School Of Hard Knocks

when I was growing up my grandfather use to say

that boy is going to find out everything the hard way

if he comes out of his childhood alive

there’s a damn good chance he’ll survive

I was an eager student of the School of Hard Knocks

my troubles were never pebbles they were always rocks

taking the least traveled pathway had a price

I come close to losing my life twice

there was never really a choice for me

I’ve always been on the verge of tragedy

but in these later days of my life

I look back and appreciate the strife

and accept my past and my destiny

whatever that happens to be

The Tree of Life

roots from the human tree

go back before

written history

root desires

built empires

root foundations

built nations

roots of war

lasting forevermore

the human tree

rooted in reality

and what we know

continues to grow

as new branches

emerge and get strong

and people learn to get along

on the tree of life

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?

Feeling The Heat?

do you ever get criticized for what you eat?

or dressing sloppy and not being neat?

then you’re probably feeling the heat

from the critics in your life and on the street

our hopes and our desires are fragile things

that need nurturing, not a critics barbed stings

using words like weapons and their voices like slings

critics treat your ideals and habits like verbal playthings

but you can make sure the your critics don’t succeed

when they talk trash about you, pay them no heed

be the master of your own ship and don’t concede

to naysayers and enemies who only want to mislead

we’re all going to feel heat along our chosen way

how we stand up to our detractors determines our day

we’re all different and have a variety of games we play

in essence, life is too damn short not to have your say!

Getting Real

our society has phonies to the left and right

truth is shunned and kept out of the limelight

getting real in these chaotic times is no easy task

everyone in the country is hiding behind a mask

deciding what is right or wrong is a real chore

it’s difficult to know who to abhor or adore

getting real is becoming harder every day

because people worry about what to say

it takes confidence and purpose to get real

sometimes it also takes nerves of steel

Slipping Away

100 words

She opened her eyes and pushed away the darkness of eternity. Not yet ready to submit to that unknown journey. She embraced her life for one more day.

Happy memories gave her strength to ignore her dying body. Her pale eyes still reflected determination and an active imagination.

Her fierce soul fought to stay one more day. She would not let her life slip away silently like it never happened.

Grasping for each hour like a sinking swimmer she held on until the next dawn when her soul let go leading her towards a bright glow and an eternal rainbow.

Brandon Andress

Author. Writer. Adventurer.

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