Open Mic
December, 1998

This morning I will not comb my hair
for it has lain on the pillow of my lover.

Jade

---------------------------------------------------------

The Bird is dead,
The sly cat said the bird would be dead.
No one cares that the bird is dead.

---------------------------------------------------------

Bang Bang in the alley.

We have lost another brother.

He won't come to thanksgiving,

Be cause of that poor living.

-----------------------------

Alone
I'm not
Just need
Time away


Upon my return
you'll see
I should've
Stayed


Stayed out
of touch
out of sight
out of the
way

---------------

I just wanted

to touch you

without getting too close

without staying too long


I just needed

to know

without seeing too much

but the moment is gone

--------------------------

CHRISTMAS LIST


Truly an uninspiring thing

To wish for that which

I'll never need


I suppose my

best request

to allow my breath

and take what's left


Undeserving

your good will

but I'm selfish

Wishing still

----------------------------

I read a book once

good book

good stories

makes me want to live

but

it was just a book

is that okay?

-----------------------

A lot of time
I've spent
awaiting inspiration


As I look back
I'm a thief
and a bad one at that

--------------------

80

If I ever
reach eighty
I don't think
I could live
with the first twenty

--------------------

"For Romance"

Endless love,

For romance to blossom.

Forever bliss,

For romance to cling.

Deceiving heart,

For romance to fall.

Broken promises,

For romance to cringe.

Eternal sorrow,

For romance to die.

-----------------------------

a semi-haiku by Square

Taang music of astro
naughts orange orange orange
cosmos, i'm thristy

-------------------------------

The water was warm and soothing,

but I could not feel.

The air was crisp and fresh,

but I could not smell.

The fruits were sweet and lush,

but I could not taste.

The day was bright and busy,

but I could not see.

Her words were soft and tender,

but I could not hear.

I am alive,

but already dead.

-----------------------------------

Drugs


Spinning,

mindless in the haze

drunken stupor

welcomed with open arms

screaming, dreaming,

crying, dying

all is good

when you're high

red and blue

flashing

sharp steel shackles-

then you're running

not from them

from you

stumbling and thinking

what was it you're trippin on?

---------------------------------------------------------

3 Winter Haiku


winter morning song,
the sounding from your footsteps
in hardening snow


the trees stand not bare
in the garden full of snow,
this Christmas morning

it's this time of year,
full of glistering snowflakes
and few birds flying

Merry Christmas To All

----------------------------

No fairer maidens have there been,
Or ever shall there be.

Stay young my little princess bride,
Sing forth in joyous glee.

Bring laughter to the birds again,
With beauty fill my eyes.

Your love for me, though undeserved
I'll guard until I die.

Don't think about the sordid past
Or evils that were done.

Instead grab on to what you've got
and take it on the run.

-------------------------------------

WOMAN


newly
born
baby

crying
smiling
chuckling

crawling,
then
cautiously
walking


young
child

playing
screaming
shrieking

fun

girl

Teen


Learning
about
Life

Striving,
to
fit
in

Teacher,
Student


I
Can!


College


For
the
First
Time,
Responsibilities
Consequences


Adult

Jobs,

Bosses


Husband

Family


newly
born
baby


crying
smiling
chuckling


Mother!

---------------

CHRISTMAS ANGELS

I AM LOOKING FOR MY CHRISTMAS ANGEL

I AM TOLD ALL I HAVE TO DO IS RING A BELL

YOU HEAR SO MANY BELLS RINGING

REALLY LISTEN HEAR THEM SINGING

DIFFERENT RINGS DIFFERENT CHIMES LISTEN TO THE SOUND

THIS MUST MEAN THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF ANGELS AROUND

THEY ARE HERE TO COMFORT AND CARE

YOU COULD BE THAT ANGEL REACH OUT SHARE

HELP NOT JUST YOUR SELF BUT THOSE IN NEED

THIS WILL BRING YOU INNER PEACE INDEED

Written by Cheryl C Dowling

---------------------------------------------------------

I feel the demons draggin' me down.
I call for you but you can't be found.
and I'm falling.

I see the colors taking me down.
And I know I must be hellbound.
And I'm calling.


If I walk they come my way, and If I talk they hear what I say.
If I cry, but I'm too numb
Cursed for life, what have I done.
And I walk, talk, cry.
And I live, hope, die.

What the hell is going on,
And I've been burned by the sun.
But If I crawl they follow me.
Even tell me what to be.
In a suicidal dream.

----------------------------------

You are like a season,

Everpleasing,

Changing with the year.

And like the ice,

So cool and nice,

But melt when heat is near.

Just like the fall,

You are winters call,

To come without a fear.

So simple minded,

I am blinded,

Whenever you are here.

And if you defeat,

Then I'll retreat,

Next tears begin to smear.

And all in all,

I'll try not to fall,

But fill my heart with cheer.

----------------------------------

SNOW

Large field of White snow,
Hot sun reflects of brightly
Pure, Plain, Innocent

-----------------------------------------

come-back
(1'st chorus)


i feel

miserable

split up

for yr

scary

come back

past

and

frightened

on off

sadness


keith dunn scaleeye

----------------------------

His Eyes


His eyes stole my thoughts

His eyes stole my sinner soul

His eyes should be like a road of gold

of a story not told. But it doesn't matter

now because his thoughts are now mine.

Written by Sasha Bleything

---------------------------------------------------------

Lonely Sand Castle,
Towers watch vast, empty seas.
Shells guard main entrance.

-----------------------------

Haiku:

Rubber soccer ball,
screaming by their goalkeeper
victory is mine.

-----------------------------------------------

What Would Happen If...

Reality has hit

Its tentacles

Entangling me in its hold

How I wish it would let me go!

Sleep has left me

Wandering in my fathomless

Abyss of loneliness

How I wish I could lose

All my feelings in my heart

It would make these days easier to bear

Easier to see my heartache

Easier to get by

---------------------------------------------

I AM


I was a child who fought like a Man,
I was a Man who fought like a child.

I was a cat that hated like a lion,
I was a tiger who was frighten like a kitten.

I was one who lived with pain like a tortured slave,
I was one who cried alone like a hermit.

I was part of there war with an ignorant Gun,
I was separated from peace with thy enemies Blood.

I am a soldier who wishes not to live,
I am a soul who is afraid to die.

-----------------------------------------------

beauty chained me, she said

how sweet

still a poet on her knees

she refused charity

well, now so obsolete

---------------------

NEVER


NOT IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS

ITS TOO DEFYING AND YOU KNOW IM NOT INTO THAT

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME IF ...YOU KNOW....I DID

---------------------------------------------------------

"Brother"

He walks through life miserable
I wish to relate to him but I'm enable
I try to reach out but I'm denied
Sometimes I get so petrified


One day he discovered he had a problem
i figured he was qualified for an asylum
Our family was destroyed
I was incredibly annoyed

I frown at what he put me through
I laugh because he really didn't mean to
My family will soon have bliss
Because he will be well soon, my brother Chris

-----------------------------------------------

SECRET PLACES

My secret place lies above a lake,

In the hills,

Where God's words are heard as said.

Beside the rhododendrons,

Laurels,

And a timber brake,

Along a trail that I alone must tread,

I carry my weary body,

My tortured soul

With the rush of water,

The fall of leaves,

To the place where nature makes you whole.

Free of life's pressures,

With clean air to breathe.

It soothes the soul.

Again I am free,

Along the mountain trails,

As a youth I once ran.

-----------------------------------

words of time unknown
until the final word's there,
- in the last sentence

-----------------------------

"Eyes"
entry to your soul,
two full moons of inner space,
- pearls in a winter


~*~ a winter haiku ~*~

------------------------------

Late night chatting
New friends
A key click away

------------------

I Love The Night


I see the sky grow dark and black

Then I know the night is back

I love the night and star-lit skies

And the moon when it dose rise

I look to see it's silver shine

Dancing dancing on the water and salty brine

I see the bat the owl and cat watching me as I go by

I love the night I can not lie

I do not cry nor pout nor wimper

As I see the night eyes shimmer

of a wolf or two or three

You see my friend they are brothers to me

I love the night and it loves me.

-----------------------------------------------

Love Always, Me


Maybe tomorrow, he'll realize. I love him so.

But why doesn't he realize, why doesn't he know?

Love has hurt many things, me I am just one.

So many have left, after the damage is done.

Some have trued, but ended up to fail.

I wanted it to rain, but it ended up to hail.

I love him so much, at least he could try.

He says he wants not to hurt me, but yet I cry.

Why won't he try, and let loves course be?

And I always write him: Love always, Me.

-----------------------------------------------

The Dark Corner of My Love

You walk past me knowing I am there, yet not caring

Seeing me crying, yet not stopping

Why is that you not stop for someone who is weeping over you?

Instead you spit on me with your walking by

Please stop, I beg you

You don't hear me

I scream and scream in the silence of this dark corner

But you never stop to comfort me

How can you be so cruel?

Can't you see the love I have for you?

Please, don't leave me here alone with my love

-----------------------------------------------

?

During the winter,
It rains as hard as snow.

I walk through the park,
To my living room.

In my living room,
I see a bird.


With this bird,
I eat with joy.

Never mind,
Never will.

As i seek a jar,
And take that pill.


Anthony Thayer

----------------------------

there's a black hole

inside me

always hungry

gravity pulling

time heavy

around my


heart


must be in there somewhere?

in the centre

crushed

doesn't pressure create...


diamonds?

--------------------------

Blood

is shed for a reason.

Racism, poverty, starvation, and disease

have a purpose, play a role, have an

explanation.

How long will this go on?

Hatred, love, jealousy, and greed

are the excuses, so who is to blame?

Hypocrisy is the rule of fools,

yet it reigns over each lost generation.

Religion is vanishing,

being replaced by

shameless values, arrogance, and intolerance.

Is there a purpose, explanation, reason?

Is there a person to blame?

Will this ever

end?

Poems are copyright © by their authors 1999.
Feature copyright © AHA Books 1999.