from Woodstock to Laurel Canyon

from east to west and in between
I stared into many faces
held motel towels against my own
until my eyes bled sunsets

and my head hurt like the road

the beat of the day tormented me
I cried under many rocks
made outlines of my feet in the desert sand
until my skin burned

and my heart burst into years

you are the movie of your life
at least that’s what the people said to me
from Woodstock to Laurel Canyon
I painted away the fallen leaves

until the weather broke

until the seasons spoke to me
of car crash ditches full of fallen friends
where the blood ran to the sea
time frozen in a standing ovation

as we went our separate ways

In Crematorium

these strange buildings
we infrequently frequent
built for one purpose
the seeing off of the dead
and after the coming together
the handshakes and the nods
we disperse and leave
the dearly departed to rest

promises

on this road that never ends
I’ve jettisoned so many friends
who offered me so many things
their promises like tumbleweeds
that came and went with so much ease
they piled up high and dimmed the sky
and no one knew the reason why
I chose to leave them all behind
safely parked in Promise Land
abandoned for a younger man
to take the hands of my old friends
on this road that never ends
promises like tumbleweeds

apologies in advance

all them words
all them books
all them poems
never did you no good
all them blogs
all them tweets
all them posts
never did you no good

all them likes
all them shares
all them comments
never did you no good
all them photos
all them videos
all them paintings
never did you no good

all them notes
all them quotes
all them thoughts
never did you no good
all them chats
all them spats
all them emojis
never did you  no good

all them friends
all them lovers
all them followers
never did you no good
all them steps
all them breaths
all them beats of the heart
never did you no good

(apologies in advance
if you catch me crying
when the planet dies
I’ve done my bit
now I’m tired

and it’s just complicated
that’s all)

crazy head

i.

be safe inside your crazy head my friend
people it with imaginary friends and fanciful stories
take a journey down those scenic back roads
where quiet moments are chance happenings
for this space is yours only
go sit there while the world rages
and be safe inside your crazy head

ii.

it’s safe in there
but you just have to trust it
lie back and sift the wheat from the chaff
there’s a way through your crazy maze
it may take days or it may take weeks
and the journey from here to there is a twisty devil of a path
but the reward is worth the effort my friend

iii.

when you can’t see the wood for the trees
just keep a-walking until you find a clearing
and take a break and concentrate on your breathing
for there’s a sky up there, a moon and stars
and little you down here just a-wondering
what place is there for you in all of this firmament?

iv.

there’s a special place for you my friend
it’s reserved inside your heart and head
two special places owned just by you
no one else can go there if you don’t want it
close them off and keep the fuckers out
yes it’s your shout my friend
your shout
so do it
whenever you want

v.

enough from me
it’s over to you
I’ve done what I can
it’s now up to you
take it or leave it
it’s the best I can do
whatever you choose
it’s catch as catch can

 

A Big Thank You Poetry Friends :)

Followers . . .

 

The Postcard Poet

I recently started a little side project using my travel and hiking photos. You can find them on Facebook and Twitter and occasionally here. Links below. Hope you like:

Twitter: @ThePostcardPoet

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/postcardpoet/

Love Bus

All aboard the famous love bus
There’s room for you and me
We’ll drive right to the end of time
To see what we can see

The driver is a friend of mine
His name is Mr Blue Jay Way
He’ll take us to the moon and back
So climb on board today

literaturicide

on a boat
in a drunken rage
cursing waves
my enemies
my friends
I is another
I is someone else
we holler
we list together
in empty peals
death knells chime
freezing sails
I is another
I is someone else
now sung in sleep
estranged we are
fore and aft
mizzen jiggered
spirits flown
I is another
I is someone else
with flailing arms
below to sink
the silent curse
that is to be
to be another
to be someone else