shambles

SHAMBLES: Arranged Words with Occasional Rhyme 1987-1990

Poem 1

I'll try to make this plain

I don't know where I've been

I know some things I've seen

but not all that I've eaten

The jingles drift over me

the many eyes look at me

I feel like I never felt

Every time she looks this way

I look her all over up and back

every time she looks this way

I feel like I'm gonna melt

Oh Mr. Tender give me another

don't make me sit down in here

I simply want some air

I simply want nothing to fear

Poem 2

I bought a new pen today

It's all I need

Didn't have to pay

Come home write a little

Poem 3

Everything's gone red

the mirrors in the room are slipping

weirdness in my head

dude, looks like we're tripping

Soaring with pleasant memories

the jingle bells from a pleasant town

stumbling through the stories

pick up the slip as it comes down

Dude, weirdness she said

dude, weirdness in your head

man, strangeness in bed

rudeness

pass me fire

Poem 4

Here we go

through the snow

almost up to our knees

and whistling

through the trees

To the cabin on the hill

the hill on which sets the sun

the days whisped by us

the days were so much fun

Poem 5

You came and left us

our lives and souls

Then you moved on

to set others free

and even though the times

sometimes stick against us

we always have a tree

and a hill and us

Head out that way John

don't look back for

the sake of memories

Head out that way John

we'll never forget the

wind in the trees

Poem 6

Even in the hardest of moments

they're here

For this I know I have nothing

to fear

From the anxieties of sitting

in Chemistry

To the cool relaxing afternoon

on Sunday

Satruday, Friday, and today

Saturday, Sunday, and yesterday

These days are my home

My friends, me, and everyday

Poem 7

Sitting here right now

quite alone

about alone as I can be

in Barcelona

Looking at the universities

and the doors

ready to swallow

me whole

But I can run to the gardens

eluding it

for now

but not for long

It will all catch me

all will come done now

In the end

Poem 8

I've always wanted to write

simply write a love song

but deep inside me I know

can the word meet the love I feel

Because she will come to me

she will come when I can't

she will always come to me

she comes to me for I am not free

All the innocent days are gone

now we spend days apart

days are days they go on and on

my love yes we are apart

Until tomorrow then

when I will see your eyes again

until tomorrow then

when my words change to words

not pen

Poem 9

you can't put your foot in that river

you can't put your foot into that river

you can't put it in there

cause it aint that river no more

just like that

you can't go back

Poem 10

Is there something up there?

is there a God to see over all?

people always look to the sky

whenever I look I fall

I believe there is nothing

for if there were something

it would put an end to

all this suffering

My girlfriend sent me a note

and on it was a religious quote

so they ask me which way do I vote

it's just not for me to get on this boat

faith is shelac

on my stomach

Poem 11

Into this place I am sent

and in this place I am content

I stand here alone

thinking in the rain

my back to the others

I'll never be the same

It descends around me

the darkness drops with a crash

I shield myself hand above head

feeling like a sack of trash

but into this place I am sent

and in this place I am content

never really knowing what she meant

so I go skipping in my shoes of cement

When will I see you again

will this agony be lifted

to this kind of life

I am certainly not befitted

Poem 12

and there was senseless killing

back in 1943

they walked blindly

into the foreign land

leaving all their favorites

no one left to take their hand

and into the land they walked

staring down they never talked

and there was senseless killing

back in 1943

they were invincible

but not without heart

why do we have to see this land

in war and not another start

and they fell frozen to the Volga

to late realizing what they had done

better to go home from the 5th

back to your Gretchen and Olga

the defenders ran at their invaders

driving them home in the barren path

they dropped by the thousands

if only they had known Napolean

it ended then, defenders to invaders

into the last they pushed drilling

wrapping greedy fingers on all

and there was more senseless killing

back in 1943

Poem 13

the road is rising under my feet

taking me to places I've never been

but almost every step I take

I've never been there

Poem 14

I think maybe he can be

a little bit more than me

I think he was meant to see

from which I was meant to flee

Poem 15

oh Johnny Rae

what willl you do for your children

for they are starving

starving today

from me to you

they're talking now

something you should do

but you don't know how

turn your back

you dress it up

their tiny faces crack

without a drop in the cup

don't think of yourself John

there are others out there

after your life goes on

It's out there

you're not aware

Poem 16

Anyone can talk

without a thought

I'm coming from here

here where there's fear

bang it up against the tide

shut me out

but you cannot hide

for where we come from

you are bound to go

you'll be lost alone

no one hears your woe

Poem 17

the untitled one

rises above us

from beyond the sun

the floor boards creak

the dust settles

the scurry mice squeak

don't step too high

catch yourself

rearrange it with a sigh

angling through fields

investigating water rush

snow melts and runs away

back up the stairs

to see if you're here

I open the door

you're here

Poem 18

I've got one order

of coming up slowly

crying over a glass of beer

taste besweetened by her tear

I've got another order

of getting over it

sitting alone and no one near

only holding onto your hand

It's coming up slowly

a heart is racing fast

only what is lonely

how long will the hurt last

seasons come

seasons grow

our ragtag life

is our only throw

I've got an order

of it's all right

enjoying what we have

not what we loose

from year to year

Poem 19

Purple red

yellow green

the colors aren't

what they seem

they are one

without sight

they are none

Poem 20

this is where I was

when you cast your spell

you were whisped away

now I'm stuck here with Telle

Now I'm on my own again

nothing left at all to sell

what are you doing now

I'm stranded alone with Telle

The only things you cared for

was following the stars

across the land you've gone

on your footsteps I follow on

the search goes on

my soul would I sell

if only to find you

to get away from Telle

Poem 21

A five month period

to do what you wish

wander on the hillside

go to the lake and fish

A shot of time

from Gibraltar to Bonn

anything is mine

enjoying it until dawn

To a tree on a hill

simply to get a view

a breeze is pushing your hair

days in a life are too few

The memories come back

hearts swell with a rush

our paths we wish to track

with anticipation our faces flush

Poem 22

When I'm down

and feeling wrong

last thing I need

is a cheesy love song

I need something with heart

need to break away from it

need to make a new start

Love songs

love songs

I need the real thing

a reason to sing

CLOUDY

for me

a day

is just another day

as long as the sky falls

and wind pushes at bay

for him its what he sees

for me a dead still breeze

the view and what it should

the crashing of falling trees

It's a cloudy day

on hand

the snowflakes are falling

chilling the back of my neck

bending over the miracle

reading articles of gregory peck

but these were the days

that thrill me so

holding hands with her

walking through the snow

ONE DAY

days are fading away

metal turn to rust

families worry of pay

tears turn to dust

as the days are unveiled

they look to one another

thinking of those days they failed

covering their face till they smother

walking down the street

a treasure in her pocket

and then he walks up behind

senseless twisting ball and socket

a day will come

with the rising sun

a day will come

all will be done

A HEAR ADRIFT

Her hair was long

and smelled of amber

smoke from the fire

in the month of December

she said she couldn't go home with him

he was left to wander alone

cobble streets under foot

wickedly tossed from his throne

even though it was Christmas

and carols filled the air

he remembered days gone bye

each step filled with despair

he had thought that all was right

he'll never forget that winter night

his favorite song stopped too soon

he'll think of her and look at the moon

and if he had the chance

and would have changed

they would be together

if the past he could rearrange

her hair was long

and smelled of amber

smoke from the fire

in the month of December

Poem 24

pick up yourself

rearrange your thinking

take yourself

to a place of sinking

you were on top of the world

as though you couldn't fall

but there was a prop there

that held you up, high and tall

Poem 25

the pain has gone away

I lay my head back

my last day was today

I've gone away from the track

Poem 26

Everyday is a study in hair

if my body is my castle

then what good is having a castle

if there are never assualts

so I spend my time

losing my mind

so to sprints of egoism

to januts of beerism

UNCOOLNESS RULES MY LIFE

People cry people die

death struggle internal strife

nations rise nations fall

uncoolness rules my life

Oh honeychild you better wait

I've got my very own life

release me from these handcuffs

and uncoolness rules my life

my cars running on E again

coming my way are one million knives

my friends and me nowhere to go

and uncoolness rules my life

my GPA is on the tumult again

the plane I fly is taking a tail spin

I've got to get under control and survive

uncoolness still rulin my damn life

I'm over the edge again

everyone is looking at me

wondering what went wrong

I pound my fists singing the same damn song

uncoolness rules my life

day to day night to night

girl to girl fight to fight

wrong to wrong wrong to right

MAYBE IN A DAY

is there anyone who really knows

why the world around it goes

is there anyone who really sees

what the wind does blowing in the trees

what we truly are

is something no one wants to see

go for a long walk in the park

walk til the sun fades into dark

build up the walls around you

never let anyone inside you

push the walls if they push you

push and push til the battles through

It's a real fight out there

a fight for life

killing the innocent

but what's in a life

let's trade our countries for free

let's make a land of sparsen liberty

no more murder the same with anarchy

a land of more than enough one of plenty

but we won't do it

we won't work together

we all come from some seed

doomed to battle ourselves forever

Poem 27

look at me I'm a runaway train

growing myself up big and strong

proud as anything all hands down

music dancing through a brilliant song

the busy hustle of the streets

people stay awake all night

the busy high life will never cease

on and on until dawn's first light

Poem 28

when I am where I am

I will be what I want

Poem 29

look over this way

my friends are gone

I'm struggling with another day

nothing wrong with putting it off

as long as I sit here

the room dark, Joni filled

no one too close too near

alone the word

into my head drilled

Poem 30

I'm taking you back

I'm bringing you here

back across the chasm

where there's nothing to fear

this place is nice

everything's all different

everything's always the same

here on the right side of the brain

Poem 31

nationalism rises

nationalism falls

where will you be

when your country calls

will you turn and run

or rush to the shores

to face the rushing tide

fighting foe at hand

sit and wait

duty will come

go with your heart

you don't have to die

dwarfed by a place so immense

pushing against a dark wide trench

stepping over once alive bodies

contortions envelope you from the stench

how will you know your there

the stiff corpses and rotten air

the only thing you really want

is to fall down dead without a care

Poem 32

she gives me shivers

I just can't shake

she gives me jitters

I just can't take

cold winds blowing

snow drifting high

no one can own her

except the moon and sky

Poem 33

I always used to worry

what my life would bring

sit and think all the time

of every little thing

but it always turns out the same

guess I should pack my bag

and head for Maine

Poem 34

weeds will tumble

mountains will fall

the world grows older

and that's not all

you are my day

you are my night

right from the start

you're my golden heart

I turn to you

when I need to hide

I look to you

when I hurt inside

My days are long

my nights are short

I've sung this song

for oh so long

Poem 35

when I'm with you

it all seems right

no more tossing and turning

through the night

it's hotter than hell

the beds on fire

with you or without you

life's dancing on a wire

life's sinking in a mire

all I want and desire

Poem 36

I set out walking

the moon to my back

following the outline

of the railroad track

Poem 37

I wish I had the time

to see the world over

to dance in the heather

and roll in the clover

Poem 38

It looks like another long hot day

and I left my love

I think I'll fade away

into the graying sky

only to retun on a new day

season change

from day to day

evening light alters

and time never falters

Each day is a great twisted mass

throw my body upon the fire

please dear God make it fast

desires flame burning inside

waiting and hoping for a chance

I stand willing

poised to recieve destiny's lance

if only there was a way

to bring back the memories

to revisit forgotten times

I'd live them to the fullest

retracing lifetime's lines

Fall and tromp through what we've made

twist and struggle through the decades

underneath where we all were once

doesn't it make us all trip and fall

my glasses are fogged over

like a shield of deception

blinding me to the atrocities

that fill our streets and cities

oh my friends

where do we go from here

what have we done until now

let's forget it all

and begin again somehow

from Harry S. Trueman

to Francisco Franco

the past is a lesson

an informative picture show

if you know what's been

then you know what's coming

to save ourselves

because the future's running

Poem 40

I'm writing

I'm writing for my life

I'm writing

I'm hoping for a chance

to make everything turn out right

the days seem so long

pouring out my heart

to no one but myself

not knowing if I'm wrong or right

the people I've known

the places I've seen

It's all beginning to tire me

it all seems of a dream

Poem 41

the days are long for me

lonliness is a pain

you cannot see

every second I spend with myself

a momentary touch of a hand

cannot me be spared

during my entire life span

only music sets me apart

if just for a second

I feel it's a start

but every day

the longing stays

I can't figure out what it's about

I can't help myself

I don't know what to do

the only thing I know is

I need you

I'm about to crack

and about to break

my body's smitten

how much more can I take

AT PEACE WITH THE DARK

people are stealing what I want

they're taking what I have

but I'm keeping what's mine it seems

they can't touch what's in my dreams

though they may not come true

I'll stick with them the day through

setting my own course of destiny

and with that I'll be free

free to dance along the river

to sing with the larks

to run with the wind

then I'm at peace with the dark

the world would be by my side

step for step

stride for stride

my longing just can't hide

at peace with the dark

THIS TRAIN OF MINE

as I was walking by the liquor store

a dirty old lady came walking up

she was wiggling her hip all slowly like

looking into my eyes - god she made me sick

so I kept walking on past the drug store

I just made it into the record store and just

about then the goober from behind the booth

said just about to close so I just looked at

him and kept flipping through the albums

and stopped at decade - my copy had been

trashed by the sun - and walked to the

goober behined the booth

Poem 42

the lights of your eyes

shoot straight to my heart

precious words from your mouth

I am yours from the start

I held your hand on that night

a young girl so light and tender

golden locks of your brown hair be down

lifting me up to a hallowed ground

this I dedicate to you

to you and 1491

the question was so cunningly asked

my intentions I had to mask

one thousand nights upon this I swear

and all caution I throw to the air

but I find myself caught in a snare

running about in a cage of despair

Poem 43

if gin is what you want

then gin is what you get

turn on the record player

and we'll burn candles all night

you carry your shoulder bag

and I'll grow my hair

you're my closest friend

and you've always been

It's always magical

when something

Poem 44

take a psychedelic sojourn

to the place behind the gibbons

where thoughts playfully gather

and her hair stiched up in ribbons

oh she said her life is mine

my thoughts are ingrained said I

I wrote them down to study

not to make you break down and cry

going through life alone we do

along the way we take companions

and our faith will be tested

some people forever detested

the poem is written

the letter is sent

tomorrow I'll be here

such sorrow you've rent

living with this sorrow

the tears breaking with my stride

I pull the scarf a little tighter

despair's scars left on my side

if I could walk away from it all

if I could walk away

if I could walk away from it all

and see tomorrow's light of day

my thoughts are twisted and disordered

the impossibility of logic

lying beyond my mind and lips

tauntingly kept beyond my fingertips

THE SYSTEMATIC THOMAS

and the fall comes

the winter wind cuts b