Monthly Archives: October 2000

GOLDIE AT THE HOLIDAY INN

GOLDIE AT THE HOLIDAY INN

At the Holiday Inn at the Dallas market

They have a goldfish named Goldie
who has his own quarium
and swims around lonely all day

At the Holiday Inn at the Dallas market
You can sleep late
and make love
and eat room service
and light a candle if you bring one

And Goldie don’t care
if you sleep late
and make love
and eat room service
but he sure do like that candle

SHAMAN’S STICK

SHAMAN’S STICK

When dead Shamans spirits
pick a new Shaman to carry the stick
they always start by making them sick

In every tribe in the natural world
they whisper and press the same old trick
you’re gonna be sick till you pick up the stick
you’re gonna be sick till you pick up the stick

Pick up the stick or your relative’s dead
pick up the stick or you stay in your bed
you’re gonna be sick till you pick up the stick
you’re gonna be sick till you pick up the stick

Life won’t be easy if you pick up the stick
life won’t be easy if you lay down the stick

You can’t teach a dead Shaman any new trick
so most times it pays to just pick up the stick
you’re gonna be sick till you pick up the stick
you heal the sick when you pick up the stick

REMEMBERING SOCRATES

REMEMBERING SOCRATES

Last walk on the Acropolis
Last look at the Parthenon
Last time through the door
of low roofed home
Last glass of wine at kitchen table
the tightness in the chest

Last talk with pupils and friends
comforting around the couch
Bitter taste of hemlock

Dead cold creeping from feet
up through legs, torso, chest

Spots of light leaps upward from brow

Where is Socrates asks the guide
did he die

Socrates is the light I reply

THE MAN IN THE DESERT

THE MAN IN THE DESERT

The man in the desert remembers
and a tear begins to form

A tear so long unshed
ninety percent of the water is gone

Dragging its chain of crusted drops
it carves a white canyon
down his long and leathered face

A cracked tongue between cracked lips
reaches to taste it – Oh so sweet