I brought the rent home
after a day of work in the heat.
The homeowner was gone.
His uncle who he took in
was yelling
I went away.
Clothes cluttered
the living room floor.
Sometimes I had to admit
to myself I felt this
was not a home to me.
Last night I searched
my laptop for images
of women once loved
and allowed my mind
to wander.
a wanderer
maybe that was who
I was meant to be
The moon looked in
the window while
the television in the living
room played the same thing.
Another housemate slept on the couch.
A manager asked if I could
come in on a day off.
I told him no to protect
my time and allow myself
to drive around and write.
He called it a hobby—
never read the books I wrote.
My books were kept on a shelf
above the dresser in my bedroom.
In my dreams another was born.
The house I was born in,
used to stand right here.
I was just one more hungry child
destined to grow old and die.
Right here in this schoolyard,
I learned life’s valuable lessons.
The more you have,
the more you get,
the more you want.
Here’s the church,
that taught me,
no one cared,
about lost souls.
Only how much,
is in the collection,
plate.
This is the highway,
where I found out,
if I went too far.
I would never,
make it back.
No matter how hard I try
It took an hour to get ready,
even to just drive around the block.
First, he would check the oil, kick the tires,
tune the radio and set the clock.
Then he’d adjust all of the mirrors,
check the wipers and wash the head light.
Not sure why he’d worry about it,
cause he could not see to drive at night.
He could not start any adventure,
and not stop at the liquor store first.
Had to grab a six of Budweiser,
he’d say, “so he did not die of thirst.”
He’d stop at the bottom of the ramp.
trying to get onto the freeway.
Then set his cruise control at forty,
his signal light flashing the whole way.
You know he could not drive fifty-five,
but stayed right there in the passing lane.
Traffic backed up for about a mile,
wave his finger at all who’d complain.
Before he could make a right-hand turn,
he had to come to a complete stop.
Drove around the lot for an hour,
while mom went into the store to shop.
A Poet Road
Now that it is hot and the sun has turned from
a warm friend to a raging enemy, what did I say
to make it so burning hot?
I`m up early and drive around, stopping and take
pictures of growing plants before the rampant
sun makes them lose all colors.
Then, before I knew it was ten o’clock time to
sit indoors watching the miserable news
and trivial entrainment programs.
The bushfires of terror are something we have to
live with until we learn to clear the undergrowth
and when needed...brutally weed.
I’m thinking of a man who has a small field of
the greenest vines, every day he tends lovingly
his bushes, you see, we should not be too kind.
On the other hand, we cannot poison the land
with pesticides to save a plant we like and
forgetting that all life has its place.
I used to drive around town for fun.
But this town is now overgrown.
With tall buildings that reach too high.
As I try to look up.
The sun turns toward me and distracts me.
I used to go to the little corner store.
New ownership.
That always seems to happen.
My old friends hide in the crevice.
I try not to.
But my car is collecting dust.
Just like my memories of them.
I used to drive around town for fun.
Alone in my car, with the radio on.
“Today we have a fun song about going to the beach.”
I would keep driving until the beach showed up.
My house is getting old.
I’m in disrepair.
Sometimes, I wonder if I’m a ghost.
They keep sending bills to my house, anyway.
I used to be young.
My mom used to call, but she died.
My car died too.
That rusty old engine.
Couldn’t keep up.
I still can’t believe it.
2017.
When I used to drive around town for fun.
This is home,
I grew up here.
I'm a native,
A true pioneer.
The homeless taking
Over downtown.
The pervert dressed
Like a clown.
This town is not like
It used to be.
Taking over by Fentanyl
And Poverty.
I drive around,
Everything is strange.
Time ticks on,
The wind of change.
Lovers and friends,
They come and they go.
Some days are high,
Some days are low.
This hometown runs
In my blood.
I stand by it from the
Church to the thug.
I have ventured off,
Always to return.
The battles I have fought,
The lessons I learned.
In all of its glory,
This is where it began.
In all of its glory,
This is where it will end.
Turbo1904?
Always great fun at an intersection
With only a four way stop
You start, he starts, it's him no it's me
Nose to nose, where's a cop
You glare, he glares, nothing's solved
It boils down to a battle of wits
Like kids arguing over a colourful toy
“That's mine! No, it's mine!” and you sit
Even the ear shattering sound of horns
Has no effects on this yahoo!
All hell breaks loose, 8 guys get out
And a bloody fist fight ensues!
Standing back I watch the proceedings
Grown men acting like jerks
Get back in my car, I drive around it all
It's not worth being late for work
Four way stops are becoming quite rare
In this fast paced world we live in
Four way stops are now being replaced
Coz nobody's willing to give in
The clock is always ticking
Speedometer spinning along
Wear and tear building up
Traversing life looking to belong
Easy to miss the exit signs
The clock is always ticking
Most of us drive around blind
Our internal light barely flickering
We all have a set number of miles
Unfortunately spend too many in a haze
The clock is always ticking
Time to turn that flicker into a blaze
Rev up the love in your heart
Ignite the flame on the wicking
It’s never too late to fire up your engine
Because the clocking is always ticking
A picture
Behind the mountain, as seen in this photo
I lived, in a small village, for 31 years
The hillside of the mountain only had a few farms
narrow tracks fit for sheep and mules
The houses had narrow entrances because
the people were not of tall stature and lived modestly
and believed in God
The men didn’t live long, and the women usually
went on living twenty years more; the reason for this
I blame the Medronho, which is imbibed too often.
The hillside exploded one-day building activities
for people (tourists) to find Portugal a beautiful
a place to live and get old.
Only when people get old do hanker
for the country, they came from and sold out
that was good for real estate, and prices went up
so much so that the hillside became a sought-after place
almost posh, with garages and newly asphalted roads.
When driving to my home behind the mountain
I had to drive around, but now it is possible to drive over
the top and down, which is good for those who like heights
But it must be said, the old road was more seer friendly
Nevertheless, the mountain is charming in winter light.
PS. The phone was not charged
Hocus Pocus, Balderdash,
Newspapers print horror and trash.
Oligarchs hungry for extra cash,
To add to their enormous stash.
Nervous police officers feel the heat,
When they caution terrorists in the street,
They no longer walk the beat,
They have cars with safety seats.
Police cars drive around at night,
Warning louts that curse and fight,
Often these thugs take flight
Making the cops chase them with all their might.
Sadly the world needs cops.
We will need them until the crime rate stops.
When you see someone coming, a cropper
Phone the station, and they will send a copper.
Memories are something that can be easily shared
As I reminisce it reminds me of those who cared
The late-night drives with my sister in the car
She truly is my one and only star
She knew my favorite place to eat
Was the place filled with taco meat.
We would go out late and blast all our favorite songs
And forget about all of our wrongs
We love each other dearly
And nothing could ever getting between her and me
She always knows that I’ll be down
For taco bell and a drive around town.
I put my life savings into bitcoins she told me
Bit coins! Bit coins! Bit coins!
The neighbors are dancing in the street.
They have $100, 000 in a $10, 000 portfolio now.
Bit coin mania, you are insania!
I cannot believe how fast they buy
Bit coin mania, you are insania.
I still ask myself why buy? Oh why?
Two weeks later the janitor at works tells me a secret.
I am a millionaire now, but I still plan to work through December.
I ask him to let me in on his secret.
Bit coins! He tells me. But he cautions me “don’t tell anyone else.”'
Bit coin mania, you are insania!
I cannot believe how fast they buy
Bit coin mania, you are insania.
I still ask myself why buy? Oh why?
Before the Bit Coin debacle, I was the only poor person I knew.
Now they are all in it with me except for one thing.
Not only did they go from Richie Rich status to poverty level in a week
But they lost their life savings.
Whereas mine was spent on a new car
which I am enjoying as I drive around singing the “Bit Coin” jingle.
Nothing annoying is going to bother me today.
It is the perfect weather, the sun is shining.
The cardinals are trilling, the violets are waving.
I'm ready to embark on my four hour trip.
Uh-oh. Three lines of cars are stopped.
A blinking sign says delays.
Okay. I can handle this. No problem.
New blinking sign; it says lane closures.
I feel a little bit irritated when I drive over six orange cones.
I am waiting now for the world's slowest pouring cement mixer.
I try not to take my eyes off the road as I watch it pour the slow moving stuff.
An overweight flag man attempts to stop me.
This infuriates me. I drive around him and go faster.
I see a sign that says ten thousand dollar fine for speeding in a work zone.
Highway patrolmen are chasing me now.
Road construction. I hate it so!
Worst dream ever
Shall I compare you to my driving test?
Although you seemed to be the friendliest,
I was nervous when I had met you first.
It felt awkward, like I was unrehearsed.
I’d watched my mom and dad drive every day.
I’d seen them always know the way.
It seemed so easy from the back seat.
I couldn’t wait to roll around the street.
“Easier said than done” they’d say; it’s true,
But practicing taught me a thing or two.
I felt so lost behind the leather wheel.
At last! I found control, it felt surreal.
It meant a lot to get my license,
but my love for you is more immense.
With ease, I drive around,
Just like my love for you I found.
The songbirds are plentiful where I live in the middle of oaks
I had four birdfeeders, but white tail deer slammed into them
Until they broke into bits, for they were plastic and did not survive
As they were being deer-bashed against the trunk of these oaks.
To discourage the deer, I bought new metal bird feeders.
It brings in up to eight cardinals, and a blue jay daily.
Wrens, robins, sparrows, and wood peckers arrive before nine.
Rat-a-tat sound on my oak bark; I enjoy watching their heads bob.
My forest is full of tweets, peeps, whistles, coos, and caws
There is a huge the influx of crows, which I also welcome
Playful squirrels are fun to watch, but their fingers are too deft
Daily they unscrew the tops of my bird feeders, laughing at me.
Allowing all of the bird feed to land on the ground, in a clump.
Bottoms of feeders roll into driveway, so I have to drive around them.
A plethora of activity, a menagerie of lively animals including rabbits.
Sassy squirrels chastise me when I come out; thinking it is their yard.
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