down and blue
With nothin' and nobody to do,
Yes I got my rock 'n' roll music
And it always pulls me through.
When I got to move, go for sure
With a itch no I can't endure
I know where to find the cure.
I play my rock 'n' roll music
And it always pulls me through.
And when I'm gonna take a chance
With women, love, and romance
Or most any other circumstance,
I work my rock 'n' roll music
And it always pulls me through.
***
Yes if I hadn't been born lazy,
Been dropped and gone half crazy,
I'd know better'n dream like I do.
But I got my rock 'n' roll music
And it always pulls me through.
And just in case you never knew
Listen to what I'm telling you,
I'm really thankful it's true.
Yes I got my rock 'n' roll music
And it always pulls me through.
When I'm jus' sittin and dreamin,
Or workin', and plannin' or schemin,
Maybe bending my axe and screamin,
I play my rock 'n' roll music
And it always pulls me through.
Yes and I'm telling you no jive,
When the boys in the band arrive
It makes me so happy to be alive,
They play my rock 'n' roll music
And it always pulls me through.

Dark Bars

Crying guitars. Cool cars. Dark bars.
You know the people in these places,
Ones with want written in their faces.
*
Listen to that freeway sound,
Fast wheels goin round and round.
Lonely Mars. Cool cars. Dark bars.
You know the people in these places,
Ones with eyes watching private spaces.
*
Out on the pavement at night,
Rolling one more time to get it right.
Movie stars. Cool cars. Dark bars.
You know the people in these places,
Ones a wishing for more than four aces.
*
Riding with a mind on fire,
Out searchin' for that true desire.
Candy bars. Cool cars. Dark bars.
You know the people in these places,
Ones 'at'd have you tied up in traces.
*
Lookin for love and lies,
Hoping to find the eyes that hypnotize.
Little jars. Cool Cars. Dark bars.
You know the people in these places,
Those in your memory the time erases.
*
Put it in the parking lot,
Stroll inside and give it another shot.
Vivid scars. Cool cars. Dark bars.
You know the people in these places,
Look in the mirror and see their faces.
*
Every night leaves ya blue
When cruisin is the only thing you can do.

Somaroma

Hey what's that aroma,
Why the boy in such a coma?
He been smokin' base and eatin soma.
What's that snortin' sound,
Boy been honkin' powder he found?
Won't be long a'fore he ain't around.
Forget these little lapses,
Been some damage to the synapses.
Let's watch while his head collapses.
***
Forgive the loss of civility,
Overlook the lack of stability.
Been awhile since he had credibility.
And any way you hack it,
To profit they have to whack it.
These dudes could steal your jacket.
Yes got an electric thirst,
And it's hurting for the worst.
That's why he feeds his head first.
***
Sooner or later gonna find
Powder to which he's inclined
Done ate the middle and left the rind.
He's riding that train,
Do I really have to explain?
You've heard that song 'bout cocaine.
But I'll never disagree,
And give him grief or agony.
If I'm quiet he'll bring some to me.

Undercover Lover

Yes she's my undercover lover,
I won't put nothin' else above her
And I don't want to be with no other.
Her lovin me and loyalty
Set my spirit flying free
Undercover lover is the world to me.
*
Yes she's my undercover lover,
I won't put nothin' else above her
And I don't want to be with no other.
Behind the doors of night,
Lady is my heart's delight
Undercover lover does it so right.
*
Yes she's my undercover lover,
I won't put nothin' else above her
And I don't want to be with no other.
This peaceful easy feeling
Got me shaking and reeling
Undercover lover my heart's a stealing.
*
Yes she's my undercover lover,
I won't put nothin' else above her
And I don't want to be with no other.
Ask what's on her mind,
Get no story and no shaky line
Undercover lover is better than fine.
*
Yes she's my undercover lover,
I won't put nothin' else above her
And I don't want to be with no other.
Sweet memories linger each day,
She's been the best in every way
Undercover lover oh I hope you stay.
*

SINGER

And may I sing of myself,
May I sing my song to you?
I would tell of a line of trees,
Like soldiers at drill
In neat rows
Up and down
The little valleys and dales,
Hills and ridges
Of the grass blanket;
Stretching away wrinkled
To the foot of the bed,
Where the granite castles
Guard against the river
As it seems to gnaw
At the blanket's green edge
With its teeth
Of melted snow...
And I would sing of a buttercup,
One among a million like it,
Going forever to the forest
On the meadows nether side;
Where the lavender haze
Tells the watcher
That the lilacs are blooming...
And I would tell of a steep sided valley
With green grass meadows
Spotted
With drops of pigment from the sky;
Each drop the crowning glory
Of an aster or broomflower
Hiding among the feet and knees
Of gnarled pinion trees...
And I would tell of the blue water
With its white tipped teeth,
Chewing at the granite shore
Where the stones are vaulted fortresses
To stand the siege of the waves
As they roar their eternal wrath...
And I would sing of midnight walks
In small South Carolina towns,
Of babies crying
Wet and cold
For their mother's kiss;
But there is no answer,
Only the patter
Of the night's rain...
And I would sing of cigarettes smoked
Alone,
Or with the company of one who shares
The secrets of my soul...
And I would sing of my singers,
Those whose spark ignites memories
Of love and joy
And sorrow;
Those who give the fleeting promise
Of a better tomorrow,
Solace to a weary soul...
And I would sing of my tears
For the little yellow men;
There is no escape for them,
Nor for those who come home
At reduced rates
Because they are shipped
In boxes and crates
With red, white, and blue wrappers...
And I would sing of warm flesh
Rippling under my stroking fingers;
Alive and responding
With warmth to my touch,
Moving to the final fusion,
Its joy removing
For a time at least
The sadness of the life
It perpetuates...
And all of these things,
As I sing of them,
Sing of me...

A Lament

Oh yes...
You and I,
We've been through that
Sometime before,
Before the sky fell open
Bringing rain
To the parched land.
Before the flowing water
Brought life
To the barren sand.
Before the gentle breeze
Shook the leaves
With its tender hand.
And yet,
Though I heard your words;
Still,
I don't understand.

Hearthmother

Conjure for me a tiny gem;
Make it alive and shimmering
With the look of your flaming eyes.
And I will hold and keep it warm,
And see that its fire never dies.

Bliss

The cat purrs content
In sleep on the satin spread,
And knows not my lament
On finding so empty a bed.

Time Gone Bye

Reflecting on what might have been,
And what has come to pass
It seems so long ago
When last we lay
In afterglow...
But now it’s come to distances
And the time gone bye,
The separation between
You and I...
So let’s not talk of love and change,
Things we can't rearrange
Let's not talk of kisses soft and warm,
Wrapping us both
In a sleepy summer storm
Let's not talk of waking
In the cold gray dawn,
A new day breaking;
Finding you gone

Zippo

And I
I would be as Jehovah;
For I too
Have created
A man.
And into him I would breathe
Life.
And lead him to walk
In the naked light
Of the sun.
And I would be
As the Light:
I would give him a light.

A lesson for the Learning

Somewhere...
Between the silence of the mountains
And the roaring of the sea
I found a woman
Who showed me
The meaning of gladness;
Who showed me
The meaning of madness...
But it was her leaving
That showed me
The meaning of sadness.

Seeker

Ask Calchas
He knows.
Says he does,
Anyhow...
Soothsayer,
Teller of fortunes.
Seeker of the light.
And you,
You and I...
Do we know?
Doubtful.
Blind...

Sea Witch

Yemaja
Lives where the silver sand
Touches the sea
And the bitch
Takes my empty hand,
And teases me...
So I run,
Searching for the land
Where I can be free.
But no matter
Where I choose to stand,
She won't let me be.

Requiem

I loved
Your eyes that caressed
Smooth as softest silk.
I loved
Your lips that cast
Such shimmering shadows.
I loved
Your light loving laughter
Softly soothing my soul.
I loved
Your beatiful curving hair
Subtle smooth as smoke.
Little lovely one
I wanted to laugh and play with you
All the summer day through.
Little lovely one
I wanted to lay in love with you
All the winter night through.
Now the blue shades of the dying day
Grow colder and ever more gray
As the sunshine of love fades away,
While more and more time passes by
Leaving only a memmory
Of you and I...

Winners

Hey you! Dinosaur!
Can't you take it,
Or hack it anymore?
Well, hail the primate king,
Sovereign of the land...
Standing wet and cold,
His pockets full of sand.

Out there

Parts of speech
On blackboards
Of green
Grass is growing
Out there
Where the sun shines.

Advice

Get a good lovin' woman,
Take her on home
But don't never leave
A good lovin' woman
Alone.

Endless Summer

When winter comes again,
And the leaves of green
Have turned to brown
I will love you then
As I love you now.
Living in my world
Of pretend;
Where what I knew
In summer
Will never end.

Directions

Five tents lined in a row,
The camp dog's lonely bark
Is all you need to know.
The reaper was there as they went,
And he could easily show
The left behind dog
Where the soldiers did go.

Reaching for the Sun

I loved a woman,
Every one I've ever known.
Sometimes they make me so happy,
Sometimes they leave me all alone.
But you deceive me,
Bring me the joy
And leave me...
Wishing it had never begun;
For us to love each other,
Is like
Reaching for the sun.

Bells of Gold

Think I mighta been twelve when I wrote this...
Draping the dark trees,
Cold and still, icicles like a gown,
And wolves howling hungry in the night.
With a single match a man on his knees
One chance to live till tomorrow.
A flickering flame of hope, a chance
To move on with his dogs and skis.
He sought the Yukon's gold;
Near the big bend and high mountain,
A lonely grave now marks the spot.
Partner beneath the rocks, dead and cold
And scars of greed mark his face.
He murdered a man, thought his friend
For the yellow mineral centuries old.
Only the wolves know the crime,
And how they remind him now,
With hunger's howls to split the night.
Got to start the fire, not much time
A sudden flare of light,
Then nothing but the dark and night.
For his death no bells of gold will chime.

For His True Love

Night a dark cloak upon the land,
Still; not a breeze blows now...
Not even the wolf leading out his band
To seek the rabbit in the timber stand.
Light shines suddenly over the hill,
Seeking to send a man to Hell
A man imprisoned against his will,
Sought to lynch, his life to spill.
Death seeks him out from the wood
As shouting men aid its quest
Wanting to end his life for good
None would stop it if they could.
A murderer caught before the dawn
Earning an hour's dark freedom,
And now hung; dead and gone
A length of rope ending the evil spawn.
For a woman's vanity he earned this fate...
He thought she loved him dearly
And learned the truth too late;
For she smiles at Death's new mate.

About the author...

The author has been emulsified
and certified,
refried
and tie dyed;
detoxed
and reboxed.
Quid pro Quo, uno?

Morning's rain

This is one of my favorites...
Soft patter
of morning's rain
tapping window's pane
and I think of you again...
And sometimes
just now and again,
I feel like I did then.
Hoping like clouds and sky,
maybe flying together,
you and I.
Before fools from stylish schools
shaped and set private jewels
with personal tools,
or golden rules.
Nice ice, took a touch,
cool blue fire
aroused desire.
Emerald eyes, golden thighs,
butt a dream.
But a dream
never got no higher.
Be a lover, be a liar.
Eyes nice, take a look,
crashed the flier
doused the fire.
Head ache, heart break.
Ass burn,
live and learn.
Turn, turn, turn.
Soft spatter
of mourning's reign
tapping windows pain
when I think of you again...

riding again

Listen as I try to explain,
And perhaps you'll understand.
Yes, I been out riding again
Prodding the pygmy pony cross the colored sand,
Through the painted desert right here in my hand.
Some shaman searching high and seeking sky,
Out casting longer than planned
Stayed away at play for more than a day.
So before this story starts to unravel
Let's just say it's a pleasant way to travel...