Alley Roads

A man hides behind the rubble of the nearby trash
Does he not deserve a hot meal in his stomach
His life decorated with triumph and heartache alike
His story unfolded would reach any ears daring to listen
How is it that we walk by him and not notice his frown
All that is seen is the dirt on his face, not the battles he won
His uniform a long ago memory, and his decoration forgotten
He tried to manage the chaos of life and lost along the way
Still he was one of us, His tears just as salty and real
He once had dreams of a life like yours and mine
Yet fate's hand took both of his loves in childbirth
The devil was there to greet him in his sorted misery
The burning taste of elixir ran down his throat as he wept
Unfair you call it, but reality unfolded upon him in a storm
Now his dirt a little more understood, Years of remorse indeed
He spat out the poison, but the pain returned and with it the glass
The sands of time etch away our memories, fading them some
All of this though does little to conform standards on the heart
His glass never empty, his sorrow open and grand
What would you do if you lost everything you ever loved
After waging wars for those who did not even care
Could you hold your head and thank your maker
Or would you be just another vagrant standing near a fire

Lefty's Jaunt

I don't have all the notes of life
In fact, I often sing out of key
I'm chronically misunderstood
Even when I am making sense
My dreamer's path oft skewed
Even when God has lit the way
I recognize the forest today
I can finally see all the trees
I don't need my feelings spared
I stand firmly on my own two feet
Swimming in a bright ocean blue
Rising in thought and with the tide
Floating on the sea, Glimmering
I share myself with those I love
Yet I keep my self worth today
Walking firmly through my fears
Finding a safe place to lay my head
Unlike the places I did go in days past
The thorns left their heated stings
And I rejoice to be free of them
Mixing words with sordid thoughts
My maker found me out to sea
So if I speak freely of Him
Understand my grateful stride
And when I speak in riddles
Listen closely and hear my sound
Answers trickle from its tune
Even I hear them now

Unspoken

If I walked a mile, Would you walk a mile too?
Would you stay and sing to me if I said wanted you?
The opening of this song is everything I've waited for
To hear it playing now, opens up my dreamer's door
I know you're probably wondering if all of this is real
I'm praying that my actions always show you how I feel
If there are places I could go, I would surely bring you too
I could spend forever whispering, Yet I want to say to you
I have this feeling, That you're the girl I've longed to meet
The one that likes the way I laugh, and the silly side of me
I would hold you in a rainstorm, We could dance away our fears
I will always be the man you met, No longer do you need your tears
Just say that you want what I want and we want the same thing
The rest will work it self out, because always, has a nice ring

Summer Found Us Somewhere Along the Way

Long before I could tell you, I knew
Times before I could hold you, I sought
A window opened briefly in time
The shadows on your heart slipped away
Yet I move about you with a gentle pace
If only to show you that I came to stay
That life and laughter can come from lesser things
An entire ocean of dreams can rush to your feet
Who you see today is who I've always wanted to be
I had to get there on my own, before I found someone to show
When I held your hand, my other thoughts drifted away
I whispered to your ear that we should dare to dream
Never will it be the way it was, We can do anything
I looked at you and smiled, knowing deep inside
I was surely where I was meant to be
That happiness was quietly found

Not So Elusive

Counting the raindrops that I could see
Knowing that some of them fell just for me
Waking to the pitter of my beating heart
Comprehending its resurgence from the start
Having hope in the the miracle of dreams
Waiting on forever is not what it seems
Seldom do I rhyme any written verse
Yet this morning was full of unrehearse
Breaking the mold by holding long court
Nervous attempts of the grandest sort
How could new thought provoke much passion
Never in years have I seen such a fashion
Opening the door to electrifying  thought
Finding there what I had not sought
Has me wishing upon migrating stars
Bounding on speedy rockets and racing cars
Sleepy-eyed and still full of amaze
Wandering through morning in a silly daze
Thoughts captured and pen partly dry
I closed the book with a dreamer's sigh

New Portraits in a Timeless Gallery

The rain falling on his face was fortunate
His dry pockets soaked up the sound
Pattering on the roof or in his heart
His gaze, unrelenting in the summer mist
Fixed on portraits trapped in his mind
He knows he must offer out a gentle hand
The ones before him simply took what they could
The smell of the storm-filled air brings a scent
As he follows it to where it lies, He sees a face
Simple, yet stunning in mid summer's glow
How fortunate was he to come here
In a rain that promised only to drown
Another blessing floated within reach
Tomorrow arrested for the moment
Eyes met, and the world stood still
Rain beat down on his sodden back
Not deterring him from endless amaze
He smiled and laughed and cried within
The wet, painted summer allowed him in

Finding Hope in Fireflies

Cool on the surface, Melted on the inside
Gentle waves blowing, Time bends again
Afraid of its glow, Intrigued by its mystery
Standing in the doorway, Running a solid race
The heart paces on, A single light shining bright
Muddled in a daze, Too unaware to let go
Jagged are the lines, Soft is her heart
Opening to a window, Opening to the stars
Finding solid ground, Caressing common sound
Lending his timeless ticker, Spinning in open air
The ancient world turns, Sleeping hearts acquiesce
Soft and clammy hands, Cold and hampered breath
Receiving grace again, Nothing else could matter
Winding roads converge, Hearts may yet indulge

Soliciting Nature's Gift

Whirling canyons I have never seen
Intrigue my mind to travel forward
In the absence of worry, I find peace
The valley is higher than before the storm
Inconsistent crests become more solid still
I awoke to find the trees that were evergreen
Back in the distance, flood waters capitulate
The ravine recedes and now the ferns can grow
Roots planted deep never quite fade away
Faith allows their recourse, and holds firm
Catching my breath on majestic mountains
I never knew how to look at paintings before
Paint could never do this any justice anyhow
The canvas my life has produced is rich indeed
Only I had to envelop my eyes to absorb its treasure
Retire the brush that painted sorted scenes
Becoming open to a brighter, greener front
As the day awakens, and the old familiar Orb glows
I laugh at myself, What a folly was misguided darkness
When the Earth beneath my feet promised my redemption
Sharper my thoughts are to avoid the jagged cliffs
To avoid the minds eye, that lets it slip from this place
Where dreams are grown, and flowers forever bloom