Crown of Daisies

For Steve and Kristine

For a man that was married three times
He had but just one love of his life
She was the apple of his eye
She was a princess with a crown of daisies
Holding his hand to stand strong
Walking along in ruby slippers
In a Dorothy dress she sang

He knows this crazy world
He’s been around the block a time or two
His life has been as hard as he can think
And he doesn’t want the same skeletons for you

Always working, living on bread and water
To ensure she ate well was all that mattered
That she smile as she did when she sang
To his fragile face in the crowd
The room was full yet she dared not look away
For her fear of falling down
And he looked back with welling eyes
She was a star in the night
She was a princess with a crown of daisies

The Road Away from Pain

Troubled youth with plans of manhood
Put it off for just another day
Another way to let you forget
Everything you’ve lived for all this time
Procrastinate, wait till later
While falling down further through the straw
Habits form, a must-do custom
Ballooning to the point where it may burst
Such a thirst for all these reasons
Where treason wounds the soul and body hurts
A hobby cursed on many levels
Befriend the devil, shake hands with the bad
Make a deal and pick your poison
Do everything you said you never had
Fake a smile, lie a while
Be sure to bare false witness through your teeth
Turn your back and leave the people
You’ve been see-through in this town for way too long

Or maybe you could make a change
Umbrellas help to shield the rain
Sunshine will find you on your way
On the road away from pain
Or maybe you could take the day
And change the things you do or say
Remind your mind it’s on its way
On the road away from pain

Dolson Avenue Graveyard

My already heavy heart sunk at the sight
Part of my life dead and black in the night

Tear down everything that speaks of you
And discard it with the rest
You can fly your flag
But can’t say who you are
I took everything I could get my hands on
Threw it in the car
And took off

Our laughter masked our sadness
As we said goodbye
Deserting the dwelling
And buying into the lie that…
Things like this happen all the time

I took a picture for old times
From an abandoned parking lot across the street
You can fly your flag
But can’t say who you are
I took more than I could hold with my hands
Held it in my heart
And took off

Kiss Me Good

I’d surprise you every time
If only able, I’d do that much for you
And I’ve thought about it
Told you, straight out
I long for one touch of you
One brush between us
Now hush, we’ll see this through

Lock your lips
And close your eyes

We’ll see this through
Now kiss me good
Show me that you mean it

Because I’d surprise you every time
If I could only do that much for you
And I’ve talked about it
Shown it, spelled it out
I long for just your touch
But once is not enough
Now hush, I know that it’s been rough

Lock your lips
And close your eyes

We’ll see this through
Now kiss me good
Show me that you mean it

Live Your Life

For Mom

“Live your life and don’t be scared,”
Echoes from what seem like ages.
And I sit with my shoes off on the rug,
After I close the door from outside.
I’ve found inside to be much warmer,
Despite heating the entire neighborhood,
And chosen in rather than out
For in is where we keep what’s near
Near can be close enough

Distant echoes seem farther each day
For I am grown and blessed with your lessons
Kept near like my desire for the inside
Yet still echoing throughout the entire neighborhood
And kept dear like the memories we both share
“Live your life and don’t be scared.
Now close your eyes and just lay there.
Sleep will come and I’ll still be here
In the morning when you wake.”

I hear you in my thoughts
And in everything I do
I’ll be sure that when I’m through
To turn the light off as I leave

And They Say Time Heals

When I pass your house
I still find myself veering towards
The curb
I look for your car
I fight to keep from beeping
The horn
Sometimes your light is on
But that’s not your light anymore
And sometimes you’re home
But that’s not where you live
Sometimes I see you walking
But that’s not the person I knew
It isn’t you there standing on
The curb

We fell so long ago
I practically forgot we had ever taken
The fall
In fact, it’s been so long
It might as well have never happened
At all
Perhaps that’s what hurts the most
Even though I no longer feel it
And perhaps that’s what’s wrong
Even though we can’t make it right
Perhaps one day I'll finally realize
It isn't you there standing on
The curb

The Moon Up High

The lines of your face
On the white pillow spread
Stops my world from turning
As the train billows ahead
The moon is up high
Looking down on us two
The sun in the morning
Will light the way for what we do
Your breathing is slowed
I can watch your chest as it heaves
I’ll kiss your lips softly
And hope the moment never leaves
We’ll ease into our day
Together, hand in hand
For this is our portrait
And forever shall it stand
The stars are all diamonds
They’re shining just for you
And I’d pull them all down
If you only want me to
The lines of your face
As I lay next to you
With the moon way up high
Looking down on us two