REM cars...

streched out head to toe,
dream's hand catches me while I sleep.
turning covers to and fro,
without question, I've decended in deep.
stars twinkle and burn, and light up the sky,
throwing glare and fragments to obscure my eye.
floating above the earth, in a catatonic state,
drops of wax fall from candles at the wake.
the sun and heavens, play the field for the stars,
we slip between them in REM cars.

this call

last night, i woke you up on the telephone.
said I had gone out on my own,
can you take this call from heaven?
I'd seen your face on a picture downtown,
were you wondering if I was still banging around.
I had cried myself a river and proceeded to drown,
but would you reach your hand in for me.

I was crying out for the attention I crave,
some people are great, and some meet their grave.
can you take this call from heaven?
Telling you about the trouble I was in,
could you take me in your arms and make me whole again.
I was wondering was it possible by now,
could we sit down and write the story of how,
you and me, and it was all that it could be.
We walked right down, and laid beneath the sea.
Can you take this call from heaven?

We were on the mountain top, counting shooting stars.
Saw the big black sky, the red dot was Mars,
got lost in the milky way.
You turned to me and with a tear in your eye.
in front of all of this, you started to cry.
And you left me wondering why.
Hold my hand, cause I have something to say,
we never knew it then, but things are better this way, and hey...

can you take this call from heaven?

a birthday message...

Covered by the stiffness of the night, I walked the streets I used to know. Every corner screamed a memory, every face brought about a name. The orange glow that leaped from the windows of the old stomping grounds seemed comforting against the breeze. I crossed my arms and tightened myself up, as the pain of memories abandoned began to overtake me.

There were lines that snaked along the street like rivers. Among them, jovial faces gleamed like gold in the sand. These were the times made special by the gentle touch of a friend, or by the telling of story experienced by all. We were laughing about it then, and each knew this feeling would never cease.

Year passes year, and before you stop to realize it, the image staring back in the mirror no longer reminds you of yourself. You've slipped, but you're hanging on, motivated by the memories yet to be made. And, for a moment that seems more pure than any other, you look over your shoulder at your friends...and smile.

demons

It's all in a dream, things are not what they seem.
The feel and pulse of a new living thing,
crawling deeply underneath my weathered skin.
It's shadow lurks beneath me when I crawl,
pulls me down to the depths where I fall.
The fog has set in filling my head,
with answers to questions I dislike and dread.
My likeness in the mirror has not one head but two,
the unsettling difference between me and you.
It's path grows for miles like a cancer,
unravelling hope, and prayers for an answer.
These things haunt me throughout the night,
between these two sensations,
is the war that I fight.

there was...

There was a field, where we would dance in the rain.
There was the porch where I used to sit, screaming your name.
And you ran away from me.

There was an image of you, vanished much too late.
There was your face, red with the ravishing color of hate.
I was your dream.

There in the meadow, when your heart skipped a beat.
There was a poem in my head, I knew it complete.
The stars provided the light.

There were good-byes and tears and over the years.
There were good days and bad days, and hot ones and cold,
and some were so much wetter.

Memories missed...

Close your eyes tight and jump from this cliff.
The memories made and the memories missed. Scream your name with silent gestures.
Their shadows dance on the wall of your epitaph.
We jumped high from this dream,
and landed in it's ashes.
This broken home stands empty.

River of Tears

a river of tears flows underneath
wind-swept bridges.
the fingerprints of small hands
adorn her ridges.
this place they came, to cool the burn
of hate, of poison, they wait their turn.
to see life as it was before
evil cast it's spell.
to quiet the screams
of a fire breathing yell.

dream stare

- a new song

I took your photograph, in black and white.
And hid behind the stage, out of sight.
It was a rush, a thrilling blur. You were never there,
I only thought you were.
Your red eyes burned right through the paper. They caught me waiting,
in the background of this dream stare.

I held your photograph, with shivering hands. And marked it on the back,
with black pen. I knew you needed me,
but couldn't do it then. Those judging eyes,
calling me again.
Your eyes burned right through the paper. They caught me waiting,
in the background of this dream stare. Took the light away from my eyes,
left me running away from the dark.

I placed your photograph, under my bed at night. My mouth was open then,
and you climbed right in. Took the words right out of my mouth,
stole the screams right from my lips. I couldn't move away,
you locked me in right from the hips. Your face was like a black hole,
and it held me and sucked me in.
I couldn't escape the merky afterglow.

Your red eyes burned right thought the paper. They caught me waiting,
in the background of this dream stare. They held me there,
while I was burned up limb by limb.

in the end

so you were lonely,
i it heard through the phone.
I left you next to disaster,
while you were waiting for the answer.
From a voice that calls you,
from beyond the grave.
You didn`t know it was me.
I didn`t feel the same.

Walking through these meadows,
and beside these homes.
Your greatest fear was that,
you`d be alone.
If you looked up to the sky,
you`d see.
That stranger hiding out in the clouds,
is me.

So now the story`s over,
you`re at the end of the road.
You feel so much better,
unburdened by this heavy load.
This radio still belts out your name,
it`s tongue is dretched with your poison.
It`s got no way to run.

the message

I wrote this while sitting on a bench in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. A wonderful place to think about doing things better.

For a moment, evil held the world in it's hand, and let life slip between its fingers. Shadows of the people are all that remain, in this place, their final stage of passing.
In the background, a bell tolls, attempting to bring them home, as a group of worshipers call to their spirits. They see not the light cast from the peace flame.
They know this fortune cannot come to pass. Much less their loved ones returned. The powers of the world are against them, but still their mouths move in prayer as one.

They look toward the heavens for answers that may never come. For the silver lining that was once painted black with the scars of burns and the horrors of their nightmare. Peace blossums like a flower from the dust and the ruble, and must be aided by the blissful touch of a mother's love.

In the shadow of war, let a great beakon shine down on us all, so that our flowers can grow once more.

Japan...arrival

August 15-6pm.

After a twelve hour flight, and a couple of pictures of the Alaskan mountians, the Boeing 474-400 aircraft landed in Narita, Japan. After a 1 hour train ride, I arrived in Toyko.

What`s amazing about the city is the amount of people, large crouds, moving unimpeded through narrow streets that reflected the glow of the many bright neon signs high above. It`s strange to be the outsider in a foreign place. It seems that everywhere I walk, the eyes of strangers follow. Before I take a step, they know where I will go, or so it seems.

My first food experience was a sushi bar. The setup was unique. All of the chairs were placed in a circle, and in front, a track brought around the food the resturant served. There were many different types of sushi, not that I can tell you what they were, but nonetheless, I welcomed the fresh taste of athentic Japanese sushi.

More to come. Tomorrow Mike and I head for Kyoto.

mystic flight

Through the air at night,
a mystic wonder.
Sound passes over the houses,
rattling them like thunder.

Closer to the heavens,
than ever before.
Grab the stars with your hands,
listen to the children roar.

In jaded heaps the passengers creep,
through the gate and into the world.
To change it one by one,
each a vision inspired.
While evil took another step,
the villagers grew tired.

Frozen heels

I walk this ground on frozen heels,
and through a forest of trees.
At night I hear your voice scream,
the sounds brings me to my knees.
No blanket to trap escaping heat,
nor veil to block the sun.
This place, this rythm, these echoed voice through time,
but thinking only of one.
Your eyes in front, but cannot see,
the vision of me is blurred.
A life of peace, of freedom of speech,
most certainly seems absurd.

ever after the sunrise

the sun followed the rain,
as the clouds began to retreat.
the air was cool,
and my life was complete.

waves lapped against the shore,
while our feet dangled in the sea.
the room was small, fit for two,
nothing beyond the walls of you and me.

the waltz

take your face out from behind your hands.
Let me see your eyes.
Let me listen to your secrets,
I'll let you tell me lies.

We are standing alone in this empty room.
No pictures on the dresser,
and a corner without a broom.
I'm hoping the wind will carry you to me,
I'm hoping this time we can run free.
Give me all your worries, and cry on my shoulder.

These walls and halls, miss the jovial faces.
The piano sits silently, hasn't made a sound in ages.
Outside on the patio, next to the bbq.
You were talking to me, and I was looking at you.

her wings

look up to the sky,
and see your angel.
she's smiling down at you,
in this wonderful arrangment.
she's all you'll ever need,
and you're all that she knows.

there's a strong wind outside,
and that's all she needs.
listen to the air, sail through the trees,
she's speaking your name.
it's late outside,
and cold beside the fire.
you feel half like yourself,
cold blood and no desire.
Your angel has lost her wings.

A thought for today

If you were a bee for a day, what would you do? Would you sting people, or fly around peacefully sucking on flowers for nurishment?

these ones are not...

a ballad of the soldier read aloud,
his chilling words froze over the crowd.
on his face, the scar of nights spent in the field.
while the fires melt the earth,
we wait for them to yield.
to the human spirit, a greater calling.
to the child unborn, all hope is falling.
he warned the people of blood's red in the sky.
he held the hands of the victims, set in their place to die.
they wanted better, they wanted more.
they wanted peace, and a life free from war.

You're DOA

So you came to the door DOA,
with a smile trapped on your face.
There was nothing we could do for you,
nameless, and helpless and fallen from grace.

The tag on your toe read,
she is mad and insane.
They could feel the hurricane,
rotating inside of your brain.

They tucked you in,
and slammed the morgue room door.
Witches and demons,
screamed too loud for you to ignore.

The first stage of your afterlife,
is complete.
They buried you next to the barn,
in a blue dress nice and neat.

cocktails on the moon...

what have you got to say?
You asked me then ran away.
Or can you even feel,
me and you and this is real.

Close your eyes for a second.
Then open them again.
Tell me what you see.
You saw your friends and flames,
in this life we lead, we're wasting away.

We'll burn as we fall from the surface of the moon.
The sun burns warmer, and there's killer flood water.
The old man burned alive in front of his daughter.
She watched with tears and silent screams.
Felt like a dream but this is real.

Stand on the side of the road one by four.
The nails are rusted in the frame of the door.
Getting to us like a secondary cancer.
There's nothing left, no path or chance here.