The Face of My Father

So my mom contacts me and ask for a favor. This piece is the result and is dedicated to those "senior" members of the Highland Ave. Church of Christ. Enjoy!

“The Face of my Father”

I saw the face of my father
Saw the faces of them all
Contemplating their grace
God’s blessing of age
In a time so many of my heroes
Have faded much too fast

I saw the faces of his friends
Brothers and sisters
Ageless grand oaks
Whose leaves of wisdom
I still seek shelter under
When the glare of this world
Seeks to blind me to fall

I saw all their faces
Not as they are
But as they were
A multihued multitude
Of the stories I part
As I tend my fields
Of adolescent abandonment
Realizing beyond
What I ever thought I would
The exquisite joy
Of age
And prayed
I’d be blessed to see the same…
©2010cchristopherbess

In Passing

Hanging his head low
Working hands undo
Silver Container of spirit
Because his spirit's lost
And this seems to be
The best way to pass time.

Swallowing hard
His apple makes a vicious move
Within his ravaged throat;
Sucks his teeth a little
Cocks his head to the right
And with one grim look
Encompasses me into his fable.

A silent minute
Or two
We go on with our game
I blink
He looks down
Weary eyes to my script
Unseen;
He rummages through
A collection of bags at his feet
Producing a small leather book
As my scribing ceases
And I look on in wonder
Further with question
As to why his hand's outstretched;
But with each page turned
The message clearer
Artist to artist
Recognition sublime...
©2010cchristopherbess

Unconscious Melody

Trust.
A little reason to lie
A little reason to hold me...

Clear.
If I could just clear my mind
If the world could just cease it's crimes
Then maybe we'd finally own we
Instead of waiting on god we don't see
On high.

Speaking of the subject
(Sigh)
Been a long time since I been high
Wait a minute,
On life;
And yes
I'm trying to get a laugh tonight
Because that's what gets me by
When I lose trust
And I need a little reason to lie
A simple moment just to hold me
And cry
Because how many times
Til it won't be alright
And there's no way to clear your mind
No way to face the time
No way to get that high
Being left with gettin' by
And all there is
Is memory
Of life...
©2010cchristopherbess

The Quick and the Dead

Every day I see the quick
And the dead.
Souls who get
It
Souls who don't.
I see them
And in my wanderings ponder
What about me?
Then some of them answer...

It starts with my thoughts
Each morning on the edge of awakening
As I grumble
Shifting into maturity
Or what I've been told that is;
Follows me out my door
As I turn again
Because in my rush to survive
I don't want to leave my dreams
Idling upon sheets
Useless.

It strains my shoulders
Into a curvature of the spine
My eyelids follow
Along the black rhythms
Of their quiet stares
Recognizing me
As one of the damned
Delicately dancing
Upon the razor of existence
Thankful for my calloused soul
Bare and strong
Being neither quick
Or dead
Going about life
In it's strange
Usual way...
©2010cchristopherbess

For What Could Have Been (A Kiss)

I recently spoke with an old flame after many years. I found myself out alone this evening with my thoughts and a jaunt down memory lane...

"For What Could Have Been (A Kiss)"

Champagne wishes and cranberry dreams
He reminisced
Harking back to that innocence
Long before the jade
When all it took
Was Denny's after the dance
After moments brief within their eyes

He missed them all
In his own sadistic way
Truthfully knowing
Now
As they did then
It never would've lasted
Couldn't have lasted
Though
Couldn't it have?

He reminisced
On little surprises
Tucked here and there
Trinkets to addorn
Possibly cover up truths
It takes a broken heart to learn;
Reminisced on kisses
In the hours late
That moved from shores
To back seats
And vinyl couches
That seemed to moan in unison
With the surrounding patrons;
Reminisced of smells
Welcomed
As arms held him tight
Returning each time
Despite a distance that grew
From miles to years.

He reminisced
And smiling knew
He loved them all
Loves
Them all
Despite end result
Of being left with
What could have been
A kiss for them all
That hangs silent
On the eternity of possibility
Now a long silent whisper
Drawn out
Hoping never to fade...
©2010cchristopherbess

3204 Fusion

Rustic souls
Ambling desire
Bred union devout
Imperfect chalices
From which the world drank
Spirits varied
Full and sweet
Bitter and pungent
Yet enticing
As bouquets
Sent olfactory glands
Into overtime
Attempting to understand
This composite
We
Becoming intoxicated
On the inebriation
Of a divine showcase
Meticulous veil
Subtly draped
Exposing the human forms
Who danced beneath
In their shadows
Attempting to become
One...
©2010cchristopherbess

All Over Me

Not sure what to write anymore
With my tears here on this floor
Not sure of what songs to sing
Unsure in my passion
Misplaced from my dreams

Not sure what to write anymore
With these stanzas becoming a bore
Not sure in my attempts to hide
Whether I'm drowning or I'm dry

It's tough to hear yourself in the night
over your conscience
Without a fight
It's tough to hear your screams of change
When even you begin to think
You want to stay
Placated
By what you've come to know
Accept
As normalcy

Not sure what to write anymore
When I look at them
And I don't recognize
Any semblance of myself
As this gift hexes me
Upon a knowledge
My actual gift was movement
Departure
In word
Dress
Look
Geography;
I feel the itch
Here
Now
Years later
In my solitude
And one too many drunken nights
To blur faces
I no longer want to recognize
Feel the itch
Which causes me to dig
Tearing at my flesh
To reach my inner self
Where maybe salvation lies

Not sure of what to write
Of what makes sense
Whether I'm hollow
Or dense
A pundit
Or flake

Where am I going with this?

Fate or mistake?
It's come full circle
Except my family's no where around
And the only sounds
Are chosen ones
As old man I am
Seeks to bar shrill reality
In the only way he knows how;
Truly
I must leave this place...
©2010cchristopherbess