bella donna dances

among burning branches and bone

her loves, cut from brimstone,

gaze upon her moonstone necklace,

seek to cut to the chase

her leather and her lace they seek

she dances. her mystique,

gripping the hearts of weak lovers,

nothing more than adders,

rich men like beggars for chances

to rise from the ashes

their lust consumes, blazes, then fades

 

 

to the ocean

a burdened soul

driven; the blues,

much valued, will

rescue her heart

then depart on

the art of the fading sun

 

sleep is coming hard

its like I'm on guard

and something is going down

I don't want to be around

to see it coming

 

I hear music

a mythic song

lyric of joy

its alloy hard

but softened by the voice of a bard

 

 

 

 

 

1) remember the ocean lapping

and the seagulls flapping

at Sokcho anchorage?

2) the early spring winds blowing

the fishers' wives showing

the first catches of the day

3) listen: the wind and the song

united they became strong

their light pushed back a gray mood

4) I watched the gulls dip and dive

thankful that we were alive

in the calm between the storms

 

first they play the gamett

then they place the blame

nothing is the same

all deny the shame

 

 

I hear the lies

what denies truth

denies reason

this season will

be done in time

but the rhyme stops

the chime and all

that will fall will

not call for help

 

 

 

watch it come for you

the knock-out blow from the friend

who cares about you

ego must be deflated

who better than one you trust?

 

 

(1) hey, Mississippi

I still remember that night

sweating in the heat

as Arkansas reflected 

her lights as I said 'good-bye'

(2)You were pushin' on

as I stopped to take a break

Memphis was glowing

like man-made constellations

riding on crushed black velvet

(3)the music was right

the night was loosening up

the highway was fast

my getaway was ending

I hated saying 'good-bye'

(4)always out of reach

just some kid from Ohio

looking for his place

ten years in the Texas heat

only to be recalled home

(5)then comes one more day

filled with good-byes and hugs

but no tears would fall

I look back at what we had

there was never enough time

(6)hey, Mississippi

I am thinking about you

how I crossed over

four times, then we said 'good-bye'

like tears, there's no flowing back

(7)the right words won't come

riding out of the Abyss

on thundering steeds

painfully they drip their ink

and hope to be understood

(8)and after ten years

of walking this world alone

I still look for home

my own place to hang my heart

and never need say 'good-bye'