The grass is always greener
on the other side-
unless there is an ocean
between the sky and the road
so its sink or swim
if I choose to go
but ironically, its the same
if I remain where I am,
and trust what I know.
To play it safe
and to bend and not break
is to be still and observe
to conserve energy and wait
is like roots digging for drink
instead, finding a soil of feast
to become gluttons
of the same old thing
and comfort in the growth
if one more ring
But growing tall and moving less
its home to a bird building it’s nest
and if the chicken did cross the road
then I’ll be a copycat of chance
that hope is the color green
and I’ not meant to take a proud stance.
Why Did the Copycat Cross the Road?
Jericho (in a marriage)
The trumpets soar, the army cries
it is not enough
commitment in a march
means doing it more than once
the walls are only temporary
if fortified with orchestral dissonance.
The matrimony melody is a mirage
an oasis in the desert of loneliness
I take a sip of security
and the hearth of harmony quenches
like a picket fence surrounds a city
painted white, just like your dreams
Two become one more than seven times
when the city is seduced by waring crimes.
Somewhere, a symphony plays…
A choir cries
He sinks
we swell.
A trumpet blares
He weakens
we’re strong.
A violin weeps
He bleeds
we heal.
A flute flamingos
He’s struck
we dance.
A clarinet tempers
He’s divided
we unite.
A cello humbles
He’s vacant
we receive.
A drum marches
He’s born
we live.
you…me, you…me, you…me
Me can’t see you.
Me can’t reach out to you.
Me don’t equate the math of you.
Me don’t listen to you.
Me won’t follow you.
Me won’t rescue you.
Me shouldn’t feel threatened by you.
Me shouldn’t turn a deaf ear to you.
Me ignore you.
Me disrespect you.
Me fail to serve you.
Me win the game, not you.
Me antagonize you.
Me walk all over you.
Me love me.
You love I.
Handcuffed
I am restrained
limited in movement
unfortunately held back
frozen in time
unable to achieve
no longer deciding
told to eat
robbed of sleep
a caged bird
rat in cage
wish You’re here.
I am suffering
limited in joy
unfortunately held pain
frozen in hell
unable to feel
no longer floating
told to wince
robbed of zeal
back to start
for whom bells
murder of one.
I am excuses
limited in now
unfortunately missing out
frozen in stone
unable to inhale
no longer seeking
told to go!
robbed of self
I waited patiently
it is well!
asleep in light.
What is Real?
The wind screams in delight
it groans in desperate pleas
and then I stood and said,
“you’re not real. Only I exist.”
The tornado intimidates with a twist
the hurricane stares you down with an eye
the tsunami swells in orchestral disaster
but I cannot control or choose to believe
where it comes from
where it goes to
or when it is born
or when it dies
Life has an Alpha and Omega
nothing is known, until I think it.
Gravity puts us in our place
it restricts when revived from sleep
and then I stood and said,
“you’re not real. Only I have weight.”
The sparrow soars to sing
the kite will dance in the atmosphere
Icarus’ wings melted in the sun, not fear
but I cannot acknowledge or choose to admit
that something above
keeps someone below
how enlightened in stature
or how enslaving in persecution
life is full of checks and balances
nothing is felt until I feel it.
Blink
Darkness collides with light in a blink-
is it possible to ignore what you see?
can you travel without witnessing your destination?
(blink)
you’ve missed the point
(blink)
stop skipping over the finer details
(blink)
you can control the evil you see
if you wrestle with the light
and receive the pain hiding in the shadows.
ignorance is an eyelid
shut gracefully in a shout of bliss
a noiseless act of defiance
a neglect on the verge of abuse
(blink)
tears flood our sight reservoirs
(blink)
disasters don’t occur when we look away
(blink)
the world is passing away from His/our face-
and we are the blind leading the blind
blink once more and reflect-
the windows to the soul are smeared.
Open Mouth, Insert Words
What have you said today?
Ironically, words are a departure
An exit, or an invite to separation
A barrier construct of clarity
The boundary of distance security-
Meanwhile, the verbal revolving door
Nearer to the wordsmith windmill
Is a gust of literate laboring
An effortless efficacy of information
To publish through the palpable printing press
For an audience awaiting to award the prize
A gold medal of gratuity
The gold medal for a babbling brook.
Words are a trophy room
To impress the wayward visitor
Speechless to describe the shimmer of oration
A competition so vast
An audience so absorbed to receive
Instruction? No.
Advice? Useless.
Truth? Deserted.
What I’ve said is a show, a contest
A war of words in a land of no peace of mind
What have you said today?
A Letter Inspired by Heat
Today at school, sometime around noon, a transformer blew causing all AC units in the school to shut down. This caused a rapid increase in heat, drowsiness, and sleep-induced comas. Before 88 degrees set in, I assigned my kids a writing assignment. They had to write a letter to the school principal, requesting that we permanently remove all AC units from campus. Needless to say, sarcasm was involved. I participated as well, and wrote the following:
Dear Mr. Hutek:
Wow. What a great idea. I have this thing where, all the AC units in the school are removed, and we all live as learn as one with mother earth. Now don’t get carried away just yet. People like their AC, it’s a security blanket for those that are afraid of the heat.
As you know, we live and work in Florida. We are the Sunshine State after all, and we are enslaving ourselves to the shadows of darkness for staying indoors and being duped by the demon known as cold. In fact, I’ll take it a step further—AC units are the devil. I didn’t want to go there, but I had to. Armwood High School is in danger, and you need to know.
Most people think of heat, flames, fire, when it comes to the devil. But those people are wrong. Most of those people are cold-hearted devil worshipers who praise the Dark One in the confines of their ice caves and AC units. I don’t want Armwood to become a dark ice cave that proclaims the Prince of Darkness as its mascot.
Lets kill evil, lets kill the bondage, lets assassinate the enemy to all of mankind. AC Units. You have the power sir, lets move them out of town and enjoy our own little slice of heaven.
God bless.
Mr. Young
