by Gary Hawkes
not much else I can do, or is there?
Will the others tell you?
At the end of this day I’ll have some money in my hand
A 16 hour day but an amount so small the elites would think it’s quite bland
Spent $50,000 just to earn the minimum
But when I make it, we’ll see what elite means then
Rogue Ranger
Picture the late evenings
Wishful beginnings
Never returning
What does it all mean?
The same words twisted
Hopeful dance diminished
Change your ways
In order to be someone these days
Solo is wrong in too many ways
Be like us, to rejoin the play
Preposterous notion
Rejected at first mention
Evil pariah
No messiah
Kill the messenger
Nothing’s stranger
You are the Rogue Ranger
Change your ways
In order to be someone these days
Solo is wrong in too many ways
Be like us, to rejoin the play
Today
Longing
Waiting
Express yourself
Not too much
Embarrass yourself
Fear envelopes them
Get away
Difference is wrong
Sing a new song
Acclimate to our wrong
Never question what we do
We’re always right
Didn’t we tell you?
Spit on him
Throw him down
Steal his crown
There are too many like him
Fuck you and your self righteous shit
You’ll never write a hit
You’re scum and you’ve missed it
I don’t care what you say
Today is My Day
Put me down to feel okay
I’m making it today
Difficult passage
Constant mirage
Lost soul
Searching with no pause
No Santa Clause
Or any good cause
Get away
You’re done
Find another someone
You’re not our son
We don’t care what you say
Today is Our Day
Put us down to feel okay
We’re making it today
Anoint
Difficult few months it’s been
How to realign the ship?
With the broken hip
No room for another slip
Do others make mistakes?
Maybe not
I’ll continue on my cot
In the empty house
Eating and smoking
Reading, mind exploring
But not much snoring
Agitated state
They point and desecrate
They’ve learned to acclimate
Shut your mouth and use what’s presented
In the amazing wide world, where youth’s been stunted
Barriers constant no matter what I present
Be like us and we’ll accept you
Otherwise you are just a fool
With no tools
To right any wrongs
Or write any good songs
We’ve left you before
We can do it again
And this is the last
Reflections of the past
Spread rumors to prove your point
Correct, we can’t anoint
Pacify soon
Before the next noon
You already know the tune
The Deed
Girl with spray on tan looks on in amusement
Fighting over the easement
Flashing to get his attention
Causing misdirection
What was my purpose again?
Calming presence
Lusty persistence
Overwhelming ambivalence
Duplicated sentence
Nothing to my name; not even a cent
Just take this to cross over
Then it’s all over
Move over
She smiles with delight
Is tonight the night?
Overwhelming urge; she knows how to entice
Make your move; she demands
Taking him by the hand
Thoughts are lost, head is gone
Why not this one?
No love here
Simple physics, then a beer
Treat her gently in this short stay
Both want it this way
Quick interaction, both succeed
Then both walk away sealing the deed
No need to sign on the dotted line
It’s all that was needed this time
The Others
Run away; getaway
There’s nothing here anyway
Too much pressure to go back
Not of the stock; not anymore
Can’t buy that in the store
Take back the accusations
Unfounded reservations
Based on assumptions
Not who I am
I know who I am
Not changing to please
Quit with the tease
And stupid fees
I am me
Hark! Upon the ship on high
Golden moonless sky
Will you ever try?
Don’t ask why
Participate in the settlement
Improper placement
Causes stalled advancement
Fix yourself quick
The Others will poke their stick
Incite the flame
Anxious to blame
But you do have a name
They know you be name
Right Way
Longing for the right way
But, what is the right way
Who has the right to say?
Does anything direct our play?
Lost beings bouncing around
Until happiness is found
Anything to prove ourselves
Filling up our shelves
Useless items to amuse
That we’ll never use
Dump it out on the lawn
Then burn it up before the dawn
Lay back and yawn
We’ve made it
Made it to what?
Nothing. And we know we’ll be caught
Destiny rounds the corner
As ignorance recoils in horror
Ashamed what it sees in the mirror
Avoid the error
Make up for last time
Save at least one dime, every time
Bread
Eat some bread; then pass it down
Drink some wine; then pass it down
Don’t spill on your gown
Satisfy the senses
No worry of the border fences
Savor this one meal
So we don’t have to steal
Warm up your heart, and give new start
Push away the cold heart
This IS a new start
Time to play your part
Enjoy the words
Enjoy the view
Enjoy the future in front of you
Make of it what you will
Don’t take that pill
It will make your more ill
Unless you want to conform
In order to perform
Peace not war
Love not Hate
Others will hesitate
Accustomed they are; they always go on
Always part of the human song
Can we thrive without the tension?
Working in some unison
Objections to hearing of faults
They’ll fight to the death for their lot
; Not all will object
Many will re-elect
New beginning and a fresh start
We can inject
Only if The Others don’t interject
Eternal Night
Wholly swallowed and none followed
Disparaging comments on the board
All aloud
Flightless, digress into loneliness
Victim of own uselessness
Spirit prances in the distance
Eying next spring with persistence
What of the Beast?
Broken hoof and the White horse is out; Black out
Electric surge as the beast speaks up
Sipping from the golden cup
Original thought draining
It’s still raining
New day is still out of sight
Immersed in eternal night
Reflecting
Where are the answers
Reading books from the old writers
Are they there?
Are we connected?
They’re all gone
Taibbi is here, he’s good
The Rolling Stones’ ones always could
Modeling after
Emulating after
When do we fly past Saturn?
Is it my turn?
What does it take?
My favorites are too soon gone
I’m the same type of son
But what’s the point; is there one?
Who asks these questions?
The overall narrative
Why are we here?
Why not make it good while here?
Had to put Kerouac down; too connected
Eerie feeling; finish when less reeling
Hemingway. There’s a man
Am I even a man?
Male. Is that enough?
How do you prove you’re tough?
No worthwhile war to die in
Is there ever one?
What was the purpose of the past ones?
Was anything solved?
Hear the melancholy dissolve
Aching words, memories won’t be solved
No solution
Except one
Move on
Fast
Faster
Before there’s no one
Wasted Year
Awake again in the middle of the night
Thoughts producing too much fright
Haven’t had a good night; in who knows how long
It is the reason I write these songs
What will it take to have happiness again?
That woman has crushed me, and I can’t keep falling
Have to be with my boys
But to be employed
Tired of shit jobs just to squeak by
Long and lonesome is the night
Move east to the frozen wasteland
Something that was never my plan
But have to now
The woman knows how
To force me to do what she wants
Leaving our once dreams house while she point out faults
Winning was most important
No regard for the life spent
Another wasted year to get through to the other side
Happiness in the end may be a lie
Radio
Damn Radio in the enclosed studio
Hate the strong connection
Too many times heard this one
No realignment needed
Keep proper speeding
Black dove waits till next evening
Laughing spirits excited for their turn
Take the wheel; my turn
Phosphorous energy
Lightening in front of me
Black eyes, Dark light
Immense fright
Don’t worry; you’ll be all right
Leave the ground
Capture the last remaining
Gain new standing
New group rejoices
Splendid voyage
Block out those creeping in
Can’t take on all the sin
Forgave
Forgot
New times are bought
Black Fly
Imaginary visions of hope
Walking high on the tight rope
The answers are still nope
Who will lessen their stance?
Allow the new dance
Not sure if they want to give that chance
Running out of ideas
Rehashing same memories
Busy worker bees
Season of the falling