BOG-QUAG  (1983, Laguna Beach, California)

   
     
so oft    
bogged down    
in life s    
myriad quags        
what fate        
this disconnected cog        
intently hounded        
by paper dogs        
lost at odds        
in social fogs        
distortia        
all around me        
        
wave after wave        
of such mazes        
amaze me        
downtrodden in life        
not even        
the grave s free        
time        
life s fickle friend        
will tease        
taunt        
and trample me        
to the end        
such an annoying        
bitter wind        
what lessons        
does it send        
to either freeze        
or free me        
       
so early        
torn apart        
relentless tearings        
worn  scarred heart        
beating  bleeding        
in the dark        
and yet it s       
tough hide still holds        
some hopeful spark        
at least so far        
to continue      
on        
       
life s smiles        
and tears        
have come        
and gone        
different for each        
and yet        
we all sing        
a similar song        
through which        
our tortures        
and joys        
balanced        
have shown        
that perhaps        
the best        
is still yet   
to come        
       
such hope        
the meek        
all seek        
to hold        
against the gloom        
of what        
they ve lived    
of what        
they re told        
and though        
the reaper s scythe        
is cold        
it s slice        
of life        
reveals such gold        
just waiting        
to be discovered        
lived and enjoyed        
before then        
       
for different reasons        
we attain        
our seasons        
spring our warmths        
and loose        
our snows        
yet summer s beauty        
is not accepted        
for very long        
as much too soon        
autumn comes        
to quickly judge        
it s treasoned soul        
for our nature s needs to feed        
it s natural hungers        
is a greater climate        
assigned to us all        
beyond the choice        
and forced    
false control        
of our own      
free will s    
egoic minds      
alone