View From the Shore

I hear the waves break with their signature roar
They sound it with pride as they crash 'pon the shore
I feel the presence of a sweet seaside breeze
It rustles the tops of some far away trees
I see the blue ocean of water so clear
It seems so far away, but I know it is near.

I'm so far away, far from people that matter
I'm distracted now by the seagull's shrill chatter
Down yonder I spot a white bird of the sea
Why are these strange creatures always drawn to me?
I'm sitting 'mongst seaweed that has long since dried
'Twas doubtless washed in on a previous tide.

The waves break on the shore in a shower of white
They will glow under the moon's reflection tonight
The great rocky cliffside is dotted with pines
The feeling is tranquil, so calm, so devine.
But by this time tomorrow, in less than a day
The footprints in sand will have been washed away.

The Blacksmith

The blacksmith bows his head in prayer
He kneels upon the pew
He thinks he hears an angel sing,
A voice soft, sweet, and true

The voice sounds like his late wife's
But it is that of his daughter
As he looks up, his tears mix in
With the priest's holy water

His name was Jedidiah
He was strong of heart and arm
A powerful, respected man
No one could do him harm

He'd learned his trade from his father
So many years before
He loved his people and his work
He wanted nothing more

His older brothers, samely trained
Had quickly fled the town
Rather than work their father's forge
They wore a soldier's crown

But Jedidiah stayed his side
Acknowledged all he could
And bore the family burden
That his brother's had withstood

But when he was just seventeen
Our hero's father died
And Jedidiah hung his head
In sadness great, he cried

He'd never known his mother
Now his father too was gone
But Jedidiah knew his task
He vowed to soldier on

He grew into a strapping man
With skin so clear and fair
And shoulders broad and armor strong
Beneath his long, black hair

And what is more, at 6 foot 4
He towered above most men
To any man or friend in need
His hand he would extend

The women of the village
And of many towns beyond
Admired Jedidiah
Of his figure they were fond

But Jedidiah chose the one
Who's heart was pure and true
Their happiness would be secure;
That in his heart he knew

And yes, indeed, it truly was
In many years that came
In time she bore him four strong sons
None of them quite the same

Thus fifteen years passed quickly by
'Till she missed her monthly cue
She waited to inform him thus
Until at last she knew

But as the months slipped away
She developed a great fear
That she, Jedidiah's wife
Would die in labor late that year

And indeed it did come to pass
On a cold December's eve
As her first daughter was born
She was forced to take her leave

Her mother's eyes and smile
The young girl could never see
All she knew was that their
Names had been the same - Penelope

Now Jedidiah looks at her
Into her eyes so blue
And vows to her and his four sons
He always will be true

And through it all, our hero
Remains tall, steadfast, and strong
For this he knows above all else
Life always will go on

Too Great a Price

The blood of the innocent stains my dimmed sword
Those who died to protect the great treasure hoard.
Before me lie riches of diamonds and gold,
The greatest fortune that mankind can behold.

It should all be mine, I have fought ever battle
Buried my brave comrades who died thus as cattle.
But my poor mind was consumed by power and greed
I've won every battle but broken each creed.

A man's lust for power can lead to destruction
When that man's mind has been transformed by corruption.
What really is considered the greatest prize?
The treasure I see before my very eyes?

Heaping mounds of riches that lie before me?
Or something far greater, that I couldn't see?
I'm forced to face the the truth, words I couldn't say
For human life is too great a price to pay.

Turning away in true shame I let my sword fall
It was all in vain, my quest to have it all.
Not knowing what on my return I would find
I depart leaving my blood stained sword behind.

No World for a Sober Man

Her shrieks and laughter pierce the night

The darkness masks my shallow fright

The bottle slips, without a sound

It shatters upon the stone ground.

Surrounded by tobacco smoke

The odor all but makes me choke

She turns to me, I dodge her eyes

“It's good for you” they say, all lies.

“Just try it, inhale, you'll be fine

And after that, we have great wine

Do you like beer? We have that too

I told you man, its good for you.

I'm wishing I could disappear

My heart is overwhelmed with fear

I'm torn between anger and shame

I cannot bear to play their game.

No way to know, they cannot see

The way I feel inside of me

Not a soul wants to understand

There's no world for a sober man.

After the War

It was the last day of the war

I knew that I would fight no more

My final bullet had been shot

Yet all I could feel was distraught.

I'd witnessed more than I could say

Make one wrong move and you would pay

I'd watched my friends around me fall

Just for answering freedom's call.

They'd warned me not to even go

“Your too young” they said “you don't know”

I know these words my father said

Before I left him on his bed.

He'd forever put down his gun

“Don't break your back for anyone

War's not a game, its something worse

Men consumed by the Devil's curse.”

I listened to him as he spoke

Twas all I could do not to choke

Because he had no way to know

Who died inside the Alamo.

Or those who lost the civil war

The Devil's curse, or something more?

But it was finally at an end

I knew I'd never fight again.

If Eve Should Fail

                                                                 If Eve should fail

And the world should end

Would I lay down my life

For my best friend?

If the gates of the Garden

of Eden were broken

And the demons took flight,

Would we know who had spoken?

And if they should win

Our great world, it would burn, oh

The way it was described

In Dante's great Inferno.

Would I find the courage

To stand up and fight

Or sheath my sword and turn back

Into the night.

The sinners will all be freed

From every jail

Great prison walls will cave in

If Eve Should Fail.

And if it does

Stand by me, oh Lord

And let me defend

Paradise with my sword.

Bird on a Wire

I am a bird on a wire

Watching the world from above

An observer, completely unnoticed

Someone no one seems aware of.

Below me, the people of the city

Take no notice, they all fail to see

The observer who takes in everything

It is true, no one notices me.

I've witnessed all the deeds of mankind

All the sins people just want to cover

But when something happens to expose them

They turn around and blame one another.

I find myself wishing I could help them

Show them guidance before its too late

Forgiveness and redemption are seldom

They are sealing their own tragic fate.

If only one chance I was given

To help the world, 'for it catches fire

I know I could help, became I've seen it all

Because I am a the bird on a wire.