Life In A Bottle

Life giving substance

Wrapped in plastic

 Discarded with out thought

In rivers and streams
Lakes,Oceans

Forests and ditches

Along sidewalks

Hills,valleys

Fields and streams

Tossed out of cars

They bounce along highways

Without a care

While some

Lay for decades

In the local landfill

Commuter Truth

Truth

Got lost

On the train of convenience

If you missed it

The next one leaves

On platform B

In ten minutes

Stand clear of the doors please

Nature's Peace

There is a peace here

That demands respect

Civilization does not intrude

The sounds 

Nature provides

And the light gurgle

Paddles through water

The splash of fish

Jumping across the bay

The ghostly call of the loon

Riding crisp clean air

We are here at the grace

Of what God created

Travel with care

 Enjoy and preserve

Drift Dreaming

Twilight of dreams

Deep recesses of the mind

Drift in a journey

To places never seen

The spirit faces

Of those never met

Eyes with stories

Never heard

The scent of unknown wine

Lingers gently

As dawn breaks

Nose Prints on The Window

You traveled every mile

For thirteen years

Trucking was all you knew

Companion always

In so many ways

Good listener

Dozens of little expressions

Added to the conversation

Unconditional lover

Quirky as hell

The big sigh and pout

Your food dish

Slightly out of position

New seat cover

Radio to loud

Circle three times before perching

Lousy guard dog

The wagging tail 

A give away

Nose prints on the window

Every mile after you passed

Were never quite the same

The Endless Road

Winter roads

That most do fear

Long black nights

That never end

Those dirty dangerous areas

Where others never tread

Separated from family

And friends

Lost in the background

Of daily life

Taken for granted

By one and all

While people commute in cars

Delivered

Grocery shop in stores

Stocked

Everything in a normal life

Is touched by

Those that ride 

The endless road 

The photo is interstate 80 in Wyoming a route I used hundreds of time

Yesterday's Devil

I ain't going there

Neither should you

Nothing good

Will come of it

Just sadness and tears

Yesterday's devil

Lurks in the trees

Shielded from the sunlight

We both definitely need

Leave that devil behind

Guarding the baggage

Left at his feet

 

Abstract Tones

It might be the whiskey

Or it might be the mood

Here you come dancing

Across my mind's stage

Bringing back those complications

I still don't understand

Life was pretty simple

Until you drew me in

 The abstract tones

Of your soul

Then turned me inside out

I still don't understand

It was probably me

Or maybe not

Time says

I will never know for sure

Those abstract tones

Left a mark

I carry to this day

Reflection

Eyes gather
Mirrored reflection
Looking deeper
Beyond the surface
A conscience effort
To see the layers
Beyond the beauty

A Whim

Bought as is

On a whim

Triggered by childhood memories

The heady aroma

Dad's Erinmore pipe tobacco

The feel of vinyl seats

Mom fussing over

This and that

Sunday drives to no where

Windows down

Letting the wind

Ruffle your hair 

Family picnics at the lake

Hours spent down

Memory lane

 Endless tinkering

It is a happy place

To linger

Keeping yesterday alive

The Joint

Pot holed parking lot

Mostly pick ups

Big rigs at the back

Neon Bud Lite

Buzzing in the night

Through the squeaky front door

Low light from a wagon wheel
Hung on the smoke

Sawdust on the floor
Old wooden bar
Decorated with bottle rings
Crude carvings aged by decades
Two stools sat grizzled locals
Nursing beer and conversation
Been running freight lanes
For weeks at a time
But at the end of it all
The circle stops here
And the cherry lipped blonde
Singing sad country songs
On the tired wooden stage

Maze of Thorns

It can be a journey

The path treacherous

Missteps will draw blood
Each prick
A drain on your desire
Will you cower in retreat
Or plod forward
Where daylight is lit by dragon fire
The nights filled
With black thundering hoofs
Ghostly guardians on the prowl
Lost you will be
If you find the sea
Where Neptune's devil sleeps
Day one ,day two
Day three do pass
Fatigue rides you hard
Clouding your mind
In a dirty fog
Making choices
A jury trial of voices
Until the Gods smile
And you reach the hub
To grasp the scroll
In shaking hands
To afraid to read the script
 

The Wizard

Do not be afraid

Step into my realm

My bark maybe

Worse than my bite

Here wishes are granted

On a whim

To peasant and farmer

And possibly a queen

Magic runs free

On the prompt of a child

Fireworks glow brightly

In the darkest of nights

Dreams can come true

If you smile just right
With sparkling desire
Just be careful
Choose wisely
Once granted
I cannot return

Spirit of the Lake

Soft sensual whispers
Across clear water
Touching me lightly

As I tread carefully

In your domain

"take only what you need"

"my bounty is free"

"it gives life"

"preserve that delicate balance"

"so all kingdoms thrive"

I hear you and take heed

Spirit of the lake

Faceless Herd

Thousands mill

Along concrete canyons

Heads buried 

In plastic screens

Silent voices

Weaved around I- Tunes

Looking for a connection

With closed eyes

Sight lines

Obscured with popup ads

While the chosen few

Revel in the data

Harvested secretly

 Knowing the inner workings

Of the faceless herd

At One Time

The Cup - Adolf de Meyer (1912)

You offer from

A chalice of mystery

Alluring aroma

Shields intent 

From my soul

At one time

The fiery ego of youth

Would sip

Not now

For time has mellowed

Muting my thirst

Wagon Train

“I drank because I wanted to drown my sorrows, but now the damned things have learned to swim.” Frida Kahlo

The endless road

I followed through life

An escape

To safe places

Where anger,hurt and heartbreak

Left swirling

In the trail of dust behind

Until my inner soul whispered

"look behind "

And I saw

A wagon train of sorrow

Not to far behind

Ten Again

The plume of smoke

The whoosh of steam

Metal wheels on steel rails

That mechanical sound

I'm ten again

Standing on a grass bank

Anticipation a runaway stallion

As the sound thunders closer

Arms waving

Smiling eyes

Whoop of joy

Long whistle blast

The beast rattles past 

Leaving a heady aroma

Of cinder smoke settling

In its wake

It never gets old

That little boy still lives inside

He will be back

On Friday

To be ten again