Broadway at Night

Thump, thump rhythm of broken pavement
buildings leaning into
the rusty sunset
night approaches surreptitiously
street lights flicker mysteriously
beat up cars
line the street full of bars

Union Hall call
middle class meeting
on a Friday night
with George Jones
singing it up right
and all the ladies are dressed up
best
in their polyester dress

River town drown
all sorrows flowing
all troubles throwing
pass the corner fight
and just keep driving
a busty town
a lusty night
the Ridge Street girls
are calling your name
don't look too close
or you'll never be the same

Burning Bridges

Hand in my pocket
watching the flames shoot up
cracked concrete under my feet
lighter click complete
past burning up in a red hot delete
eyes set on a new road
unloading a heavy load

Throwing my baggage in the
sparking river
as the bridge & all her ashes
begins to crumble
posts and steel tumble

Turn my back
as my feet find the
lone train track
taking me where I need to go
wind begins to blow
whispering her tune
wistful & full of hope

Control - Alt - Delete

Nights so heavy
Days weighted & thick
Worry taking over everything

I swiped it all
My thoughts
My words
My poetry

With a sweep of my
outraged hand
I watched as the
jagged pieces of the puzzle
clattered to floor

Weeping
stained glass wonder
shattering

Control - alt - delete
tap out
reboot
repeat
until
the thoughts
the words
the poetry
were more complete

Back Story

Back story
Second glory

Rewriting a tune
that better suits my soul
Bring the heat
I can take it
Give me the beat
Wildflower feet

Back story
Second glory

Born again
from the wind
& the rain

All that I know
& all that I am
Rewriting a new tune
for that shameful sin

Back story
Second Glory

Goodnight angel
I'm gonna sing again
Bury that worry
Bury that sin

Driving On

Dusty car
window wiper moaning
waiting for the rainy rain; groaning

Driving on
Three quarter tank

I'll be there
Before daybreak

Beating Heart

Inside my own chest
To reach in best
Fingers gripping
That beating entity
Clamping and ripping
Blood trickling down
Droplets soaking in the ground
Trembling hands and shaky arm
Reaching out
Inside my palm
Everything I'm about
My heart given to you
For you to decide what to do

The Burning

On trial
with each new face;
each new set of ears
to hear my story

Like a witch in Salem
Some onlookers want
only the
burning glory
They watch
Waiting for the
flames to reach my hair
Eyes set ablaze
Into the flames
all their idle care

I'm called insane
I'm called daft
As I tie myself to the post
Like a burning host
I'm burning my own blame
Eradicating my own shame
So I tie myself
Time & time again
until the flames burn it all
Each piece of the past
torn off & thrown in
Hands behind my back
Eyes extended to heaven
until all the nightmares
are burned away
my lips mumbling the story
another day

I'm burning
I'm burning away
I'm burning
I'm burning the opaque day
I'm burning
I'm burning a new dream
I'm burning
I'm burning for another seam
I'm burning
I'm burning into night
I'm burning
I'm burning that phoenix into flight