Four Poems

s k i n s i d e   o u t

Shssssss....
don't look......
inside out, the skin is inside out.
outside the skin are other eyes,
see those eyes,
see those eyes looking for the inside.
close the eyes,
hide, hide from the eyes, on the outside looking in.
skinside out,
the skin is inside out

inside out, the skin is inside out.
outside is everything, outside is everyone,
outside is too hot, outside is too cold,
inside lies the unborn,
outside is dying.
skinside out,
the skin is inside out.

outside in, you can impale a heart, break a heart.
outside confusion, hullabaloo
out of you, out of mind, and out there.
inside lie shadows to hide in,
inside out

outside the skin is out there.
outside the skin is out there.
let me in, I'm out here
let me in, I'm out here.
skinside out,
the skin is inside out.

outside in, within the walls of skin and bone,
intestines coil and spit sits behind the teeth and lips,
bile in the spleen squeezes in between the cracks
on the scars on the skin
inside it is warm, and red blood pumps life inside -

beating, beating.

outside in lies the wind,
a howl in the ears appearing to pierce the skin
drum the skin, inside in,the heat, on concrete slides
inside through a split in the face,
need ice to freeze the disease.
so, so, so, so, so, so,
close the door when you leave.

skinside out

i   b e l i e v e

in you and me
because if i do not believe
what is there?
i believe in us
the human race.
because i must understand
who are we? why are we?

our history, circle over circle over circle round
now listen............
survival by the sword the gun the bomb
so for how long can i believe in us
in you and me,
can i believe?

as i sing a million people die,
as i eat a million people starve,
as i sleep a million people lie in the street,
no homes
where is the living and loving in that?

i want to believe in us, in you and me because
what do we tell our children of how the west was won?

and why is the earth red with blood and rain?
why those bitter stories, still unspoken?
why do i believe in us?

i believe in earth
mountains and the seas
i want to believe in love
the breath of a child, a lover's smile.
i want to believe,
i want to believe and you and me.
i want to believe.

as i sing a million people die,
as i eat a million people starve,
as i sleep a million people lie in the street,
no homes,
where is the loving and living and truth in that?

i believe in us,
in you and me,
in the human race in you and me......

wars are fought in the name of god,
die in the name of god.
where is the love in that?

c l a r a   t h e   c l o w n

i am a clown, a knave, no grave face on me.
the masquerade is here.
i am a jester, a joke on my lips, just listen
a serenade in your ear.
let me persuade you to stay a while.
promise i'll never mislay this smile.
i will be:
comical
musical
mystical
please be my friend.
join the carnival, it's a wonderful day.
so let me entertain you.
i am a coquette, a fool, i'll amuse you.
the main parade is here.
i bequeath you my heart, a gift from me.
a fiddle a riddle a diddle de dee.
oh yes! i will be:
flirtatious
vivacious
audacious. good gracious,
i'll never be anything else.
so let me assure you, my smile is in place.
i am a clown, joker - a knave.
no grave face on me.
i'll smile my way to the end.
to the grave.
So, so, so say hello to the clown.
say hello to clara the clown
"roll up, ladies and gentleman roll up
stroll up girls and boys!
say hello to the clown!
she'll never go down.
oh no!
stroll up, walk along side, watch her fly
say hello to the clown"
A fiddle a riddle a diddle de dee
Say hello to clara the clown!

the   s t o n e

a stone, a frozen stone,
a watching, careful stone.
hard.
seeing, hearing stone.

deep, deeper down you do not touch.
lying, inpenetrable.

cold, you do not touch it, silent, you do not hear it.
it's as hard as the ground in a north country winter.

drop it it will not crack,
no back to snap.
no shadow will be cast,
it is a dark place
kick this stone it will make no sound,
ice around the heart of a stone.
rage at this stone is will give no reaction,
ice around the heart of the stone.

stone cannot bruise, stone cannot sob,
stone will never be hurt.

drop it in the dark and deepest of seas,
and only a ripple, a splash
as it sinks to the bottom of the world, in silence..