CliffSongs

  Exodus   Selections on the shelf going small, No one left to make the haul. Piles of unused drywall, Masked men have answered the call.   Alligator alley prison wall, Florida man on the ball. Veggie absent from the stall, Wallets empty and still in thrall.   The unherded bovine, Unfinished roof short of skyline. The fruit rotting on the vine - They say the exodus is going fine.   Commodities going unpacked, What’s left found on the racks? Pallets unmoved on the tarmac, Leaving the grocery with the empty sack…   Forests left to burn black, Trails too overgrown to track. Hotel luxury gone unstacked, Which of you takes up the slack?   The unherded bovine, Unfinished roof short of skyline. The fruit rotting on the vine - They say the exodus is going fine.   Isn’t this what was voted for? Isn’t this what was in store? It’s getting worse, some call for more, Shortsightedness galore....

  Dragon in the Garden   It was born in the land of queens, Its ruin should have been foreseen. A reptile sired by the vile, It makes good use of the corrupt machine.   There is a dragon behind the garden wall, And it claims not to be a dragon at all. But it belches and it burns, And steps on anything it considers small. There is a dragon in the castle keep, A dragon who is burrowing in deep. And it thrashes and it crashes, And it burns your land around you while you sleep.   It crawled Gotham, waste in its wake, Offered less a deal than a take. A love of wrong far too strong, On the make as long as you stake.   There is a dragon behind the garden wall, And it claims not to be a dragon at all. But it belches and it burns, And steps on anything it considers small. There is a dragon in the castle keep, A dragon who is burrowing in deep. And it thrashes and it crashes, And it burns your land around you while y...

  Stories   One conversation here, Another across the way. No information is dear, No care to what you say. No outcome becomes mere, So, speak without delay, Just this one thing is clear: The game is how you play.   Welcome to the Gossip Game, On the entry form put anyone’s name. Go on now, there’s no shame, And we will treat you just the same.   What did you tell the one, And what did you tell the other? Who is it you would stun, Would you re-catch a lover? Is this your idea of fun, Do you feel undercover? will you feel you’ve won, When all the facts are smothered?   Welcome to the Gossip Game, On the entry form put anyone’s name. Go on now, there’s no shame, And we will treat you just the same.   Talk and talk and squawk, You cannot walk the walk. Squawk and squawk and squawk and stalk, We just sit back and gawk.   What trouble do you stir, Is there an end you crave? Is chaos j...

  Hideaway   The tracks laid long ago, Where they lead you already know. A spiral traveled many times, Singing too familiar rhymes.   Comfort and complaint are found there, Insubstantial, composed of air. Intangible and all too real, And so well known, there’s the appeal…   Visit paths long untrodden, Faces beckon long forgotten. Delving the past, intensive gaze, Serenely lost in unending maze. Cotton swaddled, dimly lit, The hook that’s lowered, the unseized bit. Unsevered past, recaptured muse, Already lived, who can refuse?   Run around that same old ground, The restful familiar surround. Ignoring troubles inbound, Sink in deeper, become unfound.   External goes undetected, Internal sheathed and protected. Hardships, and stress all let go, Return to things you used to know…   Visit paths long untrodden, Faces beckon long forgotten. Delving the past, intensive gaze, Serenely lost in ...

  Gray Sails   Tall ship on the horizon, Gray-sailed and bringing the dawn. Tall ship on the horizon, And I will be moving on.   Some souls are borne away On gossamer wing, Some ride the breeze so free. Some souls are carried far By long lost loves, Some climb being weighty. Some souls must return, For lessons they did not see. I have returned to the ocean, To be borne across the sea.   Tall ship on the horizon, Gray-sailed and bringing the dawn. Tall ship on the horizon, And I will be moving on.   Some live life on the prairie, Their souls rise easily. Some live beneath forest eaves, These will scale their trees. Some live in concrete towers, The skies are reached with ease. But I have dwelt in the mountain, Yet still carried across the sea.   Tall ship on the horizon, Gray-sailed and bringing the dawn. Tall ship on the horizon, And I will be moving on.   Tall spars reach on hig...

  Wild Man   Footsteps that echo through time, A voice that sometimes appears in rhyme, The guise of a thousand men, A wisdom impossible to pen.   Where he walked the path remained, Nowhere and everywhere his domain. Even the hungry wolf would pass him by, And when he passed, the horses cried.   Though he lives a thousand ages past, Still some memory of that legacy lasts, Some sense of him still occupies, And when he passed, even the horses cried.   Dim manuscript tells some tale, But mere word is clouded and pale, His works shrouded in mystery, Myth become of history.   Through eras his presence rings, A man who walked beside a king, A man who from fame would shy, And when he passed, even the horses cried.   Though he lives a thousand ages past, Still some memory of that legacy lasts, Some sense of him still occupies, And when he passed, even the horses cried.   What powers did he po...

  Storytimes   He didn’t say what he didn’t say, But he says it every day. Storytime in the middle of life.   He doesn’t say what he did, He didn’t say what’s on the vid. Storytime in the middle of life.   Watch it go down every day, Watch it go down, but what’s the play? Storytime in the middle of life.   You saw what you saw But what’s the story? They tell you it’s cheap allegory. You heard what you heard, But they claim it ain’t real, You saw what you saw, so what’s the deal? Storytime in the middle of life.   He said that he plays the cards dealt, She said that he said something else. Storytime in the middle of life.   They say other things they didn’t say, They never say what they didn’t say. Storytime in the middle of life.   They told each other, but not you, They told each other and the rumor grew, Storytime in the middle of life.   You hear what you hear, But what’...

  Specials   We are the secret special cops, Keepers of the secret ops. We don’t know What we don’t know, But the pay is good, Can’t make us stop.   We know where the secrets are, But tell us all you know. The microphones are not too far, Make sure you speak real slow.   Just relax in the restrictive rig, You’re not leaving anyhow. Can you name us Mr. Big, And is he with us now?   We are the special secret cops, Keepers of the special ops. We don’t know What we don’t know, We’re up to no good, Can’t make us stop.   We’re your friends, why make a fuss? Just tell us what you can. Really, who else can you trust, We need to know the plan.   A mystery man was in the can, Did he get a note? Who are you with, who is your clan, What was it that you wrote?   We are special and we’re cops, They give us all the special ops. We don’t know What we don’t know, Things are getting goo...

  The Long Ago, the Far Away   I saw a clear sun in a dream, And a sky above unsullied green. I sought out seers wise and keen, For I would know what it might mean.   Brighter than I had ever known, Pleasant airs on soft wind blown. A vision of a healed world shown, A vision that felt like home.   “Long ago, far away” Words within the vision say. Long ago, far away, There my thoughts do often stray.   Long and long my quest went on, Sometimes to dusk, sometimes ‘til dawn, But just as my hope was gone, To an ancient my chase was drawn.   But my search had gone astray For I had to leave there without delay When I heard the wisest say: “Gone and gone, long ago, far away.”   Long ago, far away, Before it all began to gray. Long ago, far away, There my thoughts still do stray.   So my search continues more, To teacher’s home, and scholar’s door. Seeking knowledge, myth and lore, Nor ...

  March of the National Fraud   Desperation the new sensation, Distractions without cessation. Shifty grifty carried on, Violence the new hypnotic song.   Fever fantasy TV star: Make California an abattoir. Who follows derailed train car, Now that you’ve fallen way too far?   Power play, don’t look away, Robbery in the light of day. Immigraton, false negation, Polls sinking, such frustration.   Fever fantasy gone bizarre: Make California an abattoir. Who will follow your fallen star, Now that you’ve taken a step too far?   Bogus bill, border shill, Undermine the people’s will. Guard deployed, so much noise, Emptied tills by little boys.   Fever fantasy super-tsar: Make California an abattoir. Who will favor your memoir, Now that you have gone so far?   Here we are, you can’t ignore! Tax the rich and not the poor! This ain’t what we voted for, Tax the rich and feed the poor. ...

  Demon Days   Unrestful buried coffin lid, Where finality is hid. Out on the edge the grass don’t grow, Dim secrets concealed below.   See unworthy start to climb, Bitter power, open crime. See demon grow fat and laze, See demon bring darkened days.   Troubled demon clutches harder, Losing power, failing barter. Fool commander, pretend martyr, Failure beckons from her larder.   Unrestful buried coffin lid, Where finality is hid. Out of the past what don’t we know? What secrets concealed below?   Make announcement, demon vying, Break pronouncement, demon lying. Flake renouncement, demon buying, Take denouncement, demon crying.   Flailing, wailing, quailing, bailing, Hear the demon’s frenzied railing. Demon loses monied lover, Demon incites violence cover.   Unrestful buried coffin lid, Where finality is hid. Out of your grasp what could be shown? Dim secrets that could be known....

  Shootout at the Not OK Corral   Rumors flying, much denying, Disciples on both sides buying. Neither of them much on slying, Neither of them can stop crying.   Accusations spread galore, Who can guess what’s next in store? High school hijinks, such a snore, Too much power to ignore.   The kiddie games, The calling names, The big fallout, A crying shame. The messy mess That it’s became, On opposed sides Both the same.   Text and text and text and next, Which one has the biggest flex? All this noise just for effect, All this noise is all project.   The kiddie games, The calling names, The big fallout, A crying shame. The messy mess That it’s became, On opposed sides Both the same.   Both are right, Both are wrong. Both exposed Within this song. Both propped up By money strong, Both up high, Neither belong.   The big train that’s losing steam, The other lost i...

  Days and Days   Day after day what has you compelled? Day after day what madness endures itself? Day after day what nuisances into you melt? Day after day what peace is from you withheld?   Trouble, trouble, sometimes it’s double, Again you pick yourself up from the rubble. From without the palace or hovel, Reality will pierce the bubble.   It’s no use just getting by if that’s all you plan to do. It’s no use living the lie if that’s all you know how to do. It’s no use getting high if that’s all that gets you through, It’s no use asking “Why?” when the answer is you.   What is the little program for today? On which little outcome do you prey? Which little unplanned thing causes dismay? How can you stand such disarray?   What little thing has you all affray? Every little thing has the means to go astray. Remember what Frank would say: There is always more trouble every day.   It’s no use just getti...

  Midnight Pockets   What dark enclave meets? Gathered for unholy chore. What misdeeds performed here? They leave their souls at the door.   What sigil marks them? What profane stain is scored? They vote from their purses, Greed is given the floor.   Mammon wakes them, Mammon stakes them, Mammon breaks them, Mammon takes them.   Guarded whispers, winking eyes, Craving leaks from every pore. Their every want now revealed, To whom is their fealty swore?   Mammon shakes them, Mammon makes them, Mammon breaks them, Mammon takes them. Cash spilling out from the bedroom drawer, Accounts sky-high and set to soar, Having it all and wanting more, Honest men disappear in vapor.   Witching hour vote done, Choices counted and paid for. Crooked smile on demon’s son, Knowing what is next in store…   Mammon wakes them, Mammon stakes them, Mammon breaks them, Mammon takes them.  ...

  Sightseers   Lunatic fanatics, The sacred insane… Dreaming their pictures, Awake they remain. Raving prophetic, Existing arcane. Do we cure their aesthetic – Or attend their refrain?   Maniac reader, Soothsayer and seer – Occupying worlds, Misunderstood here. Clairvoyant divine, In unearthly frontier, Do we evade their madness, Should we not lend an ear?   Worlds within the world: Some are allowed to see, Time enfolded into time, So many whens they must be. Voices beyond the curtain call, Or beneath unseen canopy. Voices madmen enthrall, Now burdened with prophecy.   Oracle absurd, The auger unsound, Forecaster irrational, Or predictor profound? Sorcerer crazed, Intrusive thought spellbound, Do we medicate them silent, Do we search for common ground?   Worlds within the world: Some are allowed to see, Time enfolded into time, So many whens they must be. Voices beyond the c...

  Midworld   In the heavens above the silent stars sway, But are brushed aside to make way for day. In the heavens above the silent stars play, And here we are earthbound, for now we will stay.   On the underground below, the whole earth does weigh, Some say that death is its only gateway, In the underground below, does evil hold sway? Perhaps we will find out and meet there one day.   Midworld we live on, But understand not, Though we try, Oh, how we try. Midworld we live on, Other realms are not given, Though we may not fathom why.   Is the dreamworld a real world, is sleep a walkway? Or is it illusion, does it secrets betray? Are daydreams false visions, no fruition dismay, Are memories old worlds that slowly decay?   Should we hang on in this world, our death to delay? Is time the great reaper, and are we its prey? When we finally pass on, are we led away? Do we find new existence, ascend some stai...

  Spinners   We are spun on solid ground, Set on this whirling world we’re found. Giddy thoughts and feelings abound, Through this dizzy dance we pound.   Fixed we are in the eternal spin, We can’t get back to where we’ve been. We missed something, but I don’t know when – Take us back to the beginning again.   What secrets told by whistling gale? What might be read in starry trail? Was something said, when did we fail? Through time we’re sped, and on we sail.   Fixed we are in the eternal spin, We can’t get back to where we’ve been. We missed something, but I don’t know when – Take us back to the beginning again.   Twisted, shifted, Lightyears drifted. Will our dizzy Ever be lifted? Spun and spun, Thoughts overdone. Is there respite? Maybe none. Dizzy, daft, deluded, Are we alone? Is that concluded? Are we purposely excluded?  Revolutions breakneck pace, Our speeded gyrations race. T...

  Silent Sky   Dark reaches above, empty and cold, Therein lie stories as yet untold. Mysteries still to be unscrolled, Answers too deep still to behold.   Are there songs sung by distant stars? Tales wrung from galactic memoir? Can we learn from such repertoire? Will we ever make it so far?   Do we hear, do they call? Do we fear, will we fall? Are they near come nightfall? I am no seer, no not at all.   From ought returning to nothing: What is existence offering? Lessons told beyond hearing – What from chaos can we wring?   What do we know of living? Striving, fighting and dying. This life is more than just some fling: Happiness can come with a sting.   Do we hear, is there no call? Do we fear, will we fall? Are we near some nightfall? I am no seer, no not at all.   Ear to ground, I gaze around, Still no sound, And nothing found.   Are we tormented by silent sky? Wha...

  Speed of Blight   What have we done with our curious mind? Machine metal madness so unrefined. Harder and faster – we are so inclined, We see our disaster when looking behind.   Digging for answers, increasing the pace: Leaving   detritus all over the place. In arrogant pride forgetting our grace, With ourselves we collide, instead of embrace.   Sought information, The final clue. Investigation, Suspicious brew. No hesitation, Motor on through. The devastation, Hindsight review.   The clanking and groaning of a race that’s gone mad. The lessened bemoaning of beauty once had. A noble pursuit gone militant bad, Industry jackboot wears the earth all unclad.   Sought information, The final clue. Investigation, Suspicious brew. No hesitation, Motor on through. The devastation, Hindsight review.   What have we done? Obscured the sun. Wisdom outrun, Are we already undone? ...

  Gateways   Cares and problems too entwined, Aspirations misaligned. Have you stress and worry enshrined? What weights can you leave behind?   Look at you all distraught, Leave your troubles all unsought, Hurts of spirit tie you in knots, What dreams in youth have you forgot?   In the deep dark of lighted day, How pleasant to visit the mind at play. How do you lead yourself astray? Which dream will wander you away? The mind itself is a gateway – How long do you intend to stay? In the deep dark of lighted day, Which dream will wander you away?   Will you leave your judgement distressed? Or leave your psyche unaddressed? Why this imagination arrest? Sometimes the head needs the weird expressed.   In the deep dark of lighted day, How pleasant to visit the mind at play. How do you lead yourself astray? Which dream will wander you away? How long do you intend to stay? The mind itself is a gateway – ...