I’m happy as can be
being me
a guy who writes poetry
A wanderer among words
a purveyor of verbosity
I soar into skies of stories
not yet told
in broken sentence safaris
my imagination uncontrolled
-30-
Happy As Can Be
Category: life
Another Time
a little girl singing in the spring meadows of your mind
her sweet voice soothing your soul with lyrics
from another time
a little boy playing with a toy on a snowy day
his childish antics in your mind’s eye
from another time
a young woman dancing in a play
her grace and beauty in full bloom
from another day
a young man indulging in harmless horseplay
his powerful muscles straining in the summer heat
of another day
an old woman knitting by a warm hearth of clay
her memories embroidered on blankets
from another day
an old man in a winter pathway
looking for his memories
from another day.
-30-
A Dash of Irony
life is a three course meal
of baby food
steak and lobster
and mushed food
sprinkled with
a dash of irony
and a touch of salt
some good whiskey
and wine
while you dine
until it’s time
to pay your final bill
when you’ve had your fill
Lighten Your Load
are you carrying a rucksack
of worries?
a load of emotional rocks?
a stack of negative stories?
stuck in a mental box?
then it’s time
to lighten your load
and shine
cast away
your worries
enjoy your day
there’s no guarantee
another will come your way
Stupid Things
You see it all the time
people doing stupid things
like making batches of slime
there’s no end in sight
of people
who aren’t too bright
we live with them every day
shaking our heads in wonder
at their disarray
they’re at home and on the street
doing dumb things
and being indiscreet
it’s not about being bad
we all do dumb things
like following a stupid fad
it’s about the realization
that stupid things happen
in any kind of situation
Living In A Redwood Tree
there was a young woman named Bethany
who lived in a Redwood tree
her little hut was something to see
perched like a toy inside the canopy
society had caused her to flee
to the giant tree in order to be free
a friend brought supplies to the tree
and never questioned her idiosyncrasy
and she lived there like a refugee
but happy as happy can be
for she was a nature devotee
who did her best to avoid reality
A Watchful Eye
I was always aware of someone watching me in the family
and it was oddly comforting but sometimes scary
like having The Eye of Horus or The Eye of Ra on me
no matter what I did or how dangerous the activity
That watchful eye followed me over the years
and helped me deal with my fears
sometimes, I look up at the sky
after all these years have gone by
and wonder why
I still believe in a watchful eye?
Outside The Box
I climbed out of the box one day
unafraid of what people would say
leaving behind conventions
with good intentions
gone astray
My Bangkok Tour Guide
Essay – 246 words
While walking down a street in the Kingdom of Thailand where ex-pats from around the world land, blending seamlessly into the local 1970 economy, I met a young boy with a man’s eyes.
He was probably ten – going onto forty – with worldly knowledge far beyond his tender years. Anuia was a frail street waif with the wisdom of the local marketplace for sale. He promised the best place to stay, my drug of choice, and prostitutes with breathless beauty, if I hired him throughout my stay.
We toured a banana plantation, and a red light district called
Pattaya, with outrageous sex acts they were not even considered risqué in the day. Creedance Clearwater Revival rocked the bars with “Looking Out My Backdoor.” I smoked some of the best weed in my life, comparing it to the Vietnamese strain that made you forget your name.
We watched kick fighter’s knock each other out, only to get up afterwards and respectfully bow to one another. Anuia shared his best curse words to get quick results, and bargained over every transaction like it might be his last. He was shrewd and a survivor, with no parents or family.
The thing that impressed me the most was he was always smiling – except when he negotiated a deal. His smile seemed to defy the life he led. When my time was up, and I had to go, he shook my hand, then turned to greet another group of visitors deplaning nearby.
Keep The Line Moving
there’s no time to stop or hesitate
or to contemplate your fate
the line must keep moving along
no sense of right or wrong
the line keeps moving everyday
never making any headway
in a society of strangers
afraid of dangers
lines are crossed and people die
not even knowing why
everyone keeps moving the line
looking for a sign
a guiding light
through the dark night
for inspiration
and salvation
The Creative Chronicles of Dave Stancliff 