Two modest puffs

Of the good stuff

Cuz life on blue earth

Is oh so rough

They don’t really care

They’re mostly unaware

And there ain’t no winner 

In a game of truth or dare

Guy’s Dancing for himself 

In front of a subway mirror 

He spit-shined the surface 

But that don't make things clear

When I grew up, teacher said:

“Always look both ways.

Don’t ever talk to strangers”

I miss them good ole’ days

Cold and all alone

With only an Obama phone

In the snow, he sees his breath

But the crystals will be his death

Now it’s for certain 

Bigfoot is real

We all know the government

And the devil been making deals

I want sleep without dreams

To fly without wings

To board up the windows

With driftwood and zinc

I want Casual dining 

And a New York fling 

While on my tippy toes

The water ain’t that deep

Not abandoned

Just ran far away

Not born again or saved

Doc, it all began 

Around 6th or 7th grade

I don’t make eye contact with strangers 

I know better than that

No curtsy, bow or fist-bump

No tipping of a hat

So much of this world’s unknown 

But I can tell you this 

When you think you’re all grownup 

You’re still a little kid

Blasphemously fortunate 

Piously under paid

No way they built the pyramids

With just tens of thousands of slaves

Multiple personalities 

Who will we be today?

We're all Missing something 

Only found within a grave

Cold cut like a hoagie

Got a new electric stogie 

It’s far too tall a tale

That this life has unveiled 

Too tall a tale…

I’ve been an angel

I’ve been a thief

I’ve been a hunter 

I’ve been the meat

I’ve been starving.

With pearls at my feet

I’ve picked the fruit.

No one should ever eat

I’ve been all over.

But I never left home 

I’ve been in large crowds,

But still swore that I was alone

I was important

A Lifetime ago 

Now I’m not sure what matters

Or if I have a soul

I’ve been in jeopardy.

Been caught in checkmate 

I’ve turned the tables 

And I’ve Picked up the pace. 

been flanked by the past

Fight, flight or freeze

Then, now and tomorrow

Which one is me?

I’ve browsed every isle

And I’ve checked out my heart

I’ve never been one

To bring back 

A grocery cart

I am the shepherd 

the wayward sheep

I am the strength 

That makes people weak 

I am the lion

In a gilded cage

I am the fire

The white burning rage

I am the shelter

From the four winds

That locks all the doors when 

You finally get in

I am an ego

I am the meek

I am the joy in

A little Suffering

I am the bread and

I am the wine

But my temple

Is not Devine

I am the night that

Ends every day

I am the saint that

Caught the plague 

I am the gift they

Took from you

I am the life you

Didn’t choose

I am the years

Without the light

I am the fear

That holds on tight 

I am a useless apology

I am a church that’s 

Lost its need

I am the want to

Do what’s right 

Being abandoned 

By the need to fight 

I will be quite certain 

And not a class clown

I will be the black sheep

That won’t let you down 

I promise I’m worth it

Ask all around 

I’ll be back on my feet 

And not the talk of the town

I want to get married

To the love of my life

Tuck in the children 

Kiss them good night

Won’t pour all my feelings

Into a cheap jug of wine 

I will try to see better

When we stand eye to eye 

Nobody’s perfect 

But nobody’s you

I hope you’ll remember 

God’s still learning too

And I pray I have said something 

That I hope will be heard

But one says more in silence

Than one says with their words 

I can only speak

For only myself 

Seems you can’t get to heaven

Without first going through hell

To live forever in heaven

You must first go through hell