Beautiful Ruin

queue the lights one more time
so we can all see the perfection
of all the raw edges we want to discard
the beautiful ruin
the flattened copper on the rail
that disappears without the presence
of those we love
kinder because we've been lost and left
from those leaving
we are memory
and night watchers
tree huggers
that never stop believing
the chrysalis that knows how to survive
how to die
like light in a forest, magic of  a firefly
splendorous lilac scented rain drifting in
open bedroom windows
moonlight on old books
the black and white old reels that stain our face
leaves us wishing we were Bogie's girl
but
we trust the darkness that creates the sphere
for a candle's light

Parking Space

libraries are full of red screaming words
that no one ever heard, so they were written
music has rooms to hide in, so I go there often
we've all got lots of people wanting
to be our brother or sister
while our own bloodline is depreciating
like a dark moon
and good boys aren't loved
they are overlooked
bars become temples
but the philosophers are only liars
dirty loud ones


some of us hide in crowds or in corners
becoming a character that no one knows
we just want beautiful sexy romance
the night seems to promise


we close our eyes
our face a salt lick


boys with beautiful eyes
never seem to see us
we are too wild, too free, untamable
we are happily parked in empty parking lots
where silence is welcome
where we drink rum and coke
in our vintage convertible Volkswagens

chained to comets

oh
all the floors we
have danced on
rolled on
fought on
dreamed on
loved on
leaving blood
sweat
tears of life on
but
we don't dance anymore

Tag

there was a tag on that rag top convertible that read
"back our boys in Vietnam"
back then  I was only a kid I didn't know what it meant
no not then

and daddy had already passed on to those shores
you hear about but you've never been
sometimes I still wish for the strength of his hands
to set me straight again

mama mourned and I think
he took the best of her
they buried her when they buried him
it was just seven years later

we ran wild in the summer sun
there was fire in the summer sky when it rained
lost in the what ifs and the cold blue moons
I was friends with the shadows that knew my name
but rain has never tasted that sweet again

home isn't home
they left seven standing on their own
borders were broken, secrets spilled over
glue of our family was gone
seven different paths, we all moved on

daddy's old green army blanket was a childhood fort
brother slept with it over him
now he sleeps next to mama
I take flowers for two when I go visit them

but there was a flag for a soldier
left in the hands of my mother
there's nothing left of the house he built
he sleeps in the mountains close to heaven
now all their pictures are fading
but when I look in my eyes I still see a ghost of them

Paperweight

all her hurts are wrapped in a blackbirds song
her sweetness squeezed like crumpled clothes
a second hand want, her cup empty
never was half full
she's a dissolving sugar water
every righteous thing she ever was burned away
a paperweight
midair leaves nothing
words of all her loved
gone scars explained  
music box died
breath is left
strength inside
sidestepping pain
postponing life that drips like
a numbing imaginary IV
called a pulse this song of a dance
she has a mind that don't quit
extensions in print
technicolor memory
once loves won't be returning 
they think she's a shadow but she's a
burning white light
they can't even see her
she's gathered every stone they ever threw
at her but she's not gathering hate
she's collecting stars 

 Keep doing what you love no matter what. Don't quit.

Too Pretty to be Lonely

his bed's a mess
a collectedness of
all his sad blue dreams
his jeans are ripped
his smile infectious 
to every girl he meets

he's too pretty to be lonely

his guitar is his friend
he sinks his sin
on pages full of ink
nothing he can't say
no one he can't reach

his kiss is yours
his goodbye swallows you
his eyes are sad
but he's not looking for a queen

he's too pretty to be lonely

he'll never need you
be that weak for you
he's not ready to bleed that deep
his hands a prayer
but he don't pray
music's his love
he'll never hold you that way

he's too pretty to be lonely

he is summer, burning your skin
he'll break the rules
he knows when to fly 

 

some boys

some boys play in sunshine
good things slip into their hands
easily, greedily accepted
they never feel the rain
now you
use your skin as a canvas
honoring the savage poetry that
built you
it will never look natural to your father
but you're not up to pleasing
today's judgement

some boys are
starving boys for just a glance
sick from the unloving monsters
that will never love them whole
aching eyes that never rest
young weary shoulders
for your sky is bent and dirt red
a drier unkind flame
and the lack that punishes your hands
has stolen from your heart
not one thing

some boys hide behind
a pseudonym
and kiss lips that should
never belong to them
but you are busy packing dreams
into your piano
cause you crave music like its food
sadness is never lost on you


This is a poem from my book Sad Romantics and I thought why not share it here :)
I don't want to leave a bunch of poetry or writings of mine in a drawer or even in a book somewhere that no one ever reads so I'm going to share all I can here. If you like anything of mine drop me a comment let me know and if you add me to your circles then I'll add you to mine circles as well.