Last Commented Ballad Poems (503)

I'm going down to the record station.. I'm gonna buy me a backwards jukebox.. I'm going to play all my favourite songs wearing nothing.. but my hat and my socks

and listen to Blaze.. as he sings every song.. ending to start.. and ill get all my stuff back.. my farm and my truck.. and my unbroken heart

and I'll listen to Prine.. as he sings of a wife.. who had enough and walked out.. taking my truck and my dog and my friend.. and their all driving south

the night with all of its darkness
will fade away to a day.. and that old freight train travelling west
will go backwards the way

I'll try to be nicer as everyone said I was nasty and mean.. but I'll keep certain comforts.. my mountain dew still and my lover.. Charlene

the debt on the farm that was drowning me.. will ebb away to my shins.. and even God will get happy.. as every day I'll be.. handing back sins

I can honestly say it's gravy man
and I don't owe a buck.. and everyday that I wake up.. there somehow seems to be gas in my truck

you know the summer's fading.. and the night is getting cold.. there's an east wind in the harbour.. and lord knows I'm getting old.. and my work it takes me everywhere.. and nowhere fast and slow..

it takes a man to plough an acre.. it takes a woman to make it grow

there's an orchard in the south field.. there's a herd of cattle too.. there's an empty chair that held you.. a rare creature tall and true.. and I dream about you always.. even nights that I don't dream..

it takes a man to set a plough right.. it takes a woman to hitch a team

more a fighter than a lover.. girl you picked me anyway.. and you tried to change my dress sense.. but you knew I wouldn't play.. and you laughed at my cowboy movies.. as I turned in to my old man..

it takes a man to work his heart out.. it takes a woman to give a damn

you know we never did much talkin'.. jesus girl you were unique.. and I'm sorry for taking the lord's name.. every other time I speak.. see they don't make girl's like you no more.. at least it seems that way..

it takes a man to save a harvest.. it takes a woman to save the day

well you know I'm big an awkward.. and as rough as a badger's a**.. I got two eyes that scare the locals.. and sometimes my talk is crass.. but I know each lock is different.. as unique as a key..

it takes a man to bring his story.. it takes a woman to set him free

there's a golden sun
on a spinning wheel
there's a yellow fleck
in a pan full of steel

there's the fire I spat
and the breath I once drew
there's work that I'm doing
and the work that I do

there's a girl, half fish
singing songs about love
there's a man with no arms
with a drawer full of gloves

so what.. fair darlin'
have I figured so far?
"never play poker
with a blonde in a bar"

there's a rope and a saddle
there's a trail and a gun
but the trail ain't no different
when your pony ain't young

still the camp fire burns
in the chests of a few
and you sleep with your dream
and you wake up anew

so what fair darlin
don't I know I don't know?
"when fixing to stay
you should probably go"

it's the seas are rough
and the trail it is long
and your pony
has heard mostly
all of your song

be it in the tumble
aft the winch
or out the bow
in winter's pinch

my heart oft seeks
the raven tide
in floating cabin
I reside

bearded, wild
quick tempered be
my natural place
is on the sea

my northern star
her memory
the anchor locker
and the quay

pots they sleep
as nets are shot
my hands are claws
my body squat

born rough
to warp and splice
my heart in summer
full of ice

net mending
as the season grows
needle dancing
through the rows

when the clinker fails
in the boards of your heart
when the gunnells dip
and you lose your chart

when you sail alone
through the seas of steel
when your sails are drowned
by a broken keel

when the wind dies
and your spirit's corrupted
when you inch ahead
with your pace obstructed

when the will to fight
is made weak by thirst
when your clothes are skin
and your hope is cursed

when you reach your end
and you are still alive
when ascending angels
turn to birds and dive

when the clouds part
and you see God divine
when all shapes of memory
dim to a line

when you fight to retain
the metallic of blood
when the last of your senses depart for the mud

when the comfort of death
tempts like a liar
when the last thing you own
is belligerent fire

when the heart of darkness
offers his hand
when you can't see heaven
the sky or the strand

when you see him smirk
with his ancient sigh
you ferociously snarl
and tear out his eye

At yelping speed she travelled
across an emerald lawn,
pursued by gnarling nightmares
as the darkness nipped the dawn.

Her ears, amber triangles,
bush glittering crystal dew,
body sleek with rivulets,
glowed red with exhaustion's hue.

Her heart palpating bass drums
and panting loud, fit to burst,
'glimpsed a shadow by the gate,
Her escape route surely cursed.

A lolloping great mastiff
of the Herculean type
roused apathetic eyelids
to investigate the hype.

No options left, the vixen
hugged the ground, then made a leap
to clear canine and gate and
safely saunter home to sleep.

you and me
in a little car shop
buying dreams
with the money we got
but dreams are free
at the break of dawn
one by one
we let them go

ninety nine cents
ain't a dollar
your daddy's rich
and I'm blue collar
floating down
the highway high
ninety nine
red saloons go by

ninety nine bucks
in my pants
limits us
and our romance
you wonder why
I even try
as ninety nine
red saloons go by

ninety nine
is a soft ice cream
I watch you eat it
like a queen
and we sleep beneath
the blanket sky
as ninety nine
red saloons go by

black the haze
in a mug, soft chair
we wonder if there's
something out there
"you're so cool"
you'd sweetly lie
as ninety nine
red saloons go by

stepping stones
your every word
your beauty
made me look absurd
you lit a fire
beneath the sky
as ninety nine
red saloons go by

bivouaced in blonde
you dream
a smile that silenced
every scream
cantankerous,
I said goodbye
as ninety nine
red saloons go by

yet every now
and every then
I pay my bills
and still have ten
you smile
as on my skin you lie
as ninety nine
red saloons go by

all our dreams
are in assembly
in the valley
of our memory
another girl.. another try
as ninety nine
red saloons go by

Take an onion, finely dice,
Add garlic and risotto rice.
A few minutes fry in olive oil,
But not too long, or it will spoil.

Add stock and wine, about half a cup,
Stir well till rice doth take it up.
Keep adding stock, little and oft’
Keep stirring till thy rice be soft.

Add parmesan to give it flavour,
And whatever herbs you favour.
Add salt and pepper if you wish.
Then tip it all into a dish.

Are winter sparrows in the park
In its top branches are perched
A cheerful song a sweet note
A hungry eye for berries searched
Folded wings and a tiny shiver
A flurry of many fluttered wing
Then as one voice in a chorus
The little creatures begin to sing
The joyful news of a newborn king
Their message pass year to year
Triumphant in such solstice cheer
In that long twilight bright aureus
The sound of nature glorius
Atop the twigs of golden laurus

Hands reaching across the Sea of Possibilities
Faces reflected in the Tides of Time
Nature struggles between growth and necessity
Knowledge bridges today and choice

Water, water, Gift of Life
Heal our Hearts before the poison flows
Water, water, Gift of life
Heal our Hearts before the poison flows

Distance judged by the length of our readings
Time measured in the hope of our days
Science tests the truths of theology
Faith waits for the holding of hands

Water, water, Gift of life
Heal our hearts before the poison flows
Water, water, Gift of life
Heal our hearts before the poison flows