The Serf's Ode

Imagine the freedom,
The movement without fear,
Not of the threat of violence,
We imagine over there,

Not of the whispered commentary,
Of some dissident plan,
To eliminate all support,
For the most unfortunate humans,

But of the need for money,
The only way I could give you,
All you deserve for your existence,
And to finally prove,

That you have all of me,
Which in this world includes,
Everything that I owe.
Enjoy my labor's fruit.

Do What You Love

It's really not that hard,
To know where you stand,
What you love and what you love to do,
All very easy to understand,

It's the forces trying to thwart you,
And I'm not talking about society,
It's often cited as an oppressive force,
But it is often what you want it to be,

Or rather, you can work it how you want,
Which may mean compromising others,
To do what you were meant to,
Maybe 'not that hard' is really 'harder'.

Because there is more than you,
We live in a community,
And we have to figure how to live,
While surviving reality.

To Get Inside

You are a seed,
Broken forth as a leaf,
Grown from a swaying stem,
Reaching out to me,

And your jagged edges,
Are the first edges to meet,
On my way through your mesophyll,
A tasty layer to eat,

Reaching your veins, so that I may,
Journey to the root,
Of your soul, your rhizomian plant,
Manufacturing that prickly suit.

From your tender heart,
Feeding your long, slender petioles,
To know your parts without dissecting you,
Is my life's never-ending goal.

Freedom From Money

When you have done something,
For such a long time,
In relation to your life on earth,
There is one thing to decide:

Can you get better at it, and do you want to?
Are there other things that you would prefer?
Is your time precious enough to mind,
That it is essentially being deferred?

Yes, there are other considerations,
Like how will you pay the bills, you know.
Though, some people say to do what you love,
And the money will follow.

Though, this may be the time,
To acknowledge that,
Until the revolution comes,
That is not a fact.

What You Saw

If you hear something,
That seems to reflect on your life,
From a source that touches you deeply,
And you think that it's not nice,

Like the wind that blows dust in your eyes,
When wind is what you love most,
Is it the dust or the wind at fault?
Is it fair to blame either or both?

Like the abuse that you suffer,
At the hands of someone you don't like,
And you know that it has nothing to do with you,
But you start feeling like it might,

Just remember that,
All you know is what you perceive,
And if something refuses to change in your world,
Well, then, just leave.

What's Underneath

No one is the same,
From one moment to the next,
Just as shadows hide parts of you,
There's parts that no one has seen, yet.

And all those parts that are beautiful,
May never see the light of day,
Or be forgotten in light of other parts,
That are more ugly.

Just the knowledge that they are there,
Can turn a lover off forever,
The darkest, most hidden, deformity,
Can live on, under cover.

Yet, you're still the same, right?
Nothing's changed except the light,
And the knowledge of those around you.
Though, we all have things to hide.

The Heartlight

Despite your best intentions,
And deep-held beliefs,
The world can easily throw you into,
A most despairing grief,

Like a frog, trying to cross a road,
The forces holding your life,
Are heading where you will never go,
Forging forth with greater might,

Being right, for that reason,
Its intentions foreign to your reality.
Don't try to fight it, just let's hope,
The grass is greener than where you've been.

Because being safe is your first step,
To being able to make your mark,
Not with what's left after life runs you over,
But with your desire's greatest spark.

Time Travel

When you see people,
From long ago in your life,
You have the opportunity to look at yourself,
In a new light.

Do you long for the person you were then,
Or thank god that you have grown?
Do you wish you had stayed in touch,
Or glad you went off on your own?

That life is far, far gone,
Like the burnt-down house where you were raised,
Though, it was there and is there still,
In the wind-blown, ashy haze.

And you can breathe that in,
You can keep it in your blood,
And be at the ready to donate yourself,
When that life gives you the nod.

Reaching Out

Connections are important,
They are really all we have,
That's why solitary confinement's,
The worst punishment to be had,

That's why every success,
Comes not in isolation,
Even poets who die alone,
Find fans after decomposition,

That's why a tree never makes a sound,
When ears are not around,
And you're forever bummed out,
That your friends don't come around.

You're too much in your mind,
Who will never be able to see,
The desperate flailing of your arms,
As you reach for connectivity.

The Stepping Stone

What is a stepping stone?
Does it mean anything?
Doesn't it deserve some recognition,
As reliable and supporting?

It's often stepped on, and never viewed,
Forgotten and discarded,
Yet the places it can take you,
Are often the highlight of your heart,

It's always there, just waiting,
Never complaining, like a doting adorer,
Patient, in case you want to go back,
And see the sights of another shore.

And it don't mind,
If you never say its name,
Though, you might find, if you took the time,
That it's beyond blame.

To Live

Is there enough time,
To do everything you want to do?
Well, if there was you'd die a lot sooner,
Than you die, wouldn't you?

What good is there in a life,
With no ambition or goals?
All movement is directed towards something,
And every actor has his roles.

This is not to say that the world,
Isn't filled with the walking dead,
People devoid of any desire,
Except what is destructive,

But that's alright,
They are not you,
And I know that you need more than that,
Because I need more, too.

What You Believe

Don't think that just because,
There is a certain belief,
Held by someone in a certain place,
That there is something that she needs,

Or something that she lacks,
There are quite a few,
Really intelligent people,
That think different than you,

Who have feelings which they,
Have to deal with,
Just as you do and you have,
The same choices.

Though it's right,
That there are those who should be saved,
From the repression of their beliefs,
And they may be, one day.

When To Go

You can't always move forward,
Even though, when you're still,
Each moment feels like an eternity,
And an example of how you've failed,

And how you're literally going nowhere,
As the world around seems to be,
Filled with busy-bodies working hard,
And accomplishing,

Because if you did not stop for a moment,
And acknowledge all of this movement,
You'd find yourself at the end of your life,
As sad as if you were a lazy pissant.

And it's alright,
To be happy in these quiet times,
The depression's simply your body's way,
Of telling you the time.

The Ideal

You will never be in,
The place you want to be.
That place is in your mind, and your mind,
Is a place of fantasy,

But it can only build its worlds,
With the building blocks you feed to it.
So those experiences you'd rather not have,
You need to remit.

Instead, you must create for yourself,
A world with the right components,
Ever closer to your ideal place,
So your mind can build from them.

And then you'll be alright,
You'll never find your happy place,
But the building blocks that make it up,
Will forever be in front of your face.

Back On The Horse

There's no such thing as doing,
Something over and over again.
It's never the same even if it feels,
Like you are an automaton,

Because each movement needs some thinking,
Don't you think that's so?
Sometimes I don't,
But we both know,

That it's when you stop thinking,
That you die.
It feels like this poem's a product,
Of death, baked in a pie.

But that's alright,
It's been a while, I guess,
And like any act that you leave,
You need some warming upedness.

An Ode to the Seasons

No one should have to deal with,
The changing seasons,
The sudden sound of birds living again,
Makes me think of reincarnation,

And the way those crinkled, colored leaves,
Fall unseen to the chilling ground,
Puts my body on the defensive,
Jumping at every sound,

And a sterile world blanketed in snow,
Does nothing for my piece of mind,
Telling me the treasures of my soul,
Are buried deep, where no one will find,

The true me. No fight.
Not even sunshine lasts long enough,
To penetrate and truly thaw,
My seasonal disgust.

Morrissey

The poor young turd from somewhere,
That only he could truly describe,
He bangs his head against his life,
Trying to get inside,

The letters he sent to New York,
He should have never stopped,
Now the years left dry have left him behind,
And the world will remember him, not.

Oh, funny man, you're over,
Put out before your time,
Without the brashness to get anything done,
True to your insides.

And he wanders now, and might,
Try to relive what he once undid,
With more wisdom, but no more time.
What was it that his father said?

It's All Relative

Things always get better,
That's a law of reality,
Things can't get worse forever,
Or you would not be living,

Unless, of course, everyone else was doing better,
And you had that to compare yourself to.
Everything is relative,
Like you're not fast to a kangaroo,

And you're not smart to a genius,
Or rich to a millionaire.
The assumptions I am making about you,
Might be making you pull your hair,

Like you did last night,
When I refused to take a stand,
And told you everything would be alright,
As you held your failures in your hand.

Words

You can say anything,
And anything will go,
But will it undo your life,
Or melt the falling snow?

Will your words bring upon you,
The changes that you seek,
Or bring peace upon the world?
Will they call those you should meet?

Can your words really bring to you,
Your now and future loves?
Wouldn't words be such wonderful things,
If they could do what a fist does?

And it's alright,
There are many ways to skin a cat,
Like telling someone else to do it.
Are your words strong enough for that?

Live More

There are always firsts,
You can't avoid that,
Though, you can certainly choose not to see them,
Or find a bad way to react,

For, each moment is a first,
Not to sound trite.
But, really, if you had to do it all again,
You'd do it differently, right?

Just a nuance, just a touch,
Experience doesn't teach,
How to deal with each new moment.
It doesn't have that reach.

So be aware, alright?
Live in the moment, I guess,
Before you get to the end of your life,
And realize you've lived less.

The Secret Universe

If you are looking,
For life to be what,
You want more than it is,
Here's what I was taught:

Tell the universe what you'd like,
Silly, but it's true,
Then let it float out there, in the air,
But then find something to do,

Don't sit on the couch, waiting for it,
That's not how the universe works,
Whatever that means, but it was my mom who said it,
And I have to believe her.

And it's alright,
If this gets me nowhere,
I'd rather die having listened to my mom,
Than live on thinking life's not fair.

Straw Man Hanging from a Lighting Rod

Sometimes I am amazed,
By the choices that I make,
Doing things despite knowing,
How others will take,

What I said or what I did.
Is it a masochistic move?
If I sometimes think not thinking,
Is a route by which to improve.

Well, that is something, yes,
How you act in a situation,
You'd rather not be in,
Speaks to your constitution.

So, alright,
Do what you have to do.
But have no shame in doing it,
In the face of those attacking you.

Truth

You have to express yourself,
There's no avoiding that,
Even if you're covering you,
With a substitute man,

But when you do that, think of what,
You will be when you die,
You'll be you, for sure,
No matter what the world buys,

And if you've sold something that isn't you,
You've messed up your one and only chance,
To see if you could maybe might have been,
The one to make the world dance.

So, it's not alright,
To misrepresent yourself,
That's unfair to no one but you,
And only you can be your own help.

Trying to Find You

If you've ever wondered,
Why I don't talk about,
Specific things, like the dew on the grass,
Or the smell of laundry, when it just comes out,

That's not what I think of when I think of you,
You're much too much an ethereal thing.
Each time I try to liken you to gossamer,
I simply lose my meaning.

You're like a googol of fireflies,
Swallowed up by the infinity of space,
The richest quadruple chocolate fudge cake ever made,
With unfathomable taste.

So I hope it's alright,
If I simply say,
That you are an impossible being,
That I search for everyday.

The Pattern

I find you in a pattern,
With a very simple repeat:
One, two, one, two, and do it again.
I think you're really neat,

Until you want to shake up things,
And add a layer on top,
With no real thought about it, other than,
To make it something it's not.

Not to say that it can't be something,
To make me think and wonder at,
The majesty and mystery of your mind,
Though it goes no further than that,

Which is alright,
Though it has nothing to do with you.
God, why can't you just stick with the simple,
That makes you so beautiful?

Change

Change is always happening,
You can't stop that,
You do have some control over, though,
If it is good or bad,

More than just a state of mind,
You can pick and choose,
Embracing some, and leaving others behind,
For now, you can win or lose,

Now you can take a part in your own fate,
You can put thought into who you are,
And who you want to be, because change,
Is how you go near or far.

Alright,
Now we come to the part,
Where there are still questions about how this works,
And there are no more answers to impart.

Perspective

You must stop complaining,
And get over yourself,
Put things into perspective,
Like your mental and physical health,

Like your children and your marginally paid house,
Like your job and your scads of free time,
The choices you have and freedom you enjoy,
And the friends you have waiting in line.

Think of all the places around the world,
You can visit at the drop of a hat,
With no hassle or fear or thought about money.
When you're depressed, think of that.

Now, are you alright?
Do you feel the stress washing away?
Sometimes you have to put things into perspective,
To get through the day.

The Consume/Produce Balance

To produce or consume?
That is the question.
You need to know what's out there to create,
Origination.

You also need to have enough time,
To consume what you produce,
Before consumption is allowed,
For to seduce,

You need to know what you're saying,
And revisions are a must.
So, consume, produce and consume that,
And do all of this fairly fast.

Because, it's alright,
To vomit your innards without eating,
But others will see that you've no right to puke,
And you'll feel unappetizing.

The Universal

Is it universal?
Well, let's investigate.
Does everyone understand,
What you say?

Do they join hands in unity,
And help each other out?
Hug each other at the thought,
That they know what it's all about?

Because that is what it means,
To touch all with that phrase,
Which, if happily stumbled upon,
Will instananeously raise,

Everyone alright,
No more war, and no more poor,
Because it's only what separates us,
That keeps us from being more.

When Do You Live?

Even when you've got nothing,
Doesn't mean you've got nothing to give.
The existence that you represent,
Is imperative,

It is the most anyone has,
To inspire someone else,
Less the fact of your being, itself,
But your acknowledgement of it.

For, how many people really stop and think,
About the wonder that is them,
And truly value every second of,
Their existence?

Alright, alright,
It's not as simple as that.
You have to make a living to acknowledge your life.
Society ensures that fact.

Reset

Every mind needs some rest,
Unless it wants to stay,
Exactly the same as its always been,
For, in order to find a new way,

Of thinking of the world in which you live,
You need to step back.
Imagine there is a different way.
Imagine that.

Imagine that the stress that you feel,
Isn't really there.
Sounds easy, yes, and like a lie,
But you find lies everywhere,

Like when you feel alright,
After a car crash,
The calm of shock is quite a relief,
But you know that it won't last.

What Stress Gets You

How can a life be lived,
In that ball that you call stress,
Stifling every feeling you can have,
Into discomfortness?

And what good does it all do you?
I know, we've said this before,
But, there really shouldn't be much use for stress,
Unless you're running from a wild boar.

So, here you are, pumping your veins full,
Shortening an already very short life,
Unless you learn to erase the desperate feeling,
That your hands are tied,

And that to be alright,
You have to hold on to all this shit,
You bought with money you don't even have,
With nowhere to put it.

First Sestina

I always thought that life was about love,
For as long as I can remember,
Even though, everyone I ever
Met, tried to turn me on like a lamp,
Like the sun in the middle of summer,
That such a belief would lead to regret.

But, I was never one for regret,
And though I was never smooth at love,
Luck shone on me like it was summer,
And people were even envious, if I remember,
Telling me that I could turn on opportunity like a lamp.
Being young, I foolishly thought that could last for ever.

I thought that life would never ever,
Put me in a position of regret.
But I was as insignificant to it as a lamp.
It is incapable of love.
You all know from being young, you remember,
That faster than the seasons, winter takes over from summer,

The hot, sweaty tiredness of summer,
An opinion I didn’t think I’d ever,
Have of that sweet season, ‘til I remember,
How my most earnest passes, always ended in regret,
And I knew that I didn’t understand love,
Like darkness can’t understand a lamp.

I did stand tall and bright, like a lamp,
Even against the bright sun of summer,
For a while, while I could not give up on love,
When I thought I would not give up on it, ever.
Because, how monstrous is passion compared to regret?
Well, my conscience won’t let me remember,

Because there are things you shouldn’t remember,
Around those things, pull the bulb out of the lamp,
Because they were only steps to growth, not meant for regret,
Like the leaves that died to make room for the leaves of summer,
Like the cringes you dare not ever,
Tell anyone, in case you give a bad name to love.

The regret in my life, I choose not to remember,
Like love can’t be turned off like a lamp.
I will hold tight to summer, and won’t let go of luck, ever.

Blazing New Paths

When things start changing,
When you notice more people,
Popping in and out of your life,
Offering you more detail,

Than you`re used to,
About things that you like,
Asking if you want to join,
And you`re thinking you might,

Despite what paths you`ve gone down,
That you don`t think you can escape,
Because every path`s unexplored territory,
That`s been explored for days and days.

So, it`s alright,
If you`re not feeling where you are,
To veer from the path you`re on.
That`s what life is for.

Connections

In this world of connections,
It's so easy to miss,
The one or two that are meant for you,
Amid the mess,

The way we are able to see each other,
Across land and across time,
Is truly a phenomenon,
But is new to our life,

And I find it so easy,
To get lost, trying to be,
Open to all, but just looking for the one,
That can help me,

Get what I want, alright?
No more than anyone else,
I just want to be happy,
And take care of myself.

Freedom

There are things you don't have to,
Worry about anymore.
I've sized them up for what they are,
And kicked them out the door.

You're in a new world now,
Without the need to do,
The tings demanded by the ones that,
Previously owned you.

I bet you never thought this day would arrive,
I never thought I could give it to you,
And guess what? Now you have the freedom,
To do the things you always wanted to.

But remember, alright?
I've now dropped the other shoe,
You're the only one who can do the rest,
So, for once, take the cue.

Change Your Ways

When is too much, too much?
How will you ever know,
If what you've done to honor your life,
Has been enough to even show,

Others what you really have inside.
What you really were made for?
The fact that others can't see that,
Is a sign that you're not sure.

For every person, there is that thing,
That when found is what they want.
It's not the struggle- that doesn't exist,
When you like it a lot.

It's alright,
It's hard to find your thing,
And even when you do, society demands,
That you make a living.

Death Bed Regrets

It is never too late,
I've seen it so many times,
People who seem so old,
Completely changing their life,

At least, in the eyes of others,
For, five thousand times out of five thousand and one,
Those people knew who they were in their heart,
And were waiting for their life to catch on.

And what are the regrets of those,
Who on their death bed realize,
That they would have lived differently,
If they were then, as wise?

That it would have been alright,
If they followed their dreams,
Despite the risk, despite the fear,
Despite how the world seems.

The Hacker Way Manifesto

If I look at something,
That I deem complete,
There is something I am missing because,
Perfection is a dream,

And imperfection allows you to be,
An actor in this world,
With room to improve what's already there,
Or you would certainly be bored,

You would certainly not be living,
You would be a cog in a great machine,
Waiting for the the collective consciousness to see,
That this is not how the world should be.

So be bold, alright?
Break and build and break again.
Unless you think you will never change,
And are happy with the world you're in.

The Leap of Change

There is a fine line,
Between where you are and are going to be,
Though that line is as opaque,
As your stomach lining,

But don't wait until that lining fails,
You should have changed, far before that.
Have you forgotten the magic of birth,
Learned so far in the past?

Change, just change, what's stopping you?
Money and responsibility?
They only have meaning in the context of,
Your current way of living.

And it's alright if you're afraid,
No change comes without fear,
Just as no change comes with a guarantee,
That the same thoughts are always near.

Angst Absorber

It's a dangerous situation,
When the one that your with,
Cannot absorb the angst of your life,
Without it straining her own wits,

For, how does that help anyone,
Never mind yourself?
Best to absorb the problems you have,
Then to add it to the shelf,

Of tasks and lists, weighing down her mind,
Best to search somewhere else,
A hole to pitch all your worries,
To protect your mental health.

And it will be alright,
Life will continue on.
No one said it had to go a certain way.
That would be oppression.

Dig Out

Do what you want to do,
There's really no other choice,
Unless you're living someone else's life,
Which, amid the noise,

Of fabricated responsibilty,
You know, the myth of money and power,
Can bury you deaper than shit,
Buried deeper than a tower,

Buried under the weight of the eons,
Explained by the circumstances,
That led naturally to today,
Discovered by our science.

Dig, alright?
All you need is a mind,
To show you that the world in which you live,
Is just one that you can find.

What Can You Do?

Think of all the achievements,
Made by some people,
So much in such a short life,
Yours are so simple,

But then think of others,
Who have done nothing.
Are not your wins and goals astronomical,
And make you feel like something?

Then there's the sum of everything,
That's been done by all of humankind,
Throughout its relatively short history.
And that's only the one world we can find.

And suddenly, it's alright,
There's no need to compare yourself,
To anyone or anything.
Just do what comes to mind first.

Grieving's 7 Steps

Yes, it is quite shocking,
To learn that life, 'til now, has been a waste,
Which leads to pain, and a guilt about,
How you may have acted in haste,

But guard against lashing out,
In your anger at what you've become,
Just lick your wounds, and start to reflect,
In sad isolation,

Only then, can you start to see,
The only way to go is up,
You then can see who are your true loved ones,
And begin to create your own luck,

Then it will be alright,
The world you'll live in will be new,
With opportunities, not available,
In the one you started too soon.

Chancing It

You have to sometimes ask yourself,
Have I reached my peak?
Many people do, you know?
The ones who wish to seek,

The limits to their abilities.
Ambition with no sense,
Of what or where or really why,
The best of all defense,

Against venturing into waters,
Both dangerous and unknown.
There's nothing wrong with testing your strengths,
But, there's no blood in a stone.

Alright, alright,
I know, no guts no glory.
But, your guts washed up on the shore,
Well, that's just gory.

What Next?

There are no problems,
With the world in which we live.
We are all generally free,
When we are not expected to give,

The bulk of our life to tasks,
That to us are of no interest,
Other than the money it affords,
To maintain our existence,

And that sometimes cause us stress,
And angst for what we could have been.
But, really, isn't that better,
Than spending your days slaving?

Oh wait, alright,
We're not all so happy,
Even in this democratic,
Capatalist society.

Confidence

Confidence is like the weather,
Impossible to predict,
Yet, so impactful on your life,
Unless you're a hermit.

It is also like a microphone,
Amplifying your doubts,
And the doubts of those close to you,
Turning their whispers to shouts.

And it doesn't matter who you really are,
Perception doesn't care about that,
We're all just wolves feeding on lives,
Waiting for the weakest to crack.

And that's not alright,
Though, how else can we survive?
I suppose by mutual support,
And respect for the uncertainty of life.

I Don't Want To Do It

I don't want to do it,
There's too much I don't know,
Like, who are these other kids standing around?
They should all just go.

This place, too, isn't familiar,
There are some unknown spots,
That could have danger, not adventure,
Despite what you've been taught,

Because, in fact, every risk,
Yes, could end up making you glad,
But, it could also be a waste of time,
It could even leave you feeling sad.

Alright, alright,
I'll stick around and watch, I guess,
If you promise a treat when I'm done.
How's that for making life prosperous?

I'm Home

I love talking to you,
You know just how to say,
I love you better than anyone,
In the most perfect way,

You smile grandly, and you run at me,
Until you're squeezing my legs,
Looking up at me and yelling, "Daddy!".
What a way of easing my day!

You squeeze my worries 'til they pop through my head,
You push play in me through my knees,
You make me happy about everything,
And reset my energy.

And it's alright,
If you never actually talk,
Your words come out through everything that you do,
I know exactly what you're talking about.

I Skate

I love to see all the people,
Skating around like me.
Well, not as good, of course,
'Cause I'm a professional, you see,

Not like that guy that I call Luke Icewalker,
Because he steps instead of glides,
And that woman's pretty good at twirling,
But she's figure skating, not like I,

I can skate right to my dad,
Without falling, it's not hard,
And I can fly across the ice,
Holding his hands while he skates backwards.

And I have an invention that might,
Make me the best anywhere,
Jets on my skates so I can go faster,
And jump over the slow-pokes over there.

Redemption

You will never get them,
To see what you do,
The great things about the world,
That filter through you,

That have nothing to actually do,
With the things that they see:
The half-filled tank and unpainted walls,
And your lack of creativity,

Until the day that you are very old,
And have nothing left to prove,
Or money to show for it.
Or need to be approved.

Oh, and it's alright,
That you actually have something to say,
Your tree fell in a whole other forest,
And can only be found where it lay.

Dinner Time

It's not that I don't like it,
At least, I might like the taste,
But, did you really have to top it,
With tomato paste?

And, what about this plate?
It makes me mad to think,
That you weren't listening when I said,
I like the one with George Shrinks,

Besides, I'd much rather be silly,
And stand up on this chair,
And dance and sing and be merry,
Until you show me that you care,

About what I think is right,
Which is a tortilla filled with cheese,
Rolled up, not folded over.
Can you make that, please?

Moloch

There is no hallucination,
To guide the imagery,
That places the poor working stiff,
Firmly in the periphery,

Of what he wants to be,
There's no snappy, drugged 'because',
To accentuate the failure that he feels,
When he reports to his boss,

Then returns home to the prison,
That keeps him where he is,
And afraid of following his instinct,
To his bliss.

Oh, it will be alright,
And worth it,
When he realizes life's true meaning,
After a lifetime of disappointment.

Fill the Holes

You will reach a nexus,
A point that you will see,
Coming from miles and miles away,
That will change your reality,

That you have been waiting for far longer,
Than you wish it had come,
But factors outside of your control,
Will keep you on the run,

You may even miss them,
Your life will never be,
What you always wanted it to,
If You could see,

What would be alright,
For you and your goals,
'Cause not everyone can know,
What will fill their holes.

The Key

The world is made of waves,
That you can ride,
If you can catch one,
And know what to do inside,

Though, each one is different,
You may not like the one you're on,
So, do you want some practice,
Or seclusion?

Do you want to be ready,
In case the funnest ride you can be on,,
Happens by, like it does,
For very, very few humans?

It will have to be alright,
If you're not, or if it don't.
The factors that mix to make a good life,
So rarely meet, that they probably won't.

Hope

You could be somewhere,
You don't want to be,
Doing something you don't want to do,
All for money.

I could think of something,
A thousand miles away,
That I could never have or get close to,
That would make my day,

They could let us be together,
If they just thought the way,
Those do, who put the human,
Above manufacturing.

it's alright,
We're all in the same boat.
Society is not yet for the right,
Of a person to hope.

First Day

When your mind is cloudy,
Like after a long night,
It doesn't want to work for you,
But that's alright,

Because who you usually are,
Is always in relation,
To what other people are,
And their station,

And everyone goes... Wait,
This mind's not working, too,
Especially ince it only wants to be,
Close to you.

Ah, it's alright,
We'll be together soon,
Wondering how we ever ended up,
In this room.

The Clothes

It can all turn around,
So quickly that,
You have no faith any longer,
In the facts,

Like that things were never actually,
Really that bad,
The foul mood you found yourself in,
Had no connection to the past,

Or the world can change as quickly,
As you change your pants,
Or even when you change them,
As if your clothes give you your only chance,

Of being alright,
The clothes do make the man,
When the man thinks of the clothes,
As a reflection of his plans.

No Sense

It's not that I don't think it,
I just shouldn't have said so,
Or really told you I shouldn't have said it,
Becauser for you to know,

What I'm thinking is not the way,
To really be the bigger man,
It's disingenuous to call you an ass,
And then apologize for the comment,

Well, what do you know,
I can't imagine much,
Not because there's not much that you know,
But I can't imagine, as such.

Alright, alright,
Let's start this again,
Forget the fact that I said anything,
About the fact that you have no sense.

Serious Play

This is very serious,
It's training for when I get older,
That's why I don't smile when I'm playing with dad.
I'm going to be a builder,

I'm going to follow instructions,
Just like the pages of this book,
Showing how to build this rocket ship.
Just take a look!

We're halfway through,
If you don't consider,
All the time spent,
Grouping the blocks together.

Because it's alright,
To play around with toys,
But don't confuse sillyness,
With Lego and boys.

Who You Are

You can't really be blamed,
For the way you are,
Just as the credit for your good traits,
Are because the apples haven't fallen far,

Like a tool you know how to use,
The ones you don't are useless,
They, in fact, just get in the way,
And make your life a great big mess.

So now you stand here with your hat in your hand,
Blaming your past for yourself,
Asking for more when you have no room,
On your tool shelf.

Alright,
Take this one right here,
But you're not leaving with it until,
You can hold it with no fear.

Rebooting

You have to sometimes return,
To what you know best,
As a form of self improvement,
To support your confidentlessness,

And to remind yourself of who you are,
And what you should be doing,
Except for needing to make enough,
To support your family,

Because it's not always true,
You can't always do what you love,
Because not everything is valued by others,
Enough to give you enough.

So it's alright,
Go away to reboot,
If you have enough put away,
Or vacation days coming to you.

Play With Me

Will you play with me now?
And I don't mean in a minute,
Or after you finish reading one more page,
My time is precious, isn't it?

I don't want to wait for you to finish,
The conversation you're in.
Why is it everything should get done now,
Except my enjoyment?

Take this doll and shake it around.
Just imagine it's talking to mine.
We'll be done before you can find your keys,
Which is what you're doing this time.

It's not that hard, alright?
I don't ask for much, do I?
Just forget yourself for a little while,
And play with this cute little guy.

The Break In Between

There needs to be some breaks,
From what you do every day,
For variety, for certainty,
But, more to keep depression at bay,

To get a perspective on what you do,
From someone else other than others,
So you can reflect, using the benefit,
Of the minds of two lovers,

The one, of how things are and always should be,
In contrast to the one,
Who longs for no stability,
And constant revolution.

And it's alright,
They will have their spats,
It's the moments in between that define life,
And give meaning to all the facts.

My Brother

It's so great to have a brother,
That can show me what to do,
Like how to bang around the house,
Yelling loud, "choo, choo!",

Until we are asked to stop,
One last time,
And we join together in a chorus,
Of a spectacular whine.

Do I want to watch TV?
My bro knows what to do:
Yell (check), don't stop (check),
Oh, and check my cuteness box, too.

It's hard, alright,
To remember everything,
That my brother shows me,
But he's patient, when teaching.

Pajama Time

You can't catch me,
It doesn't matter if you want to,
I'm in the mood for flying,
Like uncatchable runners do.

You may get frustrated,
I don't blame you for your frown,
Those pajamas won't put on themselves,
Especially while I'm upside-down.

Well, now I'm just super-fast,
Happy as I can be,
Free, like every grown-up,
I ever did see.

Hey, it's alright,
If it makes you that sad,
I'll stop for the night,
And read books with you, dad.

Little Ladybug

Hello little lady bug,
Jump into my box,
I'd like to be your friend,
And see you a lot.

What is it you eat?
Let me call you Tommy.
I've peaked again, and you seem alright,
Did you just wave to me?

I'll see you later,
I've got a world to save,
When I find this box again,
Then, again, we can play.

Oops, it's alright,
I see you're not moving today,
You're probably too tired,
To play.

What Good Are Clothes?

I don't need to get dressed,
There is no reason.
There are blankets I can wrap around me,
Depending on the season,

Or I can just walk around naked.
No one really cares,
And if you want to put sunblock on me,
Well, it's better if I'm bare,

And if it's raining, an umbrella will do,
What good would a raincoat be?
Especially since when I get wet,
You can just wipe the water off me.

And it's alright,
If you're wearing clothes,
You can do whatever you'd like.
I'm not as particular as you, you know.

The Builder

I want to be a builder,
So I'm practicing everyday,
With toys of different materials,
Like blocks and lego and clay,

First I give a name,
To the thing I want to make,
Like zoomobile or around-the-corner house,
Whatever pops into my brain,

Then I draw what it looks like,
Because you need to have a plan,
And in case it accidentally falls apart,
And you want to build it again.

And it's alright,
If I don't build everything I want to,
You just need to finish one building,
To know what you can do.

Christmas

What does Christmas mean to me?
Do you have to ask?
It's days and days of wondering,
When it will be here, at last,

And asking everyday,
Trying to understand how long it is,
And getting sad when I realize,
It's not this moment,

But I can still spend my time,
Thinking about the one thing,
I've asked for, and if I don't get,
Will be most disappointing,

Because, that's Christmas, alright?
And, yes, I give things, too.
It's my yearly lesson in receiving,
More than I give to you.

Money

I don't know what the big deal is,
About money.
I find it all the time,
And it seems to get me lots of things,

It comes to me from grandma,
And even on the floor I find me some,
And I hand it to my dad sometimes,
And buy myself some fun.

But, my parents are always saying,
That it doesn't grow on trees,
And I can't have that or do something,
That is really, really easy.

I guess it's alright,
Maybe I can wait until I'm big,
When I'm in charge of the money,
And can buy anything.

Picture Story

When I draw my picture story,
I will make sure it includes,
My best friend, who is the person, for adventure,
That I always choose,

Because I plan to be in a space ship,
Dodging aliens who want to take,
Our hats, that can transform into anything.
We want to make,

Like a snack or suitcase,
To hold my beads and toys.
If the aliens got a hold of those,
There'd be trouble for all girls and boys.

Because, it's like,
We're defending the universe,
And when I'm done my picture story,
Me and my friend will be the heroes.

Under The Table

I love being under tables,
It's another world for me,
I crawl through the curtain, into my hideout,
Like a fish under the sea,

And no one knows where I am,
So I can think of my next step,
I may jump out and yell, "surprise!",
And everyone'd be scared, I bet,

Or maybe I should start to plan an adventure,
The legs will be the branches of a tree,
And once I get through this forest,
I will call all of my friends to me,

Because it's alright,
To escape where you are sometimes.
Your brain has lots of worlds inside of it,
And they need to be explored, just like mine.

My Inventions

This is what I want to make,
A machine that I can sit in,
And a hook that comes out when I press a button,
That feeds me chicken,

And this machine flies,
Did I mention that?
It can go up with the push of a button,
Around the world in five seconds flat.

And when I need to, it goes under water,
Because sometimes I need to go,
Visit a friend, who is also a fish,
That I met in my Space Explorer boat.

And it's alright,
If it takes a while to make,
I don't want to use imagination,
When I create.

The Super Hero

I'm a superhero,
You know from my cape,
And the special way I bend my knees,
And put my fist out and make this face,

And if I see you doing anything,
That is bad or evil,
I'll pump this fist and squint my eyes,
And shoot lightning from my knuckles,

Then I will fly right up in the sky,
Nothing can stop me because I'm made of rock,
And I have rocket feet and I'm really fast,
And my underwear matches my socks.

And I am right,
In everything that I do,
And when I'm only my secret identity,
Well, I am still right, too.

Run

When you run around,
And run and run around,
And run and run and run some more,
You're hardly ever on the ground,

You're going too fast to do anything,
Except think and think and think,
Not talk or watch or even eat,
Though, you are exercising,

And should never stop, alright?
You don't want to grow up,
Missing your feet,
For your gut.

In My Day

Way back in my day,
Before the internet,
There was no handheld computer,
Invented, yet.

The screens were as heavy as a breadmaker,
And the printers printed with ribbons and dots,
On paper that you had to tear from each other,
And that was the best that could be bought,

And movies came on big cassette tapes,
And cassette tapes played music,
And if you wanted to know anything,
Paper books are what had it.

And if that's not enough, alright,
Everything took a little more time.
And, yet, I've had no fewer thoughts than you.
I guess no one's actually improved the mind.

The Clock

What is that thing in the corner?
It's round and makes a tic,
And I've seen people very curiously,
Looking at it.

I always thought it just looked nice,
But I learned there is more to it than that.
There is something amazing to those numbers,
That those hands are pointing at.

They tell my dad to put me to sleep,
And sometimes tell mom to take me to class,
And they know how much longer,
My favorite show will last.

And it's alright,
Though I'm very curious,
I know, in time, I will understand how,
It always knows what time it is.

Easing In

When you're up in the morning,
And the power's out,
And all the batteries are drained,
And there's no internet, no doubt,

What is there that you can possibly do?
You can't ask the internet for advice.
Wait! Do you remember there are things called toys,
That once, used to entice?

And there are things that are called words,
That you can use to communicate,
With each other about things,
That your imagination creates.

So wake up, alright?
Stretch your limbs, and get ready to go,
To that part of your brain, waiting for you,
Where there live things that are not yet known.

To Figure Out Your Path

Your life, somehow, annoys me,
The way it takes the path I want.
Your fancy, lazy walk through all,
That daily haunts,

My vision of what I could have been,
And now you overlap into mine,
Making it impossible to even mimic,
All your traits that I find,

Would be the key to my own success,
If I could only figure out how,
To be you, without you not knowing.
I can't do that now.

Oh, it's alright,
Maybe I'll try doing things my way,
Though, I wish I'd have thought about this sooner,
Than, now that I'm more than half way.

The New Socialism

Until there is no money,
Printed anywhere,
And it is never seen in someone's hand,
But only travels through the air,

From the proof of our identity,
Embedded in our very skin,
As much a part of us as our sense of humor,
Or our manic compulsion,

To have what we want, easily,
Just pick it up and walk away.
Isn't that the freedom we talk about,
When we camp out for days and days?

And it's alright,
We just have to make money part of us,
And it needs to be distributed evenly,
By the new government, socialist.

The Capitalist Revolution

What's all this fuss about money?
What good did it do anyone?
The rich spend their days holding onto it,
And the rest want a revolution.

Sometimes, in moments of freedom,
I imagine imagining,
Living my life, in my present condition,
Not thinking about money,

Which is how some people do it,
Though, it catches up to you in the end,
Because banks, unenlightenedly,
Worry about dividends.

But, alright,
What should a modern revolution be?
Maybe the way to topple this system,
Is to just forget about money.

The Guilt of Success in an Unjust World

The world is always unjust,
No matter which one you're in,
If you are not satisfied with where you are,
And have no time for a revolution,

And, yet, are better off than most,
Which makes revolution difficult.
That's the challenge in the world we're in:
Most people are better off than most.

So, you're left with the guilt of success,
Or the hesitation to be all you can be,
And you would join those who are fighting these conditions,
But you don't have the energy.

Here's the truth, alright?
You can only ever do what you do best,
And, if you do, you can be guaranteed,
That you will be a good example for the rest.

Creating

Creating is a privilege,
Open to anyone,
Despite what life you may have been born into,
Regardless of your vocation,

It doesn't matter if you're not all there,
Or if you have nothing with which to build,
Or no one has encouraged you ever,
Or your entire family's been killed.

In fact, creativity is nothing,
That you can even avert,
Unless you hold your breath until you die,
Though, that's the best art I've ever heard.

And it's alright,
Your words don't have to be ornate,
Just take these ones as an example,
Of the driest way to create.

A Hundred Objects Close By

Look at what has happened,
Happiness in your eyes,
Melting into the rest of you,
Despite all the lies,

That perception hands to you,
Beauty, it cannot deny,
The only proof of truth,
And the only knife,

We welcome into ourselves,
Happy to give our life,
Over to the ecstasy,
Of the thoughtless, innocent highs,

Of existence. All is right,
You can't deny this:
That beauty can always be found,
In whatever you're amidst.

to Sheree

How To Make A Difference

I wish I could be everything,
I would like to be,
But this world will not allow it,
And it's not society,

As much as I would like it to be,
It's something to do with,
The physical impossibility of,
Self replication, to wit,

The power to create more time than there is,
Because no accomplishment comes without,
More than half your waking hours,
If you're really devout.

And it's alright,
If you'd rather trudge along with hundreds of dreams,
And get joy from jumping little hurdles,
That lead to nothing.

The Daily Soldier

You can't just decide,
To become a soldier,
You have to be willing to do some things,
In places that are colder,

No matter the climate,
That's not the point.
You have to steel yourself,
Against the point,

Of sympathy,
To a degree.
Have love for your brother,
And deny others dignity.

Alright, I've never been,
So, who am I to say?
I can only think of what it's like,
To divide the world that way.

The Infinite Cage

Why don't you think outside the box,
When you think about how far you've come,
And all the paths you've passed up,
And subsequent delusion,

About the options you have?
You have no less than anyone,
Who has taken chances in their life,
And tackled their vocation.

And all those ties that bind,
And responsibilities that restrict,
Your desire for a new life,
May be just the kick,

In the pants, (alright?)
That you need to decide,
That no cage is so small,
That you can't explore the inside.

When Will My Love Stop?

You could lose all your senses,
You could have no words to speak,
Your limbs could pop off,
And you could have no more teeth,

All of these things could inflict you,
And, yet, my esteem,
Would not falter a moment,
Because I've seen,

That smile that rests,
Yes, on your lips,
And suffuses your eyes,
And I love it,

But it's elsewhere, alright?
It's nowhere you'll find,
By searching any part of you,
But by looking behind.

What Do You Get?

What passes on to your children?
Is it what you say or what you do?
Or is it something intangible,
Inside of you?

Do they pull out of your essence,
Both the good and the bad,
Regardless of how close you are?
The apple doesn't fall far from dad.

No one really knows,
No matter how much evidence they dig up.
Everyone's in this world alone,
No matter their make-up.

And they're alright,
With or without their parents.
It's whether you want to be there to see,
Their inheritance.

The First From Suggestions

Silence is a wonder,
If you can find it,
Which you can, in the noisiest places,
If you listen for it,

It's in the moments when others' eyes,
Bounce away into contemplation,
Looking at the space between everything,
That eliminates the perceived distance,

Existing between each of us,
Generating conflict.
How many wars would have never been,
If we were all from the same district,

If we were all alright,
With the differences,
That allow us to see each other,
In this world of interconnectedness?

Why You Shouldn't Succeed

Things always look better,
When people convince you,
To look at them a different way,
Meant to skew,

The way you naturally think of things,
Because instinctively,
Your mind does not take into consideration,
Some presumptions that you need,

Like, don't expect that you can have everything,
That your heart calls for,
When there are people with so much less,
Why should you deserve more?

And it's alright,
I know it's a recipe for failure.
How else can fairness be ensured,
Other than to universally empower?

Going Along

Some people won't take no for an answer,
In their daily life,
And though not all of them are successful,
They are geniuses in their own right,

Defying logic, against all odds,
They know that there is no right or wrong,
When making a decision for one's own good,
You must be truthful and strong,

Or inhuman, which is really to say,
Accepting of what you are told,
There is who and what you should be,
Regardless of what your heart knows.

And it's alright,
If you are of the latter bent,
There're so many obstacles to overcome,
It's surprising everyone isn't.

Change Your Self

Change is not an option,
For anyone.
Any attempts to alter who you are,
Just creates a variation,

And confuses your self.
Is that what you want?
I have enough hardship understanding you.
It certainly won't be a jaunt,

For you to know what it is you have to do,
To finally feel one.
Come on, just sit down here and forget all,
Thoughts of evolution.

It's not for you, alright?
We were meant to stay the course,
And change the things around us,
Through kindness or through force.

The Narcissist

I love your narcissism,
It keeps me loving you,
Not like when you were hardly there,
Even in this room,

When anything was good enough for you,
And I didn't know where you were.
I could have held you for an eternity,
And still never be sure,

That you were with me, or anywhere.
Thank god for your new self-worth.
Now I feel closer to you simply patting your back,
From the other side of the world.

And it's alright,
If you never pat mine,
I live for that moment,
And so I live all the time.

Spark

If you are reading this,
What is it you think?
Have you found yourself between the steps,
Or stepping back from the brink?

We all find ourselves,
In places we don't want to be,
Though, that is usually because of fear of moving,
Or the determination to be free.

So, at the very least, leave with this thought,
Either of yourself or reality,
That everything under the sun,
Casts a shadow on something,

That may be alright,
Or may actually not be,
I guess the point is to forever look,
Until you think that you've seen everything.

Your Fame Barometer

If you want to know anything,
You don't have far to look,
Because how you affect the world,
Is your reference book.

You will never be more kind,
Than you are to those closest to you,
And so will the world,
Treat you, too,

And if you want to know how you'd look,
To the world at large,
If it turned its eyes on you,
You don't have to look hard,

To know, alright?
Just put yourself in,
The shoes of those closest to you,
And assess the situation.

The Real You

The dangers surrounding you,
The dusts and trips and knives,
Most unknown to you, while they break down,
The building blocks of your life,

Will never destroy the charms in you,
That make me love you now and then,
And forever, no matter how the world,
Chooses to reconfigure our plans,

No matter if it changes from day to night,
And the darkness never leaves.
With you, the conditions in which I live,
Really has very little meaning.

It's you, alright?
Whether we're together or apart,
That survives the most crushing avalanche,
And shines through to my heart.

Off To Work

It doesn't matter,
How much sleep you get,
If in a day you feel that you have come,
One step closer to eliminating debt,

Until the point when you neither have,
Nor owe anything,
Which is closer to a bum on the street,
Than society's majority,

Who have less than zero but live as though,
They make twice as much as they do.
Slavery, in the modern age,
Looks an awful lot like you.

Alright, alright,
No one is whipping your feet.
But ask yourself, are you free to do what you want,
Sixty hours out of your week?

Ennui

The crisp mist through which you must push,
On the darkened, empty streets,
On your way to the place you'd rather,
Not meet,

In this journey you'd rather not be on,
For the regrets it piles on your mind,
For love, for money and for your heart's desires,
And for someone to be kind,

Invites you to never stop your wheels,
To never stop until you're too far away,
To honor the oaths you swore when the sun was high,
Shining on the fresh leaves, as they swayed.

Alright,
So, now, what are you going to do?
You really can just cast it all away.
It really is just about you.