Befuddled by birth

lambasted by life and afeard

of the great beyond

Broken dreams dreamed by

and by that can't be bought or

sold, just pined over 

Let the past stay past,

the future remain there, and

gratitude guide you  

The search for answers 

of what lies beyond has stumped

the greatest of minds 

The frayed edges are 

gnawed on by the needless few 

who devour all 

Lunge and snap, growl and 

snarl, but it's just a way to 

warn, to keep distance  

When winter arrives 

it plans to stay for good and

is surprised by spring 

My dog's legs dangle

daintily as he snoozes 

the long day away 

Bloodied but standing

by life's blows that'll lay you 

low if you let 'em

Under the moon's sway

we danced until the dawn came

to break Luna's spell 

Let the crow's caw draw

you in and call you home towards 

the hearth fire waiting 

The old fighter sways

on shaky legs from the weight 

of myth and legend

Mirrored sky shattered

by the wake of a passing 

ship on its way north 

Strum an old tune as 

the sun slowly sinks and keep 

your travails at bay 

 The eagles are all 

gone, but vultures aplenty

circle overhead

 

Mark my words with a 

marker, a sharpie, to strike 

through, outline, color 

Immature poets

imitate while mature ones 

steal, so which am I?

Break even or go

for broke as you roll them bones

praying for more luck 

The winds shriek and howl

 and rattle the window frames 

still, the sun slants in 

The rope from which you 

dangle keeps you from falling 

into the abyss 

The sky aflame this

morning in the east evokes 

memories of you

Rise spitfires and burn

the earth bare before the night

stalkers wake again 

Beaten, battered, and 

bruised, but still here to battle 

it out for the good 

Another light snuffed

out as the darkness, like a 

ravenous beast, nears 

 And, lo, I saw a

rat with the head of a bald 

eagle stealing all

We played Hearts all day

and at night we drank and toyed  

with each other's hearts 

The final harvest 

has come and what remains has

been torn by the roots  

A soliloquy 

to solitude was hamstrung 

by the roaring crowds 

A corpse revived by

a party full of fun fueled 

by drinks and dancing 

Rabbit, rabbit, said 

the rambling man as he sat 

on a rock, smiling