not even houdini…

impossible trick
turning another’s sadness
into joyfulness
you will find no magic words
that they’ve not already heard
they must end their own sad spell

 

 

when depressed…

don’t bury your dreams
in the sadness of the world
rather give them life
breathing into them the joy
of hope’s possibility

 

 

lick the platter clean…

some folks bitch and moan
that there’s just a few cake crumbs
left on life’s old plate
while others choose to savor 
every last speck on the dish

 

 

personal investment required…

happiness is consensual
though you can briefly share merriment
by your words and behaviors 
happiness cannot be shared
we all must acquire our own

 

 

innocent bystanders…

many people die
as
life victims
outpatients 
in
an unsympathetic void
where
the affairs of life
are rewarded
like a pet
receiving a treat
for
good behavior
whose mourners
celebrate
but
who’s celebrated
never
joined
the party

 

 

abilene paradox…

how has time
changed
you
what dreams
have
you forgotten
or
abandoned
leaving
empty spaces
in
your heart
and
mind
seen by some
as
a far away look
or
just plain emptiness
that
you
cannot explain
to
those who ask
is there something wrong
a question
rarely answered
in
truth
just the typical offering
of
empty platitudes
things are fine
nothing to worry about
couldn’t be better
or
some other
verbal detour
from
the truth
served up with a practiced smile
but
closing your eyes
you can see
that empty space
but
you decide
to
move on
into
the new day
without
what’s been missing
for
so long

 

grasp straps and pull…

distant words
abhorring
overheard
intended
but
veiled in denial
then
an
all’s well smile
flutters before eyes
repeated gestures
of
oppressors
seen
more times
than
one can count
objective
to grease
success’ pole
before
anyone attempts
to
climb out
of
poverty’s pit
a pit
stared into
by
tormentors
from
its edge
gilded
with
promises
serrated sides
from which
despots
offer
encouraging words
and
relay
how they
arose
from the pit
but
they used
the
stairs

 

not that anyone asked…

ain’t gonna be
famous
nobody’s gonna
remember
my name
past my funeral
but that’s
not gonna stop me
from
being
me
now i know
some will say
i’m an old fool
for
doing things for free
when
i could charge
but
i
don’t particularly
prescribe
to
all the new
american tenets
of
behavior
i still believe
in
being a good neighbor
and
friendly towards
most folks
you were right
to
pick up on the
most folks
part
see
some people
are
just plain evil
i don’t blame
the devil
bad parents
or
hard times
they’re just
plain
evil
and even
they
can’t stop me
from
being me
what about you
can you
be
you

 

no attempt made…

 

the door was unlocked
on the other side knowledge
you chose ignorance

 

fire-activated…

aunt bea
was
on the phone
when
i arrived
i overheard
her say to someone
that’s so very sweet of you dear
but
my schedule is such
that
i’m
just too busy
to do that
since
aunt bea
told me
yesterday
that she had
an open schedule
i was a bit
confused
aunt bea
clarified
by saying to me
that
was a call
from a representative
of
the company
and
volunteer organization
where i used to work
they wanted to have
one of those dinners
for me
where folks talk
about
the past
and
pile on praise
for
accomplishments
but child
i ain’t dead yet
nor
am i finished
so
i don’t need
no matter how well intended
one of those
out to pasture events
what i did
i did
but
i have more to do
more dreams
to fulfill
and
more roads to travel
when you freely walk
into life’s pasture
and
assert to yourself
this is where i belong
then
life’s journey
has truly
ended