Barbed Wire

Barbed wire keeps cattle from wandering
check it daily to keep them contained.
They only go out to the open range
with cowboys and herding dogs.

Wire stretched from post to post
like boundaries set up by churches and states
to keep the masses controlled and enclosed
because chaos reigns when they break free
getting lost in the open sea of choice.

Better to have choices already made
so the burden of work can be laid
upon their shoulders, producing milk, 
plowing fields, sent to slaughter

without complaint, 
enough food to keep
them satisfied, enough space 
to keep them passive.

Be careful of those 
who stretch limits
and create agitation 
to want more.

Force them up against the barbed wire
to feel the pain and realize life is good
all contained in the orderly routines
in an enclosed life. 

Garage Sale Bling

It was a simple thing, gather up this and that
for a community garage sale, a good way
to clear the clutter; some kitchen utensils,
a few of the kids toys, other odds and ends

and a wooden box, never used

only to discover the prize stored within

was the $23,000 wedding ring given to his bride.
Time stands still, no insurance to cover this mistake. 

SMACK!

I wonder about the person who purchased the box
will she decide to keep it for herself?
Or is it  waiting to be found 

in the same box left in her car trunk? 

Maybe she has already contacted a buyer
'cause even if she gets half the worth,

it is more than the $10 she spent. 

SNAP!

She didn’t steal it, no one can make her return it, 

it’s like winning the lottery, maybe she will 

negotiate a deal, get a reward, clear her conscience 

and be done with it... but... maybe not. 

WHACK!

Poem Never Written

Last night before falling asleep
had an idea for a poem
but didn’t write it down 

now this morning I can’t recall
even a thread of my inspired tapestry
can’t jar it from memory so instead

I write these jumbled words,
like a drunk reciting the alphabet,
while the best I had to offer 

is still tangled in my pillow
or suffocated and lost
somewhere in my head. 

Lighting Candles for Miracles

Walked into an empty church  
where candles flickered beneath 
statues of saints, a place to kneel
and pray for intercession. 

St. Jude for the hopeless, 
St. Anthony for the lost,
donation boxes with locks
to keep visitors from stealing. 

How many times
were dimes stolen
or candles snuffed out 
and miracles 
never delivered?

Visions and Dreams

Many teenagers hang their future
on a rock star, thinking 

somehow their adoration
will translate to success

so they plug in their 

electric guitars 

sing bad poetry into 

cheap microphones

thinking one day 

fame and wealth
will fill their desires 

but the doors never open

so they become
addicts and drunks, 

wasting their lives 

on failed dreams

but for some the dream
transpires and they live
the music and a life
beyond their dreams. 

My Brother’s Poetry / Chuck Toledo

Elvis Presley rocked my dream

There he was

It was the King

He gave me a big smile

He shook his hips

Struck a karate pose

And asked

Do you have any size eleven

blue suede shoes?

God keeps hiding mine

It is a technicality I am sorting out with the big guy

It bugs him that people call me

THE KING

Hell it ain’t my fault

Anyway before you wake up

Can you rustle me up something to eat

The music in heaven rocks

But

The food just ain’t Southern enough

Sleeping in Bette Davis Eyes

Spinning and talking and pulling

One new thing after another

If we could fly but needed wings

Our phone would be held in our asses

Maybe they already are

Just look around

Too many channels

Not enough nothing

Or is it all nothing

Taking up my space

I wrote a letter to Bette Davis

Her response was simple

Your world is a dump

Just like mine was

Quit being a sissy

Sinatra Says It’s So

I sleep on my left side

I do it my way

I heard a voice

It was Frank

With a tip of his hat and a grin

Old Blue Eyes agreed

You should sleep the way you want

You should say what you want

To whoever you want

That’s right!

You don’t spend too long

In this crazy world

so

be cream of the crop

king of the top

leave the slop

for the other guys

And if your wife can’t stand you

Get another one

She is going to get half anyway

Now if you don’t mind

I got to skiddo

Do it your way

 

Mark One, Mark Two, Mark Twain Snooze 

I was just beginning to doze off

And Mr Clemens arrived

Oh! Not now, I am trying to sleep

He ignored me

He lit a cigar and started chatting

I turned over to ignore the intrusion

He climbed up and sat near me

He talked and talked

I became more and more interested

He had a wonderful way of spinning things

Most of them I forgot

He told me not to worry about things

There is a heaven

And the place has dogs and frogs

There is no hate

But don’t be late for dinner

The fried chicken will all be gone

Those angels are rascals

My O Mao

As I closed my eyes

I thought

It is tomorrw in China

A broken English voice

Whispered

O it is much later then that

The revolution changed it all

The cultural experience is now

China is once again

The center of the universe

While you sleep China grows

The West is no longer the best

The East is no longer the least

Greed dooms as it looms

Peace thrives without lies

So

My companion

Join the battle

Long live Rock And Roll

Zelda F Never Looked More Reckless

She strutted into my midnight sleep

Like a hungry, drunken feline

She jumped into bed

She spilled her drink

And kissed me flat on the lips

I thought she was ungettable

Tonight she was mine

She taunted me saying

Let’s do the unimaginable

After all

It is your dream

Let me do all the worrying

And

Let’s not worry about nothing

This is the dawn

Of your Jazz Age

  

Brad Pitt Had Coffee with Me

I was barely awake

But then I guess I wasn’t

Brad, what the f**k!

He pulled on his new beard

He just stared, sipping on a cup of joe

He asked me if I had any pot

Well, I guess I do

I got one or two

We rolled it and smoked it

He knows something about rolling

He said all was well

Cleared his throat and espoused:

Being at the top is only dangerous

Once

After that you just should not care

He told me to keep some stash around

You never know who might show up

He was right

You never know

Janice Joplin…U Know

I always loved her 

I even kissed her once

Neither of us held back

It was a moment in my sleep

She told me she loved too much

She didn’t let go

She held on with all her life

Baby, I said

I love you too

I am going to buy you a Mercedes Benz

She let out a loud Texas laugh

Then she held me again

And said

Do you mean it?

I said yes baby, I mean it

I am gonna buy you a new Benz

You were that Mercedes

Janis

You were that fancy car

No one loves you more

You  broke all our hearts

When you passed away

You Texas Bitch

Now step on the gas

Of your Mercedes Benz

 

Jim Morrison Touched Me

He told me to keep my hands on the wheel

 Damn it Jim this is a dream

Well

These are all dreams brother

All dreams from the snake

Your life wraps around things

And sooner

 or later

there you are

You know things that I don’t

And

So it goes

Just remember

Your mother always loved you

No matter how bad she treated you

Love is a one way street

Forget the past

Fly with me 

in your Mercedes Benz

 

Helping Hands

I read once that “helpers,”

forget to draw their hands
when they draw self portraits,

something about boundaries
not stopping at their own skin.

Their energy extends beyond

limits of their body bringing help
to those who need assistance.
Attention to themselves comes

second to the service to others.

Often they are invisible coming

and going before they are seen
cleaning up the messes others

leave behind.

People expect to be nursed,

waited on, pampered and taught
without a thought to those

who offer themselves to help.