The path chosen

Sad man
angry man
deflated man
lost
wondering the streets
black of night
searching
searching
searching
dark alley
dirty gutter
the stench
on his fingers
in his nose
searching
searching
searching
in unlit doorways
in desolate parks
spooked by shadows
of the night
searching
searching
searching
for a-
young man
happy man
satisfied with life
in penthouse apartments
driving fast cars
searching
searching
searching
for the woman of his dreams
in department stores
classy restaurants
the smell of her perfume
searching
searching
searching
blonde hair
brunette
red
there she goes-
right out of his grasp
searching
searching
searching
a whole life time
spent

Fragments

Restless body
restless mind
leaves a window open
and in they come
one by one
first slowly
quietly approaching
and then faster
til they pervade
every empty crevice
and rot-
inside out
empty shell
bitter shell
crumbling
decaying
until
you cannot piece
together what once was

An ode to that Person

Ghosts that linger in that alley
skeletons of a shameful prose
what was it you said-
made it out to be a farce
and laugh into their faces
black-listed
back-lash
not a battered-eyelid
what did you expect?
golden keys-
ribbons
medals
pinned upon your breast
ignorance
you close your eyes,
and think the rest of us
would too?
-or did you
shameful
pen poised
leaden with poison
with what audacity-
did you dare?
strewn in gutters-
lies
and all the while
the stench
building
plant your violets
and think they would
sweeten your air-
only the blind don't see
remember
the deaf don't hear
the mute without word
but all-
feel
callous
thick skinned
venomous tongue
I am ashamed-
your breath still fills
your empty shell
a beat pounds in your chest

Puppy love

Found a picture I had
of you-
of me
together
smiling
holding hands
young love-
puppy love
remember
what they
called it
it wouldn't ever last
they said
behind our backs
when we weren't
listening
no one told us
though
they were right
we were wrong
the odds were
stacked against
us
you left-
you went away
we vowed we would
make it
but over time
I don't know when
the calls just
stopped
and soon I stopped
thinking
about you

Regret

Hush voices
in my
head
leave me be
I see me
years from now
sitting by the
door I
once called
home
silently
passers by
point and laugh
it's him
hush these voices
I can hear
I see me
afraid
to do what
life had set me to
great things
no one else could see
there it goes
my opportunity
from my fingers
it slides through
hush these voices
in my head
I did
all that I
could do

The greatest love story

Draped in white
with tears in
her eyes-
in front of an
audience
weeping
stood before
an altar
strewn with flowers
fresh-
roses
like crimson
red blood drops
the casket
lay open
and in it
he lay
hands crossed
holding her
locket
eyes closed
forever
cold
to her touch
his body
entombed
in eternal
rest

The story of a red felt hat

Stoic
gallant
bold
you are
red stern
stand erect
tossed
casually
once taken care of
bent out of
shape
yet still you fight
to be seen
faded in places
matted
and dirty
from that time you
flew
free
and landed in
a muddy puddle
only to be
casually
shaken
and left to dry
heroic
elements you have
faced
snow
sleet
sun
and now you rest
in camphor
dwellings
until you are
resurrected once
more

The Queen of nothing

High in your regal chair
staring down
at those you think
beneath you
haughty glare
does  it not rain where
you live
does life
not get too much to bare
viscious
venomous
tongue
ugliness
pervades your world
yet you do not see
pardon
the world
for our sincere
meek forms
seek solace
in pain
oh regal
pretentious
ugly life
you lead
alone

Blood red rivers

Blood trails
of paths that ended
suddenly
tales long
not spoken
horrors that were endured
flowing crimson rivers
through towns
streets
flowing into the homes
of those
who lived
and loved
breathed
once
tears mingled
faintly tainting
blood
pink
ever so faint
slight
not enough
to be noticeable
all the while
flowing blood
red
town of death
deceit
murderous
guilty
souls

A ghost in the hall

Late at night
I watch from my window
I wait
oh so silently
for the footsteps on
old wooden boards
light
a creak
slight
beneath
stockinged feet
stop outside my door
my breath
catches in my throat
exhaling softly
a creak once more
slight
and they continue
dare I dream
they come back
dare I wonder
what would happen
should my door open
the ghost in the hall
standing there
lost
stories told
wandering
lonely
who it is
what does it search 
yearn for
want

Sometimes clouds

Sometimes clouds
feathery light
tease the sun

Sometimes clouds
dark and menacing
threaten rain

Sometimes clouds
hovering shapes
pass the time

Sometimes clouds
cry
strong sleeting drops
that wash away
pain
and make room
for the sun

Sometimes clouds