I was raised, like many others, on the wrong side of the tracks.
Parents poor, thru generations, hopelessly, broke their backs.
The holes in our walls, patched, with mud and road kill skins.
Our roof made up from cardboard boxes and corrugated tins.
We ate old, ice cold, cockroach stew, tho pigged out on toad.
The rusty bucket, we used out back, lovingly called commode.
As a young lad, I went bad, ran with wild gangs in the streets.
But soon, found myself running, with drunks, liars, and cheats.
In time, untrusted, got busted, cuz I was the one who went in.
The Judge, graveled, quickly gaveled, got five years in the pen.
In one cage, pent up rage, every day had to fight for my life.
Dreading showers, rival powers, and a toothbrush for a knife.
Made up my mind, when I got out, to fly straight as an arrow.
Like a fool, was hard to get by, on just the straight and narrow.
My life's been no picnic, it's true, but I won't sing a sad song.
Now busted again, back in the pen, I'm sure I probably belong.
Sometimes things are harder -
than I feel that they should be.
Some they make you stronger-
So, why do I feel so weak?
Perhaps because I'm tired-
from all the battles that I've fought.
And maybe I should think-
about the lessons that they've taught.
But sometimes it is hard-
to try to find the silver lining.
So when my thoughts get dark-
I think of reasons to keep trying.
For my Claire Bar, Bubba James-
and for my Colty Boy as well.
I love my "Shuga-Boogas"
more than my words could ever tell!
So when I'm feeling sad -
and I feel my world fall apart.
I think of them and smile-
because they're always in my heart!
I Love You
-Mommy :)
November 18th, 1932, Lincoln, Nebraska, main street
fancy pretty new toys are in Jasper’s storefront window
Betty points to a baby doll she would like for Christmas
she does not expect to get it
times have been hard for everyone
she is four and she knows not to get her hopes up
she is tired of being disappointed
she keeps this wish in the back of her mind
in her stocking this year there is an orange
it is more than enough
times have been hard for everyone
Musician
plays for tips
family begs for food
Snows caps on the far hills
it's gonna be a hard one.
I drive to town for some lumber,
check out a new generator
old ones on the fritz.
Folks got some winter gear on already.
At the hardware store
slow minded Jack Hawkins gives me a hard time.
I hand him a list of ammo I'll be needing,
some fishing tackle, tar paper and paint -
put it all on store credit.
On the sidewalk
sheriff Harper gave me a sideways look
as he drives on by.
Back at the double-wide
there's chores aplenty waiting.
I wish the old lady was still here,
but she died last winter
after a long year of gut ache.
I miss her niggling ways
and the bed needs her warmth.
At the funeral her sister
glared nails at me all through the service;
she ain’t the forgiving kind.
Bolt down a greasy supper
then catch a face in the cracked wall mirror
an old mug with steel gray eyes.
I wish I could find a question
to ask that feller but I already know
that I'm just hanging on here
not willing yet to give
one god-damn inch.
Right Turns Hard Times
David J Walker
Only a scooter as if
a Scooter
was just a toy
The memory disguised
as an errant thought
Brought tears of joy
To a man returning to a boy
Before he could possible
die alone at home again and again
Alone becomes his synonym for a
A European Fone
Disconnected from
a forgotten number
Written on discarded paper
Memories default into faultiness
Thoughtless defaults into
a sign of senselessness
The old the deaf and blind
Await whatever is nameless
but next
The blind man on the scooter
Stopped at the corner
perplexed
But still attempts to fit in and
Cannot comprehend
The times and how behind
He has become
The scooter turns the corner
And he is gone
In that time
where we lived
to smile with our eyes and embrace with our imagination...
We dream of a future that is
at least like the past we live in or
better than the present we stand
withs so much absence...
This is the normality that so much
we long for destiny...
Meghan Markle's
lost her sparkle
While Prince Harry
seems more wary
Old Prince Charles'
star has faded
And Princess Anne
looks quite jaded
The Royal Family
no more a fascination
Corona virus ~
our new pre-occupation
Surfing Hard Times!
Is COVID a trickle or wave you must ride
if you hope to survive (you've got soft underside)
dark times circling below? One might bid you hello!
The young should survive, but for old, it's no joke.
Wear a mask to slow virus, speak 'truth.' don't blow smoke
to stop loss or spread hate (though fear piles on your plate!)
If you get the sniffles, don't hope you die fast!
Don't demand a star's billing (but pray to get cast)
Or define what makes fun! Help what's needful get done!
Connect with old friends, so they see that YOU care,
As God blesses your life, look for things you can share.
And if that's not enough, help new friends do what's tough!
When voters choose leaders, a marriage takes place?
Don't let pain, or their sin, throw poor choice in your face.
With knees flexed, pick your wave, no one wins as a slave!
Long Tooth
May 31st in 2020
Hard time
I understand
Is hard to be yourself
At hard times
Is not easy to stand
Strong on struggling period
It difficult to hold on
When all turns negative
But remember the value of
Good times is the different
Between it and
Hard time
Hard time
It comes it goes
It never permanent
It elevate if your
Find it end
It is a part of life
So don't die inside your
Hard time
Hard time
Am living soul
Great in my field
Protected by the most high
Despite that I still got hard times
And each time I got out of this
Time
I feel stronger
I grow in energy
Even wisdom out from
Experience is never excluded
In it end
So live don't bury
your life in your
Hard times
Hard times are aplenty
In the year 2020
Cuffed at the start
With a broken heart
Another application
That won't lead to salvation
Perhaps recompense
For the times I didn't make sense
The job market might be booming
But homelessness is looming
For a guy like me
Who can't seem to see
A way out
No matter how I shout
In the year 2020
Hard times are aplenty
TEMPEST AND SHIPWRECK
The sea and oceans sways,
Being calm at times,
And erupting like a volcano many a time,
Roaring like a lion In the world,
But it lasts for a while and vanishes.
The sailor that mans the ship,
With his entire crew in the ship,
In mind to take her to a destination,
But the course changes,
Consequently the Captain anchors in the ocean,
Till the tides paves way for the vessel to pass.
When the tempest intensifies,
The dolphins hops in and out of the water,
Being excited in the midst of tempest,
And hops happily till it lasts.
Good or bad as it seems to be,
The condition of life tosses us to and fro,
But in all everything will be alright,
Therefore lets look unto our creator,
And be happy.
ANYABOLU IFEANYI GENTLE
A.D 2019, JAN 29{whatsapp 07061816037}
Times are hard for you with your ailing health.
I know it is difficult,
but faith will get you through.
Unload your burdens; cry; let it all out.
You are loved by many, and
many are here for you.
We are all in God’s hands, so just know this:
to aid and bring you comfort,
there’s nothing I won’t do.
July 27, 2018
Hard times seem to eat us alive,
We go thru changes.
Changes that we can't explain, or even fantom.
We hang on to those hard times and memories we make.
Even if we know someday all these hard times will come crashing thru our walls and end us all.
When the sound of thunder cracks into the night sky,
You will know another storm is rolling in.
More hard times are here to come.
Hard times come fast,
Some come slow.
Some come easy.
With a blink of an eye,
they will only be just a memory.
So many sad faces
To many broken hearts
All these familiar faces
Without any facial expressions
They anguish and depression
Has me asking questions
Is money and greed
Mankind greatest obsession
Aggression and oppression
Is giving a bad impression
All these parliament sessions and still no confession
In reading and hearing about these conversations
All I can say, we are heading into great recession.
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