Life Lessons – Page 24 – Word Smith Wisdom

Start All Over

Seems I’m surrounded by jokers and liars.
They believe T V, radio, & what’s on the wires.
The truth is out there, but it’s hard to find.
Look long enough & it can blow your mind.

This cacophony has become a way of life.
Constantly jostled, both me & my wife.
Told this ‘garbage’ here & that ‘bs’ there.
Is there no truth out there anywhere?

We have to start all over.
Start all over.
We must be much bolder.
Things can’t get much colder.
Start now, before we get older.
We have to start all over.
Start all over.

We have to search till we find truth.
Not talking about The Fountain Of Youth.
The truth of it all, without any lies.
We may find a ‘big’ surprise.

There is lies in almost everything.
This is the worst mess I’ve ever seen.
Get jerked right, then get jerked left.
It is all lies. My mind is set.

We have to start all over.
Start all over.
We must be much bolder.
Things can’t get much colder.
Start now, before we get older.
We have to start all over.
Start all over.

We found the truth. Praise the Lord.
All who want can come aboard.
We are headed for the promised land.
We found truth in His loving hand.

We can cut right through the lies.
The ‘truth’ has opened our eyes.
The ‘truth’ as it is in the Lord.
It exposes the lies of the hoard.

We got to start all over.
Start all over.
We are now much bolder.
Things will not get colder.
We accepted now, before we were older.
We got to start all over.
Start all over.

——————————R. W. Johnson—–(2016)
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I went to a political rally last night.
A tussle broke out turning into a fight.
Several ended up bloody and bruised.
There were arrests that happened too.
The end result was not productive.
It was nothing except disruptive.
They didn’t prove any points at all.
Except to show they have some gall.
No one changed how they felt.
Many just wanted to give them a belt.
They should say it in a non violent way.
Find someone who supports what they say.
Have them run for office some day.
They could then support their effort.
Let them make their claim unfettered.
That would be the American way.
Are things that much different today?
Come on folks. We are all Americans.
Don’t sell us short. Share with them.
Help us all to come together.
We can survive this stormy weather.
Freedom of speech is a special right.
Don’t drag it down anymore tonight.
Let’s keep alive the American dream.
Let’s make peace and stop being mean.

—————————–R. W. Johnson—–(2016)

The Ways Of The Night

I am a creature of the night.
Causing fear, I must stay out of sight.
I am a dreadful looking beast.
Born this way, it will never cease.
I only come out when it is dark.
Dark clothes & a hoodie. I am smart.
I cause fear, then a rage in others.
I must remain alone. Not my druthers.
When quite young my guard got lax.
Several punks jumped my back.
They got me down & poured gas on me.
They lit me up like a torch to see.
I screamed & ran, going insane from pain.
I tried to outrun the flames.
I blindly ran into the river.
The flames went out as I shivered.
I had started to go under fast.
I thought this would be my last.
Then one like me was pulling me in.
He pulled me out & took me with him.
He had a place way under the city.
Him & his father took care of me.
It was touch & go for a long time.
Only pain was on my mind.
Little by little I began to heal.
I was strong. I wanted to live & feel.
My scars were ugly, but I already was.
My hair grew back instead of fuzz.
The man who saved me was ugly too.
He had a good idea what I’d been through.
His father was also the same.
They stayed alive by playing my game.
They hated no one. They understood.
It was our looks that made us no good.
I lived with them many years.
There were many laughs & a few tears.
Then, the one I called grandfather, died.
Father was devastated. Be strong. He tried.
Later, my father was caught by hoods.
My father knew they were up to no good.
They killed him by beating him with clubs.
I dearly miss all of his hugs.
I am alone as I walk the night.
Any flame gives me a real fright.
I make sure no one ever sees me.
I want to stay alive & remain free.

—————————–R. W. Johnson—–(2016)

School Of Hard Knocks

Two little boys were huddled together.
They were in the alley, despite the weather.
They had something on the ground.
They were fascinated by what they found.
It was a little non-descript box.
The excitement could blow off their socks.
They were trying to get it open.
They thought maybe it was broken.
They had no key & there was no slot.
Yet, they knew they had to lift the top.
They twisted, pulled, pried, & cussed.
There had to be a way to make it bust.
They had no idea what was inside.
It didn’t rattle around, though they tried.
What in the world could it be?
It was a total mystery, they could see.
They decided to take the box home.
It was about the size of an old phone.
Not too heavy, but not really light.
Put in a backpack, it was just right.
At home, they went in the garage.
A big old hammer should do the job.
They beat the hell out of it.
Nothing happened. More cussing & spit.
They tried a drill, but the bit broke.
They took a brake & drank a Coke.
Then they tried to saw it open.
All they tried eventually got broken.
Looking close, they saw a little lip.
They put a pry tool under it.
After a lot of effort, the lid popped open.
Inside the box was a little token.
Stuck to the bottom to keep it still.
Was this worth all their stubborn will?
It said: I LIKE IKE in big letters.
That really fluffed up their feathers.
They threw the box in the trash.
Later they saw their dad with cash.
He said: “I found a box worth money.”
“It had an I LIKE IKE button in it worth plenty.”
Both the kids looked abashed.
Their big treasure had turned to ash.
Let this be a lesson well learned.
If you’re too greedy, you could get burned.

————————————-R. W. Johnson—–(2016)

Man Finds His Pot Of Gold

I would like to get on my own boat someday.
Plot my course and sail away.
I have a long distance goal in mind.
That pot of gold at the end of the line.
The one that is at the end of all rainbows.
The one that is out where the grain grows.
That ‘non-existent’ prize awaits.
For anyone to get who has the faith.
Maybe it won’t be actual gold.
Maybe it will be something untold.
I will recognize it when it comes along.
I will be dancing and singing my song.
Finally, the day did arise.
I quit my job and set off to find the prize.
I had studied sailing. I was skilled in my ways.
There would never be a better day.
I sailed from here to there.
After awhile, I had been almost everywhere.
Then, I finally sailed home.
I was back and all alone.
This beautiful woman was at my port.
She said “Nice boat. You must be a real sport.”
I told her everywhere I had been.
She said she wished she had gone then.
We got to talking, and before long,
we were having lunch and singing our song.
I invited her to go out on a short sail.
She accepted. She loved sailing, without fail.
In a couple months I realized I found it.
That prize. That pot of gold. I could quit.
I found what I was looking for.
It was here all along. Right at my door.
It was her, who is now my wife.
Looks like happy sailing for the rest of my life.

———————————–R. W. Johnson—–(2016)

The Best Laid Plans Danced Away

The time was approaching for the weekly dance.
I had a date.—– I finally took a chance.
Soon, we were there, out on the floor.
We had the moves. Everyone yelling for more.
Moving in & moving out. Dancing toe to toe.
While everyone around was yelling ‘Go man go!!’.
The sweat was popping out of my head.
My feet were getting tired, feeling like lead.
Finally, we had the chance to dance slowly.
She snuggled right up to me, fully.
After a couple slow ones, it got fast again.
I would show her she was more than a friend.
I started with the ‘Dirty Dancing’ grind.
She was moving well. She didn’t seem to mind.
Belly to belly. Belly to back.
Better than making love in a Cadillac.
Everyone stopped just to watch us go.
It seems we were really stealing the show.
I said “It’s hot in here. Let’s go outside.”
She said “Keep on dancing. Right by my side.”
I said “Let’s stop and get a drink.”
She said “Drink, drink, drink, oh fiddly dink.”
“I can dance with a drink in my hand.”
She didn’t want to stop. Neither did the band.
Seems I started something I can’t stop.
I felt like stopping, right on the spot.
But, this girl was ‘hot’, in more ways than one.
Later, I wanted to have another type of fun.
I thought, maybe, I could fake a fall.
A ‘sprained ankle’ would end it all.
Then, I figured she would find another.
Nope, I had to keep on dancing. Help me mother.
We danced till I thought I couldn’t dance no more.
Finally, the time came to go out the door.
It turned out she was too tired for anything but bed.
So was I when all was done and said.

——————————————-R. W. Johnson—–(2016)

He Has Bottomed Out

I dream of the person I might have been.
I could have been great!! I say it again.
But, something pulled me down to hell.
Like a mill stone around my neck. I can tell.
That something is you. You drug me down.
You’re a devil woman, not a clown.
You play your game with major skill.
In no time, you had captured my will.
You made me despise myself.
Made me feel like I need beat with a belt.
I gave all I could, but you wanted more.
You sucked me dry of all I adore.
You cursed me. You wanted to from the start.
Making statements like we will never be apart.
There is nothing worth saving in you.
You should be stomped under someone’s shoe.
You are a demon from hell working your spell.
My ego is lower than the deepest well.
I have to fall out of bed to be somewhat up.
I have drank your poison from a bitter cup.
I will never recover from what you did to me.
I am a ruined wreck of a man. Can’t you see?
There is nowhere for me to go from here.
I have reached my final end. Is that clear?
Move on down the road & leave me in peace.
I have gone as far down as I can reach.
I will never see the light of day again.
Just let me rot here in my den of sin.
Cover me over with the last of your scorn.
Be assured, I will never be reborn.

———————————R. W. Johnson—–(2016)

Under Her Thumb

I saw you and I couldn’t believe it.
She has you walking a tight wire.
Don’t look down, even a little bit.
You will fall into a ring of fire.

She has you up tight and out of sight.
You have a Tampax syndrome big time.
To treat you this way just isn’t right.
She is going to drive you out of your mind.

She runs a tight ship.
She won’t stand for the slightest slip.
She will cut you off short.
If you dare to give her a retort.
Such a life is not for you.
Cut her loose now, you fool!!

You are really towing the line.
Your nose is to the grinding wheel.
What’s up? Have you lost your mind?
You’re in prison. What did you steal?

You spend your time running blind.
You are worse than a rat in a maze.
You’re going in circles. Make up your mind.
Is this any way to spend your days?

She runs a tight ship.
She won’t stand for the slightest slip.
She will cut you off short.
If you dare give her a retort.
Such a life is not for you.
Cut her loose now, you fool!!

What power has she got over you?
Can she do magic? Has she cast a spell?
She’s ugly as a mud fence. That won’t do.
I know you got to be living in hell.

You are a man. Don’t crawl like a worm.
Find a way out and take it now.
Don’t just stay there continuing to squirm.
Walk like a man. Don’t bawl like a cow.

—————————-R. W. Johnson—–(2016)

Caught In A Lie?

Like a soldier under heavy fire.
I am fearing for my very life.
You have said that I am a liar.
I am only avoiding pain and strife.

Things have changed for you and me.
I am not the reason for it all.
Things are not the way they used to be.
If, only, you would answer my call.

Rumors have been spread.
There is no truth to them at all.
I was not caught in her bed.
I wasn’t even there at all.

I am true blue and fit to be tied.
There has to be a reason for this.
I am suffering because someone else lied.
I would like to beat them with my fist.

You should know I wouldn’t do this.
I have been with you for awhile now.
Have some faith in me, I wish.
I will prove it’s a lie somehow.

Then we can be as one again.
We can always trust one another.
Neither should ever make amends.
I love you. There is no other.

————————R. W. Johnson—–(2016)

The Way Back

You met me when my life was down.
You asked me why I wore a frown.
I guess I didn’t make my answer clear.
You said there was nothing for me to fear.

You hung around without being asked.
You started to ask me about my past.
I didn’t want to tell you a thing.
I didn’t know what such action could bring.

Little by little you wore me down.
Little by little I lost my frown.
You really seemed to care.
I was feeling better before I was aware.

I finally asked you: “Why waste your time?”
It wasn’t like you were really mine.
You said: “I care because I like you a lot.”
I felt my stomach tighten into a knot.

“No one has ever said that to me.”
“My life is a mess, as you can see.”
“But, it doesn’t have to stay that way.”
“Set your emotions aside for a rainy day.”

“I would need help to do such a thing.”
“There is no magical song to sing.”
“No way to turn my life around.”
“No pot of gold that I have found.”

“I can help you find the way.”
“I will help you every day.”
“Until the day your on the right track.”
“I will always have your back.”

“Why would you even offer such a thing?”
“Is there an ulterior motive that you bring?”
“Not long ago, I was just like you.”
“Someone told me what to do.”

“I found my way out of that black hole.”
“Thanks to help from a loving soul.”
“So I want to do the same for you.”
“When you’re back, you’ll know what to do.”

So began my rehabilitation, of sorts.
She was true to her word, I can report.
I remember she said I would know what to do.
I know exactly what. I am not a fool.