WOLF AT THE DOOR 4/25/05 BOOK 7 Couldn't save my babies from the wolf at the door. Couldn't afford to feed my babies no more. So I gave them up to the welfare man Who said they'd raise them as best as they can. They put my babies in a foster home today Where they'd get loving and 3 squares a day. Meanwhile I struggle to keep my own roof. Life sure is hard and I'm living proof. My life has no meaning with my babies away. I miss them more and more each and every day. I tried to find out where my babies were sent But they won't tell me where my babies went. Without my babies, there ain't no use To keep on sufferin' life's abuse. So I'm opening my door to the wolf. NOTHING MORE 7/7/05 BOOK 7 On the road to Khanbalik I met a man with a crooked stick. I asked him what the stick was for. "Only to walk and nothing more." On the road to Chisabisi I met a woman who looked familiar to me. I asked her if we'd met before. She said, "Hello", in passing and nothing more. On the road to Matapang I spied a young lad being chased by a gang. They shot him down - who knows what for, And he laid down to never say anything more. On the road to yet another place I met one of my readers bearing a quizzical face. He asked if I'd written like this before. I said, "Perhaps", and nothing more. SAFE IN HER WORLD ALONE 5/5/07 BOOK 7 In ancient days gone by, lived a girl that the sun must have risen and fallen with. Little birds perched on her head and shoulders and the wild beasts ate from her hand and lay at her feet. She lived alone and not much was known about her, but it never seemed important. All who knew her loved her - she was not a ravishing beauty, but had a way about her that made others feel good by just being near her. She treated everyone she met with goodness, compassion, and mercy, and, in turn, was treated that way herself. She fit beautifully in her ancient world, but, in today's modern world, she'd be in a bind. Because the goodness, mercy, and compassion that surrounded her world would not be found in our modern world for a girl born both deaf and blind. OL' JACK 12/20/08 BOOK 7 It was a little chilly yestereve as I laid down to bed. And thoughts of another winter immediately filled my head. When I awoke in the morning, what a glorious sight did I see! For my good old friend Jack Frost had etched my windows for me. It is his special art, at which he is best. I gazed out upon my neighbors' homes and saw he had also etched the rest. Stunning snowflakes, no two alike. Glorious ferns and flowers, and maybe a face of someone you like. This is one of the reasons I love when Winter is near For Ol' Jack gives me the art that he knows I hold so dear. RUNNING FROM MY MEMORIES 3/13/02 I have grown older than ever I thought I'd be and lost my health along the way. My footprints aren't spaced as far apart as once they were and they take much longer to make. I've discovered that one can't outlive or outdistance the past life one has lead. And our memories, however good or bad, are never far behind. And despite our desires, some memories refuse to stay hidden in the depths of our souls. They resurface from time to time, to rekindle emotions we try to pretend that we don't have. They can cause us pain and grief, remorse and anger, and show us up for what we are. And I've grown as old and bent as you see me, running from my memories. BLUES BABY BOOGIE 6/16/02 BOOK 5 Spending my usual Sunday night at "The Brew", But tonight has something different, tonight has something new. It was a baby boy not more than one year old. He came to dance and he had it down cold. He'd had a couple of pulls on a bottle of beer And was ready to boogie with any girl who came near. He had that cute little face and that baby powder smell. He'd come to hit the bottle and raise a little hell. He looked so cool, drool running down his face, He was drawing in women from all over the place. That cute little guy got hipped to the news. You're never too young to be diggin' The Blues! GOOD-BYE 4/6/03 BOOK 5 Good-bye mom, don't cry. I'll be home before you know it. Good-bye dad. I'm proud to follow in your footsteps. Good-bye little brother. You be good or I'll kick your butt when I get home. Good-bye Suzie. I'll be home soon. Yeah, I love you too. Hello boot camp. Sir! Good morning Drill Instructor, Sir! Hello discipline. Hello sense of order. Hello pride. Good-bye drill instructor. You've helped turn me into the man I knew I could be. Hello mom. Told you I wouldn't be gone long. Don't cry, it'll grow back. Hello little brother. I brought you a cap just like mine. Hello Suzie. God, I've missed you. Will you marry me when I get back? Hello dad. Thanks. I feel good in the uniform too. You'll explain it to mom, right? Good-bye mom. Don't cry. I'll be home before you can miss me. Good-bye dad. I'll make you proud of me. Hello desert. Hello snakes. Hello scorpions. Jesus, can you believe this heat? Hello pain. I never even heard the bullet. God, the pain. Hello doc. You're gonna pull me through, right? God, it hurts. Good-bye little brother. Grow up strong and proud. Good-bye Suzie. I'll wait up there for ya. I've always loved you. Good-bye mom. Good-bye Dad. MY BABY 8/11/03 BOOK 5 My baby's now sleeping with Jesus. Why did God do that to me? My baby's now sleeping with Jesus. Left behind his grandmama and me. My baby was my joy and my salvation. Maybe someday he'd have led this here great nation. But now his chores on Earth won't never get done, Cuz he's layin' here dead from a madman's gun. I don't think he meant to shoot my baby, He just shoot into the crowd. But now he's running from the hounds of Hell And they getting close asnd they getting loud. They drew some chalk around my baby And then carted my boy away. I wanted to go so bad it still hurts, But they said, "Sorry mama, just ain't no way." This random violence don't make no sense, But it's out here anyway. And I ain't got no answers, and all I know is this - My baby's now sleeping with Jesus Cuz God called him home today.