dem blues be leavin' shortly . . .

Tomorrow's tomorrow

one if by land
two if by sea
three if by air
you know i'll be there

four if by East
five if by West
six if by Heaven
but don't throw a seven

seven if by lightning
eight if by rain
nine if by wind
you know it won't end

ten if by yesterday
eleven if by now
twelve if by moonlight
i'm always in sight

may 1998

sweat and colors

sweat and colors 2005

Blues be leavin'

blues be leavin' shortly,
be leavin' in de rain,
doan know where they goin',
jus' leavin' all dis pain,
suitcase packed, i'm leavin'
cain't stay here no more,
dat woman she done hurt me,
an' i just doan know what for,
i tried my bes' to please her,
but she run me off today,
said she didn't love me,
dats what i heard her say,
dem blues dey callin' to me,
say its better down de road,
guess i'm goin wid 'em,
cause craps is what i throwed,
dem blues be leavin' shortly,
be leavin in de rain,
doan know where dey goin',
jus' leavin' all dis pain.

2008

alls ashatter

blue cats and mourning doves
hopeless nights and errant loves
everything is tasteless now
need to leave but don't know how

cold blue dogs and rainy nights
stay inside and dim the lights
life and love is just a game
her rules and mine are not the same

blue-on-blue the canvas cries
she only looks she never buys
troubles never got a damn bit clearer
life and loves' a shattered mirror

1992

Sapphire Seas

Computer drawing 2008

Maneuverability

there must be an answer
since the question is there,

i know i will find it
but it may not seem fair,

i will wait for tomorrow
before i pursue,

then hurl my whole self
into what i must do,

nothing worth doing
is easy for me,

i will have to walk naked
before i am free.

1971