"Rejection of the Reflection"

The repetition that is life
a succession of brand new days
As each new one arrives
part of the previous one stays

As a youngster I'd anticipate
excitedly await tomorrow
No matter what it brought
be it pain, joy or sorrow

Dawns arrival anymore
means nothing more to me
Than would a book of photographs
to one who could not see

These capsules of time
each a chapter on everyone
But this day is only welcome
because it brings the Sun

But I can't blame the days
I blame me, myself and I
You'll find no mirrors in my house,
I just don't like that guy


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"Time Capsule for Devin"

To Devin, my (Grand) nephew
who now is one year old
By about the age of eight
you'll understand what this holds

You're starting a journey
an exciting one it will be
Lots of people, lots of things
and many places to see

All of us are people
we choose our different ways
we find original things
to fill up all our days

My start was so different
because it was long ago
Yours could be more difficult
but you'll do fine I know

Why would I say this?
Not to scare you my friend
It is more to remind you
only on yourself depend

Depending upon others 
when I was that young
Wasn't like playing with bees
and a chance you could get stung

Times were so different
and the people were too
When people said things
that was what they'd do

When people talk now
it is mostly just talk
By the time you read this
you'll understand "Walk the Walk"

Times will be hard
also enjoyable and fun
There's Halloween nights 
and Labor Day Sun

I wish I could say
"Live life with no regrets"
But who is anyone
to say that's what they expect

Being who I am
not real big on advice
Ask anyone who knew me
I messed up more than twice

So you just do it
go forward and go strong
And everything you learn
make sure to take along


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"Once I Dreamt"

If I miss one thing
that one thing would be
The way I used to dream
all the things I could see

When we're young it seems
we have enough dreams to last
Yet so quickly, like time
these dreams become the past

The job I would have
the great things I would do
It didn't happen that way
as other paths I went through

As Parents and relatives
offered words of hope and support
Painful looking back now
that I came up so short

Not attaining ones goals
that were set so sincere
As time went by
dreams gave way to fear

The fear of failing
not accepted or believed
Just dreams of another kid
so real, yet unachieved

They say we always dream
sometimes we don't recall
I dream of flight no more
now old, I fear I'll fall


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"I Was the Dealer"

Where is the joy?
All the exhilaration,
that one's supposed to feel
upon reaching a destination

I seem to have reached mine
although I'm not glad
The saddest part of all,
getting here drove me mad

Myself I must blame
for I did all the driving
Now struggling to exist
when I should be thriving

Is destination fate?
Or the other way around
It really doesn't matter
as by our choices we're bound

I've met so many people
had chances to succeed
How many opportunities 
does one person need?

In myself I can't trust
or believe in much these days
I've gone too far off path
gone bad in too many ways

The shame, it should be killing me
I should already be dead
Its so painful and embarrassing
the way I made this bed

But I'll have to lie in it
there's not much else to do
Thanks to choices that I made
I guess I'm pretty much through

But I dealt this hand
now I'll play solitaire
And as for all life's breaks
I believe I had my share


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"The Realm"

Do we all possess
a place that we go?
A little secluded realm
of which only we know

I know I have mine
its always been so nice
A place I know to go
never needing to think twice

I don't seem to recall
when to this place I found my way
But ever since that time
I've visited everyday

In this realm it never matters
what I want or need
Its almost impossible here
for me not to succeed

Control is the difference
and I am King of this realm
Not merely a navigator
I myself act as its helm

There's but one law in this realm
enforced each and everyday
No baggage is allowed
this keeps reality away

For recently I've noticed
in my realm,somethings awry
But I can set this straight
and I shall,' cause I'm that guy



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"Ingredients"

My list of ingredients
the stuff of which I'm made
Some intricate, some basic
there are none that I would trade

There are little bits of hope
and some chunks of pride
Bits of logic that allow me
to take some things in stride

Add a little awareness
and some cerebral molecules
Then I'll smoke some weed
to cope with arrogant fools

As long as we are cooking
lets add a little spice
Games of chance and other things
as I enjoy most every vice

To this add love and hate
two opposites yes indeed
But both must be included
as off each other they feed


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"Problem Solvers"

Seeking a solution
to problems and strife
Very common for most
as we go through life

Can problems be solved
as if they were a riddle
If we identify them first
that helps a little

A problem for me
may not be one for you
What I'd call a gauntlet
you may walk right through

Or I could be the one
feeling happy and complete
As someone else contemplated
being one check from the street

Some are more proficient
at being problem solvers
There are others who wind up
swallowing their revolvers

The problem left behind
for relatives and friends
Problem solving as they mourn
and their heartbreak mends


---------


"Educationaphobia"

Its once again election time
a bunch of squawking gals and guys
Who apply for their positions 
by telling lots of lies

In the state of California
always talk of education
They paint a rosy picture
via some mis-information

The money for books
or to pay teachers more
Surely they've got it
but schools aren't who its for

If schools got that money
peoples intellect would grow
Then they'd see right through
the politicians great big show

Losing their positions
is but one frightening thought
They'd wind up in prison
losing all they've got

Well they're only human
they gave in to greed
If put in their position
I wonder if I'd succeed


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"Agility of Stability"

In search of a stable
somewhere to put things away
Things like emotions
that seem to change each day

As they are necessary
or so I am told
I find mine so difficult
not simple to control

There's anger and strife
two that really take hold
There's sadness and fright
these are all so cold

There are other ones
of a more positive note
At least others say this
and some they do emote

Happiness and joy
a synonymous pair
But ones life must be structured
for one to get their share

The cold emotions
just seem to be there
With us from the start
and follows us everywhere

The comforting ones
the ones with positive themes
must be found and captured
stolen from pleasant dreams




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"Worthy Opponent"

Life tests us all
I don't like what I see
My test I don't like
and he doesn't like me

We've been having this rumble
for a long time now
Somebody must win
but when, where or how

This foes not hard to find
I see him everyday
But these last few days
he's really been in my way

I blame myself for his existence
and this I can't forgive
Being aware of this
makes it hard to live

life is hard anyway
its true for everyone
we only live to work
and sweat in the hot Sun

Am I alone in feeling
exhausted and uninspired?
There's surely someone else
who of this shit is tired

Tired of the failure
the redundancy of trying
Only to repeatedly
finish the day crying

I know I've had my fill
lost my inner drive
The hatred of my opponent
the only reason to survive

Surviving isn't life
its but a fraction of its scheme
Now sleep brings only nightmares
once I called these dreams

Dreaming is not tolerated
in my sleep these days
I sleep with one eye open
and watch as life decays

Its all gone bad now
my little sector of this Earth
I'm productive no longer
to society I bear no worth

This opponent of mine
surely is aware
Compassions at a premium
and ability lacking to care

So I'll lay down tonight
just as I always do
ross my fingers and toes
and hope this life is through

For the battle I am fighting
if I lose so does he
As in life there are no winners
and my opponents only me

All writing © to Eddie A. Kessel.