My Youth

I remember stories from my youth
Of a time before this age
When man lived in harmony
Not like an animal in a cage

He dreamt of things to build and scheme
To make a better land
To make some new improvements
To help his fellow man

Plans for a family
And children in the yard
Sounds of earth enjoying all
The labors of mankind

Then the greedy businessmen
Plundered all the earth
They took from her all she had
With no thought for their fellow man

Holes were dug for science and more
With no thought on how to keep
The beauty of this promised land
Or of how to restore

They only thought of themselves
And the money they could make
Why would I give to my fellow man
Is there something more at stake

The gods of the people
Only urged them on
To think not only for themselves
But of no one else

And so the earth became a ball
That could not bounce again
And those who aim to save the land
Have brought about it’s end

They bowed and made decrees
That they offer sacrifices
To the gods of their choice
To their deities

They sacrificed their children
To live as they wished
As their future disappeared
Like a thin billowing mist

Who are we to claim as gods
The devil and his like
When all around us here and now
Our Creator can be felt

Will we turn and come to find
The GOD who made us all
The Living GOD, The Mighty One
The One who loves us all

Strong

I, like my brothers before me
Will rise up and defend
Those who are unprotected
Unable to defend themselves
In the midst of battle
To make known the glory and strength of our GOD
In the presence of our enemies
That they might know HE is GOD

That they will tremble in fear
Run and hide
And seek shelter amongst the rocks and low
places of
the Earth
That the glory of GOD would obliterate any light or
bright
object they thought they had created
That HIS strength would be known throughout the
Earth
That all knees should bow and all tongues confess
HE is King

Who will rise up with me
And pray for our future
And prove that prayer is a mightier weapon than
any
sword
That the word of GOD is still capable of rending
hearts in
two
That the word of GOD is mightier than any two
edged
sword
In laying waste to the plans of the enemy
That our GOD is with His people, to defend and
prosper
In the face of our enemies

Summer Storm

She talked about the weather
And how it ruined her hair
She talked about pollution
And how it choked the air
She talked about the waiter
How bad the service was
How many times he walked on by
Ignoring her standing there

She talked a mile a minute
Unaware of anyone else
Never letting them think or speak
But she would talk of nothing else
But things that didn’t matter
That didn’t need our time
That I would never have thought of
Let alone make them rhyme

We were finally seated
At a table like the rest
But she was not happy there
She was an ill contented guest
She called out to the waiter
Said this wouldn’t do
It’s much, much too noisy here
Sitting between the kitchen and the loo

The waiter replied kindly
There is no place else
Unless you want to wait a day
Or go someplace else
Please don’t think me rude
I’m as busy as can be
If there were other tables free
I would have sat there myself

He winked at me in knowing
And gave menus to us both
I smiled to myself
Because the truth was easy to see
She looked a little miffed
Was about to speak aloud
But was quickly distracted
By a jostling of the crowd

People shouted in anger
Glass crashed to the ground
The waiter shook his head
And said with a frown
If it wasn’t for the breakage
I’d turn a profit fair
If it wasn’t for the tips
I’d leave this whole affair

After the hullabaloo
She returned to her form
Started on the next subject
Just like a summer storm
I listened and sat quietly
As she talked of nothing else
But this and that and those and these
And the clothes on someone else

Belfast

In the ruins of Belfast
Are the hearts of everyone;
Who died upon the street
Under the blaring sun;
Tears for the lost
Anger for the rest;
What was done
Won’t be forgot
So let’s just put it to rest;

Prayers for a peace
Prayers for hope;
What were the words said
Just give them enough rope;
And the conviction
Of the people;
Who was right
And who was wrong;
Left so many in the street
To sing a new sad song;

Where are the leaders
Who unite and don’t destroy;
Who are the ones
To bring new life
To every girl and boy;
What is the cost
Lives that we lost;
Dreamers, teachers, philosophers
Schemers
Who is the righteous boss;

Who is willing to take on
The task set in hand;
Who is the one
To lead us to the new land;
To make us better people
To love each and everyone;
To make our people proud
To be called “special one”;

But the tears I see
And the cries I hear
Drown out the new made plans;
They ask for more than what I have
To bring life to every man;
Who died for being different
Who died for his beliefs;
Who chose to stand
And be the one
A martyr for our plan;

And the plans change
Everyday
And still the people die;
But answers for the way to live
Seems to have passed them by;
And the leaders argue ideas
But no one can agree;
To compromise
To find new ways
For the people to survive;

They never give an inch
Say my way is the best;
And the future dies
With each child
Because flesh can’t resist;
The pride and arrogance
To be the one on top;
To say that they
Were the ones
Who saved the world today;

What are the chances
That equality come true;
That peace and love
And harmony
Will rule the hearts of men?;
Are we too blind to see
The error of our ways;
To proud and conceited
To see our defeat;

Pride and lust and sin and decay
Make a lumpy bed;
But many are the ones
Who sleep here every day;
Pray for our leaders
Pray for us all;
Let us be the people
That heard the elders call;

Where?

You said you would never leave me
Nor forsake me at all
But I feel so alone
Like you’re not really there at all
And I prayed and I cried
To hear your voice again
But all I heard was silence
When I needed you here

I prayed for your help
But it never seemed to come
Didn’t know what to do
Except scream where are you
What was the reason
For the silence that I heard
Was I not worthy
To be your child again

Was there a test
I knew nothing of
Why was it not known
If I was to learn a lesson now
Did I pass my test
I don’t really know
Guess I’ll find the answer
In the end of days

And I go on living
And failing as it may
But what is the reason
I go on each and every day
I have no companion
Least one that I see
Was it something that I said
Am I nothing in this age

Where is the love
I was told was always there
Is it for others
Because I wasn’t there
And time it goes on by
And still there is no sound
Of laughter on the wind
Or love come unbound

Never Been to Mississippi

Never been to Mississippi
But I heard it’s fine
Got this big ole river
Rolling down the line

Got a lot of people
Traveling up and down these days
Just to do some business
In the most efficient ways

And I heard about the stories
And good times to be had
Just wish I had the money
Then I would be glad

And the Mississippi River
Running through my mind
Dreaming of a future
Where the sun always shines

And the catfish are jumping
At least that’s what I’m told
Best tasting fish around
Can’t beat that taste so bold

And the people there are friendly
Help you down the line
If you want to noodle catfish
You know we’ll all do fine

And the days seem to linger
As I dream of better days
When the Mississippi River
Calls my name through the haze

I see the different colors
Of the water passing by
Like a rainbow of perfection
Or a dark illumined sky

And my dreams are made of
Sights and sounds inspired
By the travels I’ve yet taken
In the annals of my mind

Leaders

Leaders looking for a way
To keep us all in line
Underneath their thumb
It is the new American way

Take away my rights
To keep from fighting back
The lies that they tell
Can anyone perceive

Communism, catechism
No more religion
Preach it from the rooftops
With a gag tied in place

Blind lead the blind
To a cliff with no wall
Like lemmings to the edge
You know everyone will fall

Who can you trust
When everybody lies
Media sells the poison
With everybody’s apple pie

Blinded by the brightness
Of their big shiny smile
You can see them coming
From a country mile

Hip us to what’s new
Slight of hand, who knew
But guess I need some more
Here, I’ll take two

And the sickened decay
We fear is on its way
Has come home to roost
With just a little boost

From those in the know
Their anger just for show
Is it too late, been consigned to fate
Or can we be saved again

Watch the Word

The devil wears a word
Sounds right and true
Make some sense
Righteousness it tries to imbue
Speak of love
Inclusion for all
But the rights of many
Yes, they will fall

Speak of light
Wonders for all
But don’t say that word
You know, it don’t apply to us all
Now my speech has been impeded
The love I’d like to share
Shows how much I hate
Those who live in despair

Speak of my hate
When I speak of love
Speak against the sin
We carry in us all
Says I don’t understand
What’s right and what’s wrong
That I’ve been living under a rock
The times have changed, my son

Right is wrong and wrong is right
See the colors changes from black to white
Do my eyes deceive me
Or did I see it right
Who blotted the light from my eyes

Confusion is his trade
Slight of hand his degree
Watch out sisters and brothers
He’s coming for you and me
Chameleon in fancy clothes
A man for every day
Show you how humble he is
By the words he does say

Guard your mind and heart
Shield and sword in hand
Make him pay dearly
For this is our stand

Anybody know

Does anybody know who I really am
Does anybody know
Does anybody know the trials I go thru
Does anybody know

What it’s like to be me
In the land supposedly free
Isolated and alone
Kept in my home
When all I need is a friend

Kept alone by the govt
Made to obey their rules
Told I will be fined today
If I disobey

No laws were made
But still they persist
To make me obey
Who are they
To dictate law
That they willingly disobey

Hypocrites by word of mouth
Hypocrites by deeds
Yet they are in charge
And making new laws
And I’m pushed to my knees

Change is in order
But voting has lost its bite
Cut the fat of govt
Before they go insane

They call themselves leaders
But bury us in debt
Fight for only what they want
Not for what we need

Does anybody know who I really am
Does anybody know
Does anybody know the trials I go thru
Does anybody know

What it’s like to be chained
Made slave by govt
Made to toe a line disagreeable
Or be jailed for my nonconformity

Powers That Be

The powers that be
Say we must conform
Say we must obey
It is the new norm

The powers that be
Say I must give up
The life I live
And the plans I have

That I must abhor
My dreams of life
That I must get rid of
This luxury life

The powers that be
Say a reset is needed
That people must die
To save the world, indeed

Who am I to be above my place
To say I belong to the human race
The powers that be
The powers that be
Who am I to stand against their push
To be a resister to their hateful disgrace
The powers that be
The powers that be

The powers that be
Put me in my place
Call for me to be replaced
The powers that be
Call me a disgrace
Call for me to be killed this day

And what has happened to America
Land of the free, home of the brave
The land I loved as a child
Has had its freedom stripped
By the powers that be