My ebook of poetry, Summer in Russia, is available at smashwords, diesel, Barnes & Noble, and will be available at Apple in about a week.

Salvation

Step on me, step on you

There ain't nothing you gotta do

In between accidents

Honey, you won't repent

            Rambunctious revelation

            Gotta be your salvation

I might have made a mistake

Love's gonna be my last disgrace

            The darkness around is deep

            Your innocent song just repeats

            Can I see my own grief

            And not see your relief?

My mother would kiss me to sleep

Like you coming here tonight

To sing of the peace that

Blows outside my window and

Rains down on the shadows

            But it always hurts

            On those rainy afternoons

When the sun don't come

Because it don't believe anymore

            The rain that surrounds us

            Is just not the same

            Can you feel heaven riding

            On a downtown train?

The rose always pricks me with her thorn

She's got no mercy for the weary and worn

Sink or swim; sympathy for sin

She won't set me free, so what have I got to give?

            The darkness around is deep

            The rose pricks at me with her thorns

            I'm weary and worn

            From your arms I'm borne

Wagon Before the Mule

Hush now don’t you cry                                          

I’m gonna fix you in the by and by

But she’ll swear I been runnin around

She’ll try to send me right out of town

But you can’t put the wagon before the mule    

And expect him to run with a full load too          

My heart ain’t believing

What my brain’s been receiving

My head can’t be right

If I’s out with her all night

You can’t put the wagon before the mule

And not expect him to run all over you

Now I ain’t afraid of you

Gimme a shot or two

Baby you know it’s true

So don’t you be so cruel

You can’t put the wagon before the mule

Without him cutting you clean and true

Adolescent Car Trips

We took off through the

states sinking into the sand.

We left no trail or trace except for

small bits of gum, oil and gas fumes.

We came upon the city

in the early morning.

Cold drunks shiver

 in the street lights still dark.

We knew no boundaries

except gas money, tea and sharks.

When we left,

she told us to be safe.

Don’t drown, wreck,

or fall prey to animals on the  road.

And taking off, make sure the door’s

locked and the radio works.

Keep fresh water cold in the trunk.

Keep yourself safe from the swamp.

the truth about that

the cat in the hat
speaks the truth about that
with sharp hair wiggles
and crusted over cats

i've pulled up my wheels
cause i'm tired of these quills
until they come off my fingers
in spite of the spills

thing one and two on distant hills
i wouln't like it to follow their will
sail off away in the thing a ma jigger
stay safe all you kiddies in spite of the deals

cricket song

crickets chirp and chase
the other in the early evening
and wait for none but
callling, calling,
calling for procreation
calling for darwin notion
calling for li po
calling for basho
scrape and scratch
and whistle your noises
calling for heaven
calling for nirvana
calling for all humankind

a little slice of nirvana from jack kerouac

From Dharma Bums

Jack Kerouac

The boys was glad and rested up for more,

And Jack cooked mush in honor of the door,

The boys was sitting in a grove of trees,

Listening to Buddy explain the keys,

Boys, sez he, the Dharma is a door….

Let’s see….

Boys, I say the keys,

Cause there’s lotsa keys,

But there’s only one door,

One hive for the bees.

So listen to me,

 and I’ll try to tell all,

As I heard it long ago,

in the Pure Land Hall.

For you good boys,

with wine-soaked teeth,

That can’t understand

these words on a heath,

I’ll make it simpler,

like a bottle of wine,

And a good woodfire,

Uner stars divine.

Now listen to me, and when you have learned

The Dharma of the Buddhas of old and yearned,

To sit down with the truth,

Under a lonesome tree,

In Yuma Arizony, or anywhere you be,

Don’t thank me for tellin’,

What was told to me,

This is the wheel I’m a-turnin,

This is the reason I be:

Mind is the Maker, for no reason at all,

For all this creation,

Created to fall.