A Ghost

Her feet carried her down an empty street.
One she’d known from a time long ago
Her blank face told of a goal incomplete
But she was alone. None wanted to know
She looked up as she passed by my window
Empty eyes locking in for a stone gaze
But still they struck a wicked, painful blow
And long forgotten memories did raise
She knew me – but I had no time for her ways
She wanted to know – I walked to my doom
She offered hope but I left it ablaze
And still the empty eyes accuse. They fume.

Weight upon conscience and won’t go away
And tomorrow she will be back this way


14th December 2011

Thou Shalt Not

Some say we follow a plan someone’s made
And to question such command is absurd
Some say their holy text must be obeyed.
Must be taken literally; every word
Some say they’re untouchable. That they’re right
And any challengers should be oppressed
But others say we do what our genes write
To protest such a command is useless
Others say holy texts should be ignored
Both the passages that do and don’t work
Other say they’re right. Reason is their lord
To disagree marks you dumb, blind, a jerk

But there’s only one question I can see
This is very good – But what about me?


14th December 2011

Chronicles of a Gamer (Michael Revisited)

I’m the one who walked with Link on his journey
The one Princess Zelda calls when danger nears
To Ganondorf I’m his constant enemy

I told Snake how to destroy the Metal Gears
Through me he found a sense of meaning in life
And we still meet regularly to drink some beers

I showed John Marston how to kill with a knife
With me he became a Legend of the West
And I got him back with his son and wife

I went with Commander Shepard – he’ll attest
I was with him through the Omega Relay
As everyone ‘round us gave their very best

I walked with Yuna every step of the way!
Got Ico and Yorda out of the fortress!
I’m that which makes Cyberdemons run away!

I got Samus Arun through planet Zebes!
Kefka, Loughain, M Bison, I did fracture!
Even Morrigan Aensland I did impress!

I got the Little Sisters out of Rapture!
I’ve faced down lines of relentless invaders!
Made friends with a wolf god and a space hamster!

I’ve been with Avalanche and Raynor’s Raiders!
When all’s gone to hell I’m the one they rely!
And I’m a friend of many a gun trader!

I’ve fought sand demons, zombies and colossi!
For I am the gamer and I’ve done it all
And in the eyes of my comrades, I’m their guy


12th December 2011

Go Get 'em Tiger!

Cyclone looming: Now’s not the time to run
Come on old boy, you’ve been through much, much worse!
Forget about that bullshit of a curse!
Rise up and scream a defiance of one
Forget the wounds, the blood, the scars, the pain!
Think of all those you’ve met, whose lives you’ve touched
Make them proud! Each of them counts for so much!
You’ve survived once: You can do it again!
All those twenty nine years have led to this
Do you really want to pack it in now?
It’s not worth giving into demons foul!
So why not give them a sight they won’t miss

So fight with the scars of a thousand wars
And reclaim the life that is only yours


17th November 2011

What a miserable year

Can this year hurry up and end? Like now?
It’s been the worst one yet! Like no other!
Been one disaster after another
Sure I survived it but I’m not sure how
This year was the absolute pits – It’s true!
Gave it my best shot but nothing went right!
Against the calamities I did fight
But in the end there was not much I could do
This year’s been a chain of catastrophe
Like they’re all trying to get out all at once
Too much to ask for something good up front?
You’d think it was with what’s happened to me

This year has been awful I must concede
And a fresh start is just the thing I need


16th November 2011

The Day You Went Away

This morning the sky was gone: Just clouds grey
These empty rooms of silence greet the dawn
Can’t think of anything to do today
As the suitcases in the hall are gone
Breakfast is dull and the TV boring
Go outside – for nothing better to do
Leaving the flat and into rain pouring
And with no destination to pursue
These soaked city streets are cold and empty
No one else was dumb enough to step out
There’s nothing to do and nothing to see
And the rain won’t satisfy this drought

Left behind, broken heart and worried brow
So then: What are you going to do now?


15th November 2011

Out of Time

Hours are getting shorter with each day
Growing tired and needing a good rest
Where did the last decade go? Who can say?
No fun aging – anyone can attest
Mistakes have been made and hands bloodied red
People lie cold with many a dashed scheme
Do they still want that face broken and dead?
Or has it vanished like a fading dream?
Could be bitter but really there’s no point
The world’s moving too fast. Can’t grasp the change
Gone are glory days. None left to anoint
And now the romance is sure looking strange.

Hours are getting shorter with each day
And a long sleep is but a step away


31st October 2011

Emerald

I have a dream lover – oh yes I do
She has a beauty that is stunning
Whenever she cries I come a-running
In my heart I know these feelings are true
In a dark world she is a shining light
She has a gorgeous smile on her face
With her words she makes my jaded heart race
The thought of her keeps me warm through the night
I so want for us to be together
She’s always in my heart, on my mind
But reality can be so unkind
For good reason it can’t be forever

So she must remain out of reach, I fear
Because my wife wouldn’t like that idea


31st October 2011

Dearest

I've been having some bizarre thoughts today
Like putting someone's feelings 'fore my own
Wishing someone were here when I'm alone
And whether they wonder if I'm okay
I'm having feelings like never before
But why should I worry? They won't be spurned
For I know every one will be returned
And every one has a truth at it's core
I've many words to say but there's no need
Because there's someone who makes me feel me
Who shows me things that no one else can see
I can't do without her: I must concede

Countless emotions but I won't protest
Because her hand is the touch I like best

1st October 2011

Thirty Suffering

Are you doing what you said you would do?
Are you making a living from a dream?
Recall the times you said you had a scheme?
Did any of those promises come true?
Did you imagine owning a house by now?
Did you refuse to end up a fat slob?
Did you think you’d struggle to find a job?
Have you done something to make them say ‘Wow’?
Have you really spent the past ten years well?
Did the dreams bear fruit or get left to rust?
Did reality crush you into dust?
Are you in a story worthy to tell?

Are the results of bad decisions rife?
You sure you know what to do with your life?


18th July 2011

Sound System

Surround sound coming from every angle
Bass speaker set to rumble with thunder
All for the sake of a guitar’s jangle
My planet of sound. Bow to it’s wonder
So many genre’s all within my hand.
Rock, metal, dance hip-hop, folk: Got them all
Thousands of mp3s at my command
Ready to roar, scream, rock, party and call
Ten years spent building a rock history
Forty eight gig on an aging hard drive
In this chair there’s no place I’d rather be
An immersive world that keeps me alive

The louder the better. To this I drown
Because my sound system won’t let me down


11th July 2011

Old Dog

Was my bedroom floor comfy to sleep on?
Did you enjoy keeping me company?
Did you love the pats and the hugs from me?
Did you love all those you set eyes upon?
Did the bones I gave you keep you well fed?
Did you love the walks however they came?
Even those times we got caught in the rain?
Did you understand every word I said?
Did I do much more than the best I could?
Was love never something you had to learn?
Was seeing me sad enough for concern?
Did you still love me when no one else would?

Did you enjoy those places we went to?
Did my worthless life mean something to you?


2nd July 2011

Asian couple on a Melbourne train

Two students. Late teens. Clean cut. Nicely dressed
Eyes closed, she rests her head on his shoulder
Oblivious to the drunk shouts behind her
Caring for a presence no one can best
Her black hair spills downward in a cascade
Her hand keeps a connection to his arm
He keeps her close to protect her from harm
As the rest of the world begins to fade
Existing in a world none else can touch
Forging a bond no one can ever know
For as the journey before them does but grow
Being with someone else can mean so much

Fingers enveloping into the other’s hand
In a language only they understand


20th June 2011