Monday, April 30, 2012

the lady and the cowpoke - a fragment





you ride the range
you man so strange
would you like an apple or an o-range?
don't pick up that cat, it's got the mange

she was a good old kitty cat
and did her duties with eclat
but life has wrestled her to the mat
now there is no more this in her that

i'm glad you dropped by
look at the sky
my oh my
how time does fly

are you sure you don't want some tea?
the gypsy made it especially for me
despite its curious pungency
it really contains no mystery

poor man, you look pale
let me tell you a tale

once there were three princesses
with scarlet, gold and sable tresses
who always wore white satin dresses
and by a witch were given three guesses

as to which kingdoms they would rule
after they had finished school
and which emperors were the biggest fools
in which to sink their claws so cruel

a crimson cloud across the sky
drew the golden princess's eye
and with a sad and mournful sigh
she sat on a rock and began to cry

o sister, cried the scarlet maid
what has made you so afraid?
have all our secrets been betrayed?
and all our rescuers waylaid?

.......

the cowpoke listened to the lady's tale
and smiled and nodded without fail
out in the distance he heard a wail
a leaf flew past the window -- next a gale?

the conversation reached another stage
the parrot looks so unhappy in his cage
let's turn the page
would you like to blow some gage?




song of the damned number 21



i am just a lonely moocher
with no present past or future
and the windows watch me well
on the rainy street to hell

and my brain begins to hum
for a taste of opium
and its incandescent streams
of fervid fleeting dreams

i would sell my ragged soul
for the tenth part of a bowl
there's nowhere that i wouldn't slink
for just one more - one more drink

all you mandarins and missionaries
in your mansions museums and libraries
will you know a brighter final fate
than the stranger dragging past your gate?




Wednesday, April 11, 2012

i was the one





i was the one
i was there

i walked the dog
i bounced the ball

i fed the cat
i sang the song

i was there
i saw it all happen

when it was over
they came and asked me

because i was the one
i spun the chamber

i calmed the crowd
i sharpened the stake

i pointed at the bird
and the dog ran down the street

i walked up the stairs
i rang the bell

i sold the encyclopedia
i sat on the front porch

lily mae came out
and offered me a glass of lemonade

i accepted politely
and looked out at the street

the crowd was gone
the dog ran under the light

i drank the lemonade
and gave the glass back to lily mae

who waited patiently
while mrs jones looked out the window

but i was not worthy
even though i was the one

i howled at the moon
i grew the fangs

i defied the mob
i wept in despair

i walked the dog
i bounced the ball

i mixed the mint julep
i begged for forgiveness

all these things happened in a single night
a night that never ended

i was there
i was the one