The Three Hundred Fifty Eighth, December 24, 2011

this is that wonderful
time of the year
when everyone's filled
with love and good cheer

smiles and greetings
to all that you see
generous sharing of joy
as the season should be

that parking spots mine
get out of my way
I still need to buy more
before Christmas day

I don't have the time now
to be decking the halls
must fight the crowds
in the shopping malls

I must do it bigger
buy presents galore
to make this grander
then ever before

and now I am broke
let the wrapping begin
a walking stress bomb
till the Valium sets in

at last Christmas morning
what did I get?
more stupid clothes
and colognes I will bet

santa seems to get
cheaper each year
don't tell me its the cost
of feeding reindeer

tear off the wrappings
just dropped on the floor
will pick them up later
its too much of a chore

gifts finally opened
to the table we go
over filling ourselves
making us slow

keep nibbling all day
in a continuous graze
wanting still more
as eyes slowly glaze

yes that is the meaning
of Christmas it seems
capitalism's triumph
in sugarplum dreams

is the irony lost
or do others see
the day has become
what its most not to be

celebrate the Savior's birth
with the seven deadly sins
 time to look inside
and see which side wins

The Three Hundred Fifty Seventh, December 23, 2011

give me a pinch
let me know its real
have dreams become real
or has real created new dreams

I have felt you inside my mind
so often I know every line
every single feature
familiar as home

never say never
never is only a myth
whispered hopes haunting
then eyes open and vision fills

the breath is the scent imagined
the soft caress is the warmth
the gentle smile is life
lost inside this now

you don't know me
no reason that you would
yet you have been my dream
and now you have become real

can I ever find a way to leave you
when even sleep makes me sad
to impatient for tomorrow
afraid you aren't real

I want to beg you
kneel down and plead
never make me suffer again
believing you are only illusion

I never want to doubt these days
feel you are only that dream
knowing I need more
need you as real

The Three Hundred Fifty Six, December 22, 2011

behold the land before us
as it lays in anticipation
awaiting my arrival
giving welcome

patchwork fields quilted
a tapestry of colors
shades in green
tanned hues

dark black lines stretching
straight to the horizon
all roads returning
stand at center

hear the earth voice whisper
see the beauty surround
smell the sweetness
feel the wonder

behold our home before us
we are charged to care
protect and defend
we only get one

The Three Hundred Fifty Fifth, December 21, 2011

Quiet thunder on a cloudy day

nothing uncommon about that

but the sky is very quiet today

the earth is rumbling instead

walk closer to the edge, boy

dare to dance upon the rim

no need to look down now

come and dance upon the rim

below resounds the thunder

gaze down to see the cause

waves breaking on the stone

savage destructive beauty

sit here on the edge, son

dare to look into my eyes

can you feel the power

as you look into my eyes

stalwart stone guardians

stand resolute in their duty

protection against the attack

defending land from sea

live upon the edge, child

feel thunder under your feet

know my total dedication

feel thunder under your feet

this battle will last forever

water slowly eroding stone

until at last stone falters

patience will win again

listen to the thunder, lad

feel me in your bones

wearing down the stones

feel me in your bones

The Three Hundred Fifty Fourth, December 20, 2011

I see you in my moves
echoes of your own
expressions matching
copied instinctively

there can be little doubt
we become what we see
tributes to our examples
passing on to our own

a great deal of what I am
came from my life with him
lessons from the knee
values ingrained in bone

impossible to be like him
would not be right to be
being true to who I am
reflects the values learned

I am what I am today
because of what I saw
shaped by what I heard
part of you lives in me

Happy birthday, Dad. I love you.

The Three Hundred Fifty Third, December 19, 2011

the other side of the world
seems like my back yard
yet some how different
everything has a feeling

scenes blend together
reality meets expectation
yet not quite either one
unable to comprehend

seeing is not the proof
listen close to the colors
smell the sounds of it
feel the chorus fill you

it either works for you
or it leaves you empty
there is no way to change
the first impression lasts

The Three Hundred Fifty Second, December 18, 2011

they say time flies
it certainly does
took off on Saturday
landed on Monday
writing on Sunday
all because I was flying!