The Prisoner

He looks through the same dull window
Every day
When he remembers to look up at all

There is a grand old world out there
Of memory
But the world inside has grown very small

To what end?
To what means?
A self-serving universe
In a never ending spin

To what use?
To what plan?
An Escher-like existence
To return where it begins

He looks through the same dull glasses
Time, time again
As if hoping will make a better day

The prisoner does not question
Just doing time
He pauses and he turns his gaze away

tjp 5/222/09

Ship of Fools

There are no heroes here
Just the walking wounded and barely conscious
Amongst those intended to serve

There is no glory here
Just the blinded bearers of consequences
Who reap more than they could deserve

The light of day makes it go astray
The light brings it all into view
The dark of night brings it into sight
The dark makes it troubled and true

There’ll be no sleep in here
Just the ghosts of worry for all tomorrows
For all that is done and undone

There is no joy in here
Just a ship of fools sailing out of harbor
Who silently cry for no one

tjp 5/10/09

Shades of Grey

I want the sky to be grey today
I want an endless day of rain
gazing out the window
remembering the smell of pine
the aroma of freshly moistened earth
a peace pulled out of time

I want it to be all right today
I want the pieces to fall into place
living in the moment
perspective from each view
the past left far behind me
a present clear and true

Darkness to the left of me
Light, clear on the right
shades of grey surrounding
in a shifting shapeless light

And if I don’t seem very clear
Shades of grey are looming near

© tjp 7/22/08

Watching The Dark

Wit and Wisdom

Endless time
and senseless rhyme
where’s anything of worth?
The trail narrows before me
that I’ve followed
since my birth

Time just brings
material things
that in time turn to dust
But wit and wisdom
once like steel
begin to fade and rust

People pass like phantoms
‘till you wonder
if they’re real
Concerted indifference
to do anything
but feel

Hollow cries
from sightless eyes
that shed mere tears of dust
But wit and wisdom
once like steel
begin to fade and rust…


Most of this is from song lyrics that I wrote over 20 years ago. Most… because I don’t remember all of the words, so I filled in the rest with what you see here. What I remembered (mostly the music) was going through my head… it relates to some current difficulties. Things are far better than when I wrote the original, but it is good to know that cynicism and exploring the darkness is timeless…