smoke and mirrors,

all i’ve asked is the right to work,to have food and shelter for my family,to have just a little timeto do what matters to me…to be honest and giving,to celebrate tiny moments,to love and be loved,and to go deep inside, and search.determined to help anyone i can,in whatever small way…always willing to listen,always ready to…

a song that wears a human face,dust from a distant star.a river that flows from heart to heart,a fire that feeds itself.a ship unmanned on stormy seas,the hand that rings the bell.a child is born, a friend has died,and so the circle goes on.the memories of the outstretched hand,lives in the stillness before dawn.i cannot…

in front ofabandoned houses…empty mailboxesrusting to theground…empty swings creakingin the late evening breeze;a bottle of wine,half-empty,moans in the shadows.the fields have been picked,nothing left, but sweat stained dirt….even the embers have grown cold,and the pot is empty.the sounds and smells of livinglinger by unmarked stones…dead poets; old cars…running on empty!

and the bar on the corner is gone.the sidewalks swept and empty,windows covered with dust.would be lovers ride by radios blaring,cell phones grafted to their ears.no one makes love anymore,masturbation detoxification.crows hanging on the brick walls,apartment doors bolted and locked.caught a meth lab in the church basement,and they’ve cut down all the trees.no one jumps…

cracking walnuts with a hammer.i often feel this waywhen i try to comprehendgod, infinity, and the meaning of life.scientific thrustsonly leave more questions.and philosophy turnswine into water!i can still taste the walnuts,perhaps that’s enough!

of his own small storefor forty years…the young toughskept robbing him…grabbing stuff off the shelvesand running…threatening him,and the old woman…till they lived in fearday and night…then they went too far!coming across the counterand grabbing him by the collar:‘give me the money, old man! ‘quick, and sudden,the gunshot rings out…the young tough fallsto the floor in…