CliffSongs

  Pieces of Blue   Two paths that both lead away, One is light, the other gray. But in the moment, Who can say? Wandering off to be astray.   Taking too long one way to choose. A series of sad and bad miscues. But in the moment, Obscured views, Wandering off to gradually lose.   Pieces of another time, Pieces that were left behind. A peace perhaps I never knew, I fall to pieces when I think of you…   A life of memories amassed, Some best left long in the past. But in this moment, A dark contrast, The peace I left has now long passed.   Pieces of another time, Pieces that were left behind. A peace perhaps I never knew, I fall to pieces when I think of you…   Cliff Lake 4/28/2024 Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024

  Almost    When the dark descends, And he can blend in, That’s when you’ll find him wanderin’. Just slightly off-pace, One step out of place, He’s okay, he’s just wanderin’.   He’s not quite fashionable, Or following trends, He has his ways, And he doesn’t unbend. He listens a lot, And tells less than he knows. A friend and a stranger, Both more and less than you suppose.   When the dark descends, And he can blend in, That’s when you’ll find him wanderin’. Just slightly off-pace, One step out of place, He’s okay, he’s just wanderin’.   Who is this wanderin’ in? He was here and gone. A face from another when, Who wandered in, then on. Someone that you almost touched, But slipped away like mist. A faded memory, That somehow still persists.   When the dark descends, And he can blend in, That’s when you’ll find him wanderin’. Just slightly off-pace, One step out of place, He’s okay, he’s just wanderin’.   He

  The Cargo   The captains’ burden plagued him, Though much silver had crossed the palm, A cargo unspoke betrayed him, Yet they must be sailing on.   His thought oft turned to that below, And heroic rescue schemes. But captain was his duty so, He turned away from these dreams.   But nightly did his mission need, To serve in obligation, For more than pay must he now heed, Or be doomed to his damnation.   For in the secret hold below, A temptation far too sweet. And in her eyes her sorrow too, That this way they should meet.   For she was of the royal sort, And promised to a king. And must be borne to foreign court, To stave off war’s red sting.   But here they’d found on open sea, Their hearts would speak to each. But promises made for the peace: A gulf too far to breach.   The captain’s burden flayed him, He hoped the wind may die, Just one more day of sailing, And gaze in her loving eye.   The harbor lies before

Mistakes   Running around with a dangerous crowd, The delirious, the destructive, the loud. Nabbed up, grabbed up, shut in the clink, Time for a change, whadda ya think?   Now on the stand your voice will quake, “Sorry your Honor, my mistake.” And then you get out and back to your boys, But a mistake made more than once is a choice.   A mistake made all the time is a choice, Don’t give me that fake apology noise. Do it again and your virtue voids, A mistake made more than once is a choice.   Man, human, building as fast as you can, Making lots of things later banned. But you keep making ever more dangerous toys, The mistakes you’ve made have been a choice.   A mistake made all the time is a choice, Don’t give me that fake apology noise. The sorrows of earth we sing just annoys, A mistake made more than once is a choice.   Why must we be so very competitive? The burning and churning gets more repetitive, A spiral we dance ever fa

  The Three Toe Stumble   Here comes Marge, motion in hand, No real support, but she will grandstand. They once followed but now they bail, Poor widdle Marjorie, doomed to fail.   Hear her yellin’ about space lasers, She ain’t satisfied with Texas razors. She hates it when you’re behind Ukraine, She won’t be happy until nuclear rain.   Marjorie, Marjorie, talk that jumble! Marjorie, don’t you see, you should be humble! Marjorie, all your plans do crumble, You’re tryin’ to dance, but you Three-Toe Stumble!   Now which amendment do we throw out? The ones you want just make me doubt, That you have any clue what you talk about, And face it Marge, you got no clout.   Marjorie will bitch, whine, and scream, Cuz she can’t further Putin’s scheme. She says Johnson’s on the street, Marjorie, just accept defeat!   Marjorie, Marjorie, talk that jumble! Marjorie, don’t you see, you should be humble! Marjorie, all your plans do crumble, You

  Bye, Guy   Who sneaks into the DMs, Who is stalking the profile? Who hasn’t got a single friend, Who’s only posting bile?   Vitriol and garbage, Spilling from its sty, Introducing you to: The ugly reply guy.   Reply guy, the spy guy, Thinking he’s a sly guy. It’s just your “Help me!” cry, guy. Deny guy, bone-dry guy, Lonelier with every try, guy.   Jumping conversations, Shouts words that don’t apply. Has no invitations, He muscles in, but why?   Everyone has seen one, Sometimes in a drive-by, Please don’t ever be one, Don’t be that reply guy.   Reply guy, missed try guy, Never gonna fly guy. It’s just your “Help me!” cry guy. Imply guy, all lie guy, Lonelier with every try, guy Reply guy, too high guy, Meme response supply guy, It’s just your “Help me!” cry, guy. Defy guy, French fry guy, Lonelier with every try guy.   Cliff Lake 4/20/2024 Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024

  Georgia Girl   You, Georgia girl, you ain’t no peach, We won’t swallow what you preach. You have soiled your vaunted station, By trying to sell out your nation.   In servitude to a traitor, You show you’re a collaborator. A short listen tells us how, You’re a pipeline from Moscow.   Russia bound, Georgia clown, All the treason you expound. Russian sound going round, Georgia girl, you’re going down.   The things you say my blood freezes, While claiming service to Jesus. On the Capitol steps raving, Georgia girl, is your soul worth saving?   In the midst of the Bible shouting, Propaganda you are mouthing. How much Russian info can you yell, From the confines of a prison cell?   Russia bound, Georgia clown, All the treason you expound. Russian sound going round, Georgia girl, you’re going down.   Cliff Lake 4/18/2024 Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024

  The Way Back   Look at you cringing from the smallest change, Things haven’t gotten that far out of range. Our existence isn’t so full of dread, Why do you listen to the talking heads?   Their hyperbole doesn’t bear examination, They deal in panic, not information. They have you convinced it’s never their fault, Keeping you on edge and prepared for assault.   There is no way back, The future is here. Things have not gotten off track, It’s change that you fear. Ahead of you is just another day, It’s not some personal attack. There’s always a better way, There is no way back.   You want to go back to “the way things were”, Less informed and more polluted you prefer? Your doctor performing bloodletting with leeches, And the seasons explained by what some guy preaches?   You’re letting hustlers and swindlers tell you what to think, Bringing this nation closer to the brink. Why put your mind in the hands of some hack, Riding your b

Social Mania   Elmo-bro becomes upset. His eyebrow begins to twitch. From two years ago replies I get - All I said was “Tax the rich.”   In the past that was the plan, But the Elmo-bros suddenly bitch. Why so protective, Elmo-stan? Why should we not tax the rich?   Tax the rich, corporate or man, Tax the rich, please understand, Tax the rich, why don’t you see, That way lies true equality.   What is it these devotees haven’t learned? Why are their attitudes so one-sided? What has prompted the sudden concern, Of the worshippers misguided?   Are we to remain so trusting To heavy-handed media social That these big corps avoid busting, Because some fans may go postal?   Tax the rich, corporate or man, Tax the rich, please understand, Tax the rich, why don’t you see, That way lies true equality.   Cliff Lake 4/9/2024 Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024   #TaxTheRich

  Moonwalker   Moonwalkers passed my window tonight, Shadow-bright tread in silver light. Calling on fireflies to show hidden way, To escape tedium that binds us to day.   Raiment woven of colors of stars, Passing some close to me, passing too far. Move under night, darkness at bay, Whispered secrets that clearly say:   “Come with us, do come away. You’re not meant for the day, Drop your cares, October, May, or June, Walk with us beneath the moon.”   I lay all night watching in the gathered deep, I lay all night watching, not chasing sleep. I let the timeclock rule me that day, While dreaming of that silent-sung lay:   “Drop the yoke that on you weighs, Join our pearl-lit ballet. Forget hours, their drudging hewn, Take your place under the moon.”   I’ve closed the books and quit the race, The moon has promised to hold my place. I chase the moon-path, and must not stray, In the distance hear the tune play:   “Follow this so

  Share Shear   My compliments, you bought the dream. Paid up front to join the team. But things are quickly losing steam, Gosh! It’s just another money scheme!   Your money’s better stuffed in a sock, Or buy magic beans and climb their stalk, Than for you to take some stock, Guaranteed a falling rock.   Didja buy some pump and dump? Didja fund someone’s economic slump? Didja take it in the rump? Does the mirror show you a chump?   Did you think you would get rich quick? Are you looking for the uptick? Did you try to float a brick? Does this swine need more lipstick?   Maybe you are smarter than me. Maybe profit eventually. Maybe you will dance with glee, And maybe pigs will fly carefree.   Didja buy some pump and dump? Didja fund someone’s economic slump? Didja take it in the rump? Does the mirror show you a chump?   Cliff Lake 4/2/2024 Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024

  90 Second Mushroom   Third wife labors, partake of party favors, Engaging in triple X palaver. Just a sweating moment in time, A campaigning preface of crime.   If only you had been more demure, 30 big ones, and more to transfer, What further charges will you incur? Too late, we all know that you were:   Cheating on your hooker with a porn star. Never mind we can’t find where your morals are. Maybe Bible sales can raise the bar, Since you cheated on your hooker with a porn star.   How long before you choke on the gag, How long are you going to be such a drag? This is what you get for being a dirtbag, That you somehow let slip in a brag, That you were:   Cheating on your hooker with a porn star. Never mind we can’t find where your morals are. Maybe Bible sales can raise the bar, Since you cheated on your hooker with a porn star.   Your foresight always too short, Your IQ always down a quart, You always were a scurvy sort, N

  Upping the Anti   He scans the pasture, sees only green. The field, he kens, is not picked clean. He distracts them, deflects the shock, Then resumes fleecing the flock.   Disingenuous, says he’s the ram, Coerces his sacrificial lambs. Led to their slaughter, hear them repeat, The lies they’re told, such easy meat.   And the wolf says, “Follow” on constant repeat, And the wolf lulls them into sleep. The wolf has fooled them all complete, And the wolf is followed by the sheep.   A shepherd with a jaw that’s full of tooth, Mouthing anything bereft of couth. They follow him and barely pause, Thinking others will get the claws.   He will farm the most littered field, Even paltry gain is still a yield. Co-opting pages of Holy Writ, This Antichrist is full of   And the wolf says, “Follow” on constant repeat, And the wolf lulls them into sleep. The wolf has fooled them all complete, And the wolf is followed by the sheep.   The

  In Justice   Justice pulled up in her miscarriage today, The liar got in and laughed and rode away, The rest of us with empty pockets were left to stay, Justice waved bye-bye from her miscarriage today.   He flaunts the law and inflates himself, While the scales remain dusty on the shelf. Skating again, he slides like grease, Equality is surely deceased. A malignance all can clearly see, His malfeasance allowed seems a surety.   Justice arrived in her miscarriage today, The cheater got in and laughed and rode away, The rest of us with empty pockets were left to stay, Justice drove off in her miscarriage today.   Poverty or near to is the only real crime left, God help you and yours if you are somehow bereft. Work the mine, toe the line, I hope you don’t mind doing time, If you don’t have the means to pay your lawyer overtime. Just one of the masses, no money for upper-classes, Breathe in deeply the airs made of their lighting gases. G

  Used Up ‘n Dried Up   You scurried away from your ancestral home, Let’s face it boy, you’re out there on loan. Your markers cashed in, no more favors to call, Winds of change blowing cold, house of cards to fall. Livin’ in a hotel, bumming dollars from the poor, Sellin’ your Chinese trinkets, maybe try it door to door. Your hands in everyone’s pockets, no more spare change for you, Keep on beggin’ at the dockets, that is what’s left to do.   “You’re on your own, kid.” That’s what they said. “You’re used up ‘n dried up; you’re bled.” “You’re out on the street, you’ve used up your cred.” “You’re on your own, kid.” That’s what I said.   Oh, how you fell hard for that dictator, A long-time, well-known master baiter. He always had you pegged as some petty clown, Just look at how he has jerked you around.   “You’re on your own, kid.” That’s what he said. “You’re used up ‘n dried up; you’re bled.” “Look at this crooked path that I led.” “You’re on

  Other Side of Town   On the other side of town, I don’t go there no more. On the other side of town, There is an always locked door. On the other side of town, Where I can’t put my feet. On the other side of town, I just might happen to meet, The other half of my life, Who made her retreat. Now the other side of town, Leaves me incomplete.   To the other side of town, Where I never will go, To the other side of town, Where the land lies too low. The other side of town, You’ll always hear me say, That the other side of town, Is too far away. Yes, the other side of town, That’s where she stays, On the other side of town, Where it’s dark all my days. The other side of town – The other side of town – It’s draggin’ me down, The other side of town…   Cliff Lake 3/13/2024 Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024

  Michael’s Song: A Plea for Grace   The fog of lies still seems to compound, Though we long for the dawn in the day. A light shining may still be found, Though it seems so far away.   The path to the daylight is forward, There is nothing left to deny. It is time for you to row shoreward, Your time of redemption is nigh.   Would you choose to be heartless? What part of you has died? Would you still choose this darkness? What deed have you to hide?   The pall of withholding surrounds you, Decisions made in pure spite. One man’s greed need not confound you, You need not partake of that blight.   So many lives slaughtered needless, Red stain grows on your hands. Do their screams of horror sound heedless? Where will you make your stand?   Would you choose to be heartless? What part of you has died? Would you still choose this darkness? What deed have you to hide?   Michael, the world is calling, They too make their prayers

  The Dolt Chronicles   The story written in disarray, Wonders what you’ll say today. Manipulated from the start, Destined always to fall apart…   Pinned your hopes on the outland poser, Letting him pull the wool over. Set you up for the committee blunder, Then the rug gets yanked from under…   How does the story go? Did you ever really know? Somebody told you so. So, it’s on with the show…   An agent stuffed full with rubles, Now the center of your troubles. Playing sleight of hand in the game, Can’t you tell what’s in a name?   What will you tell the puppeteer, How to appease foreign overseer? Thought you would achieve great renown, Time to apply your makeup, clown…   How does the story go? Did you ever really know? Somebody told you so. So, it’s on with the show…   Thought you were protecting, But you were defecting, Part of the infecting, Here comes the correcting…   How does the story go? Did you ever real

  Not Like That   Now ol’ Joe he had a plan. To help Ukraine like only we can. To push back Putin, defeat the madman. And fix the border at the Rio Grande. But the Republican says:   “Not like that! Not like that! This is how we make your plan go splat. This is how we keep our wallets fat. Not like that! Not like that! Hey motherfucker, not like that!”   Now you wanna keep your Medicare, Use the funds you donated there. Social Security would be fair, Just like the liberals do declare. But the conservative says:   “Not like that! Not like that! This is how we screw the Democrat. This is how we keep our wallets fat. Not like that! Not like that! Hey motherfucker, not like that!”   Wanna have a country that is sane? Wanna see common sense reign? Wanna see us go down the drain? Then vote the conman in again. Not like that!   Wanna get war weapons off the street? Let your kids’ lives be complete. Comply with 2A, but discr

Easy   The birds sing and cheep, While the trees whisper “Sleep.” And the squirrels frantically gather. The sun-dappled leaves, Shift in the breeze, And where would you be rather?   A fox in the clear, Then some startled deer, And a rabbit, small, brown, and frail. Past chipmunk’s den, Brook babbles in glen, And you wander away from the trail. It can soothe you, Doesn’t use you. Isn’t this what we are meant? There is rest here, Can be blessed here, Take our leave of industrial torment. Beneath the wise trees, Your soul takes its ease, This medicine of Nature’s splendor. The troubles you knew, Become lost as you, As you harken to sleepy surrender.   No funds here are transferred, No alarm you need answer, Beholden just to the earth. Released from city sprawl, Be one with the All, Return to your innocence at birth. It can soothe you, Doesn’t use you. Isn’t this what we are meant? There is rest here, Can be blessed here,