Flesh that is Red

Tired of being played
By the man of greed
Who claims his wealth is
An essential need

If I knew sooner
Money was the ruler
I would have played
The game differently

Would've  got mine
Would've been fine
Fogetting about small dollars
And a few little dimes

Rolling
Controlling
Riding the ride of the day
With the beauty I want
Brilliant or savant

Cause money makes sunny
Every playboy bunny
Even for an old man with pipe

But what would that do
Make me a fool too
Chasing luxury
Like a man needing air

Forgetting what I got
Would always be sought
By a man in need of clean water
And a place to lay his child's head

One Day
The judge of the living and the dead
Will remind us of all he said
It is better to give than receive
Words He wrote
On flesh that is red

Lora and Daniel

Happy Birthday Lora and Daniel

Connected in time
21 years to be exact
From a Mom who loves children
That is a fact

Bone of each other's bone
Flesh of each other's flesh
Raised in different times and  places
Moving to adulthood at similar paces

Your connection to those you love
Unwavering
The struggle to find yourself
Sometimes was like walls caving in
But day after day
You get up and fight again

Laughter for each of you
Easy
Your response to early mornings
Let me sleep in
If you please

My advice in crises
Will always be
Hit your knees

It is your Birthday
And you are separated by half a globe
Wish we shared more miles
On the same roads

Happy Birthday My Beloved
I Miss so!!!!!!

When we see each other again
There will be more family stories
To be told
When God made you
He broke the mold

You are both one of a kind
I am glad you share birthdays
On the same day but at different times

A Fish with Purpose

I was one of those fish in a tree
I was fortunate to find the lakes where I thrived!

Funny
I discovered my gifts in the place that demands The most standardization
The US Army
Staring cannon to cannon
At communist nations

But in the institution
That turns boys into men
You learn to lead
Because others may fall

Admittedly a was probably too kind
To spend a lifetime
Carrying claymore mines
But learning while doing
Will bring your gift to the surface
At least
That is how I found my gift
And became a fish with purpose

Small Man in a Big Chair

Small man 

In a big chair

Humiliating those in front of you

Completely bought into the alpha male tale

Provide you enough respect 

So he don't turn and rend me

Throw me jail

Make me need bail 

Your Honor or Judge

You a member of the bar

But you ain't acting like a lawyer

More like and educated street thug

Throwing your weight around

Misusing authority

Proves you a clown

Even if you think you're perceived 

As the most important man in town

We surrender 

You're the man

So we will respect you

But not because 

You are wise

Intelligent 

Or in the slightest way profound

But because you rule with fear

Are arbitrary 

And we are not sure 

Your judgement is sound

The court room for you 

A place to perform

The court room for the people

A great sanctuary

We don't want to be victims

If your temper changes on a whim

But we don't really need to worry 

Because the Lord fills your mouth 

Even if you don't acknowledge him

You're not Pontius Pilate 

Or a representative of Caesar 

But you too are controlled 

By He who governs 

All in the human theater 

So I shall not worry 

If my penalty is large or small

I will submit to authority

Because I am commanded to do so 

By He who is the law

The ultimate Alpha

Who humbled Himself as a servant

Died on a Cross for one and for all

Even for small alpha men

Who sit on large chairs

And think themselves tall

Recovery Circle

In recovery circle with men my own age
Tough guys all
But they are quick with a hand shake
Or a pat on the back

Respect is the currency of street curbs
Hustle's temptation and drama
Now managed with simple words

Listen I am blessed
So talk to hand
Give it a rest

Years lost
Relationships tossed
In the haze of
I am on the chase for more

But every day is new
You know Recovery is true
When your mother trust you with her ATM again

Doing time
Gone like a passing cloud
Now I am believed when I say
I am never going back out loud

The circle adds new members
Like dry wood on burning timber
The embers turn quickly to flame
Suddenly there is meaning
When I hear my name

One day at a time
I will never be the same
I am done with the game of shame
And finding someone to blame

All I do now is share in a circle
The recovery I humbly
Yet boldly
Claim

Reminiscing

Bare foot and reminiscing 

About the souls I've been 

Pleasured to vibe

Who did not hide

Sharing power with words 

From lips that listen 

When truth is shared with eyes 

They speak

Experiencing love at every curve 

If courage vibrates your nerve

Then

You absorb songs thru skin not ears

You project thru hands to trusting guts

I'll be 

To you

The prayer of my recitation

We work laughter and tears 

In the neighborhood of our limited years

Where I am 

Is Iam

Planned in the span of 

Steps taken by a divine hand

Standing on toes that smell

And resting in faith on barefeet that breath

Soul for a Smile

Watching Miranda Lambert sing Tin Man!
Her voice and a acoustic guitar!!!
A few extra verses for Tin Men

You traded my soul for a smile
A lifetime for a mile
Love ain't a tool you use
My friend you're such a fool

You made love a small thing
Without love no one sings
Hearts beat slow but strong
Every time they're done wrong

How does a vow work for you?
Does true mean true to you?
Love ain't no bowl of gruel
My friend you're such a fool

The Tin man cried himself to rust
"Give me a heart or I'll bust"
All you fill is egos lust

We should have danced
The white dove dance
But you won't give love a chance
So go on and make doves cry
But my friend you live a lie

You traded my soul for a smile
The long gray and wrinkled path to the grave
For brief moments and a passing wave

It gives me no pleasure to say
You're going to hurt like me someday

You traded my soul for a smile
A lifetime for a mile
Love ain't a tool you use
My friend you're such a fool

Texas Strong

Heaven found in the hell of a flood
Brother helping brother regardless of blood
When you lose everything
Sometimes you find Love

In the sound of watercraft
In a truck driven by riff raff
When we need help
Everyone gets a pass

Helping Folks
Flocks
Pets and livestock
Sometimes our best comes out
In moments of shock

Don't believe the hype
Yes we are sinners
But we are ok
And Y'all are alright

Out of darkness comes light
What gets lost
Is fright

Fright of he
Who don't look like me
Skin color is forgotten
When we help others in need

Rebuilding is painful
But we know you are able!

Lone Star State
Our prayers are with you!

Up here in the land
We call Boston Strong!