Tom Mcmurray Poet Quatrain

Flames of Madness Fire

Part I 

my flesh is filled and fraught with foul disease; 
offensive is my life to mine own eyes 
that see me sail life's clear and cloudy seas 
where faith fills up or empties out our lies. 

now here I stand a broke and beaten man 
whose love of life laments obscurity 
but in the end ambition's naive plan 
reached in and stole my soul's integrity. 

I am but one who's never been an us: 
no flesh - no blood - no break of fast to feed; 
a lustful trust once wrapped in omnibus, 
ground down and made a graven slave to need. 

disgusted as those degradation days 
laid waste upon the taste of indiscreet; 
my soul a hole of black and blacker ways 
confronts chronicity of incomplete. 

there is no way to spread the dreaded blame; 
excused are those accused or left behind. 
I do so love to play the changing game 
in every little corner of my mind. 

I've traveled every twisted rut and road 
that zigs and zags across my mottled map 
and every road became an endless load 
and every stop became the same old trap. 

I've tasted magic mushroom's mellow cure 
alongside mystic natives in Peru; 
made love in huts to ladies quite unsure 
as glitter ghosts played rock and roll kazoo. 

I've sat inside the sacred Shaman ring 
where apparitions dervish-dance around 
but what the Shaman brought I could not bring - 
my last was lost - my first was never found. 

I'm jonesin' in the center of a city 
while waiting on some powdered China-white. 
I pray the man can deal a bit of pity 
or sick I'm bound to be throughout this night. 

I think I see my hero now a-comin' 
like a pimp he's dressed in tapered leather 
tripping proud with lanky strides and hummin' 
tunes he writes but cannot keep together. 

I'm watchin' death come walkin' straight at me 
and I don't think or blink a cautious eye 
but hand the Ferryman Charon his fee, 
relieved to leave without a shout "goodbye."

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment