Page Five, alive and well

the animal is uncertain
for it has not perceived the significance
of what just happened
was this as simple as it appears?
or are there murky undercurrents
    in this placid water?
Does it matter, as I do not intend to dive in?
Not much escapes these eyes
    but occasionally I doubt them
usually without cause
So my dear, it is your move
and I care not if you do
or if you merely resign
Interesting but altogether useless
I will continue to peer at
the swirling waters
hunting once more

5/11/98


Damn you for stirring me so
I hate the fact that you make
    me feel
drag me from my solitary island prison
You show me all the colors this
    world offers
then make my cold existence even
    colder for its loss
I cannot survive in the sunshine
but no longer may I be content
    in the dark
without seeming to notice, you
    turn my world upside-down
changing this wolf into a tamer dog
who waits patiently to hear your
    tread approaching
you make me yearn for something more
    yet I am unsure if I deserve it
you softly croon in my ear that I do
    and your eyes dance
        and you laugh
drawing me ever nearer
Yet I know I cannot approach
for I am not allowed
For all that I seek your presence
My companionship is not
what you desire
I crave your aura like the
sunflower craves the sun
You make me whole
something I've never known
God help me
You make me whole


Silence does not truly suit
For there is so much in this world
    to be discussed
Do you like this?
Do you understand that?
Can you see my point of view?
Only misunderstanding and ridicule
will halt my barrage of questions
And I will study the opponent then
with ever greater vigor
to find the chinks in the armor that
will allow the quick dart of a sharp
blade to flash through
for I have little respect or time
for restrictions or barriers imposed
by others
either by their narrow-mindedness
or mere inflexibility
we all need to question
the established patterns
what good is tradition
for the sake of repetition?
Yes, they may have always done it that way,
but what for?
Do you even know?
Most likely not.
Unconventional thought could be genius
limits should not be imposed
when they simply halt the progression
of the creative soul
So much more can be done
endless possibilities exist
waiting to be explored
do not fear the unknown
embrace it
    live it
        consume it
make it new
frightening
    inspiring
enjoy the chaos that freedom brings

5/11/98


Inspired madness
nonsensical yet with purpose
patterns are larger than the mind can grasp
But beauty in all its stark and
    all encompassing verve
        stares out at you with
            wide-open eyes
grand, grand concept
    of disorder
it all makes sense in a
    random sort of way
there is not great scheme
it simply is
an edge is thinly disguised
within that realization
divine order is a myth
creation is simply chaos
there is no wizard behind the curtain
no bearded man to explain
    the cosmos in words we can understand
the garden has flowers and weeds
sown equally through it without care
the profound labor alongside the
    transparent
brilliant cab drivers
and idiots in boardrooms
labels slapped on us all
no matter
it doesn not make a difference
it just is
good or evil have no meaning
this is all we have
we either make the best of it
    or waste our opportunities
and depart like unrealized visions
    stillborn before they can appear on canvas
comprehension does not bring clarity
even as it does place a knowing smile
    playing about the lips
there is no story here
it just is

5/14/98


limitations expressed for the masses
never had a right to touch me
vagaries of some mouldering soul's
    self-righteous edicts do not concern me
I do not compromise
    nor do I cater to the ridiculous
        whims of those in power
I accept the consequences of my actions
    and pay the prices necessary


Hope for the curmudgeon

lord there's hope for me yet
perhaps my old soul needs to wait
while my mind and body catch up
my heart knows better and seems
to be able to see more clearly
than my analytical brain,
but only if I let it
    slowly but surely I am letting go
the reins of control that I once
    gripped so tightly
I am not free of my compulsions
no, not yet
but the light at the end of the
    tunnel is a little brighter
a little closer
maybe that great opportunity
that I need so desperately
awaits me around the next bend
And this world will be a little
more colorful, a little more
liveable a little more sane
maybe there is hope
    for this curmudgeon yet

5/21/98


god I am sorry
so sorry for not being worthy
I wear my flaws like some threadbare suit
with only my lies for decoration
like some garish clown nose
    on the headsman
funny, though, isn't it?
only as long as you don't
    live it


honest thief
kid in a candy store with a conscience
knowing I could pluck the ripe fruit
    from the tree and take a bite
but refusing to
Maybe I am just afraid to take
    what is mine
Or I am scared that it was
    never mine to begin with
Everyone makes mistakes, we're all
    broken in some way
but I feel more so
    just shards of glass that
        used to be something
            and now is unrecognizable
even to myself

7/1/98


labyrinthine conundrum
this maze called life
dangers and pitfalls at every bend
usually I am too quick
but this time I fell into the
    pit with the sharpened stakes
    at the bottom
I learned, but what a bitter lesson
I gently probe the holes
    and wince at their depth
but I am still alive


you know, dammit
I am older now
I have skills that surpass yours
    in this silly little game
but I am disgusted by it
    and refuse to play
I don't even want to show you
    how wrong you are
I'd rather that you wallowed
    in ignorance
smugly thinking that you've beaten me
when in fact you cannot attain
the plane which I am on, let
alone conquer me when you arrive
yet I cannot deny that at some
level your attack wounded me
but more that I actually cared
It's impossible to breach the walls
but when the gate is open
it's easy to fire a volley
    straight in
It's not so much that I was betrayed,
    either, unless it'd be by myself
I allowed you more privilege than I
    should have
And all because of a fair face
Now I pay the price
    but the price is small, and you will never
    get that chance again
Savor your victory
if we should again clash, you'll not get another
For I will unsheath the sword
of merciless vengeance that I wield
and slice you in two
Beware my wrath
Fear my approach
For I am your doom
made flesh

8/30/98


the future beckons
yet I cannot see her face
as to whether her smile is inviting
    or mocking
I will approach, as there is no
    standing still
life goes on and I must participate
yet I can't help but fear the unknown
heaven or hell awaits
I have yet to find out which

8/30/98


it's worse than it could have been
and yet not as bad as it was
it's all changed now
melting like soft wax in the hot sun
the faces hide the truth
    behind their plastic lies
yet their fear shows through
even as droplets of sweat
    bead upon their brow
this is the critical time
when flashes of inspiration
shut out the darkness
if only for an instant
but in that glorious moment
illumination at a deeper level
    is achieved
things crystallize, align in
    a pattern indiscernible a moment
        before