Dennis S. Martin's Blog, page 3

Driving

Driving, to some, is a pleasurable chore.

To me, it's a pain in the neck.

Constantly taxing the mental capacity

As down the highway we trek.

 

Plummeting forward from every direction

To where the paths intersect;

Watching the signs and the bright signals flashing;

Each meant to guide and direct.

 

Struggling, straining, hoping we've made

The right turns as we try to connect.

Praying to make our intended arrival

Without getting into a wreck.

 

Yes, driving for some is a pastime of pleasure;

A theory I firmly reject.

But for getting around from point" "a" topoint "b",

It's the method I always select.

 

Don't Shoot the Cook

After some consideration of the menu

You order your selections one by one.

Your server writing down each little detail;

Hanging on each word until you're done.

 

Aiming just to please you with fine service;

Knowing fully their gratuity

Is dependent on your satisfaction,

They smile and act as pleasant as can be.

 

Your order quickly placed for preparation,

The cook assembles the ingredients.

Knowing full well your anticipation;

Working hard with swift expedience.

 

Your meal prepared by your precise direction;

Served promptly, friendly, strictly by the book.

So, if it's not exactly to your liking...

Who placed the order?

Don't shoot the cook.

 

Silence

Nothing nurturing to say…

            Silence.

Tactless truths educedismay…

            Silence.

Cherished secrets storedaway

            In silence.

Soothing sleep at end ofday…

            Silence.

 

Poets rest a measuredphrase

            In silence.

On bended knee we humblypray

            In silence.

Soldiers listen and obey

Wordlessly, withoutdelay.

And daylight lifts thegloom of gray

            In silence.

 

And when our race isfinally o’er

We scale the stairs toHeaven’s door

            In silence.

 

Real or Fake

Realitycan be overrated.

 

Raindrops dance onwindowsills

Like tiny elves, “Say,are you real?”

Firefly fairies blinkingtwilights’

Silent message reveal the

Secrets of the universe.

Logic whimsies in reverseto

Shift from precious toperverse

Looking for a soul tosteal.

 

Quiet rainbows cast theirnet from

Red to green to violet

            Filling mind’s eye to distraction.

            No room left for sad regret.

Are you real or should Iquake to

Feel the magic that youmake?

Will you be there when Iwake to

Ease my mind lest Iforget?

 

Peaceful dreams to fillmy night

All forgotten with thelight.

Phantom promises youmake.

Are you real?

Are you fake?

 

Cheaters

Hiding behind steely blackraccoon eyes while

Employing the sly stealthof slinking red foxes,

You slither through tallgrass seeking a quarry

Who you might manipulate,bait and devour.

 

Seeking that tinted edgelayered with lies all

Tied up with ribbons inpretty pink boxes,

No caution or conscience,no time to be sorry.

Just sky-high ambitionswith visions of power.

 

Bend a rule here.

Hedge a bet there.

“Hey! Look over yonder. “
“Honest! I swear! “

“You know you can trustme.”

“Would I lie to you? “

“Pay you back double in aday –

Maybe two. “

 

Approach all with caution

This carnival booth.

Cheaters abound here,

            Immune to the truth.

 

Scandal

How did I let it come tothis?

This path

            This scandal

                        This shame.

What was I thinking?

Whywasn’t I thinking?

Should have known better.

Now I suffer the flame.

I could deny.

            I could lie

(or confess)

Heavens no!

            Such a blow.

Would my ego survive?

I could dive in a holetil

The tempest has passed.

So confused,

            Unamused,

                        Putting choices to rest.

If the real truth shouldsurface

(It eventually will)

My good name,

            My good favor,

My Good God! Gone forgood.

So, I wait for my fateand

Accept my comeuppance.

My bad choice.

            Bad behavior.

Do it over?

Wish I could.

Honesty! Honestly?

Honesty is but a passingfancy.

No one takes it seriouslyunless

It works to theiradvantage,

Then it morphs toparamount.

 

Flags are waived andbanners carried

Urging, begging for thetruth.

But whose truth do themasses seek?

Whose reality will count?

 

Targets move and factsevolve as

Envy struts and flexesstrong to

Muddy waters oncepristine and

Bait the tongue withviscous pique.

 

But vision sharpens bydegree and

Heralds shout in louddecree

The treasures born inhonesty

Are like a finger in thedike.

 

And where will you in purposebe

When life relies onhonesty?

 

Grace and Disgrace

The distant darkness ofdeceit

Casts bold its shadowlong and lean

Across the melancholy sea

Crying out to be setfree.

 

But freedom cannot findher echo

Muted by defineddisgrace.

Whimpering, she seeks hersolace

Cloaked by veils ofblackened lace.

 

Shame becomes her solecompanion,

Lonelinessa bosom friend.

Solitudeher only comfort as she

Contemplatesthe end.

 

Wasit worth the pain and sorrow

Playingout your vain disguise?

Nowthe unmasked interloper

Payingdearly for her lies.

 

Liesare but the Devil’s scalpel

Slashingscars on Beauty’s face, and

Shecould spend a thousand lifetimes

Tryingto get back to grace.

 

Sleepless Nights

Conscience is an evilbastard

Waivingan unwieldy wand.

An echoing cacophony ofkettle drums

Inside the head.

 

Should have, could have,would have

Done things differentlyif grace were kind,

If peace of mind wereparamount,

And thoughts not fraughtwith desperate dread.

 

All of those “if onlys”and

Obligatory “wonder whys”

Enclosed in air quotes,

Accent marks accentuate athousand lies.

 

Far too late to takethings back,

Tofind a kinder, gentler thread.

Left to toss thesesleepless nights while

Monsterslurk beneath my bed.

 

Answers fail

            And questions mount as

Night dissolves toblackest coal.

Only truth can raise thetorch

Tolight the way,

To save my soul.

 

Blink First

Conflicts cloaked incontroversy.

Hard to know who’s right,who’s wrong,

But each is firm and bothstand strong to

Plead their casesstridently.

 

Assertions flail onserpent’s rattle.

Bile and venom, spit andspew

Corrupt the wickedwitches brew to

Bait bold rivals intobattle.

 

Boundaries fade to shadesof night

As parlay edges to debate

While simple reasonhesitates and

No one steps into thelight.

 

Eyes in lock –

            Tic toc

            Tic toc.

Watch the clock.

            Tic tic

            Toc toc.

 

There is no right.

            There is no wrong.

There are no choices,best or worst.

And who will sing thevictor’s song?

The short and long is

            Who blinks first?