Wearing Black

Wearing black on a sunny day
Watching flowers move in the wind
Just saw a bird, she's lost her way
Some would say clip her wings

He reached out and took my hand
Waving his arms, conducting the show
He sits down. he will not stand
Waiting for his 22 candles to blow

A polka came on, he danced in his chair
All of his favorites are by Myron Floren
Mr. Bubble or he doesn't care
If you're lucky he might call you Old Man

Middleton Prayer

Down there at Middleton
They're in the cotton field again
You may not know that
They're predetermined by the color of their skin

I pray one eye open
I pray one eye closed
I'm ready to got tonight
How about your soul?

She's been in my arms tonight
Been far too long
She's getting tired
Rest her weary bones

I'm on a mystery train
Searching for the Grail
My skin's getting pale
My soul's in Hell

Boo Radley
Quiet as a mouse
Never see him outside
Always in his house

Folkwaves

Folkways behave
Monarchs decay
She waved my way
Said, Apple's Okeh

Big Pink stays
Sun City made
Crossed out James
Left with Cain

His bowels gave out
Her lungs turned black
His brain atrophied
Into a walnut
Take 'em out west
Where they can rest
for good

He's Flying Nun
She's perfect Babylon
They fleed the asylum
and returned home to Eden

It's cold in bare heals
Bad genes and alleles
Figure you're bettin'
On eternal Heaven

Judas Prone

I've thrown the first stone
Broken down, Judas prone
Faces I've Kissed
Her birthday I miss

I closed my eyes
Open to my surprise
She's grown from the seed
In he mother's womb

Too much time has passed
Her blue eyes cast
A shadow on my heart
All those years we spent apart

I've seen her laugh and play
I've seen her led astray
I heard her father's fears
Echo loud in her ears

I built my house on sand
Sinking in since I began
To turn my back
On my old friends

thoughts on chico

My dear friend Chico passed away yesterday. My sense of missing him is hard to put into words. Last night, I felt him fall against my back, like he often did when he threw his body down to lie next to mine. Again, I felt him as I woke up this morning, curled up by my leg. Chico’s near constant snoring while resting and his occasional snarts (sneezefarts) will be missed. The bald spot on his tail that grew with age will be missed. I used to call it his receding tail line. The three inch scar on his right leg, where he bravely fought cancer once before will be missed. My little Frankencheekies. The way he loved to snack on cat poop will be missed. When he was my only audience as I practiced my songs and the little howls he let loose will be missed. His happy go lucky nature will be missed. His watery eyes that pointed in different directions will be missed. My little Crazy Eye Killa. The soft dark brindle in his coat will be missed. That time he turned over the garbage and rolled around in bacon grease for God only knows how long will not be forgotten. My little Stinkybutts. The way Chico used to come flying in through my window from outside will be missed. His ability to get me through thick and thin will be missed. His yawn that looked like his whole head was about to open up will be missed. His gentle and trusting nature will be missed. Most of all, I will miss Chico’s unconditional love that I have been so fortunate to receive for nearly thirteen years. If there’s a Heaven, there’s one thing I know, old Chico has a wonderful home. Rest in peace my friend. January 2002- November 2014

stranded on the side of the road
in a bad storm so i'm told
a man and his family stop
they're on their way to santa fe

rouge rug underneath my head
fell asleep without my daily bread
tell you what
fill my cup
with your blood instead

the cat has nine lives
but i got ten
the elephant remembers
everything
until the end
of the road
my friends
yellow
turns to black
in the pouring
rain
it's a matter of fact
i was born to blame
and the walk
of shame
is the game
i play