Elevation

The clouds were thin and wispy
like a memory's demise,
an image that was crispy
till deluged by the lies
we long to exorcise;

among them I was drifting
across the blue expanse
and watched my outlook shifting
--coalescing on a chance--
my it was uplifting!

Provokers

A writer's best hours
are spent in la la land
away from all the towers
that dot the distant sand
facades ornately grand

away from glass and stone
and the unrelenting din
of those that piss and moan
for another chance to win
although the odds are thin

beyond the structured streets
and the people in a daze
that share unhealthy treats
and always look for praise
like rats in a maze

yes an author's mind will roam
to a place they've never seen
independent of the loam
corralling the serene
to instigate a scene.

Rent II

I long to leave our mother
for the gentler embrace
that's still inclined to smother
but not keep me in my place,
providing like no other
the enigma known as - Space,
whose understanding, starry eyes
are distant, but immensely wise.

It's a painful separation
but I feel it must be done,
with much determination
she'll cling and tears will run,
complete emancipation
isn't nonchalantly won
and though my homeward path be lost
I'll find a way to pay the cost.

Improperly Disposed

That burger made you feel complete
when you were convinced it was meat
but nothing's been more laid to waste
than the cultural concept of taste.

Retinue

The starry hunter stalks
with lethal arrow nocked
as better judgment balks
when immaturely mocked

the silver siren seems
to inundate the night
a gluttony that gleams
until earth takes a bite

while impish peers are prone
to wander after dark
they lurk about the throne
to spot the final spark.

Exile

I wanted to contribute but was dry
much like a barren blue and cloudless sky
but then I figured maybe I could lend
perspective that would endlessly extend
until a grain of sand got in my eye
and suddenly the light was not my friend

impaling jaded pupils with the facts
that no amount of blinking counteracts:
refusal to be part of the machine
eliminates your chances to be mean
or be involved in more productive pacts
that those who are contented may convene.

Metastasis

Nothing more drear
than waiting to hear
infected with fear

shudder in shock
ticks from the clock
malignantly mock

no way to stall
the cancerous crawl
that's eating us all.

Afterbirth

First, light ... then sound ... then hints of pain
but no, it's more ... unease
a feeling something simply isn't right
as new connections in the brain
and latent circuitries
are silently instructed to ignite,

she woozily wondered where she was
and tried to look around
but found her limbs were heavier than lead
she shivered as a constant buzz
assailed her with a sound
that chilled her - till she heard within her head:

We couldn't save your biomass
but did record each thought
before your cells completely decomposed,
your chassis is 'Adaptive Class'
meticulously wrought
and should complete whatever task is posed,

the batteries recharge from light
of any type at all
and should survive through any type of wear
so now you can resume your flight
(we did an overhaul)
to ferry your genetic freight with care.

Then suddenly she seemed to be
transported to her ship
her brand new body functioning quite well,
she watched her benefactors flee
a smile on her lip
then checked her charts and gave the engine hell,

and eons hence, an offshoot breed
may grow among the stars
because of one with nerve to persevere--
determined to protect her seed
regardless of the scars,
an aeronaut, a matriarch, a pioneer.

Accompaniment

A single note can ring so sweet
when passion generates the sound
but only resonates complete
if thoughtful harmonies abound.

Inherent

I think about the good mom
the one that wasn't scarred
the one that loved and laughed and prayed
and hugged us really hard
the one that always stressed to me
the potency of dreams
and showed me how to see the truth
beneath the endless seams.

I can't forget but do forgive
the mom that she became
the one that couldn't just move on
or learn to handle shame
the spirit who was slowly downed
a liter at a time
and whose ungodly suffering
was such a tragic crime.

Why must we be burdened by
such unforgiving flaws
bemoaning our misfortune
even though we are the cause
we've got to learn from those before
that struggled needlessly
how hopefulness and mercy help
us live for what may be.

Alignment

Disparity on the equinox
as planets rearrange
revolves around the paradox
of death begetting change

the shooting star has fizzled out
an omen things are through
but there's no reason we should pout
it's time for something new.

Woody Lane

He drove her out to Woody Lane
in hopes that she would entertain
him with her wanton wiles
there'd be no one around for miles,
she looked so hot in heels and skirt
it burned his eyes until they hurt
and oh the way her body swayed
was sweeter than fresh marmalade
and he was hungry for a taste
so motored there with utmost haste
with just one question in his brain
repeating fiercely - would Elaine?

Discrepancy

Before you offer friendship - wait
I feel that I must warn you
that I don't reciprocate
for then I will not mourn you
or be handicapped by hate
when you kindly perforate
my scar worn back

I know it sounds inhuman but
it's how I've learned to function
by keeping all the portals shut
from those that seek conjunction
though lately in my churning gut
I'm feeling that I don't know what
I sorely lack.

Disquiet

My mind's a mess
it's filled with stress
a pool of pouting putrid cess

I need to flush
this moody mush
so I can once more heed the hush.

Brooding

The nearest star still light years away
with nothing but empty space in sight
her stranded ship was cold and gray
succumbing to the endless night,
she'd never been one to piously pray
or fumble about in frivolous fright--
a faulty reactor had sealed her fate
so she sat down to calmly wait.

A captain will grieve a vessel's demise
surrendering their identity,
and a mother will mourn the child that dies,
a part of themselves that can never be,
but living is always a compromise
requiring strength to accept misery
by standing stalwart at the helm
as darkness tries to overwhelm.

When artificial gravity failed
she quietly floated like a cloud,
recycled air had long since staled
and with her final breath she vowed
to guard her nest as sleep prevailed,
she'd always been immensely proud
but it was truly more than that
a piece of herself was in the vat.

Same Difference

That bevy of others
were innocent flings
if he had his druthers
they'd wear matching rings

but loves's lonely lesson
reluctantly learned
is: overt obsession
will just get you burned

so, he's not much sadder
than he would've been
if he never had her
affection back then.

Witless

I seem to have misplaced my mind
whatever shall I do?
I figured it a breeze to find
but it completely blew
and now my gibberish is lined
without a freakin’ clue
I seem to have misplaced my mind
whatever shall I do?

Second Opinion

My wife recently had a test
the doctor called a routine check
and then they called her to request
another, now she's a nervous wreck

I tell her that she shouldn't fret
it's simply that they'd never seen
such loveliness and had to get
a filter for their damned machine

we get there at the moment planned
so she can have this new exam
the orderly sees her stroke my hand
"Lucky you!" Oh yes I am.

Doggone

We're all poor
we're all needy
some have more
because they're greedy

we're all cursed
(it's called mortal)
to be dispersed
beyond the portal.

Salami

The more I'm ignored the less I say
so go right ahead and babble away
it's comical watching your desperate display

as you become more messily mired
in the reputation you've acquired
from those (like you) that should be fired--

incompetence has become the norm
we need some type of structural reform
as I just smile and dumbly perform.

Dazzle

The stars ornately gild the sky
before the coming day
and sparkle like the tears we cry
that shine then fade away

so do not mourn me when I'm gone
for we're not meant to stay
like moonlight right before the dawn
we shine then fade away.

Miscarried

She watched the glowing screen erupt in snow
and cursed into the darkness as she knelt
her power cells were dangerously low
the audio as static as she felt,
there didn't seem to be another ship
in hailing distance that could hear her plea
in fact she didn't see a single blip
and slowly crawled to incubator three.
She thought about the day she had agreed,
an eager kid with dreams as big as space
impatient to behold a different sun,
her craft was like a giant silver seed
intended to help propagate the race
too bad that her delivery was done.

Scheme

Must matter be destroyed
in order to create?
Arithmetic employed
can't begin to validate
the value of the void
but still we calculate.

Culture

We're simply an experiment
a measured drop of crud
kept viable, but ignorant
like piggies in the mud

an entity much more advanced
is watching all we do
deciding if it should be chanced
to let the sample brew

for microbes can be tricky ilk
and known to quickly spread
destroying those off which they bilk
until the host is dead

but hopefully that's not the case
we're not an end that's loose
existing on the borrowed grace
of living past our use.

Restorative

You're the son I never had
the sun that keeps me warm
and though I'm not your dad
whenever dark clouds form
I'll be your shield.

There's nothing you can't be
you're so talented and smart
and everyone (like me)
will be swayed by the heart
you cutely wield.

The life I've pursued
wasn't always worthwhile
but my faith is renewed
when blessed by your smile
and I am healed.

Smithy

I've hammered and hammered and hammered some more
and pounded my anvil right into the floor
then purchased another so I could renew
my arduous efforts to fashion for you
a keepsake with each bang
but all I hear is a hollow clang.

By carefully mixing some mirth and some song
an alloy of sorts could become quite strong
if tempo is tempered with diligent care
protecting the edge from unlimited wear--
with no such luck to date
I'm at the forge till late.

Grinding

Momentum is slowing
I've got to get going
but can't find the gear
to get there from here

Cogency

How much do we truly need?
Much less than we care to concede
but we can't speak with our mouths full
a weakness of our breed.

How much should we actually care?
Much more than we're ever aware
but love won't gleam if a heart's dull
from years of heavy wear.

How much can we really believe
when we can't even see past the sleeve?
We've got to learn to pierce the hull
in order to conceive.

All You Need is One

I've had little reason to be happy for a while
except for that little grandson of mine
if it wasn't for him, I'd forget how to smile,

he does things with such comical style
that I just laugh, and forget to opine
the reasons I haven't been happy for a while

like all those bills that're stacked in a pile
from hungry vultures that wait in a line,
if it wasn't for him, I'd forget how to smile

and be overwhelmed by the gamut of guile
egregiously less than benign
which gives little reason to be happy. For a while

I was bitter and choking on my own bile,
refusing to believe the sun would ever shine--
if it wasn't for him I'd forget how to smile,

I'd probably mope around and glumly wile
away the days, but he makes sure I'm fine,
my little reason to be happy (for a while)
if it wasn't for him I'd forget how to smile.

Just Sayin'

I'm sick of the excuses
bravado and abuses
the whole routine reduces
my ability to hear

I'm tired of the talking
the bitching and the balking
it's just like squirting caulking
in the tunnel of my ear

it's only through our doing
and not relentless ruing
that life is worth pursuing
so help or disappear.

G. Maximus

At times I think I'm intelligible
but I know it's just a farce
I'm cornily incorrigible
your basic harmless arse.