Existence is a wound
That heals when you die
—me
we ache
because we love
it takes us out of our skin
naked to the world
not knowing where
we begin
we love
because we ache
in blood & bone
with a hurt
that wants to tell us
not to be alone
no love
without hurt
it’s a package deal
hurt is the tissue
that makes
existence real
by Richard W. Bray
All is grand in Fancy Land
With towering mushrooms growing wild
There’s purple skies that mesmerize
And no one ever hurts a child
The unicorn band in Fancy Land
Plays heavenly tunes with a thundering beat
Wishes are granted and all is enchanted
And everyone has enough to eat
Hate is banned in Fancy Land
Everyone lives how they want to be
An endless sensation of happy creation
Where all the creatures are roaming free
You’re welcome to visit Fancy Land
As long as the magic lives inside you
With access forbid to all but kids
But grownups wanna go there too
by Richard W. Bray
Wally walks my poodle
Such a silly little dunce
I totally deserve it
Cuz I smiled at him once
Albert does my homework
I always get an “A”
I’ll let him buy me dinner
Or shine my shoes someday
Brenda gives me clothing
That she only wore one time
I’m telling all my girlfriends
To stop treating her like swine
Dennis does the dishes
Parks the car and cooks my meals
I can just imagine
How wonderful this feels
Chloé cleans my bathroom
And she doesn’t mind the smell
If she ever disobeys me
I’ll make her life a living hell
I’m popular and pretty
And my family’s really rich
If I didn’t know me better
I’d probably think that I’m a bitch
Richard W. Bray
Silly, eager, joyful
The ignorance of youth
I ain’t being gloomy
I’m just telling you the truth
Dreary dismal angry
With a double dose of mad
Beauty’s all around you
But you’re hiding in your sad
Silly losers dancing round
Pretending life is fair
Nothing really matters
And the universe don’t care
Grouchy grumpy nasty crusty
Cranky crabby sour
Angry peeved and surly
You’re complaining every hour
If you knew what I know
You’d lose than silly grin
Your life’ll end in misery
And you’re never gonna win
Wrap your arms around a rainbow
Grab a moonbeam — hug a friend
Love’s the only thing
That makes you richer when you spend
by Richard W. Bray
Philip Larkin
You were angry
And somewhat nuts
They clothed your frame
And fed your guts
Without them
There’s no Aubade
Your masterpiece
Denying God
You were revered
And somewhat famous
Though not as rich
As Kingsley Amis
They did their best
You drank your smell
It’s not their fault
You lived your hell
by Richard W. Bray
I really like your auto
And the things it can do
We had one just like it
Back in 1962
My car does the dishes
Cooks my eggs and cuts my hair
It even does my taxes
And tells me what to wear
I really like your children
They’re not afraid to fail
They can even dress themselves
And they’ve never been in jail
My daughter goes to Harvard
Can you believe she’s only four?
Her brother just cured cancer
And he put an end to war
I really like your clothing
It’s so 1982
Your Member’s Only jacket
Is the perfect look for you
Everything I wear
Is from Paris or Milan
If the designer isn’t famous
I won’t even try it on
I really like your courage
You’re not afraid to drink
Nasty rustic water
Coming from your kitchen sink
Pure and pristine water
From a Himalayan spring
The Dalai Lama blessed it
It’s the only thing I drink
You’re my inspiration
You’re so gallant and carefree
You have the will to go on living
And you’re not even me
by Richard W. Bray
Tell me everything about you
Everything you ever did
Every thought you ever had
Since you were a kid
I need to comprehend you
Right down to the core
I need to write your story
And tally up your score
Hero, goddess, superstar
Scoundrel, lowlife, sinner
I live to differentiate
The loser from the winner
I’ll tell you what you’re all about
Reduce you to a label
Find the moral of your life
And tell the world your fable
by Richard W. Bray
its ok not to talk
its ok not to listen
its alright to stand apart
investigate whats in your heart
its ok not to talk
its ok not to listen
its alright to find your space
silence is friendly place
its ok not to talk
its ok not to listen
its alright to disconnect
and energize your intellect
its ok not to talk
its ok not to listen
its alright to find your sphere
and take some time to disappear
by Richard W. Bray
Love don’t do the dishes
Love won’t tie your shoes
Love didn’t cook your dinner
Love can’t change a fuse
Love will not protect us
Love cannot atone
Love don’t stop our leaders
From dropping all those drones
Love don’t bomb no babies
Love don’t start no wars
We do a trillion ugly things
Love ain’t keeping score
Love won’t fix the shower
Love can’t brush your hair
The only thing it’s good for
Is making people care
by Richard W. Bray
They wanna count you, classify you
Stamp a number on your head
Aggravate you, allocate you
Every day until you’re dead
They sanitize and organize you
Till you fit in the machine
Hypnotize you, terrorize you
Till you’re lonely scared and mean
Indoctrinate you, fill-with-hate you
And nourish you with lies
Calibrate you, automate you
And march you off to die
by Richard W. Bray
