Barstow’s Nostradamus

More than an attempt to get right
with the city of Santa Cruz
childhood home of my buddy Doug
reflections on a Receding Hairline

If ever a listening with the skills
of a bartender graced my life
Doug fit the job to a tee
heart laugh, spot on advice

A sense of right and wrong
refrained from excess in judgement
keen observer of human behavior
more than advanced student of music

Shooting the breeze after work
tour guide of big B
the forecaster of Barstow’s plight
“after the tsunami we’ll be hanging ten”

The residual of the hippie creed
 believed answers to problems
weren’t found behind the trigger of a gun
or reality's escape via narcotics

Even after some of the highs of
performing live and the passing
of our drummer we remained tight
signed cds of musicians in Vegas

Acoustic jams with two guitars
tales of CSNY, the Beatles
difficult students and questionable
school board decisions

The warmth and kindness
on one special day when my mom
was reaching the end of life
we rocked Spring Valley Lake

Kept on “Rocking In The Free World”
the “Hobo’s Lullaby”, “Watermelon Man”
mom had a “Ticket To Ride” even though
she never made it “Back In The USSR”

Doug your brotherhood in music
and in life will always be cherished
I know you will always be rocking
if you aren’t having a giant laugh