Hear it in the playground
Skip and jump and run
Absorb the glowing passion
Inside brilliant beams of sun
Hear it in the ocean
Smell it on the dew
Open up your pores
Every day is new
Hear it in the birdsong
Feel it in the rain
Don’t shut off the universe
To filter out the pain
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
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
Be obnoxious, be a dick
Quarrel, quibble, contradict
State your case and never quit
Advocate the opposite
Be slimier and slicker
Contest, annoy and bicker
Mix it up and disagree
Create your own reality
Give no quarter in dispute
Be doctrinaire and absolute
Never agree with anyone
And always tell yourself you won
By Richard W. Bray
All you crazy dreamers
You silly, silly fools
Wanting Medicare for all
And parks and roads and schools
All you crazy dreamers
You’re such a bunch of clowns
Bitching and moaning
When our bridges fall down
All you crazy dreamers
You’re so full of boloney
We can’t protect ourselves
With rainbows and ponies
All you crazy dreamers
You’ll never understand
We blow up other countries
For a stronger Homeland
It’s a mean and scary world
If you really love your moms
You’d spend all your money
On guns and tanks and bombs
by Richard W. Bray
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
