CliffSongs

  Mending Moon   The man peered at the dark sky To see the other side of night. A man so lonely He could no longer perceive the light.   But the moon was there, And she would know his plight. As he stared blindly, She sorrowed at the sight.   So, she bathed him all in silver, That she may make his darkness bright. And so, he sat in alabaster, And wondered at a world gone so white.   But the moon said nothing, And nightly continued her flight. So, this man found surprising comfort In the midst of dark and blight.   Now the man can travel once more in day, And marvels that things sometime had gone right. And the moon smiles to herself, And nightly shines on him with all her might.   Cliff Lake 12/20/2024 Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024

  Evil Rides   The Prophecy comes around again: The dire warning from the other When. Something emerges from its den, The Prophecy has returned to men.   Evil tides not turned aside, The Horsemen will begin their ride, Long ago there was confide: Evil will be freely plied. Woe to those who will not hear! Evil rides and has come near! Woe to those who cower in fear! We must stand brothers, for what is dear!   The Prophecy comes around again: The dire warning from the other When. No longer in gutters it resides: It’s mounted up and Evil rides!   Hear the wailing as Evil moves! Goodness and Hope crushed under cruel hooves! Will you willingly accept the noose? Is it despair that you would choose? Bend not the knee to the uncouth! You have a sword: it is called Truth! Fear not the poison monied tooth, You hear the words, now bear their proof!   No longer in back rooms its time it bides, It’s mounted u...

  Butterfly Girl   Butterfly girl, Have you seen her Flutter through your world? A changeling, From dark days gone, Butterfly girl, She floats on…   Coming from Some place unknown, She chooses what wind By which she’s blown. She has made her own Silken wings, She flits by the ugly things. Touches you lightly, Then she’s gone, Butterfly girl, Floating on…   Butterfly girl, Have you seen her Flutter through your world, A changeling, From dark days gone, Butterfly girl, She floats on…   Escaping from Constricted place, The whole world now Is her space. Floating by Her smile brings Soothing song To your heartstrings. Bright and airy, Like live chiffon, Lighting the day, Then floating on…   Butterfly girl, Have you seen her Flutter through your world? A changeling, From dark days gone, Butterfly girl, She floats on…   Cliff Lake 12/18/2024 Copyright © Cli...

  Voices Out of Time   A waking hour, Too soon ‘til dawn. A waking mind, That’s droning on. The minutes grind on slow, And I can’t sleep ‘cuz I’m Loudly serenaded By voices out of time.   Voices out of time, And I don’t know If they fit the rhyme. Have they left in tatters, Momentary peace of mind. Or do they speak truly, These voices out of time.   Days I think I had, Nights no longer clear. Faces gone clouded, Blurred by old tears. Hopes faded by reality, Life the uphill climb. Why do I make enquiry Of these voices out of time?   Voices out of time, How can we know If they fit the rhyme? Or will they leave in tatters, Temporary peace of mind Or if they speak truly, These voices out of time.   Cliff Lake 12/18/2024 Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024

  Sailor and Nymph   A sailing man set out the world to explore, Under his own banner and truly free. There upon an unknown shore, He saw a nymph dance beside the Sea.   Possessed she unearthly grace and daring eyes, She swayed and moved to unheard chord. The sailor by nymph mesmerized Invited her to come aboard.   His banners high, they caught the breeze, Together they now sailed the seas. The nymph dancing as she pleased, The sailor free to take his ease.   On the deck of sailor’s boat, The nymph danced morn and afternoon, Above the deck she seemed to float, A dance she danced to call the moon.   But soon in day she seemed to pine, Dancing melancholy and forlorn. Paling ‘neath the bright sun’s shine. But nightly exuberant, dancing ‘til morn.   His ship’s banner caught the light, Light that caused the nymph to swoon, But she would brighten in the night, And she danced best before the moon. ...

  Puppets and Master   Puppet master, will you fail faster? Are your webs blown on the breeze? Your fingers buried in too many pies, Your minions rise off their knees.   Puppet master, what new disaster Creeps closer to minareted castle? Puppet master, you old spellcaster, You’ve lost another vassal.   What happens as they dance harder? No longer docile underlings. What have you left to barter? Choking on the puppet’s strings.   Puppet master, democracy blaster, Will you need to grow some wings? Puppet master, better choose your pasture, The world has had enough of kings.   What happens as they dance harder, Are you going through some things? One less mouth in the larder, Your puppets cutting their strings.   Cliff Lake 12/8/2024 Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024

  Rollertoasted   He tells you to watch what THEY are doing, With his hand in your pocket again. It’s the same old bait and switch, You have been falling for since I don’t know when.   Everyone else is a THEM these days, A factoid requiring nothing like proof. Shady rhetoric all draped in gray, A mockery and inversion of truth.   This is the ride you wanted: A rollercoaster gone far beyond the track. This is the collide you wanted, The crash is coming and it’s too late to turn back.   Watch the lords of collusion line up, They know where their bread is buttered. Watch as they get their noses shined up, Knowing what the deal was with the first words uttered.   You traded freedom for snide remarks: It’s oligarchy for the win! Now you start to see things as they go dark, The Great Oppression is about to begin.   This is the ride you wanted: A rollercoaster gone far beyond the track. This is the col...

  Grind   The minions sing the phrases taught them By the Witless Wizard as he spins wrong legends round, The chorus that blinds them eagerly, To the machine that grinds them down.   The Wandering Warden berates them as he will, And lets his hounds howl at every unwanted sound. And goads the people to dig frantically for the fuel That fires the machine that grinds them down.   The Callous Crows that haunt the House, So casually they trash the town. They feather their nests with their own foul, Working the levers of the machine grinding down.   Gray Lady and her matrons Selling the wrong words in ever-tattered gown, Their knees scabby and bloody, As they service the machine that ground them down.   The Jargon Jurists jockey for Judas coin, See their noses go brown. They waylay the justice they wield, Greasing the gears of the machine in which they’re ground.   Somewhere the eagle may soar high above,...

  Shadow Guard   Battle-weary, riding the shaded-way, Tired and torn, warding against the strange and the fey. Unseen if they should pass even by day, Unsung troopers to keep darkness at bay.   Passing silent, dressed in gray, They speak not, what could they say? From their purpose they do not stray: Outside evil ever their prey.   In your dreams, They may be seen, Both more and less, Than they seem. They fade away, Amid the moonbeam, Dim warriors, To guard the between.   Heavy on them the task does weigh, To fend off sorrow and dismay. Ever closing iniquitous gateway, Ever the foul do they waylay.   In your dreams, They may be seen, Both more and less, Than they seem. They fade away, Amid the moonbeam, Dim warriors, To guard the between.   Without name Without home Without succor To ever roam. Without clan, Without fame. Without consort, Without acclaim.   In ...

AI News Machine   Cable news scrambles for cable views, Sacrificing integrity right on cue. Gray Lady makes her knee to bend, This is the beginning of the greasy end.   This is the best of journalism’s disgrace, Keeping the intentional morons square in their place. And now to protect the wholly unclean, They will roll out the AI News Machine.   Here comes the AI News Machine: Projecting the new backwards dream. It doesn’t make sense, But at least it’s intense, Just swallow what you see on the screen.   Program the bots for stories impossible. Add in a healthy dose of the most shockable. Try to keep the gullible on the edge of their seat. Fending off the learning of deeds indiscrete.   Nothing of substance, an empty calorie cuisine, Keep them distracted with the false unforeseen. Make them believe words don’t mean what they mean, After being chewed up and spat up by the AI News Machine.   Here comes the...

  Illuminated   When the chemtrails are falling And some stranger comes calling, And your phone reception goes spotty… And the All-Seeing Eye Keeps on passing by, Somebody has the idea you’ve been naughty. And it’s become clear That Templars have been here, Oh no, you’ve been spotted by the Illuminati!   It’s an information beam, Or a Freemason scheme, Or someone equally as dotty. It’s an overlording theme, The secret regime, The covert Illuminatti!   Has your social media Gotten harder to readia, Does it seem like it’s very botty? Has all of your online Turned into all downtime, Have the communications gone knotty? Is there a new signal stream? Are things even stranger than they seem? Are there messages in the manicotti? It’s not imagination, They have your registration! Looks like you’re targeted by the Illuminati!   There’s a space laser beam, There’s always a scheme, Don’t worry that the log...

  Small Hours   Sometimes when night passes into early morning hours, Sometimes when the moon is right, honesty gains power. Memories can come calling across the decades, And I am exposed to the mistakes I have made.   In the brittle AM, my sins can be laid bare, Remembering a youth when life was a dare. Living my life as some action-man had done, Now I wonder who paid the cost of that fun?   I’ve held all the wrong heroes, Across all of my times. False-facing mirrors, Absolving my crimes. Do I speak my mad sorrows Into the night? Or keep on riding Imagined flight?   Do I keep on pretending to accolades earned? Do I forego pride for humbling lessons learned? Do I keep on careening on the cinema ride? Do I accept some regret must pierce my hide?   I’ve held all the wrong heroes, Across all of my times. False-facing mirrors, Absolving my crimes. Do I speak my mad sorrows Into the night? Or keep o...

  Long Road   The pushing of one from here to there, Personhood light as a feather in the air. Fitted into alike container, Never needing now an explainer.   Stamp them out, all of them the same, Wonders why one needs a name. Wonders who I came to be now, Wonders if I can get back somehow.   The long road back to who I am. Going away was never the plan. But life interferes, With opinion in my ears, And it’s a long road back To who I am.   Do I fit in, am I okay? Will I always have the right thing to say? Am I taking the right medicine? Must I always wear this stupid grin?   Feeling like a powder keg, Constantly squaring this round peg. Being like everyone, but at what cost? Why do I feel that something’s lost?   And it’s a long road back to who I am. Leaving me behind was never the plan. But with all of the tears, Over all of the years, It has been a long road back To who I am.   ...

  Hurrican’t Me!   I was in deep shit When the space laser hit, Operated by a weatherman. When the hurricane came, I thought it would be tame, But now I’m hanging on by a tether man. FEMA showed up, To do the cleanup, And preachin’ that DT Syndrome, So I chased ‘em off, My brain ain’t soft, And the bastards ain’t takin’ my home.   It’s a FEMA crap show, Take that money and go, So I can blame my poverty on them! It’s the liberal plan To make me less than a man! That’s my excuse for causing more mayhem.   I called up the TV, And you can believe me, Told them not to show up around my town. I made it real clear, They should not come near, Cuz I am ‘bout ready for a showdown. And I sent a email, They should all be jailed, For trying to push that crap climate change. Don’t they hear Margie Greene? Why don’t they come clean? I am tired of this Donald Trump derange!   It’s a liberal shitshow, And th...

  No Eyes   I am not as comfortable With intended blindness as some. I am not as slavishly devoted To ignoring the loaded gun. The evidence is piling up, And they’re running out of sand To force their head back into, Why won’t they understand?   The blatant lies, The bandage disguise, The childish snarks, The pillaged marks.   Demanded loyalty, And they refuse to see The declining score, All of this and more…   I am not as comfortable With intended blindness as some. I am not as slavishly devoted To ignoring the loaded gun. The evidence is piling up, And they’re running out of sand To force their head back into, Why won’t they understand?   The temps too warm, The violent storms. Places hit twice, The melting ice.   The drying lakes, What will it take? The washing shores, All of this and more…   I am not as comfortable With intended blindness as some. I am not as s...

  Shenan-agains   See the cyclone bearing down, See politicians can’t be found. Unless it’s in an interview, Best place for bullshit to spew   Fail the bills, then fail some more, Kill those bills you dirty whore. Pull the purse strings, close the vault, Then say it’s someone else’s fault.   The lies they tell, the lies they sell, Stuck in a dis-info cell. Fallen to the tyrant’s spell, Contributes to their rotting smell. Too many times gone to the well, Listen for the final bell.   See them all sing like a swan, See and then they’re gone. But they’ll ramble on ‘til dawn, About failed aid counted on.   Now the storm is breaching shores, Where the grapes of psychopath are stored. Where the tyrant is residing, Will they come out from their hiding?   The lies they tell, the lies they sell, Stuck in a dis-info cell. Fallen to the tyrant’s spell, Contributes to their rotting smell. Too many ti...

  Path   Moments in time in frozen dream, Of petty mind, or broken scheme. Or complex plan beyond our stretch, Each a memory to etch.   What fail recalled, reminded pains? What can overshadow your gains? Memory is not tied to fate, Regret harbored is simply weight.   The many paths we might have tread, The many words we left unsaid. Down the path of time we’re sped, Fleeing the tears we once had shed.   What could have been is now the past, That was then, the die has been cast. New days have now come and are gone, Pick yourself up – time to move on.   The many paths we might have tread, The many words we left unsaid. Down the path of time we’re sped, Fleeing the tears we once had shed.   You are not the only one, Regretting what has or not been done. The future is never disclosed – You’re on the path that you chose.   The many paths we might have tread, The many words we left unsaid...

  Spun   Priests and financiers trading places, Politician’s empty faces, Innuendos supplant graces, Causing clear sight to bend. Newsmen selling online crazes, Leader’s staring, soulless gazes, Running sheep through the mazes, Have you bought the latest trend?   And it all spins round and round, A frantic spiral inward bound. Behind it all that grinding sound, And it’s us being ground.   Will they let you plead your cases, Or put you through programmed phases? Mind you, keep up your paces, Stay in the lane that you are penned. Entertaining with inept cases, Influencers in the empty spaces. Keep us mules in our traces, Where is found the constant friend?   And it all spins round and round, A frantic spiral inward bound. Behind it all that grinding sound, And it’s us being ground.   How much longer can we spin? Just how long has it been? How does the end begin again? How much longer must we sp...

  A Summoning   The enemy moves, He is swift and sly. When the bells are rung We will make reply. The enemy howls, How loud he cries! But the bells have rung, And we draw nigh.   And the bells have rung, And our song is sung. But we must move on, From battles won. Our swords are sharp, And our shields are slung. And we must march on, For the bells have rung.   The enemy swears, With words divides. We hear the bells, And so we ride. The enemy creeps, On fear relies. But the calling bells, Won’t be denied.   And the bells have rung, And our song is sung. But we must move on, From battles won. Our swords are sharp, And our shields are slung. And we must march on, For the bells have rung.   The enemy snarls, Our numbers grow. The enemy spins – Nowhere to go. The enemy clamors: The splitted tongue. We listen not – Our bells have rung!   And the bells have rung, A...

  Wrong Rains   A wrong rain soon is fallin’, Have you seen the news? Illing armies mauling, Who has lit the fuse? Politicians trawling, Watch them as they schmooze, Corporations sprawling, Watch them turn the screws.   A wrong rain is fallin’, The children cry red. A wrong rain is fallin’, What monster is fed? A wrong rain is fallin’, Useless prayers are said. A wrong rain is fallin’, Will you keep your head?   Wrong rains they are comin’, Save up your income, Wrong rains they are comin’ Do you hear the drums? Wrong rains they are comin’, The war engines hum, Wrong rains they are comin’, Listen ‘til you’re numb.   A wrong rain is fallin’, The children cry red. A wrong rain is fallin’, Some monster is fed. A wrong rain is fallin’, Useless prayers are said. A wrong rain is fallin’, What price for your head?   Wrong rains in the outlook, Have you heard the forecast? Wrong rains in...