Second World

I wouldn't have to whine
if the sun would only shine.
But I guess that it does
pretty much all of the time.
That lucky old sun
just keeps rolling around,
so I guess it's the clouds
that are getting us down.
We think, "If I were homeless,
I could spend more time outside."
Okay, maybe we don't think that,
but we think along those lines.
If only, if only,
we didn't have to strive
as if it's such a chore
just being here, alive.
We're sick of first world stressors
but we don't want third world strife.
Is there a second world that's just right?
Or do we need a second life?

December Rhymes With Remember, songified

Here's the last poem I wrote, "December Rhymes With Remember," turned into a song.

December Rhymes with Remember

December rhymes with remember.
I remember liking the snow
and loving the feeling of sugar highs reeling
and dancing to Mannheim on the stereo.

Christmas pretty much rhymes with wish lists
for new stuff and happy days of yore.
But I'm sure my first year I just wanted mom near.
My wish list was love and not much more.

I can't make Christmas feel like Christmas.
I might have to feel like a child.
But I'm all grown up and sometimes I feel down.
Like when all of the carols rhyme child with mild.

Maybe Mary felt down sometimes,
whether or not she was mild.
She had some stress and some things on her chest
that she'd have to ponder awhile.

The wise men who brought Jesus three gifts
weren't wishing to go back in time.
Nostalgia lay dead when they turned their heads,
a new life, a new king to find.

And Jesus, he was just a baby.
He didn't look back, just above.
If we look back far enough, to what's newer than stuff,
like that baby, our list will be love.

To Do Right

He had dreams, and not just at night,
and he also knew what he had to do.
And he knew he'd have to sacrifice,
either way that he would choose.
And in the end he chose to do right
and lay his dreams aside.

But it wasn't the end;
it was only for a time.
Now he's dreaming again
but he still has to decide
how to do right.

Your Day

Your grandparents are in town
Your hoping gravity will pull down
all the wrinkles from your graduation gown
in time for your speech tonight.

And regardless of how long you've known this day was on its way,
you still cannot believe that its today.
Your heart is beating harder than it has in a long time
and you know today is your day to shine.

All your friends are here
and your mom can't hold her tears.
The ceremony is drawing near
and you wonder what your love is thinking now.

And regardless of how long you've known this day was on its way,
you still cannot believe that its today.
Your heart is beating harder than it has in a long time
and you know today is your day to shine.

Some might call this pressure, but it's pain.
You rock back and forth like you're insane
and your husband says the doctor's on his way
and that you're doing great.

And regardless of how long you've known this day was on its way,
you still cannot believe that its today.
Your heart is beating harder than it has in a long time
and you know today is your day to shine.

Months of pain up to your chest.
You know you've given it your best.
And you're sure it's time to rest,
but what will it feel like?

And regardless of how long you've known this day was on its way,
you still cannot believe that its today.
Your heart is beating harder than it has in a long time
and you know today is your day to shine.

Thrown Out

Give Us Strength

To stay connected without being infected,

to stop being busy without getting bored,

to tell the truth and not forget mercy,

oh give us strength, dear Lord.

Pray the Lord

Now I nurse you down to sleep,
I pray the Lord to make you keep
sleeping for at least an hour
because I know He has that power.
But I may find, that even still,
in this He grants you your own will.

I Hate Nostalgia

Have I ever told you about how I hate nostalgia?
When I was a kid, everyone just focused on what was happening that day,
but right about the time I got to high school, everyone started talking about
how bad everything was getting,
and "this nation" this and "this nation" that.
It made me feel like I was about to enter the world
at the worst it had ever been.
It made me want to not grow up or bring children into this worst-ever world.
Because what would I tell them? About how it used to be better?
That's why I wish it was like when I was a kid,
when everyone just focused on what was happening that day.
I hate nostalgia.

When You Wake Up

When you wake up in the morning,
do you wish that either life was fun
or that you could go back to bed?
Or do you just do what needs to be done?

Themselves

Many would like to be younger,
and yet no one wants to be held back.
There are few who want to be weird,
but few who just want to blend in to the pack.
Lots of people would like to be funny,
but few who are ready to be laughed at.
There are seven billion people who can only be themselves
but relatively few who want to be that.

Just To Get It Out

I would like to write a song
but nothing on my mind is worth singing about.
But I could sing it anyway
just to get it out.

Clear my mind of calculations
of who owes who and explanations,
Clear my mind of pros and cons and
spreadsheets they are written on
'cause I just want to write a song.

I would like to write a song
but nothing on my mind is worth singing about.
But I could sing it anyway
just to get it out.

Clear my mind of to-do lists,
wish lists, hit lists, things to get.
Clear my mind of goals and plans
… and clear my mind of who I am.

I would like to write a song.
Something in my mind is worth singing about.
I'm all humming inside.
Now just to get it out.

Mount Rainier

There's a place that I hold dear,

and that place is Mount Rainier.

I haven't been there in three years.

I let out a sigh in lieu of tears.

The Eve of Independence

On the eve of independence,
our hearts are clenched so tight.
With only one thing on our minds,
our souls are set to fight.

How do You Imagine Heaven?

How do you imagine heaven?
A desert nomad imagines green
and water flowing all around.
A relocated businessman imagines
a family reunion in a small town.
And I imagine something like
the big kitchen in the hostel in Lisboa,
where we're all laughing and talking and cooking together.

Flowering Tree

I'd like to be
a flowering tree
with toes in the water
and hair in the breeze,
as strong as an oak
and as light as a feather,
except I want to bloom
through each season's weather.

I'd Rather Have

Going to stores can be dangerous,

and looking at the ads

that come in a bag on Tuesday night

can be just as bad.

I thought I had what I needed.

I thought I had enough.

But when I looked around I found

some pretty awesome stuff.

I want a high-tech tablet.

I want some cuter shoes.

I want a box to wind the hose

and paint in pretty hues.

All this stuff would be so nice,

but you know what's funny?

When I come home (and close the ads)

I'd rather have my money.

The Red Hen

The red hen is the loudest.
She bosses the others around.
The red hen wants to be
the loudest chicken kept in town.
The red hen wants to be a rooster,
crowing atop the coop.
The red hen won't be satisfied.
The red hen will be soup.

When the Weather

Mmmhmm.
This water is good.
It's good when the air is dry.
I can't hardly wait
to recall how it tastes
when the temperature is high!
And the door
out to the patio,
I like how light comes through the glass.
But when the weather
is warmer,
I'll like how it lets me pass.

What I'm Doing Now

What I'm doing now is for today.
At least it's not for the day before.
But if this is only for today,
I still want more.