No matter where you go
Road leads on to road
And you’ll never know
Where unchosen roads would go
Gotta pay some dues
Whatever course you choose
There’s hurt on every highway
There’s dirt on every trail
Nobody gets a map
No exit from this trap
There’s no final explanation
The journey is the destination
by Richard W. Bray
There may be trouble ahead
But while there’s moonlight
And music and love and romance
Let’s face the music and dance
—Irving Berlin
Pain is never far away
Enjoy it when it’s not around
And when a new wave
Comes your way
Do not linger
In its wake
Dive right in
Or ride it out
Flesh and Pain are
Child and Mother
You don’t get one
Without the other
by Richard W. Bray
People start dispersing
When I bitch and bray
But you can’t cure the anger
By sending folks away
Doctor gives me pills
To remedy the pain
But you can’t cure the body
By lying to the brain
Shutting down my feelings
Is my only goal
But you can’t cure the heart
My murdering the soul
by Richard W. Bray
Sooner or later
You gotta grow up
Your body’s gonna do it
Like it or not
But there’s a whole
Bunch of things that
Shouldn’t be forgot:
Puppy dogs and rainbows
Summer afternoons
Lazy Sunday mornings
Ridiculous cartoons
Teddy Bears who listen
Family treks to the park
Silly laughs with friends
Playing soccer after dark
All your daddy’s hopes
Your grandmother’s love
Castles in the sand
Castles floating up above
Feed your happy wishes
And dream every day
These things are never childish
Don’t put them away
by Richard W. Bray
When Hadley McNutter
Mumbles and Mutters
He makes the ground tremble
And gives me the shudders
This ogre from hell
Ain’t your typical tyrant
When Hadley explodes
He erupts like a hydrant
He tramples and tromps
Like a like a lumbering giant
He rumbles and romps
Like monster defiant
When Hadley is hungry
We both rush to feed him
Such a wonderful burden—
How much we need him
He gets what he wants
And I don’t mean maybe
It’s hard to believe
That he’s merely a baby
by Richard W. Bray
I hate myself
That makes it easy
To always have
Someone to blame
I hate myself
I’ll never please me
Masochism
Keeps me tame
I hate myself
It’s my boundary
Where I harness
Realms of pain
I hate myself
That’s where you found me
Pain enlightens
And leaves a stain
I hate myself
And pain is fuel
Boundless hurt
Fills my well
I hate myself
I live to rule
Sovereign in
My happy hell
by Richard W. Bray
You always listen
To my words
And you never
Criticize
You’re astute
And self-assured
Sensible
And wise
When we’re alone
I take solace
And comfort
In your eyes
You’re solid
As a stone
Your presence
Pacifies
We don’t even
Have to talk
I love to
Brush your hair
I love it
When we walk
Together
Anywhere
Thanks for keeping
Me content
And helping
Me survive
Truly heaven-sent
You’re the
Greatest
Dog alive
by Richard W. Bray
If I let you love me
I will let you down
And when our love is done
A part of us will drown
If I let you love me
I’ll start to love you too
We’ll tear at one another
Cuz that’s what lovers do
If I let you love me
I’m taking on your weight
And someone will get hurt
And hurt will turn to hate
I won’t let you love me
Cuz I care for you too much
Attachment is no match
For the malady of touch
by Richard W. Bray
Anybody sitting here?
Good Lord, I need a drink
Let me offer you some beer
You can tell me what you think
I’m in here every day
Drinking is my life
Wanna throw it all away
Since I lost my wife
She ran off to Beijing
With my business partner, Ted
She says he’s more exciting
And an animal in bed
So tell me, What’s your story?
It can’t be sad as mine
My father never liked me
And my mother dated swine
My people are afflicted
When it comes to crime
My sister was convicted
And my brother’s doing time
I didn’t catch your name
Would you like another shot?
They tell me I’m insane
I’ve mortgaged all I got
I’ve always been unhappy
You look like you work out
I’m doing pretty crappy
With psoriasis and gout
Didn’t mean to bend your ear
It’s just what I do
I’ve never seen you here
So tell me about you
by Richard W. Bray
Strangers sharing all their troubles
Actors living inside bubbles
Lucky, privileged, pampered babies
Make me foam like I got rabies
I got a list inside my head
Of all the people I want dead
I focus focus all my spite
On other people day and night
And I could torture all the swine
Who don’t decide when they’re in line
Chatting up the checkout gal
Like she’s their oldest living pal
I got a list inside my head
Of all the people I want dead
I push my anger far and wide
Cuz I don’t wanna look inside
I ruminate with all my might
On every slander, every slight
The lineup is a mile long
Of all the folks who done me wrong
I got a list inside my head
Of all the people I want dead
I try and try and try and try
To swallow hate until they die
by Richard W. Bray
Laughter hope sock in the eye's Blog 