Rapunzel

ancient tale of the fairy kind
told one last and final time
locks once promising freedom

only offered crushing restraint
exposure of the clever masquerade
incomplete.

Rapunzel cut her hair
in a dream
she didn't have
that never became.

discarded music
that birthed a long forgotten age
just memories and fantasies
and lullabies that slowly fade.

hope for escape
became a termites’ feast
the horse called in lame
for the third time this week!

apologize, justify
excuses demean
folly and insincerity
typically routine

royal pursuits weaken defenses
the keep no longer safe from siege
where distant walls move ever closer,
ever faster on the darkest days

heroine rewards
are merely dealers’ gains
undeserved tragedy
benefactor of misguided dreams

heroic extrication
not quite tangible
not ever the same

as what she
truly
fiercely
craves
needs

You Tell Me

spider webs unravel
roadblocks in my throat
fear rage uncertainty pain
I love the smell of rain

give-up forfeit release
splintered remains
penetration inevitable
checkmate delayed

or maybe cotton candy
and sugar cubes on a plate



deception on a string
just out of reach
comic cruelty
silver unicorn with wings

maybe I’m the puppet
on a string
no one can reach

epiphany

Stop the World

"Stop the World,"
by Matthew West

The TV is talking
The telephone’s ringing
The lights are all on
And the radio’s screaming
A million distractions are stealing my heart from You
I’m tired and empty
This life is relentless
It weakens my knees
And breaks my defenses
It’s wearing me down and I’m desperate to hear from You

Stop the world I wanna get out
I need an escape away from this crowd
Just to hear You speak to me

I need to be still before I make a move
I need to be humble with nothing to prove
I need Your Word to show me the truth
And I need time, precious time

Stop the world I wanna get out
I need an escape away from this crowd
Just to hear You speak to me
Stop the world I’m ready to listen
Show me sign, give me a vision of heaven
I can hold on to
Stop the world I need some time with You

Before I can find my voice
I need to hear Your voice
Above all the senseless noise