CliffSongs

  Crossroads Again   Criminals in the sacred hallways stalk. The villains have grabbed all the keys and broken the locks. How do we with these fiends grapple? They have broken into and defiled the chapel.   Fools reveling in disaster, Institutions falling faster. Where is the light we were assured? Look at the future unsecured.   Here at the crossroads again, Grasping for the receding rope’s end: Is this the choice you did not make? Is this the chance you failed to take? Here at a crossroads again.   Tendrils of infamy encircle in siege, Power being removed beyond reach, Grasped by brutes who cannot be appeased, Why would anyone choose this disease?   We once again live in oppressive clime. We fought off such straits upon a time. We stood against the evil then, We find ourselves at that crossroads again.   Here at the crossroads again, Grasping for the receding rope’s end: Is this the choice y...

  Friends   I can see my friend, I can see him from here. But he won’t visit any longer, He won’t come by. He no longer trusts me, Or the people I live by, And I do not blame him.   What have I done to my friend To cause him to shy from me? I have existed. I have existed in the right place At the wrong time. And though that is not my fault, Still, I do not blame him.   Once I loved my existence, In this place, In my time, Faulted though it was. But now too many that also live here Embrace those faults, And name them virtues.   Loudly they proclaim against my friend, And name him lesser, And claim debt of him, And threaten his home, His livelihood, His autonomy, And would co-opt his home.   What’s worse, Is that I do not know If I can stop them, From attempting to act on their words, And neither does my friend, Nor do any of his friends. And I don’t blame them.   Once I ...

  Questions   In the spaces between the dreams, The noises of living, The taking and the giving, And the constant question: “Why?” In the faces of the timestream, In the smiles and the frowns, In the eyes cast down, And do you ever wonder: “Why?” In the chases involved in the schemes, The upward flow to the bosses, The betrayals and the losses, And do you ever stop to ask: “Why?” In the braces you wear in your team, Do you get less, and yet do more? How long has your back gone sore? Do you look back and ask: “Why?” In the disgraces gone extreme, How did they get to the top? How do we get it to stop? Is there any point in asking: “Why?” In the spaces between your dreams, As you strive for a decent living, Are you to remain so forgiving? If you are to allow this to continue, I have to ask: Why?   Why?   Cliff Lake 2/15/2025 Copyright © Clifford Lake 2025

  Stealin’   Another day and Another distraction Pointing away A continued subtraction.   Moving the funds from Over there to here, Three card monte, The funds disappear.   You fell for the carnival pitch, Now you see the bait and switch. Maybe you call it double dealin’, In the old days we just called it stealin’.   They tell you to trust, But their story’s too old. “Follow the money” But the trail has gone cold.   Just what are they doing With their kiddie hacks? They’ve made such a mess, It covers their tracks.   You fell for the carnival pitch, Now you see the bait and switch. Maybe you call it double dealin’, In the old days we just called it stealin’.   You thought you gave yourself a break, You thought you’d get a piece of the cake. You find out you never had a stake, This is what you voted for, cupcake.   You fell for the carnival pitch, Now you see the bait a...

  Gulf of Embezzle-O   Elon and his kiddies swarm, He says we need Xtra reforms. The U.S. is reaching new sub-norms, Watching all the DOGE deforms.   And the Orange Ogre lets it go, Bringing the U.S. low. But We the People, we still know, They plunder from here to the Gulf of Mexico.   The Gulf of Mexico, my friend, Where the dinosaur met his end, There isn’t any need to pretend, In the Gulf of Mexico, my friend.   The Oval Office internal foe, His rich guy cronies in tow, The Rule of Law is no mo’ From here to the Gulf of Mexico.   The Gulf of Mexico, my friend, Why would anyone backbend? Seems like such a dead-end, Messing with the Gulf of Mexico, friend.   How do we throw off this shadow? I think we need better ammo. They would have us exist below, Under guard from here to the Gulf of Mexico.   The Gulf of Mexico, my friend, We will not condescend. Listen as I recommend, Stil...

  A Long Way   The Big Rock Candy Mountain, The forever youthful fountain. No trouble that needs surmountin’ No trials that need accountin’.   Always in the warm mainstream, Never exposed to the extreme. A life lived on a moonbeam, That’s a long, long way to dream.   A long way to dream, Life gets in between. This ain’t no TV screen, Such a long way to dream.   Never grinded in the mill, Never having to foot the bill. It all comes as you stand stock-still, It’s merely a force of will.   Existing always in a golden gleam, Lazing your way downstream. Things are exactly as they seem, What a very long way to dream.   A long way to dream, Life gets in between. Will someone intervene, Such a long way to dream.   Would you live so happily Would you be in rhapsody Would you just find stagnancy Lost and found in fantasy?   A long way to dream, Life gets in between. It’s all ...

  Great Undo   Data breaker extraordinaire, What the hell is he doing in there? Is he still the tech sensation? Nah, he’s just stealing your information.   Top dog gives him a blank check, Standing down while the nation is wrecked. Seduced by the South African: Prez has left you for another man.   Feel them pull the rug under you, What are they really up to? Is this what you asked them to do? Welcome to the Great Undo.   Was is it supposed to go like this? Giving your info the death kiss? How do you think your life will go, When there isn’t anything they don’t know?   Look how the big man backs from his threats – What does he really want to get? When did he become X’s biggest fan? Donny has left you for another man.   Feel them pull the wool over you, What are they really up to? Is this what you want them to do? Welcome to the Great Screw You.   Will we let them in every division squa...

  Pirated   We let them come aboard, Though without much trust. Ignoring tattered honor, And reputations made of rust. We gave over tiller, They claimed it was their due, Now they’re steering for the rocks, They broke the rudder in two. We hear them sing:   “We’re jolly pirates, Dangerous and bold. See us get ours, You’re left in the cold. We’re plundering pirates, We cannot be controlled, We’ll sink this ship, Once we’ve emptied the hold.”   They’ve raised the full sail, The storm strains the mast. The crew is in the brig, The passengers harassed. Some sailors remain, Surviving the cull, Someone to man the oars, Before they scuttle the hull. And the pirate sings:   “We’re mighty pirates, Blinded and bold. We’ll be jumping ship, After pocketing the gold. We’re plundering pirates, We cannot be controlled, We’ll sink this ship, Once we’ve emptied the hold.”   We are careening on, ...

  Diminishing   The gray times are upon us: A diminishing, A long twilight, Though the sun warms hotter, Its vigil is besmirched, And the skies are no longer friendly.   Here we have proudfully wasted, Our celebrations recall the dead, The living going largely unnoticed, Excepting garish blaring shoutings, Lauding many unworthy, Who think much less in return.   Onward we speed! Rushing headlong to nowhere, For all must retire at their end. But while we continue, We run, Only to finally stop; we know not when.   Faster we fly! In our wake, Poison and oily waters, Smokes and burnt land, And as testament to our great pace, The air browns nicely. Those in the high place, They elevate themselves ever higher, To rise above the greases, and the sludges, And make much of themselves, And make worse messes, For those below to clean.   These are the gray times, We diminish: We make the twiligh...

  Readiness   A poisoned flower presented: Rough sustenance leaves us wanting, And empathy dies, Drowned in rhetoric.   Pretty phrases gone sour, Understanding twisted to control, Shepherding abandoned for gold, The mask slips, And the monster’s smiles Are full of teeth.   They have yet to be hit hard enough To turn to desperation, They are too busy biting To notice how clearly they are seen. Yet once they heed the turbulence They themselves have created beneath them, They will attempt the mortal strike.   Are you ready? They will use the club, Indiscriminate and unwieldy, They will use the unaimed bullet, Claiming victory no matter where it strikes, They will use the thug, Brutes thirsty for violence, Uncaring against whom.   They will use fear, Reprisal, Retaliation, And revenge, And you are their enemy and I am their enemy and We are their enemy.   Are you ready? Because...

  I Won’t Say   Do you want me to say I told you so? Do you want me to Tell you how I tried? Well, I’ve got nothing to say, You can watch me walk away, I might not even say goodbye.   The first time around They fumbled and clowned, It was a circus every day. But they’ve learned a trick or two, And they’re shitting on you too, They have plans and you’re in the way.   Do you want me to say I told you so? Do you want me to Tell you how I tried? Well, I’ve got nothing to say, You can watch me walk away, I might not even say goodbye.   Do you still think you’ve won? How’s it feel under the gun, Isn’t this how you wanted it to go? Are you getting mad, Now that you know that you’ve been had, Too bad kid, I have my own row to hoe.   Do you want me to say I told you so? Do you want me to Tell you how I tried? Well, I’ve got nothing to say, You can watch me walk away, I might not even say goo...

  About Life   The world is about life. The world is about death. Thus has it been since before you were born, Thus it is since before I arrived. We do not control death, But there are some who would control life. All life, My life, Your life. They will establish rules for life, Rules not found in nature, Some rules that nature abhors. They would make your life ruled by them, And if you will not be ruled in life, They will serve death. They will not live by their rules, They will live as they please, Exposing their rot. Should you challenge their way of living, They answer, “That’s life. Deal with it.” What sort of life is that? That we must appease and honor them, Even after death, That do not honor us? Is that not life simply shambling toward death? Life is for the living. Why can we not live our lives? Why can we not allow others to live theirs? Are we to impose our lives on them? Are we to deliver them death I...

  Rough Ride   Welcome to the circus, friend, Welcome to absurdity without end. Welcome to help they suspend, Welcome to nothing on which to depend. You knew the plan was always to upend, You knew he was a fickle friend. You knew they would never unbend – You knew the promises were all pretend.   You bought the ticket to this ride How many promises have died? How much more will you abide? Where do you think you can hide? Have you figured out who has lied? How much lower can this nation slide? Are you to a dead dream so tied? You bought the ticket, now ride the ride.   Now you begin to understand: You dealt us all the dead man’s hand, You get nothing, while they demand, You were never part of the plan. You planted both feet on shifting sand, Where can you now make a stand? You thought you’d found a place to land, They only reach out with the whip hand.   You bought the ticket to this ride How many promis...

  Tasked Anew   The day dawns dark, And we are lost in time. Our choices removed, Are we to be helplessly watching? What use is it to ask How did we get here? We were carried along a muddied stream Bounded on all side by flotsam Chosen as treasure by the desperate, Who imagine they’re drowning, And will drown all others, For they measure their successes in spite.   The day dawns injured, And our cries have been muffled. Erstwhile guardians Have absconded with our trust. It does no good to ask: Where have they gone? Worshipping at the feet of tyrants, Who have only served them the rough boot, And will crush them beneath When expedient. For they have chosen the allure of silver, Choosing to ignore the coin is stained with blood.   The day has dawned broken, And we must begin the repair. The tools are far scattered, Are we to leave them lie? We do not bother to ask: Will we be allowed? We have overcome ...

  Outskirts   On the outskirts of sanity, A new era slimes its way inward, A fester of power, A putrescence of capital, A worming of dominance. A new lording emerges: Capital over capability, Finance over fitness, Funds over fact. We enter the mire all unwilling, Carried on a tide of uninformation. Harangued with promises unmeant, Unmanageable, Unpossible. Now we are to suffer a governance of miasma, Odiferous, and insubstantial, Underwritten by petty, grasping interests, Effecting policy hatched in their coffers. Close your eyes and they proceed, Walk away and flounder anyway. You may proclaim this was never your choice – You have been opted in. The power of decision has been removed, How to regain that capacity, Is the question we now confront. We are at the outskirts of sanity, An entrapment constructed of coin, And the worship of gain, Chains we wear too willing. A new era slimes forward, And we must cleanse o...

  Get It?   You don’t get a flying car. Imagine the independence you would have! The ability to go anywhere! Anytime! All the time. We can’t have that. You know we can’t have that.   You don’t get free healthcare. Imagine the serenity you would have! The lack of stress! The relief from financial worry! All the time. You can’t have that. You know you can’t have that.   You don’t get honest journalism. Imagine the information you would have! The ability to make an informed choice! The lack of manipulation! All the time. We can’t have that. You know we can’t have that.   You don’t get freedom from fear. Imagine the well-being you would have! The ability to take pleasure in life! The comfort and the peace of mind! All the time. You can’t have that. You know you can’t have that.   You don’t get a flying car…   Cliff Lake 1/9/2025 Copyright © Clifford Lake 2025

  Now What, Friends?   “Now what?” He says to no one, To everyone. “Now what?” Life is suddenly an empty bucket, Filled with impossibility, Just waiting to be enacted. Wild plans proposed, Wild deeds performed, Wildmen with their hands on the wheel. Do you know what sane is? Do you know what sane is anymore? That may no longer matter. Isn’t that funny? Doesn’t that just kill you? And when? So… Now what? Are we to allow crazy To be redefined As the daily? That’s what we’re being fed, That’s what they want us to swallow, That’s what we’re to be thankful for. A new breed of crazy, A New Wild West, Gunned up and grinning. And we’ll be protected from ourselves, right? And protected from the imaginary, That they’re just dying to make real, So that the killing can begin. So that they can make a killing. And if a few of our corpses, Fall in the course of it, You’d best believe, That it’s an acceptable loss, Lo...

  Terrible Time Again   Well, It’s Terrible Time again. You didn’t really think Anything was going to change Did you? Oh, I know he told you You’d get to be in charge of something, Anything, Something… You would get to exact revenge On people who haven’t done anything to you, That everything was going to get better For the people you narrowly approve of, And those that you don’t will get shipped off To the garbage countries, Or worse… But… Now you get to be involved with three wars at once, Foreigners will get visas for the best jobs, The market you go to Is already printing higher priced stickers, A guy from South Africa is calling the shots, And you’ve suddenly realized Who was telling lies all along, And how much shit they’re talking now. Yup, It’s Terrible Time again. Only this time around, You aren’t being laughed at – You just see a lot of shaking heads, As they walk away. And what you really don’t get I...

  Forever   When is the end? When is the end for you? Do some of us die when we finally confess all our sins? Do some die when they can sin no more? At the end, Which of those matter? Entropy is forever. All things speed toward their final dissolution. Do you think to slow-walk life? Every of your moments passes immediate, Even a photograph fades. Memory may do so faster, Or live so closely to your now That you do not see the opportunities For what they are. Every day is another one where you might change everything. There is no knowing whether that will be so, Or will not. There is no knowing that you will continue, Or that you will not. Entropy is forever. It is behind you chasing, It is before you waiting. Inescapable as the march of time, Universal and pervasive. Do you wish to slow the day? Then take notice of the little things: Every instant contains its detail, Every minute its small story. Let these fill you...

  Gains   What gains May be had by the common, As we gaze upon the year Thrust at us? An impossibility Of forward momentum With the piles of gold in our way. Toadish figures squat heavy on their lucre, Soft in the belly, Soft in the mind, Hard in the heart. Their disdain Is spoken in their every utterance, For all of their talk centers internally. Yet they have use for you, citizen, As they acquire And fail to release their plunder, They count on you and me, To buy product, And swell their coffers. O glad expenditure! Adorn me in plastic! Swaddle me in cheap synthetics! I am your GMO groupie! For I am promised better healthcare – Soon… Two weeks away, From the last two weeks… I am promised all the things! Until it becomes less profitable. I am the common, And maybe I matter.   Cliff Lake 1/1/2025 Copyright © Clifford Lake 2025