ARTISTIC DNA

Mystics call it Karma

Me

I call it life

Cosmic building blocks

Woven ever deftly

By God’s Almighty Hand

Eternal ladder to the stars

One step at a time

Crafting clever rhymes

Pilgrim chronicles

Highlights of my journey

Trail of love along the way

Sentimental sway

Artistic DNA

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

SNOW GEESE MIGRATION

Black eyes

Cold

Distant

Pale

Hollow cheeks

As if she hasn’t eaten in weeks

Snow Geese migration

V Shape flying wedge

Gaggle of one million so it seems

Make a beeline south

Oblivious

To the broken dreams

Crushed hearts

Hopelessness

Slowly playing out

So far below them

She would have liked to know him

But her pride got in the way

It doesn’t matter anyway

Nothing left to say……

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

SANDBOX LIBERATION

A twist of irony
We watched war on TV
Ratings soared through the roof
When Desert Storm arrived
Baghdad crumbled quickly
Live
Without a net
Tired ass SCUD Missiles
Hardly WMD’s
Low tech bottle Rockets
Feebly aimed at Zion
Orchestrated blitz
Media manipulation
Pentagon exploitation
Shrill battle cry
A stick in the eye
To modern day Babylon
By the George W. Bush nation
Sandbox liberation
Designed to crush tyranny
“OH SAY CAN YOU”…….
Yes GOP
We see
In digital HD
Clandestine Intel disconnects
Playing card villains
Three ring circus theme
Global disrespect
As Saddams’ Gallows Pole
Damn near severed his head
From his evil Dictator neck
Never to forget
We financed said insurgency
To suit our greedy needs
Oilfield evil seed
Green Zone 50 yard line
Kurds
Shiites
Sunnis
We offered “Stable Democracy”
Shadow hypocrisy
C.I. Fucking A
Independence Day
American treasure
Politicians sway
Black Gold benefits
Assassination hits
Greenpeace
Doesn’t give a shit
Me
I understand
Secret Council Disneyland
“High Value Targets”
Video Game sales
As I watched the freak show carnage
Somber “Game Face” on
Complexities
Inherent with Jihad
Not many Joe Q. Citizens
Consider martyrdom odd
In the end
It’s all about honor
Maintaining integrity
At all cost
As our world wanders lost
Lines forever crossed……

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

EYES THAT BLINK WITH KINDNESS

Insomnia
My old unwelcomed friend
Causing me to bend
Don’t judge me
If you cannot comprehend
Simply feel my prose
Then thank your cosmic tea leaves
For the cattle path that you chose
My journey leads me inward
Underneath the bridges
Where destitution cowers
Prostitution flowers
Dead
Bloated bodies
Pile up by the hour
A pilgrim’s gait
At times
A bit unsure
Searching for the cure
Caution
Trumps raw courage
Slow paced
Then discouraged
Passions ember wanes
Borderline insane
Before blasting head first
Into mental illness
Bar fights
Northern Lights
Sacrificial rights
Loneliness is crushing
Gossip
Psychobabble hearsay
I choose not to play
Such juvenile games
Pure truth
Can always be found
In eyes that blink with kindness
Evil orbs however
Simply cant
Stark subliminal point
Clear
Razor sharp
Trust your basic instincts
Respect all sincere art
That flows from the heart
Ancient ice
Slowly melts
I reflect fondly
On the passion I have felt
Miles of weariness
Etched upon my middle aged face
Determined
Seeking Grace
Questions end with “whether”
Esoteric tether
Evil
Shall never win
Not now
Not ever…….

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

A BULLET IN THE HEAD

Polar Caps are melting
Our Ozone layer
Fried
Borderline insane
Quite inhumane
Inhospitable
“LET ME GO”
She cried
As if deep inside her
She died
While politicians
Force feed us only lies
Glacial currents
Mammoth icebergs
Mighty frozen fortress
Rushing to the salty sea
False integrity
Blackened Diocese’s
Virgin snow
So incredibly pristine
As she gently makes her way
Such Ballerina grace
To sacred Mother Earth
Until evil hydrocarbons
Desecrate her birth
Nonlinear verbiage
Art
Immaculate
My shelter from the bullshit
Beloved amulet
Street sale narcotics
Sadly I see
Blind already blackened eyes
Hardly a surprise
Tis public policy
False advertisement I despise
Apathy
Saps our conscious strength
My esteemed friends
Only a coward
Will keep this at arm’s length
As our children suffer deeply
As our moral fiber fades
A bed our system made
Lonely tears are shed
Then
We find them dead
With a bullet in the head
With a bullet in the head

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

TRANSCENDENTAL RIDE

Celestial star burst
Enigmatic moonbeams
Phosphorescent nova
Alms from Jehovah
Atmospheric light show
Screaming through cosmos
Nexus of the night
Eerie black hole maw
Perhaps coincidence
Or destiny arriving
Ablaze
Brilliant Holy glory
No need for fear dear Children
Simply grasp His mighty hand
Supernatural comfort
Soothing saving grace
The enemy we face
Without trepidation
Spastic intuition
Pure Love
Manifest
Surreal epiphany
His mighty Angels
Draw their gilded blades
To battle for the ground of evermore
Already know the score
Elated
Sedated
Stone emancipated
Unpretentious
So grateful for the chance
To journey ever onward
Indeed
A transcendental ride
No urge to run and hide
Esoteric rawhide
Instead
I simply smile
In quiet gratitude
Blessed intuition
Fruition
Prophetic destiny

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

BUCKEYE

It ended with a buckeye
A gift from me to him
3,000 miles from home
Token of new friendship
An innocent bauble
Home grown
On my Sister’s fertile tree
Ohio magic bean
Sacred symbol of good fortune
Salt Lake City poison
I did not see it coming
Stealth blindside
The often fatal kind
Butt naked
Spread eagle
Vicious decimation
So incredibly brutal
Can be the corporate world
Mental disembowelment
Atom splitting pain between my eyes
Involuntarily crossed
In cranial malaise
Stomach ulcers three
Volcanic eruption
In my bleeding belly
Hopes and dreams lay crumpled
On the VP’s killing floor
Stunned beyond a sentence
Bewildered
Vulnerable
Stinging tears of anger
Shock
Sheer disbelief
Searing shame of failure
What would I tell my precious children?
Unemployment Blitzkrieg
Career assassination
A broken hollow man
Hell
I was still learning the Utah Freeways
The ride home was incoherent
I think I drove to Provo
Before I knew what hit me
For what it’s worth
A moral
Cold hard lesson learned
Tis wise to refrain
From offering a Buckeye
To a Utah “Utes” fan
On the Wasatch Mountain Range

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

ODE TO LEG CRAMPS

Council Bluffs Iowa
Leg cramps “a go go”
Awash
In a sea of Hotel “BOGO”
Frequent shower discounts
Complimentary Breakfast
Thank you major players
A soft bed
Clean bathrooms
The rest is purely fluff
Advertising stuff
I-2 detours
A 200 mile disaster
Interrupted
By a mystifying rainbow
Of incredible hue
Mesmerizing
Anecdotal
As the cornfields stand in awe
In silent unity
With this grateful Pilgrim
JAH
Almighty God
The ultimate dream painter
My Savior
Precious Lord
It’s critical to me
That I remain above board
Practice humility
Steady integrity
As I enjoy my text contact
With my baby gurl
My ever glowing world
The best thing in my storied life
She loves me unconditionally
Despite my inability
To keep a wife
Dad
A title I’m most proud of
My finest achievement
Ultimate honor

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

BANSHEE DEMON HEADWIND

October 5th, 2011
Somewhere in Nebraska
Banshee Demon headwind
Gale force
Category One
The road ends abruptly
As I reach Mizzou
Three part roadblock
Untimely detour
Compliments of a nasty flood
So many lost their homes
Incredible destruction
Silent misery
On my way to see my little Sister
A pleasant intermission
Twelve hour reprieve
Tears upon my sleeve
Confusion in my heart

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

GOLDEN FLEECE HYPOCRISY

Spectral tunnel vision
Twisted emotion
Torn between comfort
And good measure
Monetary treasure
Golden Fleece hypocrisy
Vassar education
Social interaction
Fleeting satisfaction
I nod in acquiescence
Flaming red lipstick
Tells a tale of lust and greed
On his starched white collar
As his wife tries vainly to cope
Still clinging to the hope
That their vows are forever
Homogenized Society
Conspicuous anonymity
Cloak of obscurity
Blinding ray of truth
Indulgence through the roof
Of palatial human lust

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

TEMPERAMENTAL NOTIONS

November 2nd, 2011
Huntsville Alabama
Cotton fields ablaze
In stark white contrast
To the dry heather grassland
The burnt orange foliage
Sacred dark earth
Cross fire melancholy
Awkward fantasy
Obscure destiny
Mixed with a dash of Mountain Dew
Deep in contemplation
Humble self-reflection
As I ponder my direction
Simply smile
I’ve journeyed 9,000 miles
Only to return erstwhile
Fascinating circle
From the root of my search
Polythene Pam
Mean Mustard Man
I’ve immersed myself in music
Across this noble land
“Once there was a way”
“To get back homeward”
So many lessons learned
Tanks of petrol burned
Countless pages turned
“Out of college, money spent
“See no future, pay no rent”
“All the money's gone, nowhere to go”
“Any jobber got the sack”
“Monday morning, turning back”
“Yellow lorry slow, nowhere to go”
“But, oh, that magic feeling”
“Nowhere to go”
“Oh, that magic feeling”
“Nowhere to go”
The Abbey Road Medley
A perfect nomad anthem
Live without a net
Never to forget
The beautiful people I have met
Kindred souls along the way
Each with a story to tell
Conscious understanding
In their sympathetic eyes
A few tried to put me in their cage
I quickly turned their page
Avoiding evil rage
Moving forward quickly
Quirky human nature
I’ve learned we truly are quite similar
Created in the image of The Master
Different dialects
Customs
Tribal rituals
A child of God
At the center of our core
It dawns on me
In lightning bolt synapse
Vain wall collapse
Childlike clarity
The simple home I seek
Has been here all along
Nestled deep inside my restless soul
Longing for control
Complete mastery
Over silly insecurity
Artistic imagery
Temperamental notions
Hot and cold emotions
Transcendental oceans
Of poetic excellence
“Here comes the sun”
“It’s all right”………

© The Beatles Abbey Road
© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

CLOAKED ETERNITY

October 6th, 2011
Ina Illinois
Love’s Truck Stop
“Fried Gizzards” says the sign
Semi clean bathrooms
A welcomed reprieve
From my blacktop odyssey
A nasty case of road shits
Baby diaper blue
Bubble guts compounded
Only passing through
Plain M&M’s
Diet Mountain Dew
Fort Campbell Kentucky
6:30PM
Another Holiday Inn
Exit ramp comfort
Rest for this weary Road Warrior
After 6,000 hard miles
Cloaked eternity
Lay mysteriously
Seductively
Before me
My two newest friends
Retired Southern Gentlemen
A wonderful chat
About cookies
Faith
Hospitality
Shared nobility
Virtues of humanity
Bloodline Christian love
I’m constantly amazed
How my journey touches soul
In the most unlikely places
Compassionate faces
Gentle eyes that smile
Observances abundant
Personal witness
How complete strangers
Portray utmost character
Sincere integrity
Sheer honesty
I’m happy to report
Trust
Is alive and doing well
Across the USA

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

GOT MOLD?

October 12th, 2011
I-57 North bound
Damn sure getting my “Ya Ya’s out
“Oh Carol”
“Don’t let em steal your heart away”
No doubt
I have a bad case of “Stray Cat Blues”
Rend Lake Community College
Ina Illinois
Nestled right across the highway
From Marion Penitentiary
“Ah yea…..well get on down”
Struts the legendary Sir Mick
As the massive combines
Seduce their Grain Silo lovers
I ease through a speed trap
Covert
Cunning
Camouflaged
Unmarked car
Perched atop the overpass
In the middle of the road
I understand the concept
It’s their sneaky methods
I simply don’t agree with
Public safety I suppose
As the Trooper picks his nose
“Got mold”
The billboard asks me
Not so strange a question
In the grand scheme of things
Woven tapestry
Of spatial symmetry
As I search for my sacred purpose

© “Get yer Ya Ya’s out” The Rolling Stones
© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

SOUR MASH CORRIDOR

I 24 East
Tullahoma Tennessee
Sour Mash corridor
The sign says “See Rock City”
A grand weekend cruise
Nothing left to lose
Such a mortal pity
Rude Redneck Dicks
NASCAR wannabes
Disrupt the highway peace
With their dangerous antics
Nickajack Dam
Lower Tennessee
River watershed
Scenic majesty
Old South hospitality
I 75 East
Atlanta Georgia bound
Antebellum grounds
Street gang warfare
Silver Porsche Spyder
Dr. Homer Adenoids I presume
Perhaps Thoracic Surgeon
Professional Idiot indeed
Flaunting his prestige
He should be ashamed
He’s far too old to drive like that
If money makes one act like that
Then none for me I say
On this sunny Saturday

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

A FEW MILES EAST OF LECOMPTON

Lawrence Kansas
Home of the Jayhawks
Rick, black soil
Acres
Of coal tinted cornfields
A few miles east of Lecompton
Territorial Capitol
Pioneer Plains dreams
Pale faced schemes
National Guard convoy
Slowly make their way
To their next taxpayer assignment
On this crisp autumn day
More road construction
Leavenworth log jam
DAMN
It’s irritating
But necessary
To safely transport
Our children’s future children
Iron Maiden trilogy
Compliments the brilliant golden leaves
Welcome back McRib
Even if our time is limited
I missed you my old friend
Fabled Tonganoxie
Your noble history
Unfortunately
Disturbed by more impatient drivers
Yet another stupid fuck
Far too immature
To operate a pick-up truck
Ramrod insanity
Ballistic tailgate mindset
Chill out spastic boy child
Lasso those adolescent hormones
You’ll get there
As your trip is done
Try to have some fun
Soak up this beautiful landscape
Take a few deep breaths
Before you contribute
To yet another
Unnecessary Highway death
Toll Plaza exits
A novel taxing scheme
No worries Kansas Commonwealth
I gladly donate
To your turnpike action plan
A well spent $2.50
For safe and well groomed
Rustic Kaw Valley roads
A woodsman’s wet dream
Close to Bonner Springs
Where outdoor freedom rings…..

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

A SEEKERS YONDER GAZE

October 29th, 2011
6:30PM CST
My bones ache
My spirit
Simply tired
Two months of roaming
Homeless
Still inspired
Arthritic atrophy
Chemical synapse
Defensive walls collapse
Thumping pain
Cross wired
Anxious to arrive
Wherever I am meant to be
A steady place to lay my head at night
Holiday Inn Express
Columbia, TN
A temporary cloud
Squeaky clean oasis
Shelter from the storm
Excellent value
For this weary road warrior
Running low on currency
No permanent domicile
Coincidence
Karma perhaps
I’ve closed my eyes on two consecutive nights
In towns named Columbia
Last night in Missouri
Tonight in Tennessee
Earning my wayward stripes
My wanderer credentials
Logged 8,708 odometer clicks
In 60 whirlwind days
Homeless vagabond
A Seeker’s yonder gaze
The stare that has no focus
No laser beam close up
Always staring blankly
Searching for a trusted focal point
From last chance Gas Stations
To convenient Burger joints
Where sanitary restrooms
Rule the Atlas jungle
Sweet smiling faces
Shine like Batman’s beam
Thank you Holy Jesus Christ
For unique kindred souls
You place within my path
Who nurture human trust
Inspire my upward thrust
Your mystifying ways
Shall always be the topic of my song
The lightning in my smile
The passion in my prose
God knows……..

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

LOVELY NATIVE LADY

Pine Bluffs Wyoming
Gas pumps in the nick of time
Stretching out on fumes
Speed warp evaporation
Lovely Native Lady
Her brilliant smile
Scintillating
Bright
Wide
Like the big sky
I find myself lost in
Her eyes dance
Sincere hospitality
Her impact on this weary nomad
Significant
Most appreciated
“No money in your pocket and your jeans are torn”
“Your hands are cold but your lips are warm”
Dire Straits conundrum
Homage to being homeless
Following your heart
Love
Conquers all
I can dig it…..

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

MUSICAL THOUGHTS

Almighty God
Shaking
Moving
Grooving
He fills my thirsty soul
With toe tapping music
This morning’s fine example
Sly and his Stone Family
Woodstock magic moment
Day 2
3:30am
Rhythmically seducing
The soiled Hippie Tribe
Half a million strong
United by a song
“I’m gonna add a little guitar”
“Make it easy to move your feet”
Synchronized soul rhythm
Rocking magic trance
They all got up to dance
Violet Sunglasses
Body heat Aura
“Way up on the hill this time ya'll”
“Wanna take you HIGHER"
“HIGHER”
Trumpets raised to boogie lips
Snapping off incredible concert grooves
Hip to chest moves
Peace sign salute
Nourishment
Life giving water
Feeds my minstrel roots
I am grateful…….


©http://www.slystonemusic.com/music/sly-family-stone-woodstock-experience
© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

DRIVING THROUGH A POSTCARD

October 25th 2011
10:00AM MDT
A stone’s throw from Laramie Wyoming
When I owned a rocket arm
East bound
Cruise control engaged
Guilty of extreme intoxication
While driving through a postcard
Snowcapped mountain splendor
Soulful Sanitarium
Treating me
For corporate devastation
Point blank summation
Acute penetration
Fog copulation
Such a gentle caress
From low hung liquid clouds
Frozen silver mist
A brief pit stop
30th Street Exxon
Another thirsty tankful
85 Octane
A Diet Mountain Dew
Propers to the righteous cashier
A young man
Maybe 20
Hospitable Brother
I saw God swimming in his friendly eyes
Grateful for his kindness
Impressed by his sincerity
More importantly
His addition to my permanent clan
Our Coat of Arms
Easily recognized
“You will know us by our love”
Saved by Holy grace
His glowing smile upon our face
A part of Him
In all He calls His children


© 10-25-2011 Bill Grimes Jr.

REFLECTIONS ON THE WORLD’S LARGEST PRAIRIE DOG

Wednesday Oct. 26, 2011
Trip of self-discovery
Obliged inward emphasis
Just outside of Limon Colorado
A beautiful snowfall
Virgin white
Crunchy
Falling gently on my jacketless shoulder
I am genuinely enamored
Grateful for this stunning frosty gift
Clutch on the aging CD player
Thunder bass ripping
Jamming hard near Kit Carson
His icy western mansion
Few Pilgrims venture out
On the frozen roads
They hunker down instead
Ride out the blizzard fun inside
Me
I choose to ride
Traveler’s pride
In this time of uncertainty
I’m seeing who my friends truly are
Both near
And from afar
I sincerely thank you all
From the depths of my soul
As I push the Buick eastward
Enjoying God’s country
Bovina Colorado
Villanova Junction
One of Jimi’s finest instrumentals
I wink at the Pink Cadillac
Perched atop a sturdy steel pole
Flagler’s finest Diner
So I am told
As the blinding snowfall thins
SuddenlyI see
A herd of black cattle
Each with white midsections
As if they were hand painted
A puzzling surprise
Definitely a first
For these curious eyes
I-70 East
Mile marker64
Somewhere in snowy Kansas
Home to the world’s largest Prairie Dog
Weighing in
A hefty 8,000 pounds
Roommate to a five legged Steer
Assorted Rattle Snakes
Now THAT’S entertainment
“I used to lover her”
“But I had to kill her”
Axel
You’re a hoot
Slash
A top shelf Maestro
Of the Gibson Les Paul
Further down I-70
Mile Marker 266
BTO a blasting
As loud as I can stand it
“Let it roll”
“Down the highway”
An old familiar chill
My most trusted companion
Dancing down my spine
The cell phone rings
Above the rock and roll
A Friday interview
A blessing indeed
Come on Kansas City
I’ll be honored
To call you my new home
Suspend my jobless roam
And I smile
In gracious reflection…..

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

SWEET PAMELA

My sacred friend
My cherished confidant
Sweet loving lady
Flowing nonchalant
Filled with Holy Spirit
Blessed Christian love
Her presence warms my deepest soul
A gift from God above
I celebrate dear Pamela
My words forever bound
So grateful for her harmony
Her fellowship profound

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

ARTISTIC DNA

Saucy slow Blues in C
Ritchie Blackmore’s genius
Fender Strat concerto
Heavy organ riff
Such a lovely trance
As my aging mind drifts
To a much more carefree state
When alarm clocks mattered not
Scores were settled by the tribe
By passing round a peace pipe
Triumph felt so right
With no set agenda for the night
I smile in fond remembrance
No excuses for my path
Never would I trade one single moment
God’s sacred holy gift
Artistic DNA
Screaming forth
From my deepest being
No way my friends
No way……

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

OBELISK (A true story)

A friend of mine
A Navy Seal
I’ll call him Obelisk
And if you dare to steal his meal
He’ll shit upon your desk
If you don’t believe me
Ask Glen
He’ll verify
Tis good he lived to tell the tale
When you play with fire
You die…….

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

SOMETHING SACRED

Dance
Trance
Spiritual advance
We crave something sacred
Deep poetic thought
Transcendental art
My heart
In need of a jumpstart
We all have a story
An epic tale to tell
Lofty rise above the fray
Crash and burn in hell
I know them both so well
I know them both so well

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

SUBPRIME MARKET CRIME

Babylon crumbles
Wall Street limps along
Goldman Sachs commissions
Subprime market crime
A billion pensions lost
Such a lofty cost
Unbridled excess
Liberty undressed
Overvalued housing
First time mortgage dreams
Raped by Ponzi Schemes
Completely void of logic
So it seems
Morgan Stanley bullshit
Citi Bank’s raw greed
The monkey on our back
A travesty indeed
Joe Citizen is drowning
Nursing ancient rage
Narcissistic daze
Duped
Out of the hallowed nest egg
Our self made flood is rising
American Dream
Is slowly dying
Rest in peace
Sacred 401K
A noble vision shattered
Is there shame in strategic default?
Almighty Spike TV
Sixteen commercial barrage
Yes
I said sixteen
Every 15 minutes it seems
Now that’s entertainment
So many elephants
Stampede our tiny room
Gigantic pile of doom
Such is our predicament
As despondency flows forth
Following its own due course……..

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

ANOTHER DAY IN DIXIE

Four square winds
Swirling apparition
The tempest wreaking havoc
No power to distract it
Raindrops big as marbles
Golf ball sized hail
Black demon clouds
Camouflage fierce lightning
Scattered broken branches
Conceal my neighbors Lexus
She’ll need a photograph
For insurance reimbursement
The candles get a workout
To assist my aging eyesight
I listen to the sound
Of bored children neighbors
I take it as it comes
Absorbing my surroundings
Another day in Dixie
Another tale to tell

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

PARADISE SUBLIME

Trade Winds gently beckon
Calling me back home
Sweet Coconut Oil
Fresh Shrimp frying
Such delicious fragrance
My Haole sunburned skin
Dancing in the hot shower
As I rinse her salty essence
My soul belongs to her
Exotic Island Lady
Her sand between my toes
Her breath
Tickles my fond ears
Melts away my fears
Dries my homesick tears
Landlocked days are numbered
I was born on ocean time
Such reverence in my rhyme
Paradise sublime

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

ODE TO CANNED MEAT PRODUCTS

Avant-garde technology
To me
From shining sea
This day I stand before you
With this firm decree
Tis Amish I shall be
Tis Amish I shall be
Demon canned meat product
So tempting on the shelf
So tempting on the shelf
Near fatal mistake
That I made
I turn my back on thee
I turn my back on thee
Half beats
And half measures
Musical treasures
Mystifying pleasures
Require drastic measures
Require drastic measures

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

UNTITLED

My surging mind
Fierce energy
Blasting through its mirrored halls
Hemorrhaging
Weakening walls
Lightning bolt synapse
Welcoming collapse
Alas
It shall not come
For doom
The Ghost Dancer told me
Is only for the dead
A far cry
From my pounding head
And its written destiny
So share my thoughts
I must
So difficult to trust
The growing inspiration
Diverse amalgamation
Acceptance
Of this human nation
Quite fragile
Meek
Misled
Lost
Roaming
Filled with dread
Longing to be led

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

June 4th, 2011.

All the words have been spoken
All the muted thoughts
Now broken
Of life
Love
And living
Of where this ship has BROUGHT
Us
A rhyme
You demand
I offer this
My severed hand
Use it as you need
Toss the rest to greed
Ancient ones know well
The specific lay of HELL
Their wisdom sends us onward
Far beyond this wicked place
Our anguished eyes
Concealed
From her vile face
Yes my friend
Beautiful friend
This is my humble end
As a new day
Begins
The old one has retired
No conspiracy
Conspired
Simply
I am tired…….


Inspiration from:
“It hurts to set you free….but you’ll never follow me”……Jim Morrison The Doors©
http://www.last.fm/music/Jim+Morrison/+videos/+1-O66rPVIp1_E

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

APRIL 27th, 2011 7:15PM

April 27th, 2011 7:15PM
As I sit here in the haunting candlelight
No power from the storm
My mind completely focused upon God
How Mighty
OMNIPOTENT is HE
How small and powerless am i
His light storms rake the sky
Howling tempest
Trees cracking from the raging winds
Funnel clouds
Hell-bent on total decimation
Hailstones
Golf ball sized
Smashing windshields
Hammering my fireplace flue
Torrential rain
Blasting sideways
The deafening ROAR
Of 10,000 Freight Trains
Carving their own tracks
INCREDIBLE
I am still
No true distractions
Just tears flowing down my cheeks
The brilliance of the storm raging outside
I think of those who have no safe shelter
Live underneath bridges
In the woods
I admire the warriors
Power Company Linemen
Law Men and Women
The humble Firemen
Nurses
Doctors
Hospitals
And those who keep them running
The very same beloved, brilliant caregivers
That replaced my diseased hip
What IF…..
They lost power as my body lay splayed upon an Operating Table
First Responders
Red Cross
Military care
They do it EVERY DAY
WOW
Is all that I can say
I thank you Jesus Christ
My Father and my Friend
For your majesty and grace
For loving me unconditionally
Despite my unworthiness
My aging eyes can’t see as well to write by candlelight
So I will close for now
Simply say SELAH
ALL PRAISE AND GLORY BE TO YOU
Please comfort those who suffer this brutal night……

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

Set Backs

Set backs
Create comebacks
Come backs
Create peace
Lessons learned along the way
GOD’S grace
Shall never cease
© Bill Grimes Jr.
2011

ODE TO HIS GHOST DANCE

Paris
1971
We lost someone
Rebellious son
The “Lizard King”
The “Backdoor Man”
Young Dionysus
The Poet one
He saw his Shaman
Throughout his days
Drunken haze
Unbridled ways
Age 27
I’m still amazed
Such art
Inspiration
Poetry
Beyond imagination
Warned to tame his art
Ground breaking
Bleeding heart
He never compromised
His fans adoring eyes
“They want something sacred”
His music “broke on through”
Ghost dance trance
Spiritual advance
Single feather
Circular motion
“Soft Parade” notion
Finale derived
“No one here gets out alive”
In the end
A candle flickers out
Thus the world
Lives without
As their hope passes on
I leave you with my thoughts now
So you may understand
Yes
Because I can
I’ve ALWAYS been a word man
I’ve ALWAYS been a word man

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_One_Here_Gets_Out_Alive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azCon4I7fWA

Thought......

Simply because many do not understand a man’s methods, his thoughts, his words, or his ways…….Does not mean they are un-sound.
© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

Definition of the word “ART” by Merriam-Webster.com:
“The conscious use of skill and creative imagination, especially in the production of aesthetic objects or works produced”

THREE GENERATIONS

This song is inspired by Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road"

http://www.vevo.com/watch/steve-earle/copperhead-road/USMV70400020


My Daddy’s named William
They call him Bill
Granddaddy was Wilbur
“Buck” its still

Sarah Ellen
My sweet baby gurl
She holds my heart
She is my world

My son’s the III
We call him Will
Third generation
Big shoes to fill

I’m Bill Jr.
Old friends add a “Ray”
A nickname proudly carried
From back in the day

Pride and honor
Still runs deep
Sacred tradition
I’m proud to keep

McBryde was my Momma
James her dad
We called him Papaw
A shipyard lad

I had two Mamaws
A blessing indeed
Incredible women
Sowed our family seed

I dream of them often
Always in peace
They guide me still
As my memories increase

So blessed with family
Fine memories
At times I’ve been blind
Yet they helped me see

There is nothing richer
Than precious love
A pedigree
From God above

Thank you Jesus
For blessings received
May I always be worthy
Your will achieved

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

A WORD MAN AT 52

Hit the wall
Busted balls
Hearing desperation call
Onward
Upward
Higher plain
Disappointment
Ruptured veins
Half an hour
Twenty years
Blasting by me
Subtle tears
Blessed loved ones
Cherished friends
New beginnings
Bitter ends
Smothered conscious
Vibrant soul
Thank GOD
I have my rock and roll……

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

RITE OF SUBTLE PASSAGE

My mind is growing weary
My body
Simply tired
Prevailing social theory
Dishonor
Deftly wired
I seek serenity
Forever on the hunt
At times I find Nirvana
Consternation front
Please forgive my moxie
The words must always fit
Sacred and eternal
Wisdom and bullshit
As a child I was a dreamer
This man still yearns for peace
Less tolerant of liars
Quite focused on release
Of nasty mental illness
Roadblocks of the soul
Rite of subtle passage
As time tells me
I grow old….

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

FLOW

Friends
Don’t cry for me
Cause urination always
Smells eventually
Makes its way downhill
Following its destined course
I’m weary of life’s stage
Adventures
Unrequested
In the wings I love to lurk
Nursing ancient rage
Flowing through a murky maze
At times, asleep for days
Many moons ago
I gave up scripted strife
To have a new and simple life
Being vulnerable is intimate
Intimate is bliss
It’s why I tell you this
Love without waver
Speak your mind and heart
Focus on the real
As you consummate the deal
Dig on Kings of Leon
Sample Country Joe
Drift within the music
And flow…….
© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

THE ONE EYED THIEF (A song about Karma)

I dreamed my car was hijacked
A scary thing indeed
A thug the size of Utah
He caused my nose to bleed
Friends ask me was I frightened
Not really my reply
You see my fingernails
Extracted his right eye
The lawman viewed my handiwork
A smile upon his face
Vigilante justice
A one eyed thief’s disgrace

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

SONG IN FRACTURE

Would you like to hear my story?
Could you listen for awhile?
Will you gaze at me intently?
Will you leave here with a smile?

I’m not looking for a roommate
I’m not bent on giving in
Just laying down some lyrics
About beauty, hope, and sin

Life has been prismatic
Holographic form
Filled with false bravado
Hauntingly lukewarm

So much for acceptance
To hell with fitting in
Mask of indignation
Melancholy wins

CHORUS
It hurts too much to focus
On things that might have been
On dreams of love abandoned
Or when the pain shall end

We all have subtle lessons
I learn mine every day
At times a bit confusing
And daunting I must say

I wrote this song in fracture
Whimsy of release
Weary of the loneliness
Seeking only peace

I’m sick and tired of silence
It’s time to move along
New friends and foreign places
As I learn how to be strong

Thank you for a hearing
I’m grateful for your time
May God bless and keep you always
May your sonnets always rhyme

CHORUS
It hurts too much to focus
On things that might have been
On dreams of love abandoned
Or when the pain shall end

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

QUICKSAND

Walking down a lonely road
Requires a solitary mind
Void of apprehension
Open to a higher consciousness
Beware of the quicksand
Pockets of seductive misery
The cost of self enlightenment
Separates one from the play around you
One step at a time
Inching ever prominent
Never looking back
I’ve crashed and burned a thousand times
I’m sure I will again
Settling in
To permanent peace of mind

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

SOCIAL EXPECTATION

Manuscripts
In tattered reams
Storied tales
Shattered dreams
Proverbs strewn across the floor
They just don’t give a damn anymore
A blatant violation
Of social expectation
It is what it is my friend
Beneath the fabrication
False legislation
My motives I suppose
To force a rise from you
Painted plastic grin
Perhaps it’s peaceful in your skin
Forgive me if I doubt it
Impatience
Can’t you see?
You cannot fake sincerity
Gaping holes
Decaying minds
Mental illness
Such horrid finds
May my steps defy your logic
In subtle mystery
Someday perhaps you’ll find it
The way it’s meant to be
Fabricated morals
Lessons of deceit
Pointed innuendos
Forever incomplete

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2011

ODE TO JESUS CHRIST

Reams of schemes
Such dusty dreams
Friends that make me smile
My life has been adventure
No time for “might have beens”
These days I serve the Master
Highest holy grace
My goal is so simple
To see His brilliant face
Me?
Worthy?
Friends
If you only knew
NO WAY am I Godlike
Yet still I venture upward
Blessings flow each day
My prayer
That all shall find Him soon
I’m blessed… because He found me
No longer am I lost
I have so much to say
Father God
Mighty Yahweh
Intimate companion
My ultimate friend
When my time signals “END”
Only then shall I begin……..


© Bill Grimes Jr 2011