Yemeni lives matter
Iraqi lives too
Syrians are human beings
Just like me and you
Yemeni lives matter
We are the things we do
We make the bombs that kill babies
We avert our view
Pakistanis bleed
They eat and shit and screw
Like the people you know
They love their children too
We sell ourselves a story
When we do bad things
But our guilt cries out
Like a bell that always rings
by Richard W. Bray
Everything I ever wanted
Showed up and it was you
Then you sighed and said
That you had other things to do…
I found myself a hole
And I filled my guts with rye
But I didn’t have
The decency to die
I soaked up so much hurtin
And I drank my soul dry
But I didn’t have
The decency to die
I fought with every fool
Who had a drink to buy
But I didn’t have
The decency to die
Puking blood and squirting mud
And breathing to be high
But I didn’t have
The decency to die
Today they see me healthy
They smile and wonder why
He didn’t have
The decency to die
by Richard W. Bray
You can spend a lifetime
Whining bout your luck
That don’t make it better
It just makes you a schmuck
Be happy cuz it hurts
It’s brutal and it’s fast
Be happy cuz it’s crazy
And the good times never last
Kindness and compassion:
There won’t ever be enough
You can be a partisan
For fellowship and love
Be happy cuz it hurts
It’s brutal and it’s fast
Be happy cuz it’s crazy
And the good times never last
Live the life you got
You won’t get another chance
So turn and face the music
And have yourself a dance
Be happy cuz it hurts
It’s brutal and it’s fast
Be happy cuz it’s crazy
And the good times never last
by Richard W. Bray
Stinky Thinky said:
Why did God create me?
Everything is wrong
The universe must hate me
Stinky Thinky said:
She asked me for my name
She probably wants my money
Or maybe she’s insane
Stinky Thinky said:
There’s a spot on my skin
I’m probably gonna die
I’m calling all my kin
Stinky Thinky said:
I’m looking out for you
I don’t tell you things
Cuz it makes you so blue
Stinky Thinky said:
Life is such a shame
So much evil in the world
I take all the blame
Stinky Thinky hides
From all of his actions
By creating a storm
Of noise and distraction
by Richard W. Bray
maybe when the grownups
start acting grown
we’ll stop choosing money
over flesh and bone
maybe when the grownups
start acting grown
we’ll send compassion
instead of drones
maybe when the grownups
start acting grown
we’ll pick up a child
and put down the phone
maybe when the grownups
start acting grown
we’ll take care of each other
and cast away stones
by Richard W. Bray
You’re not sick
You’re just in love
—Irving Berlin
My hair’s falling out
And I got new pimple
Who ever said
Life would be simple?
When you’re around
I blush and stammer
I say stupid things
And forget my grammar
I walked by your house
Hoping we would meet
Then I found out
I was on the wrong street
When you’re around
I feel out of place
Sort of like a turtle
In a hundred meter race
I feel sort of dizzy
Everything is hazy
If I don’t see you more
It’s gonna make me crazy
When you’re around
The universe glistens
I really like your voice
So I’m just gonna listen
by Richard W. Bray
you vacuumed out your soul
now you’re trying make it whole
can’t hide the empty in your eyes
when lips are spewing lies
you deny the things you do
is there anything that’s true?
can’t fix the clutter in your head
can’t fix the people who are dead
pocket your profits — don’t keep score
selling drugs and guns and war
by Richard W. Bray
Abuse and sting and mock and shame
Afflicting torment like a game
Find a person you can break
And feed the universal ache
Careless quips and mutilations
Stabs and wounds and lacerations
Snubs and swipes and small offenses
Brutal taunts that stun the senses
Tell yourself that you are brave
Or moan you’re just a cosmic slave
Who only does what others do
Attacking all who damage you
Maybe that’s just what we are
Scorpions inside a jar
Or maybe you use poison darts
To build a cage around your heart
by Richard W. Bray
Climbed the tallest mountain
Saw a guru sitting there
I asked him what it meant
And he vanished in the air
Live the love
Live the fail
Live the moment
And savor every inhale
Just when I ‘areckoned
I had it figured out
Life knocked me on my ass
And it turned me inside out
Live the love
Live the fail
Live the moment
And savor every inhale
I read bunch of books
And I seen a few things
Please don’t ever ask me
To explain anything
Live the laughter
Live the fail
Live the moment
And savor every inhale
by Richard W. Bray
Tippy tappy too
The sky is bright and blue
Dippy dappy do
I met a girl like you
Sometimes I’m a fool
Being mean to you
Words cannot not reveal
How bad it makes me feel
Your heart is like a pearl
In a crazy crazy world
Your love is like a shell
Protecting me from hell
Hippy happy hey
Another lovely day
Dippy dappy day
Don’t ever go away
by Richard W. Bray
