More Poems, Enjoy

Tired old man

Knock, knock
a dirty old cane hits the pavement floor
step, step, step
feet dragging over cold hard ground
everyone looks but pays little attention
it is all too commonplace
the old are ignored
and considered mostly helpless
and seems all the young want
from the old
is for them to act nice, don't be creepy, and don't get in the way
recalling some comments made by my cousin
society is still segregated
put on shelves like stacks of paper
defined, categorized, and exquisitely illustrated
a kind of art which captures the imagination when one is young
and people live it
from birth until death
in highschool I remember watching people
I thought were sane and educated and far from the
racist generations who lynched black men for dating white girls
apparently, people still define themselves by triviliaties
people don't know who they are, so they let their environment define them
I never quite understood why some people
want to act and be ignorant
and perpetuate negative racial stereotypes
and I watch in amazement as one kind of behavior
is negatively stereotyped, while they act
like they are above another type of stereotyping
and I realize
almost noone thinks for themselves
most people just pick up whatever belief
is the easiest
not what is the truest
and stick with it devotely
like a dog to an old bone
most everyone is really tired and old
can barely find their way around the simple obstacles
that lie in their path, thinking is hard, and understanding, even more so
and I wonder if I even have a point or if there is some truth
that will make this whole enigma unravel
contemplating I can only come to one thing, let all your actions be guided
by love

Being special

The king stands clothed in his regal clothes paraded before all to see
the little boy sings before a crowd of parents aiming only to please
confused as we are to the meaning
define me
consume me
look in the mirror
what do you see
I see disappointment
what is this need to be in the spotlight
noone likes an arrogant fool
but I stand before you naked
what else can I do
baring myself heart and soul
searching deep within
I look inside my own inner vortex
for something special
a spark
a ray perhaps to light up your life
a sparkle of hope
a spoonful of sugar
to sweeten the bitterness of existence
we all want to be liked
do you like me
do you think of me
to want a friend
sometimes seems so wrong
so selfish
while so many millions of people starve
so many millions rot away in prisons
and live a nothing life
we all ask
who am I to complain
who am I to judge
it doesn't make any sense
and all rewards seem like
just pale offerings
adding structure
where only a sea of wet sand exists
I ask you
what price is worth it
to be called
special
by others

Distant lover

I just want to be beautiful for you
all we have is our memories
and they are frail
and stained yellow by the aging light
it feels like eons ago
touch and vision in
a whirlwind of emotions captured by a single remembrance
death is not the ending of love
though some think it is the ending of marriage
the bluejays sing a tired song
the smell of barbeque smoke on a hot summer day
it all comes floating back
those bus rides together
our eyes locked
and all of space melted
into us and we were the sole inhabitants of eternity
distance and time separate true love from simple desire
some things you just cannot let go
some people you cannot forget
and are always within you
and a part of you
sometimes we believe the water is so clear
and a storm appears
and we can see nothing
down...
below
in the depths
and you realize clarity only happens when you are alone
away from friends and family
when you don't have to pretend to be
happy, successful, and as deluded as they are
and you can remember that which you love the most