"Trust Me"

"Trust me" like
"The checks in the mail", and "I'll call you tomorrow"
are among those famous words
which go far too often SAID.

So much better off the world would be,
if those words didn't echo like fists banging upon steel.
The pounding thunder always on when its most
deadly quiet
in surround sound stereo
dancing letters in my head.

md. shelby 2006

"I read the news today, oh boy" - The beatles

In light of the recent news today about the 10-year old responsible for the wildfire in California, I thought it would be a fitting gesture to extend my deepest sympathies to all families involved. How sad a tragedy and how ultimately unpredictable and preditiable ALL AT ONCE.

Children will always be fascinated with the unknown and in the vein of prevented medicine it seems an awareness campaign similiar to the onces we had when I was a kid "Smokey the Bear" - a playful but constant reminder about the danger of fires and pollution in our young but fragile timberlands kis certainly in order from the local governments.

In the meantime, parents should take heed and remind our children how important and substantial and impact something like a simple lite match can mean for so many - by involving them in the cleanup if its neccessary for the families affected by the recent events.

Love to all.

Ate-Track-Tape

Are you me
can this be
just one moment
and we'll go
time can't move
life this slow
wasn't it just a moment?
wasn't it just a go?


We move this life, a dance
fast young furious
easy, quick, slow,
feet a shuffle
hard, stiff,
heart aglow
on tip, on toe.

Zero = stop, zero = go, zero = zero, nothing can equal yes
nothing can equal no
so go,
go, go, go.

Like a beat losts its rythm
player lost his game
dancer lost a partner
lover lose, heartache we've seen
Again
gain, gain, gain.


The Soul lost
its will to lie down fast
forward so eject
I pull this rewind out
as the track-tape-ate away
hungry, parched, dying
inside me.

Are you me
can this be
fast, young, furious
dying
to go
to stay
dying for me
dying to me
but always
dying free
free, free, free.

-----Middle Ground------

Somewhere East of Kansas,
West of Highway 66 and
North of hell…
‘would rather swallow my pride
‘cut off my legs to spite my lips
‘than give in and dance
the middle ground for you.

Some say ‘semblence of order,
I say mired in red tape
‘let’s cut the bullshit baby,
a middle ground girl I ain’t.

Doesn’t suit my color,
fit my scheme,
Soothe my demons
nor cover this ache.

See you in hell Scarlett,
primetime's at 8'eight.

- M.Shelby, April 2004

copyright 2004-2024

Review:
"This was fun, blunt and too the point. I . . ." Reviewed by Whitt22

=====Is she all that I'm not???=======

Dedicated to all the lousy lovers who keep one eye and two feet, out the door.....

Is she all that I’m not?
Does she fill just the right spot?
Will she give you a thrill?
Betcha she paid the last bill.

You think she has what I got?
But you can’t teach,what can’t be taught.
She’s just a cheating thief
who hasn’t been caught…
And hook, line and sinker
you're just a silly fool who’s been wrapped and wrangled,
sold and bought.

‘Think she’s the cure to your ill?
Betch’a think she’s the real f*cking deal
As you walk blindly downhill,
‘don’t even know your own will.
Oh, but when she’s done, baby,
you most definitely will.

I here when she mates,
she goes in for the kill.
Too bad when she reaches it…
she’ll find there’s nothing left to steal.

And you thought I wouldn’t
but I can
and baby, I will.

So, is she really all that I’m not?
I guess you can’t lose what you never “got.”
What’s left to say, you’ve finally been caught.
And I haven’t even screamed, cried or fought.
You see, I replace what I lose
when I find that it can be bought.

You think I’m still yours
But baby,
I’m not.

So, here
I teach, the lesson
that you need taught:
for the record, she can have it all
everything...that...I...got.
I give it here without...
.a.
single-last-thought.
by shelbyshome
md.shelby copyright 2004-2024

Author's Comments:
"a fun, biting play on the boomerang that occurs when a cheating heart moves astray."

Reviews and Star Ratings for this poem:
***** 5 Star*****
"GOOD POEM. I WAS JUST BLOWN AWAY. . . ." Reviewed by: czymatry"good poem. I really like it. I . . ." Reviewed by: AlexaLGBabe"You go girl! Tell him like it . . ." Reviewed by: cranderson"This poem has so much truth it . . ." Reviewed by: wdcalhoun"This is a very good poem. There . . ." Reviewed by: Teri7"Great poem! Tell it like it is. . . ." Reviewed by: jacla"Drama Drama Drama. Though still a nice . . ." Reviewed by: Breathing41"I really liked this poem. I know . . ." Reviewed by: Dontjudge "I enjoyed that ride this piece took . . ." Reviewed by: Whitt22"Compelling consistant flow of thought from beginning . . ." Reviewed by: Neil Fraser "I LOVE this one..I feel very honored . . ." Reviewed by: littlebluehorizons "Good poem, I was astonished at the . . ." Reviewed by: Desu_666"This piece has great depth and the . . .” Reviewed by: Tom J"This is a comical poem, spoken about . . ." Reviewed by: Laughterby"i love it!!! send a copy to . . ." Reviewed by: MrsSchlosser"I'd be willing to bet, she's not. . . ." Reviewed by: fedbackwards"LOVED IT girlie this piece just like . . ." Reviewed by: J Byrd

My Life So Far..A Patchwork of Humanity: Poems

My Life So Far..A Patchwork of Humanity: Poems

Beware Picket Pockets & Loose Women

Beware:
pickpockets,
loose women,
& (too) nice men.

Complimentary competitors,
fragrance-counter salespeople.
Offers too good-to-refuse,
money-back guarantees &
mail-in rebates..

And without a doubt,
never trust anyone,
you can't live without.

Run, Leap, Scram,
the minute you discover,
'cause as surely as you can't..
- they can.


- Shelby (March ‘05)

Eye on me...

I ponder is weather to whether,

as tic is to tock?
Grammatical companions,

yielding a similar intonation,
with entirely contrasting annotations.

Can I be and eye of myself?
Or does an entirely different me exist,

hiding fastened tightly down,
caught beneath the surface of my rushing pulse,

beating heart,

gasping breathe.

Flesh to bones,

bones to dust,
Till there’s no me

or I

at all

As I die myself,

eye closed permanantly

I am I,

no more.

('in the drink)

Oh, I came too quickly, laughed too loudly,

*cut too-short,
*over-estimated,
*under-dressed.

No x-cusses,

‘didn’t take much ‘put me back, where I belong…(‘in the drink)
But, was With, Who, Where, and How…

I was out…(‘in the drink)

Half empty, a fools-fullI’d stood bar-stool high,

glass upturned, head hung low

Awaiting my magic, blood-coursing moment

The tingle tangle warmth through my veins,

to fill’ her up….finally.(‘In the drink)

Oh, But I was so unlike the likes of you. all.

Or so it seemed, that is, until I put me back…(‘in the drink)

But, every time/town/Tom/Dick or Harry

how many bottoms was I willing to drop?

I’d sink a little deepergoing, going, gone (‘in the drink)

Left with only pieces of a wholly, holy mess

To this, that and anyone,

just to have one

to "cheer"...
(’in the drink)

-Shelby (April ‘04)

To Refute the Oracle

“I must give you an account of my journeyings,
as if they were laborers I had overtaken to refute the oracle…”
- Plato, The Apology (Socrates on trial)

****************************************************************************

I know this much to be true
What it is we think we know most of…
Remains as It were, intrinsically untrue.

Our lack of understanding
this basic matter
of unknown fact
a vast, virtuous, void of infinite space
Contrasting any tiny spark of absolute certainty
Of what is real, who can even reason
Why we do what we do.

Ought better we be contained
With examining
the rather obvious
gaping *hole*left
as the dust crumbles, bit by bit.
in the patchworkofhuman(ity,ity,ity)bit

Observe the lack of wonder
at our own heart double-beating in time
to that of mammals and yesteryears men.

Wandering we are, lost, a in a touch of sadness,
a spell of madness, disguised as scientific revolute
a curiously primordial preoccupation, concerned with:
conquer, crush, run, outlast, outwit..outrule
tremble as we may in fear.

Pondering weather-to-whether
The weight of
man(kind)’s
ounce
is worth(y) the
measure of a mile
..One (1) which we have long forgotten to take–time &
walk, skip, meander or even saunter
on near or about(s)..

Far too concerned (we remain)
In whether (or not)
he wore
the right (or left) shoe.
to begin it….

Half of what you see

Take a moment,
lend a hand,

Render a decision,
take a stand.

Speak like a lady,
fight like a man.

Toughen up little lady,
listen here, little girl.

Hold me up,
stand beside me.

Take your place,
keep your voice down.

Mother me;
look at me with the eyes of a child.

Believe in me,
trust no one.

So, here I am:
with my abs hard, ass tight. my heart open..but my mouth shut.

So, here I stand:Half of What You See...with just few of your double entendres’

to live by.

And remember;
only believe half of what you see.

Which half is the question?


-Shelby (March ‘05)

The catch...

So, if you've found me, I probably lured you here. Welcome to my secret life, that of a fairly awful poet I am afraid. An aspiring, frightfully naive philosopher of sorts, here to observe, comment and ponder. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether or not we speak a common language.

For myself, in truth: I often wonder if I am alone in this...sort of wandering wonder. It is then my trusty keyboard allows me to release the ache created by life. One which fills-up quickly with a mixture of despair, happiness, exhilaration, boredom, regret, love and fear.

The words, albeit each of them simple, seem to ease the guilt that accompanies my sense of personal responsibility to grow and evolve my level of understanding and search for truth. So here I go, as I take the plunge and reveal to you my trusty "blanket": a patchwork of my humanity....