Free Verse

No Shades of Gray


She didn’t know why she felt so sad
Tears came and she couldn’t understand
There was a feeling inside of her that
She couldn’t seem to touch
No matter how hard she tried to
Understand and connect
Was she missing something, someone
She took the sadness with her to
Bed and awaken with it each morn
Wrapped in the arms of an emotion
She couldn’t describe only to say
It never left her and everyday
She carried it, becoming more a part of her
For some great sin was this her price
To be cursed always with this
Sadness inside of her
She couldn’t get drunk enough
Ingest enough pills there was
No relief for the ill feeling
She lived with
Turning to sex only increased her pain
What was left?
The louder the sound of voices in
Her head deeper the pain she was in
Sadness damned her and took
Over her existence
So I guess you could say her world lost all
Color and in the end all she saw was black
No shades of gray




Carefully







Carefully examine the vessel that beats
inside
Carefully let healing begin
day by day
Carefully embrace quiet
while soul searching

Carefully nature is all things
rejoice
Carefully tides of pain ride
out to find another
Carefully awaken youthful
desires

Carefully the sweet smell of roses
returns
Carefully the voice of heaven is
heard

Carefully arms welcome
once was
Carefully is now beginning
to live
Carefully finding my way back
to you
Carefully




Blood Roses

Beauty in whose eyes
Love is death
Odor of sweetness
Out pouring of pain
Deceit veiled in petals of softness

Rendezvous between sheets
Ominous epiphany rain tears
Soliloquy of words whispers to a heart
Eglantine dies slowly
Solace in the arms of a lover bleeds
Blood Roses

Ego Trip


He walked down the street whistling a soft tune
Handsome man and he knew that
Women turned their heads to get a better look
He smiled to himself as he continued in his swagger
Couldn’t pass a mirror to see his reflection staring back
Soft wavy hair he wore just slightly too long
Manicured nails and a day at the spa was his habit
Dressed in designer garb you’d never catch him
Wearing off the rack
All the ritzy boutiques knew him by name on sight
Always wore a rose in his lapel
Smelling of designer colognes
He’d often give a dollar or two to the poor man
Standing on the street corner this made him feel good
Thought he’d really did something to be remembered for
Walking away he’d take out his handkerchief and wipe his
Hands as if the dirt from the man had transferred to him
He sometimes drove his expensive car; a beautiful woman at his side
Would show off like he was a superstar
Fancy restaurants he frequented, was known to be a big tipper
On first name bases with the maitre d’
Sat at the finest tables ate, drank, and satisfied his lustful hunger
He boasts of his wealth the grandest schools he was sent to
Lavished in the life of luxury never wanted for nothing
He was on top of the world but sadly you see
This was all in his head for at night he sat alone
In a one room dump a dim light danced against the walls
Stale air filtered through the cracked window
The stench of musk and sour food blew in the atmosphere
With his hand in his head he wondered if dreams really did come true
Tired and disgusted suddenly it was clear
He stood and looked out his window up into the heavens
 High above the image of a bird held his gaze transfixed
As it flew away and disappeared into the brightness
Of morning light; then he looked down how far was it;
He looked back again at where the bird had once been; free
He spread his wings soaring into the clouds
He looked back at the earth and laughed




Walking Out Of Hell

Weary to the bone
Against cold stone
Lie my head down
Kismet soul with death
Inviting sorrow
Neglecting life
Gone are days of tomorrow

Overture to a symphony
Using distinctive opus
Trouble my bed of comfort

Often stumbling away to nothing
Fight the darkness within

Heaven is but a dream
Evil stands in the shadows
Lurking ready to devour
Leaving fear in its place




Empty Bed

She said baby you made your bed now you lie in it alone
Without the warmth of my body to take away the cold
Even with tears in his eyes she didn’t give an inch
Stared into his eyes and didn’t even flinch
He tried to appeal to her softer side
He even got down on his knees and really began to weep
She looked at him not with sympathy but pride
How many times did he make her cry?
With one last final attempt he went straight for her heart
Too late he’d forgotten all the painful scares
Tonight you sleep alone in bed filled with thorns
She gave him one last glance as she walked
Around his humbled figure
Didn’t look back as he howled at her retreating image
Calling her name, she threw her head back and laughed
The sound of her laughter hunted the empty air as the
Door slowly closed behind her

Another Day In The Life of Josephine


She was hot walked with an attitude to match her mouth
Carried herself like a lady underneath she was a predator
Cars, money, jewels, she sought
Everyman was her sugar daddy, rich or not
More rich than not
Each day she sleeps the morning away
At night she’d come out to play
Dressed in designer garb, jewels from her head to her toes
Wrapped in a Mink Stole
Sashaying as she walked the boulevard
Cat whistles she answered with a sly smile
And knowing eyes
Her stiletto heels pounded out their tune
Her hips moved in provocative motion
As she pranced on her way
While her painted ruby red lips repeated
Lyrics to a song going through her head
Reaching her destination she stopped to take
A look at herself in the window making sure
Her fish-net stockings were in place running her manicured
Six inch nails up her thighs, satisfied with her results
She pushed through the door her painted up eyes scanned
The room looking for her next temptation
“Hello Ms. Josephine, what can I get you?”
“I’ll take a whisky straight up”
Sitting down crossing her long legs she inhaled so her
Breast would stand out just a bit more
She pulled out a cigarette and struck a match
“Here let me get that for you” a deep voice said
She turned to look at him match still lit between her fingers
Feeling the heat she flipped it into the nearby ash tray
The smoke clouded her vision for a second
“Thanks” she said and redirected her attention
“Come here often” he tried to strike up a conversation
She didn’t bite just kept on starring in the direction of the door
“Stuck up bitch” he jeered getting up to leave, she shrugged
Her slender shoulders she’d been called worst than that before
Sitting there puffing and blowing smoke rings around her face
Laughter bubbled up inside of her from some crazy thought
Forming in her mind, the laughter died, tears stepped in
To take their place every night it was the same old thing
Every night she came to sit in this place to watch the door

Hoping for a miracle to sweep her off her feet
Each time she felt older, aging, waiting for that door to open
“Let me get another one” she beckoned to the bartender
Maybe this will dull the resentment
How much longer did she sit there on that hard bar stool?
Playing back the different scenarios in her head
“Closing time Ms. Josephine, I’ll see you tomorrow”
She placed a tip on the bar, nodded her head, standing up
She straightened her skin tight skirt, readjusted her blouse
Ran a shaky hand through her hair, replied lip stick to her now smeared lips
She stood their wrapped in her own thoughts, when the door quietly crept open
Josephine saw him in the mirror watching him approach
You’re still a good lookin woman Josephine” he said standing behind her
She didn’t turn around but gazed back at him from the mirror
A smile lit her face which she quickly hid in heart she felt the first
Stirring of some emotion
He kissed the side of her neck inhaling the sweet jasmine that was her scent
She turned and walked away he followed, how long will this one last
Why worry she thought enjoy tonight and let tomorrow
take care of itself, but in her soul she knew
Tomorrow she’d be back