Villanelle Poems (35)

the air was sticky and smoggy that night on a Harlem highrise
the only thing that was different was a young kid with bue eyes
he was a youth in search of a peace not found at home
and so the boy with blue eyes was begotten then to roam

he wandered into a world of darkness to seek and to search
having long ago been abandoned by both school and the church
neither education nor religion could comfort him so he took to the road
heading far from the comfort of his family's hearth and abode

so there stared blazingly blue eyes on a rooftop's domain
talking to a black man who could ease the boy's pain
thirty bucks and a handshake would send him on his way
and so he returned to that rooftop every damnable day

long island had raised him but that island wasn't long enough
and middle class madness would leave him with sorrow to rebuf
day after day he'd climb those stairs whereupon the two would meet
a tall black man and a young boy with blue eyes just trying to be discreet

darkness sold his wares by the dollar and the bag
the boy with blue eyes thinking about his toe with a tag
because in Harlem death is an indeterminate threat
and a young boy with blue eyes had better pay every debt

sometimes the air was thinner with a cold winter's night weather
yet and still they dared danger while huddling close together
Harlem had been his tutor and that rooftop his incubator
and here sit i with blue eyes and a habit sixteen long years later
(c) 2011.....free cee!

I SMOKE CHEAP CIGARS AND PLAY PLENTY OF OLD GUITARS
I AM EVEN FORCED TO DRIVE 35 YEAR OLD CARS
I HAVE REMINDERS OF DEALING DOPE FROM ALL OF MY SCARS
BUT MY PROCLIVITY, I PROCLAIM NOW, IS FOR DRINKING AT SEEDY BARS

THE SEEDIER THE BETTER IT IS FOR ME IN THERE
BECAUSE THEN I'M IN MY ELEMENT AND HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR
IF YOU WALK DOWN THE STREET WITH ME ONE IS TAKING AN INHERENT CHANCE
SINCE I'VE BEEN SHOT AT, CHOKED, BLUDGEONED YET NO ONE EVER USED A LANCE

OLD ENEMIES NEVER FORGET, THEY SIMPLY WAIT BY AND BY
MOST HOPE I HAD DIED WHILE THE OTHERS JUST WISH I'D DIE
THESE PEOPLE TODAY WAIT IN NEIGHBORHOODS THEY BELIEVE I MAY FREQUENT
BUT SHIT, I'VE BEEN ESCAPING HARM SINCE I WAS A JUVINILE DELINQUENT

I OWE SO MANY JUNKIES MONEY THAT IT'S HARD NOW TO RECALL
I JUST TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT I OWE SOME GREEN TO ALL
DUE TO DOLLARS, DOPE, DELINQUENCY, DIRTY DEALING AND THE LIKE
I DON'T HAVE TIME TO PAY THEM WHILE KEEPING MY FINGER IN THE DIKE

SO I AM NOW EVER DILIGENT IN MY EFFORTS TO LET DEBTS GO UNPAID
THE ONLY THING I DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IS MY GETTING LAID
HOWEVER JUST YESTERDAY I BUMPED INTO BIG BILL AND DANEROUS DAVE
AND THAT'S WHY THIS POEM COULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN IN MY GRAVE

(C) 2011......~free cee!~

She was standing at the bar,doing a shot of Jack.
When I walked up she said I like your cowboy hat.
I ordered up a cold one,she said cowboy do you like to dance.
you look like a gambler,why don't you take a chance.
I saw the ring on her finger,i've been here before,
I've seen love come and go.
She led me to the dance floor,wrapped her arms around me tight.
She whispered in my ear,cowboy don't let me go.

And were just two lonely people in need of some company.
And if we fall in love it'll only be for one night.
She'll take the ring off her finger,I won't even tell her
my name.
And in the mornin' like a cowboy i'll ride off into
the sunlight.

Well as we moved together,her body close to mine,out on
that dance floor all alone.
I looked into her eye's and I could see her desire,she whispered
in my ear,cowboy take me home.

And were just two lonely people in need of some company.
And if we fall in love it'll only be for one night.
She'll take the ring off her finger,I won't even tell her
my name.
And in the mornin' like a cowboy i'll ride off into
the sunlight.

We got to her place,she led me to her bed,she said cowboy
I need you so.
And as we made love,she wrapped her arms around me tight.
She whispered in my ear,cowboy don't let me go.

'Cause were just two lonely people in need of some company.
If we fall in love it'll only be for one night.
She'll take the ring off her finger,I won't even tell her
my name.
And in the mornin' like a cowboy i'll ride off into
the sunlight.

She looked down at me,as I held her tight,she closed her
eye's and threw back her hair.
And as we moved together,she wrapped her arms around me tight.
She whispered in my ear,cowboy i'm almost there.

And were just two lonely people in need of some company.
And if we fall in love it'll only be for one night.
She'll take the ring off her finger,I won't even tell her
my name.
And in the mornin' like a cowboy i'll ride off into
the sunlight.

She fell fast asleep as I held her tight,when I got dressed
I could still smell her on my skin.
I walked out that door,into that morning sun,I knew i'd
never see her again.

And we were just two lonely people in need of some company.
No we didn't fall in love but we made love all night.
She took that ring off her finger,I never told her my name.
And this mornin' like a cowboy i'm ridin' off into
the sunlight,yeah this mornin' like a cowboy i'm ridin'
off into the sunlight.
Ride cowboy ride.

OFTENTIMES IT AMAZES ME
I.E. LADY BEE
WHEN I LEAVE PEOPLE AND THAT SHOULD BE THAT
I MEAN IT'S OLD SCHOOL AND VERY OLD HAT
BUT THE NEXT DAY SOMEONE WILL SAY
"YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU YESTERDAY"
WHILE I'D THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE A DAY OFF NOT THINKING OF ME WITH PAY
A DAY OFF FROM THINKING OF THE ABSURD
BECAUSE EVERYTHING ABOUT MY LIFE IS......
OH I CAN'T SUMMON THE WORD
PERHAPS OBLIQUE MIGHT FIT THE BILL
OR I'M OVER THE HILL
YET IRELAND THINKS OF THE U.S.A.
FROM A CONTINENT AWAY
WELL THAT IS AN HONOR I REALLY MUST SAY
BECAUSE FOR SOMEONE TO RECOLLECT A THOUGHT OF MINE
EVEN A THOUGHT AS FAST AS A BLINK
I HEAR LADY BEE SAY "JUST SIT DOWN AND THINK"
THEN SHE WRITES A POEM WITH MY NAME IN A LINE
'TIS SWEET MY DEAR THAT YOU WOULDST CLAIM MY NAME
FOR SURELY YOU MUST KNOW I FEEL AS IF I DESERVE NO SUCH FAME
ALL I AM IS NOT WHAT YOU PROBABLY THINK OF ME
LADY BEE
THEE AS SWEET AS CAN BE
AS SWEET AS ANY HONEY A BEE EVER MADE
WHILE I AM A MAN WEAKENED TO FADE
BECOME JUST DUST
AND YET I DO THE THINGS I MUST
WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY MADNESSS SHE'S MY ONLY CONCERN
AND FROM HER ACTIONS AND WORDS I HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN
SHE CAN TEACH ME TO BE THAT WHICH THE UNIVERSE KNOWS I AIN'T
AS I PRACTICE WHAT SHE PREACHES AND LEARN SOME RESTRAINT
AND EVERYTIME SHE WRITES ME THE WORD "HELLO"
I WISEN UP ENOUGH TO ALMOST SAY "NO"
NO TO THAT WHICH SHOULDN'T BE DONE
AND SOMETIMES I FEEL SHE'S THE ONLY ONE
THE SIGNULAR SUBJECT ON MY MIND
FOR SHE GAVE SIGHT AND INTELLECT TO THE MORALLY BLIND
AND YET WE TWO JUST SOMEHOW SEEM TO FIT
BECAUSE BY A LOVELY BEE I'VE BEEN GENTLY BIT
THEN AT THE TIMES WHEN I'M FEELING LOW
I RECEIVE MAIL ON A NAPKIN FROM HER ON WHICH SHE SCRIBED "HELLO"
OR WHEN I JUST WANT TO SIT IN MY SINGLE ROOM AND CRY
I RECEEIVE A LETTER THAT READS A SIMPLE "HI"
NOW WHEREVER LIFE SHOVES ME OR WHEREVER I MAY ROAM
I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER HER LAYING MY NAME IN THAT POEM
WELL TO THAT BEAUTIFUL BEE IT MUST BE SAID BY ME
YOU ARE RESPECT, REVERERENCE AND I SO REVERE THEE
(C)........2011 ~free cee!~
P.S. LADY BEE----WE MAY HAVE STARTED OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT
BUT NOW IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO SHAKE YOUR HAND

I AM REPULSED BY THEIR SYYLISH THREE PIECE SUITS
AND ALL THEIR BASTARDLY BUT NOT SO BRAVE PERSUITS
I HAVE UNDENIABLE DISREGARD FOR THEIR INDELICATE DEEDS
AND AM MADE TO WRETCH BY THEIR WRETCHED NEEDS

I EVADE EVERY DILLETTANTE WITH OVERBLOWN AMBITION
AND EACH UNGENLEMANLY BEING WHO'S CONTRARY TO CONTRITION
I AM MADE SICK BY THEIR SELF-CONGRATULATORY STATEMENTS AND SUCH
AND FEEL FOR EACH UNDERLING THEY HOLD IN THEIR EGOCENTRIC CLUTCH

DAYS MELT AWAY BY THE MOON'S MEANDERING
AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE NEVER MADE TO END THEIR IMPERSONAL PANDDERING
MORALLY BANKRUPT BITCHES AND BASTARDS BETHROSED TO THEIR OPULENCE AND OCCUPATION
AS THEY FLAGRANTLY IGNORE THE RAGGED LIKE ME MADE POOR BY INFLATION

THEIR CANCEROUS GREED IS EVIDENCED BY CONCERN FOR MALIGNANT GOLD
AS THEY LIVE WITH UNDISTINGUISHED DISTURBANCE BY THOSE THEY BEHOLD
THE LAST GASP OF STARS REGARD THEIR PLEAS AS INESCAPABLE AND INNOCUOUS
AND THEIR PITIFUL PLEASURES AS SIMPLY SUPERFLUOUS

SO THEY STROLL THE STREETS AS I RETRACE THEIR STEPS UPON STONE
WISHING ALL THE WHILE THEY WILL BE HARTMED IN BOTH BODY AND BONE
BECAUSE THEIR LOVE FOR FORTUNE FORETELLS THEIR DAMNABLE DISPUTES
AND THAT DEFINES MY REPULSION FOR ALL THOSE IN THREE PIECE SUITS
(C) 2011.....~free cee!~

WHERE ART THOU WHEN I NEED THEE MOST?
AH YES, THOU HAST BECOME A GHOST
A WISHING WELL EMPTY, A POND DEPLETED
AS I STAND BEFORE THEE, A MAN DEFEATED

I HAVE BECOME OVERCOME BY DEMONS INSIDE
AND WHEN ANY REQUEST OF YOU "WHY HAST HE DIED?"
SAY UNTO THEM "HE WAS A MAN WITH THIRST UNQUENCHED"
AND TELL THEM I DIED WITH MY TEETH WELL CLENCHED

"CLENCHED" SAYETH EACH "BUT WHY?" THEY WONDER
"BECAUSE," RESPONDS YOU "OF THE CERTAIN THUNDER
HEAR NOT THEE THE THUNDER WHICH KILLED HIM WELL?
"OH YES," THEY WILL SAY, "NOW I HEAR WHAT CONDEMNED HIM TO HELL"

"SO," SAYETH THEE "WITHOUT ANY DOUBT
THERE WILL, BECAUSE OF HIS DEATH, BE FORMED A DROUGHT
A DRYNESS NO MORTAL NOR GOD CAN CREATE
FOR I TELL YOU MY MAN DIED OF PURE HATE"

"T'WAS HATRED WHICH CONDEMNED HIM AND DAMNED HIM TO FIRE
AND I SWEAR UNTO ALL MY MAN WAS NO LIAR
HE TOLD THE TRUTH BEFORE THE TEMPLE OF LOVE
UNTIL A THOUSAND DEMONIC ANGELS APPEARED FROM ABOVE"

SO LET THEM HEAR THE WORDS OF A MAN SWORN UNTO DEATH
AND VOW UNTO THEM THAT WITH EACH BLESSED BREATH
EASINESS ARRIVED THAT EVE, MY SWEET
BECAUSE T'WAS WITH EAGERNESS MY DEATH DID I MEET

THUSLY DO I SWEAR WHEN YOU GAZE ALL AROUND
AND FIND NOT MY BODY TO WHERE HELL WAS BOUND
REMEMBER WHEN WE MET, A MOST MEMORABLE DATE
AND THEN CAME THE NIGHT YOUR MAN DIED OF SELF-HATE
(C) 2011.....free cee!

Futbol or soccer, as you will,
By far most popular of all.
But in the States another sport,
Attention grabs of most each fall.

The tackles, blocks, the hits and shots,
So physical, this manly game.
Each Sunday bodies pay the toll,
Each Monday many come up lame.

Emotional investment's key,
Ev'ry fan loyal to their team,
As players try to execute,
What coaches on the sideline scheme.

Some go too far, they smash and burn,
In drunken, rabid revelry.
But most just cheer, high five and yell,
When their home team gains victory.

It's like no other, this I'll say,
Each yard a battle, tooth and nail.
That ball is just a marker as,
The strong and swift each play prevail.

Yes true, it's just a Yankee thing,
Though other's may well understand,
How swept up in the game we get,
As Football Fever sweeps the land.

It's good to feel wanted..good to be alive,
For a while I was down..but I'm glad I survived...
To see your cute little face..hear your sweet baby voice,
It takes me back to the days,when I was 'one of the boys'
We'd call for our girl,then when the evening was gone...
We'd still see them home..(though sometimes at dawn)
We knew it was wrong,to keep the girls out so late..
But we were young,and the girls?..they were all special dates.
We knew that their parents, would be angry and mad..
And if a door suddenly opened..it was sure to be her Dad!
Oh,there were'nt any shotguns, no weapons in sight,
He did'nt need weapons to give us a fright.
Then next day we'd meet,and exchange a few tales..
Was her father still angry..was her mother still pale?
But we never did learn..never really heeded..
It was worth all the risk..to see the girl you needed!
And the hippies 'free love'?..well,yes it was there..
For the hippies and beatniks, with the flowers in their hair!
In their own little world,drugged up to the eyes..
Hardly surprising that so many of them died!
So were we all angels?..no,you're quite right,
We'd sometimes want more,when we cuddled up tight,
But in those far distant days..as I recollect..
For your girl,for your parents..there was always respect!
Now the sixties have gone,and I'm no longer young..
The songs we loved then?..they're still being sung..
And like those old songs..I know I'll survive,
I'm healthy,I'm happy..just glad to be alive.

---- IMAGE REMOVED because photobucket.com no longer allows embedded images ----

Hot milk cake with cream cheese icing,
All baked up, ready for slicing.
No boxed mix, this is all from scratch,
Homemade batter in one big batch.

Eggs and milk and sugar and flour,
Just mixin' it up took me an hour.
Baking powder and vanilla,
Please turn the oven on will ya'?

Half an hour to bake it then,
Set on the rack to cool again.
That aroma that fills the air,
Can't resist it's ev'rywhere.

Cream cheese and butter, creamed up good,
Powdered sugar sift, just like it should.
Then some cocoa, vanilla too,
Stir it a while and mix it through.

Plate the cake and frost with care,
Made quite enough with some to spare.
The cake is made, that was my goal,
Just need someone to lick the bowl.

At first communications,
May be a little rough.
Silly misunderstandings,
And other mundane stuff.

But we keep working at it,
And things just might work out.
I'll do my part, I promise,
Of that please have no doubt.

When time passes with no word,
We tend to worry so.
But then we find the reason,
It helps so much to know.

So please don't give up ever,
And neither so will I.
Each storm we two shall weather,
As long as we both try.