Then Again

unassuming, unintruding, boldly strolling thru the room
she’s observing, as she's swerving, lightly brushing past the crowd
pauses at the coffee table, sits down, reading, knitting her brows

others stare but she don't care or does she, maybe, then again...
as she reads she hugs her knees and sometimes takes a swig of booze
when she's mentioned they pay attention but no one seems to make a move

then again when she's alone
reading doesn't strike her fancy
walking on deserted roads
no one there to make her antsy
she laughs a lot and picks her nose
kicking rocks and almost dancing
but when she's in her hipster mode
she looks ahead and never glances...

and wouldn't you like to know
to know to know to know
how a girl of such ease
is such a dark mystery

often she'll go out alone
looking cute and sipping whiskey
though she's pined for
strummed and rhymed for
though she strives, no one can come in
she is loved but so alone
you wouldn't think it when she sits there
charismatic so fantastic but alone

she's there waiting for the one
too bad he'll never come
don't you know
that you're gold?

Mania

six a.m. and it’s getting light again but I’ve spent the night with my eyes opened wide
cause my head's desire though I really should be tired is to send down my wires searing electric fire
lights my light bulb, lights my light bulb, lights my light bulb
sparks a paralyzing current of elation, revelation, inspiration

drenched in sweat smoking two cigarettes pulling on drags so deep smoke is down in my feet
while my frying brain just refuses to be tamed when I drop the reins all my life is explained
lights my light bulb, lights my light bulb, lights my light bulb
sparks a paralyzing current of elation, revelation, inspiration

I’ve got to keep my mood afloat
lest I sink down empty and alone
I feel the distance of my soul
where my unused axons
synapse in the unknown
hey man just wanted to remind you
that this bulb breaks on the ground when falling from the stars

take a break, breathe deeply slow my thoughts down to a crawl
a placid moment calms me down
as I rest, explosions come right back into my skull
panic overtakes me and I scream for more

air please I’m boiling under my breath
and my instincts have taken over my head
hey God you've got to settle me down
fill my lungs please for I’m so soon to be drowned
hey God it’s good to remind me that I
hit hard on the ground when when falling from extremes

Cosmonaut

standing by the launching pad at dawn
looking up, his legs don't feel so strong
bright blue sky will shortly turn to black
looking forward as he's looking back

as his ship streaks through the stratosphere
a universe of emptiness appears
covering a million miles a day
gazing as his planet fades away

down on earth, the human race awaits him in tears
a broken message crackles from their brave pioneer...

"know, to know, to know I’ve got to know
what's past the moon, the sun, this galaxy of stars
and when alone, I know, what few have ever known
about their dreams, their fears, their deepest psychic scars
I will return, in awe, of things that lie beyond my fantasies
I’ll be back someday..."

guided by desire to expand
to a length that few can understand
I’ll sacrifice this life to overcome my fears
noble mission lasts after he's long disappeared

Next to You

every single night before the sun begins to rise
after the drunks have hit the hay afraid to face another day
I walk through the lonely streets, cold before the morning heat
that magic time when no one talks to you

I began this ritual that now I’d call habitual
some time ago when I cared for was a little sleep
I’d sleep for nine I’d sleep for ten and when I woke I’d sleep again
because I knew I’d wake up next to you

all my friends they'd come to me, say drink this coffee drink this tea
you're waking up with bloodshot eyes and sleeping thru your life
one by one they dropped away, I didn't care in fact I’d say
that all I knew was waking next to you

all the happy times I spent with you
are now the hammers in my head
you were once my shining pearl of truth
I dove down to get you out
and when I pulled you dripping from the sea
I found your pearl to be
a cold, black, useless little rock
that failed me in the end

time would pass, and I would say I’m isolated anyway
what's it gonna matter if you slap me round a bit
then I came to realize, the reason why you're so despised
by those I loved is that you made me sleep

now as I think through the void you left me with I’m paranoid
to close my eyes, turn off the lights, to have a little nap
thing is when I thought of you attachment kept me sleeping through
your evil deeds, I’ll never sleep again

all the happy times I spent with you
are now the hammers in my head
you were once my shining pearl of truth
I dove down to get you out
when I pulled you dripping from the sea
I found your pearl to be
s cold, black, useless little rock
you failed me yet again

Masters of Dinner Challenge

if my memory serves me right, he has sliced opposition with his knives
the maverick master of cuisine, he has served emperors, wrestlers, kings and queens
the hero of his prefecture, he commands that his wisdom be confirmed

and so hailed chef, come fight in a battle to the death
'gainst legends of food, my three exalted iron chefs

alas, the imposing trio rise
to defend their rightful turf
do you dare to look them straight in their merciless eyes?
and with a look that hints of fear
the opponent makes his choice
is he doubting that he can perservere?

down on the floor dueling cooks wipe their brows
the veil is removed and the moment is now
today's secret ingredient revealed, they race to the platform to
cook up the finest Japan has to offer to whip up creations no others can proffer

minds are racing making plans to be fashioned to courses with iron hands
a host of dishes so bizarre, using quail, abalone, and caviar
with seconds ticking off the clock, their creations are plated from their woks

and so hailed chef, do you think you can deny
michiba-san, chen kenichi or sakai?

now to the judges to decide
whose cuisine will reign supreme
who will go home filled with pride and for whom suicide?
as they await the chairman's choice
there is tension in the air
till the verdict's read aloud with the audience poised...

nobody vanquishes my iron chefs

Waiting in an Airport

sketching and scratching she sits there just hatching some damn twisted tales
she tears out a page where she'd written her name with his last after hers

all of the gaps have been shredded to scraps
and left are the lines that reveal nothing at all
each time she's sure that her life really can change
its crossed out before she commits it to the page

planes are landing as she gazes out the window
planes departing faster than they are arriving
she takes her phone and writes a little note
"I’m in the airport, waiting for your plane."

her head starts to hurt so she stands up and turns toward the rest of the room
she walks down the hall feeling sick of it all and buys a magazine

she's not even sure that she wants to see him now
the guy's a little off and his head is in the clouds
she finally decides that he's all but history
she picks up her things and starts looking for her keys

planes are landing as she gazes out the window
planes departing faster than they are arriving
wait a second maybe I have been too hasty
a message rings through on her phone
she picks it up and puts it down
she should have known his plane would come in late

Elephant

and I believe all my blatant lies though all of my hopes have died a blink remains of my scattered life
and I’ll always be yours despite that I may break under your crushing weight until I have learned to be

false are my fears
I’ve said a million times
over the years
sweet melodies
of a million trees
sway in the breeze

what of the times
those million haunting times
dissolved from my  mind
sweet melodies
branch off my memories
sway me like the breeze