To DC a friend for life.

Nothing last forever but true friendships and memories. Days of old on the road and at the shows. Laughs and times that will stay with us as we grow old. Through your gone I'll look back through all the good and all the bad and thank God for putting us on the same path. Through cold nights behind the stage to hot days out on the field. I'll remember your smile and good times that kept it real. Your pain is over there's nothing but peace. You will be missed and remembered until we meet again. Farewell my friend

Redemption

The night was cold and it was snowing as Mark Randle’s little truck made the turn into the small gas station in Stonington Maine and coughed up its last bit of life. He turned the key and stepped on the gas hoping to get it started one more time and make it home for Christmas, but all it did was make that choking noise. It was done, it had gone its last mile. He cursed and punched the dash board upset. He was having the most horrible day of a long string of bad days. He looked out and noticed the lights were still on in the station. Maybe this was finally a bit of luck.
Mark reached to his side and grabbed the brown bag and stuffed it in his jacket then pushed open the door and stepped out of the truck.
Out in front of the station sat a little old 1950 red ford truck. Mark smiled as he looked it over. It was clean and looked like it had been kept in good working order. Maybe his luck was changing. Quickly he put on a cap from his pocket and went to the door and stepped into the stations little office.
Sitting at a desk covered with letters, an elderly heavy set man with white hair and a long white beard looked up as a bell announced Mark’s entrance.
“Merry Christmas my friend.” He smiles as he puffed on his pipe. “It’s freezing out there, why don’t you come in and have a cup of joe, its fresh.”
“Thank you.” Mark said rubbing his hands to warm them up. “It is cold out there. But I just need to use your phone if that’s ok.”
“Sure you can.” The jolly old man said. “But it won’t be working right now with this storm blowing out there. The lines here are terrible in the winter, but it’ll but working soon. Why not have some coffee or hot chocolate while you wait. I have those little marshmallows.”
Mark smiled. The office was warm and the old guy was nice. He had time, one cup can’t make couldn’t hurt. The bank would still be open in an hour.
“Tell me son.” The old man stood up and went to the little stove in the corner and poured him a cup of hot chocolate. “What brings you out in this storm?”
“Christmas shopping for my kid.” Mark said as he reached up and took the cup of chocolate. The old man dropped three marshmallows in his cup and sat back down with his pipe. “You know, last minute shopping.”
“Ho ho ho ho!!! Yes, I know all about that. As a matter of fact, I have something here that your little boy might like.”

The old man reached back behind his chair and into a red bag and pulled out a long red fire truck. He placed it on the table in front of Mark, then leaned back.
“Do you think Christopher would like that?”
It was beautiful. Just what Christopher had asked for though he didn’t have the money to get it for him. He had just recently lost his job for being caught drinking on the job. He had been out every day for the last 3 weeks looking, but he couldn’t find anything. He was desperate. It was almost rent time and they didn’t have much by way of food at their apartment and Shelly and Christopher would be home from her parent place tonight. What he had in his jacket pocket was his only answer.
“I think he’ll love it.” Mark said. “But I can’t take this from you. You’ve been too nice to me. I should go.”
“Go where Mark.” The old man looked him deeply in his eyes. “Do you really think that’s the answer? Do you really think a gun is going to help in any way?”
Mark looked at the old man in shock. How did he know? Did he see it? Did he say Christopher? Did he just call me Mark? How does he know who I am? Who is this old man?
“If you leave here.” The old man tapped his pipe on the ashtray to empty it before he refilled it. “Someone will die in that bank and it will be by your hand. You will be caught and Shelly and Christopher will be devastated. A little boy and girl will lose their father and end up being taken by the state because their Grandparents are too old to care for them. The manager will have a heart attack and never be strong enough to walk or work again. You will destroy Christmas for three families, maybe more. All because your down on your luck.”
Mark dropped the cup and stared at the old man. He didn’t know if he should believe him but in his heart, he knew it could all be true. He had never broken a law in his life, but what choice did he have? He couldn’t go home empty handed. He couldn’t face Shelly and Christopher as such a failure. Maybe he should just leave here and start walking and never look back.
“That’s no answer.” The old man shook his head. “Christopher needs you to teach him how to be a man. He needs you to teach him how to love and treat people. You’re his hero, you’re his father. Shelly needs you too or she will grow old alone and sad. You are the key to so many lives and it will all happen in the next few minutes. If you make the right choice.”
Mark thought about the day he met Shelly and that spark he saw in her eyes. He knew the minute he had seen her that he would marry her. Then he thought of the day Christopher was born and how he had been so happy, he went out and ran and jumped and screamed in joy. He had almost been arrested for disturbing the peace, but the policeman understood and just congratulated him. No, he could never leave them. He loved them too much. There was only one thing he could do. Mark reached into his pocket and pulled out the bag with the gun and gave it to the old man.
“Ho, ho, ho, ho!!!!” The old man laughed. “I knew you would make the right choice. Now we just have to get you home. Here, take my keys to the truck. It’ll get you home.”
“Thank you so much.” Mark shook his hand. “I think you saved my life.”
The old man picked put the toy truck and handed it to Mark.
“Just tell your family Merry Christmas for me.” He said. “Now you get out of here and go home. Merry Christmas!!!”
Mark waved as he left the office. He felt like a million bucks. He looked back to see the old man waved and shut the office door and turn off the light. With the truck in his hand, Mark hurried to the red ford truck and got in. As he started the truck, he noticed a small bag on the seat next to him. He picked it up and opened it. There was a sheet of paper on top. Mark turned on the dash board light and read it. It was the deed to the gas station with his name on it. Mark had to read it again to be sure he wasn’t imaging it. But there it was. Then he felt the bag and realized there was something else in the bag. He turned it over and emptied it on the seat. It was a stack of hundred dollar bills. Ten thousand dollars to be exact and a Christmas card. He opened it. It read Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. From your friend Nick.

In your Eyes.

In your eyes I see tomorrow.
And the future and the past,
I see the sunshine and the promise.
And how I'm first and never last.
I see the dreams and the wishes.
I see the beauty of the day.
In your eyes I see the brightness.
And the wonder you portray.

In your soul I see the freedom.
And the smiles you have for me.
I see the joy and the happiness.
And how I'll never let you be.
I see the soul of an angel.
I see heaven and not hell.
In your soul I see forever.
How I'm caught up in your spell.

In your heart I feel the strength.
And the power that you hold.
I see the pride and the honor.
And all the wonders to behold.
I see the faith of a pope.
I see the strength of a warrior
In your heart I see passion.
And a world so full of hope.

Every step of the way. John Waite.

I spend my time
Thinkin' 'bout you constantly
It's true that I want you
You're the meaning of success to me 
Cause anything you want
You can get from me
Don't try to work it out
Just let it be
Emotion has no price
And love is free 
I've been going round in circles
You're always on my mind
I need you so bad
It's driving me out of my mind
Reflected in your eyes
Can't you see
You and I against the world
Young lions roam free
You're always taking me somewhere
That I've never seen 
No matter where you go
I'm with you
Every step of the way
No matter what you need
I've got more every single day
My heart is full for you
And I'm longing to find you 
Every step of the way
I'm with you
Every step of the way
I'm right beside you
Cause anything you want
You can get from me
Don't try to work it out
Just let it be
Emotion has no price
And love is free 
It's free and no matter where you go
I'm with you
Every step of the way
No matter what you need
I've got more every single day
My heart is full for you
In your shadow you'll find me 
Every step of the way
I'm with you
Every step of the way
I'm right beside you 
No matter what you do
No matter what you say
I'm right beside you 
Every single day
No matter what you do
Or who you do it to
No matter where you've been
No matter what you say
Or who you say it to
No matter what you do
I will stay close to you
Every step of the way
Every single day
Every step of the way

The Wonder of it all.

I like romance and passion.
And dancing under the moon.
I like crying and laughing.
And weddings in June.
Long walks in sunshine.
And dinners under the stars.
Sad things and movies.
And serenades and guitars.
Walking in a snowstorm.
All dressed up to play.
And fighting with snowballs.
And a ride on a sleigh.
Summers to Fall.
And Winters to Spring.
Love songs and sadness.
I'm ready to sing.
All these things
All done for love
Some big and some small.
A call from above.
In daytime or nighttime.
With a leap or a fall.
And all the special moments.
The wonder of it all.

Gray skies and Sad eyes.

Gray skies and sad eyes.
Thunderstorms and rain.
Tears that fall and bad lies.
Heartbreak and pain.

Lost and alone in a quiet room.
With nothing but my pen.
I write a poem of gloom and doom.
Relief, I just say when.


How long will it last, my misery.
A thunderclap a heavy down pour.
I walk with my head down.
I can't take anymore, my life's a snore.

I keep sinking until I drown.
How long will my pain go on.
I want it to stop, I want to be free.
I wish it all was gone.

Peace in the Heart

With laughs and smiles
and giggles and jokes.
With hugs and kisses 
and all kinds of pokes.








To be cont....

Two Hearts Become as One

There are songs about Romance.
And songs about Pain.
There are songs about Joy.
And tears in the Rain,.

I could tell you of Shadows.
Of dark dreary Nights
Of Passion and Sorrow.
The nights without Light.

But none of that Matters.
It's all by the Way.
The fear and my Sadness.
Keeps my love Away.

Out there in the Distance.
So far from the Game.
With strength and Security
A light calls my Name.

So Gentle and Eagar.
With a lite caring Smile.
We meet with a soft Glow.
With Taste and with Style.

We Laugh and Dance.
To a song made for Two.
Promises are Made.
My Vow is to you.

Now Joy burns so Sweetly.
And Love sings the Song.
Two hearts beat Together.
So Proud and so Strong.

If you only knew.

If I could say whats on my mind.
It talk about my heart.
I'd tell you all that you might find.
It's been there from the start.

If I knew the words and what to say.
I'd say them with a smile.
I'd say the words to make you stay.
And be here for a while.

But words don't come so easy to me.
I fumble and I slip.
I get confused so easily.
I just might even trip.

So here and now I take your hand.
And hope that you can see.
Whats in my heart I'll take a stand.
To keep you here with me.

My words are hard but my heart is true.
And never will I lie.
This poem I write is all for you.
Cause you make my heart fly.

Exiled.

Exiled and alone for the mistakes that I've made.

Rejection and sadness is the price that I've paid.
For choosing to show another face.
That wasn't my own is my disgrace.

My only excuse is being scared.

To show the real me I wasn't prepared.
So here is my pain, its plain to see.
The real and true face that could only be me.

With my hand to my heart and a promise to all.
I'll always be true I'll stand or I'll fall.

The Pledge.

Through the eyes of the young and the mind
of the old.
Through the days of love and the seasons
of gold.
For the hopes and dreams of all those
in pain.
For the scared and the scarred trapped
out in the rain.
With those who dream of passion and love.
With a loving touch, not a push or a shove.
For all the fear we have to release.
And all the things that give us peace.
I say a prayer for golden days.
So we can all see better ways.
To help the weak and sick at heart.
And treat them fair right from the start.
To give a hand when someone's in need.
And spread the wealth, not live in greed.

Acceptance.

I am who I am,

And nothing has changed.

Though good times or bad.

Its all here arranged.

From day one until now.

With smiles and with fear.

I've loved my whole life.

Its always been clear.

Through the ups and the downs.

I made my own way.

From the choice that I made.

The choice to be gay.

So accept who I am.

And always be proud.

And just look at me.

As one of the crowd.

A simple young man.

As proud as can be.

Who just has one wish.

The wish to be free.

Hey Mister

Lookin' back there's nothin' left to say
Wishin' that this life would slowly fade away
Dreams behind these eyes, no one could know, oh oh
But wake to find there's nowhere left to go

Hey Mister can't you see I'm feelin' so alone?
But then I don't think you'd understand
All I ever wanted was to live life unafraid
All I ever needed was some love

Stories told on weary cardboard signs
Eulogize the lives now left behind
Faces worn and etched with all despair
Passers by, they look but seldom care

Hey Mister can't you see the ring around the moon?
Maybe it's the water in my eyes
All I ever wanted was to live life unashamed
All I ever needed was some love

Livin' on the edge of sanity
Wonderin' how this ever came to be
Feelin' so unnecessary, gotta find some sanctuary
Hey buddy can you spare a dime?

Hey Mister can't you see I'm feelin' so abused?
But really, I don't think you'd understand
All I ever wanted was to live life, what I mean is
All I ever needed was someone
Hey Mister can't you see I'm just a man like you?
Who's tryin' hard to keep his dignity
Maybe if you could just walk a mile inside my shoes
You'd see that I just need a helping hand
Hey Mister please, hey Mister please, beggin' on my knees
Can anybody help me find my way?

Smile

 No matter how its said.
With a look and a smile.
Or a word that is read.
You'll always have style.
True friends you will find
To help find your way.
To help in a bind.
To brighten your day.
The praises we send
to lay at your feet.
Aren't meant to offend
but keep you upbeat.
So have fun here with me.
Its all in good fun.
No fuss and no muss.

Be bright as the sun.

The Wings of a Dancer.

With the grace of a deer

in an elegant prance.

He sways and leaps in

a passionate dance.

From afar as I watch

him dance in the sun.

My heart skips a beat

for this beautiful one.

Every step that he takes,

every leap in the air

Is like a note in a song

So precious and fair.

With grace and flair

he dances my way.

Like an angel in white

on a early spring day.

I twist and I turn

to keep out of sight.

So I can keep watching

his wonderful flight.

Like an angel he dances

he spins all around.

So high in the sky

to never touch down.

I can't seem to take

my eyes off his dance.

Its like I'm sitting here

lost in a trance.

And then out of nowhere

his eyes turn to me.

Then fear grabs a holds

and I just want to flee.

But something deep down

just tells me to stay,

The look in his eyes

says don't run away.

He swings and he turns

till he's here by my side.

With nowhere to go

I can't run and hide.

With a sweet gentle smile

he holds out his hand.

And called out my name

and told me to stand.

He whispered to me

from so high above.

He told me a tale.

He told me of love.

So here we ride

this magic carousel.

Forever and ever.

So caught in the spell.

Hope Shines.

In a world of confusion, where nothing is sure.

Its dark and its lonely and nothings secure.

The world is a puzzle with every hopeless piece.

With many twists and turns that never seem to cease.

Chaos and turmoil always lead the way.

While fear and confusion seems to rule the day.

I hide from the monsters that lurk in the dark.

That run from the fire that starts with a spark.

I cry for a chance to make it all stop.
To stand straight and tall here at the top.

But sometimes I feel so tired and so weak.

Like there is no sunshine and everything's bleak.

But there is an answer for everyone to see.

Hope shines for all and thank god its free.

Heaven Forever

Whenever I see you smile, I know there is a reason why.
A song burns in my heart, A tear falls from my eye.

My love is forever.

Whenever I touch your heart, It feels just like a shooting star. The energy of love, like a blast straight from the sun.
Heaven forever.

Another day in paradise. Just staring deeply in your eyes. Wrapped up in your love with music in my heart.

Together forever.

Right here is my deepest love. Please say I am the only one. I'll take away the fear and keep you in my heart.

Forever and ever.
There won't be any lonely day. You'll always have a love in me. I'll keep away the tears and and brighten all your days.
Now and forever.

Battle of Evermore

There are twosongs that I think have the most poetic lyric 
1. the Battle of Evermore.

The Queen of Light took her bow and then she turned to go
The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom and walked the night alone

Oh, dance in the dark night, sing to the morning light
The Dark Lord rides in force tonight, and time will tell us all

Oh, throw down your plow and hoe, race now to my bow

Side by side we wait the might, of the darkest of them all

I hear the horses thunder down in the valley below
I'm waiting for the angels of Avalon, waiting for the eastern glow

The apples of the valley hold the seeds of happiness
The ground is rich from tender care, repay, do not forget, no, no 
Dance in the dark night, sing to the morning light

The apples turn to brown and black, the tyrant's face is red

Oh, war is the common cry, pick up your swords and fly
The sky is filled with good and bad, mortals never know 

Oh well, the night is long, the beads of time pass slow 
Tired eyes on the sunrise, waiting for the eastern glow

The pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath
The drums will shake the castle wall, the Ringwraiths ride in black (ride on)

Sing as you raise your bow, (ride on) shoot straighter than before
No comfort has the fire at night that lights the face so cold

Oh, dance in the dark night, sing to the morning light
The magic runes are writ in gold to bring the balance back, bring it back

At last the sun is shining, the clouds of blue roll by 
With flames from the dragon of darkness, the sunlight blinds his eyes


2 Sympathy for the Devil.

Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul and faith

And I was 'round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game

I stuck around St. Petersburg
When I saw it was a time for a change
Killed the Tsar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain

I rode a tank
Held a general's rank
When the blitzkrieg raged
And the bodies stank

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah
Ah, what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah

I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the gods they made

I shouted out,
"Who killed the Kennedys?"
When after all
It was you and me

Let me please introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
And I laid traps for troubadours
Who get killed before they reached Bombay

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's confusing you
Is just the nature of my game

Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinner's saints
As heads is tails
Just call me Lucifer

Cause I'm in need of some restraint
So if you meet me
Have some courtesy
Have some sympathy, and some taste

Use all your well-learned politesse
Or I'll lay your soul to waste, um yeah
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, um yeah

But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, um mean it, get down
Woo, who
Oh yeah, get on down

Oh yeah
Oh yeah!
Tell me, baby, what's my name
Tell me, honey, can ya guess my name

Tell me, baby, what's my name
I tell you one time, you're to blame
Ooo, who
Ooo, who

Ooo, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who

Ooo, who, who
Oh, yeah
What's my name
Tell me, baby, what's my name

Tell me, sweetie, what's my name
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who

Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who

Oh, yeah

For Our Champion

With a home run or a goal.

  A touchdown or a pin.

    With a field goal or a run.

      or a lose or a win.

        You are a champion

          in any shape or style.

            And you are a friend.

              Who'll go that extra mile.

A Lonely Heart.

Have you ever seen a field with a single blade of grass.

Or a midnight sky with one star as the moon made a pass.

Have you ever seen a clear blue sky with just one fluffy cloud blowing in the breeze.

Or a single snow flake riding on the wind in the winter freeze.

Have you ever been alone in a crowd of thousands of people Without a single soul to share a moment of time.

Its hard to be alone without a reason, without a rhyme.

Without someone to guide your way.

Without a light to brighten your day.

Without a hand to hold you high.

Without a love who'll never lie.

So extend a hand and make a friend.

Make a love you can depend.

Bring someone close to be your mate.

And do it soon, its not to late.

I Sing.

I sing a song of pain and sorrow.

I sing my song of hope for tomorrow.

I sing and pray for a better day.

That we can learn a better way.

A song of peace and harmony

A song of love and such beauty.

I sing to touch the lonely heart.

To keep us close and never part.
To walk beneath a starlit sky.
To free the heart and watch it fly.
A song to stir an aching soul.
And sooth the mind and make it whole.
A song to bring us all together.
Through cloudy skies and stormy weather.

When all our dreams come true.

This is a time of marvelous things
When lights are flashing and dreams are growing.
These are the days of wine and roses.
Smiles and laughter and music playing.
Crazy days of dance and dining.
We look for friends and find new loves.
These are the times we all can cherish.

There's no more fighting all peace surrounds us.

Come and join us in fields of sunshine.
Come sing the songs of happy times.

This is a day when enemies unite.
For hand in hand we walk together.
These are the days for love to find us.
Just take my hand and love your brother.
Here is the place we come together.
No more tears and no more sorrow.
These are words we take for our own.

When all our dreams will come true.

Memories

A smile a laugh a chuckle and a grin.
All these thing I know I'll see again.
The joy the peace the comfort that you brought.
Are all the things you passed with only a thought.
Now my days will be darker and all this I know,
But the night will be brighter with your star aglow.
I'll miss all your words that bought peace to my day.
Till the time that we meet again in heaven someday.

One More Chance.

In the darkness of a lonely room.

Just sitting staring at the moon.

I could feel my heart break

And the lonely ache.

From your absence in my quiet room.

And all the hard words we said.

And my feelings of fear and dread.

As you walked away.

What could I say.

The hurt I saw straight ahead.

I remember the days of laughter.

And the happiness we felt after.

All the sunny days.

The magic ways.

We played in the hay and rafters.

Then stupidity came along.

I watched as it all went wrong.

All our sad words

The lonely birds.

That danced to my sad, sad song.

Now here I am crying today.

To stop you from going away.

With a broken heart.

I'm not so smart.

The pain I'll take it all away.

Please give me just one more chance.

Come back and we can dance.

I can mend my ways.

No more lonely days.

I've loved you from my first glance.

Sorrow.

I sing a song of sorrow

For all the mistakes I made.

I sing a song of pain.

For those that I've betrayed.

I wander here in darkness.

And wish I could go back.

To find my way to sunshine

And out of all the black.

To bring back all the laughter.

And all the happy times.

To wipe away the sadness.

And all of my past crimes.

Sorry is a word.

I seem to always say.

Forgiveness is a wish,

I hope to have one day.

Thank You.

Through all the years and all the fears.

Through all the pain and all the pleasure.

Through the kisses that felt so sweet.

And the times we lay in the sun and

bathed in the warmth of each others arms.

From all the smiles that captured my heart.

To the laugh that gave me hope and faith.

For being my ray of sunshine that gave me

the chance to grow and survive the storms

that tore through our lives.

For every happy moment that you shared

with me and the peace you turned my life into.

I have to thank you for being the one and

only hero and savior in my troubled life.

My flame and my light. Thank you my heart.

A Special Birthday

Another day, another year.
Another hug, another cheer.

A wink to make a brighter day.

A smile to chase the fears away.

A laugh, a cry, a heavy sigh.

The sun, the moon, the deep blue sky.

A gift for you in a special way.

To make you smile on this special day.

So here and now we give to you.

Something bright and new and never blue.

A card to lift your day up high.

From a friend in which you can rely.