Sun’s not up,
but you are.
Soft blue eyes,
a sea of calm
staring out
our back window…
What’s going on in that green-grass mind of yours?

Hope not much.
You’ve got time.
Years & years
ahead to bide
but for now,
you & I…
Let’s be empty, laugh & smile.
Dada & Miles.

Blessed, boy!
The shape of joy:
To live frame-by-frame
in a big way.
Hey-ey-ey-ey.

Not afraid?
Then I won’t
be afraid
of the dark
or the monsters
or tomorrow…
What a waste when we got one another.

Blessed, boy!
The shape of joy:
To live frame-by-frame
in a big way.
Hey-ey-ey-ey.

Sun drops down.
Moon goes high.
Mama’s cookin’
you’re out back
runnin’ ’round
with your eyes closed…
This is what I’ve been chasing.

Blessed, boy!
The shape of joy:
To live frame-by-frame
in a big way.
Hey-ey-ey-ey.

(12/10 & 12/21/2019 – Gregory Street, Madison, Wisconsin)

Take a sip from my glass.
Kick back.
Don’t mind the mess.
I’m listening.

So you been a victim?
Some might say.
Psychological operations
underway.

Dressed to the nines
in sheep’s clothes.
Friends of mine
or shadows?

Stay quiet
so I’m told.
Not seen nor heard –
that’s good, boy, good.

Take another sip.
Ready for this?
Trust the process.
Look away.

So you heard the rumors?
Bears repeating:
That’s the tower.
Bird’s eye view.

Fashion matters,
don’t forget.
Have you picked out
your outfit yet?

Stay quiet
so I’m told in hushed tones.
Not seen nor heard –
that’s a good, boy. Good.

And a third?
Start to feel it now?
Not me, got my
tolerance up.

So you don’t like drinkin’
but you do anyway?
You tell yourself, “Everybody’s
got a problem.”

Buttoned up,
shoes shined.
Black tie.
Sure fit in nice.

Stay quiet
so I’m told.
Not seen nor heard –
that’s all the better.
That’s good, boy, good,
boy, good, boy, good.

That’s all the better.

(2/7/2020 – Gregory Street, Madison, Wisconsin)

In the neighborhood.
Warmer, keep go-ing.
Riiight on the money.
Right on, the money!

We’d pursued
all other avenues.
Turned over stones,
spent nights alone.

Call it a journey.
Helluva story.
At times a slog,
but closer than ever now.

In the neighborhood.
Warmer, keep go-ing.
Riiight on the money.
Right on, the money!

Through the trees,
such a sight to see.
Enlightment:
Name’s on the list.

Here comes another.
Never over.
Thirsty always.
Where’s this fountain?

That is who you are,
you’ve found.
That is who you are,
you’ve found.

In the neighborhood.
Warmer, keep go-ing.
Riiight on the money.
Right on, the money!

Inexact change
a given.
Inexact change
a given.

Finally.
Finally.
Finally.

Circling again.

(2/2/2020 – Gregory Street, Madison, Wisconsin)

Heaven forbid
I be deemed
Indecipherable.
Heaven forbid
I comply
or accommodate ya.

Heaven forbid
I abide.

Heaven forbid
there’s a reason
for all of this.
Heaven forbid
it all makes sense
in the end.

Heaven forbid
I be remiss.

Heaven forbid
we find
common ground.
Heaven forbid
we discuss
what’s wrong.

Heaven forbid
this subsides.

Heaven forbid
we slush around
in the muck and mire.
Heaven forbid
we scrape our knees
once in awhile,
once in awhile.

Heaven forbid
we do the right thing.
Heaven forbid we
scrape our knees.

(1/24/2020 – Village Bar, Madison, Wisconsin)

Different pages.
Foreign languages.
Need some de-escalation.

High time for
the Grand Poo-Bah
to get involved.

Reached an impasse.
Stare down, stand still.
Wouldn’t hurt to ask…

High time for
the Grand Poo-Bah –
he’ll get this solved.

An authority
is needed now
more than ever.

High time for
the Grand Poo-Bah
to get involved.
High time for
the Grand Poo-Bah –
he’ll get this solved.
High time for
the Grand Poo-Bah,
get him on the prowl,
on the prowl.

Good ol’ diplomacy.
God bless ya,
Grand Poo-Bah.

(1/20/2020 – Gregory Street, Madison, Wisconsin)