I wrote this poem in response to a recent conversation I had with a couple of friends. Actually, the conversation isn't so recent, thinking about it. But it has been replaying in my head ever since I had it. It is becoming increasingly more difficult in this world to simply be a good man. Most people are suspicious and wonder what ulterior motive one might have. How quickly we have forgotten it is good people who helped shape the world we live in. How quickly we have forgotten how to be...

I love t-shirts. I have a fairly big collection of them. By this, I mean I probably own around 40 or so of them and add to the collection regularly. I know I’m not alone in my love of them either. My favourites are the band and gig t-shirts I’ve collected over the years. I don’t know if some of these are rare and frankly, don’t really care one way or the other. These are clothing and are meant to be worn, not doted over. (One of my current favourites is an Ecko brand t-shirt featuring ...

For those of you interested, my band played our first show with our new rhythm section on Thursday. We had a great time and it was really cool seeing the twins on stage finally. Candice and Alana have really added to the band in a big way. We've been rehearsing really hard for the last 4 or so months, first teaching them how to play all the material then getting them comfortable enough to play it live. The sky is the limit now we've also found a new replacement vocalist too. Emily has a ...

By day I sit in a stagnant pool of workers While management sharks circle and dive Through currents of meaningless business We sit in the scum at the bottom Waiting for morsels to float down But at night I tap into the stream The music of my soul leads me up and beyond I finally understand what power means And as I render another tune It all starts to make sense By day I walk the streets in fear Wondering if I’ll be crushed In the stampede of humanity Keen to get to where...

According to some I’ve never had much form Always been considered a middle runner But you know what they say When your stand out in the pack You’re really noticed It took me a long while to discover What I’m good at doing So many years slipped by While I pottered around trying to figure it out Then a friend said it was too late To start a new career at something I had never done before So how young or old do you have to be To pursue dreams of creativity Fortunately I am har...

This could be the scene where I could finally tell him: a deserted stage. Footlights will dimly glow. We'll walk on stage left. Two shadows moved out onto the stage. As they drew closer to the still-glowing footlights, their glow revealed a man and woman. The man could feel the heat coming off the cans, like radiators. He ran a hand through his dark, wavy hair. Wow, it must get hot up here?” The woman replied, almost despondently. “Yeah, it does. But the makeup hides our sweat...

BLOOMS OF CHAOS He signed his name on the wall While he waited for his world to fall It didn’t happen as he’d planned Chaos lent him a bedevilled hand Turned his want into a need Changed his envy into greed It spoke of beauty inside the flower Of its blossom and its power He sowed the seed with steady hands Ignoring all external demands In time it grew wirey and strong All else he knew was now long gone Until he felt it ready to bloom So he strapped it on and faced his doom P...

The last challenge was a beauty. I really like the idea of offering up a couple of suggestions as it means if you're not inspired by one, you might well be inspired by the other. With this in mind, following are the next couple of suggestions. The first is courtesy of DrDon (thanks, Don): Signs (as metaphors for life) Don had a picture of a 'Detour' sign as inspiration. But I'm sure you all get the gist. The second is a favourite quote of mine. It comes courtesy of the great Stan L...

I didn’t want to get off the bus this morning. A pretty girl smiled at me and somehow it reminded me of just how good life is and that we’re supposed to enjoy it, not lock ourselves away for 9 hours in a cubicle where no natural light penetrates, breathing recycled air and subjecting ourselves to the fake, dry atmosphere of air-conditioning. I just wanted to stay on the bus and see where it would take me. Okay, I knew where the bus was going, but I’m using the bus as a metaphor for the day...

It is a great distance for a single man to cover Between being alone in the world to taking a lover The intimacy required is never easily expressed Those words she longs to hear have long been suppressed He walks in circles tongue tied and lost The emotions he feels he knows come at a cost He only wants it to be simple, straightforward and easy Like in his dreams, where she is both pure and porn sleazy He is rudderless in an ocean of open displays of affection Of smells and of t...

I've decided to post the following poems. I'm not particularly happy with any of them, but they each have a certain something ... Hopefully, you, dear reader, will see what it is too. Untitled #2 If I was trapped under an avalanche If I was being thrown to the lions If I was caught in the middle of a riot I wouldn’t want to be with you If I was carrying a deadly infectious disease If I was being stalked by a serial killer If I was living in a box under a bridge I wouldn’t ...

Bloody hell, JU's wonkiness saw the first part of this posted before I was finished. Here is the rest of the intended post... Pumpkin is doing much better because of the meds. She is looking well and appears to have more energy, which is great. The vet said one of the medications will increase her appetitie, which has happened. She is not the sort of cat to get in your face, but she knows how to let us know shes hungry. We're not feeding her any extra as she could stand to lose a litt...

It is Sunday morning (just) and the first day back on normal time after setting our clocks back an hour. I stayed up late last night watching goofy horror movies on Showtime and listening to the wind absolutely howl outside. The last week has been pretty humid and warm here, Summer's last gasp, I think. Yesterday got up to 35 before a change moved in. Down came the rain and the wind picked up and it hasn't stopped blowing since. Our little apartment was fairly shaking from it last night....

The young novitiate stepped out of the dressing room, looking uncomfortable. The mother superior stepped over to her, turned her brusquely around, grabbing at the ill-fitting garment. She glanced over her shoulder at a third nun, who looked nervous. "I told you we shouldn't have brought these in bulk. Here is another bad habit."