Monthly Archives: March 2016

Thanks David Soule

Obvious MagazineLike Page

Lawyers should never ask a Georgia grandma a question if they aren’t prepared for the answer.

In a trial, a Southern small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand. He approached her and asked, ‘Mrs. Jones, do you know me?’ She responded, ‘Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I’ve known you since you were a boy, and frankly, you’ve been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you’re a big shot when you haven’t the brains to realize you’ll never amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you.’

The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, ‘Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?’

She again replied, ‘Why yes, I do. I’ve known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. He’s lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. He can’t build a normal relationship with anyone, and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him.’

The defense attorney nearly died.

The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench and, in a very quiet voice, said,

‘If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I’ll send you both to the electric chair.

A Test for Truth

Whispers of the truth somehow lose their way
People find enjoyment changing what they convey
Others can’t genuinely hear what was said
More often I think this is how lies are spread

When whispers come stop them in their tracks
Don’t be part of the problem don’t join the attack
Or tell them to speak up so all around can hear
Besides if you’ve done nothing what would you fear

© 2011 Michael Yost 06/26

Self Pity

Self pity is the worst possible emotion anyone can have. And the most destructive. It is, to slightly paraphrase what Wilde said about hatred, and I think actually hatred’s a subset of self pity and not the other way around – ‘It destroys everything around it, except itself.’

Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/picturequote/6282

Found Memories

Renewed feelings slipped through my defense
Had to make room they were getting intense
Beating back only stiffened their resolve
Heart’s overflowing as it dissolves

Passing by again her head held high
Mona Lisa smile eyes piercing deny
Any love left has gone by the way side
Now I see it nothing’s left but to die

© 2016 Michael Yost 03/23

 

Life’s Memories

I love the old porch swing’s poetry
What’s left of my life’s memories
Going back I find some new stories
Why did they hold them back from me

They think I don’t know what’s going on
Still watching the clocks till I’m gone
Where’s the poems I had for the songs
Tick tock I know what’s going on
2012 Michael Yost 02/07

Seed of Faith*

Where did my love go for my faith
Why does it seem so easy now to hate
Father and sins down the rabbit hole
Tethered behind I search for my soul

Having lived above I seen Him bleed
Now reaching out to plant my seed
My faith as huge a mustard seed’s small
Is going to move mountains overall

Closing my eyes I see it done
Opening my eyes what moved was the sun
Faith knows it’s done when my eyes betray
Knowing it’s already done is the only way

© 2016 Michael Yost 03/22

*Matt 17:20

Blowing Away the Blues

The record plays when I’m alone
From a broken heart and home
Like Sisyphus rolling up the boulder
My duty rests on my shoulders

How can I go on without you
I only hope you hear it too
Can you hear it when you arrive
If you don’t how can I survive

The rain has come and washes my doubt
But the record still plays it out
Then she confesses she hears it too
We harmonized blowing away the blues

© 2016 Michael Yost 03/18

Stop Sign

Yesterday I believe was our start
Today marks the binding of our hearts
Tomorrow starts the journey of our love
With the showing of the two white doves

The world was our bumpy road ahead
Laughing with each new bump as we sped
Not a care or worry crossed our minds
That is before they ran a stop sign

The angels were there to push our car
Before the semi got very far
Still the semi hit the brakes
Saving all our lives for Heaven’s Sake

© 2016 Michael Yost 03/17

My Final Sin

I question my motives everyday
Trying to find the righteous way
Not giving into a hateful fate
Nor pushing through or jumping gates

Not giving into the path of ease
Coming across like you meant to please
Opening my heart and letting you in
Was my final mistake my final sin

© 2016 Michael Yost 03/17

Adjusting Words Past

Come over here and sit by me
On the soft grass under the oak tree
Dreams faded away paint cracked and curled
Once were the days you were still my girl

Deny not the smiles they were real
Fears from broken hearts past did peel
Let’s make things right don’t go astray
Adjust the words I said and didn’t say

The sun’s going down the end of the day
Look at the time spent we’ve had to pay
We have to go now and I don’t know how
Accepting defeat again with closure now

Let me give hope back filling your heart
Give it a chance we’ll have a new start
With our tracks behind us converging
Let’s be together once again merging

Don’t take me down on bending knees
I don’t want to but beg I will please
If it’s your will then I’ll push this rock
Never again your door will I knock

© 2012 Michael Yost 3/22

Nepotism Negatives

We follow them double back up the creek
Then the dogs losing our scent was bleak
The Queen gagged over the saddle awake
She doesn’t know I do this for my sake

My words no longer has the power
They went astray when I turned coward
Even holding my feet to the fire
I can’t tell the truth known to be a liar

They planned to kill us both yesterday
My wicked brother was next and paid
Telling Queen mother other son’s plans
Racing to hope with a new lifespan

She had her archers kill all but one
The man riding the white horse her son
Taking him to the stocks and later hung
Then the Queen died and His subjects sung

© 03/15 Michael Yost 2016

 

The Fish WRapper

Terry looked down at his bloody knuckles, “Dammed red heads, who knew that peckerwood was going to hit his head on the cement stairs?” “Well help me put him in the boat and let’s grab some of those cinder blocks.”
Pulling up at 2:30am the brothers parked by the boat ramp. The thermos steam was starting to trail off the cup until you blew on it and then it fogged up the windows. Joe broke the silence, “You didn’t have to kill that kid.” “Joe, that wasn’t a kid or a sixteenth, he was trying to rip us off, and hell I only hit him once.”
Look at that, someone has already put their Bass Master in the water and its only 3am. The State Game and Fishing Officer pulled in, parked and then walked over to talk to the two fellas. “You fellas look new to the area. How are you this morning?”
“Stay calm Terry, whispered Terry.” “Morning Officer, we’re doing OK. We used to come here as kids and it’s our first time back. We sure are looking forward to getting some bass today.”
“Well before you go out let me update you about our little place here. My son runs the bait shop and prints the local rag, “The Fish WRapper”. We’re still a small fishing community here at Liars Cove. You’ve got to be off the lake at 4pm. We’re just big enough to support a State Game and Fishing Officer, but small enough that I have to share an office with my big mouth son Peter, but he prefers to be called Junior.”
“Well this is Terry and I’m Joe. If you don’t mind we’re going to get out on the lake. We’ll catch up some more later this afternoon.”
“That sounds good boys; my name is Officer Michael P Pecker, senior. Oh and junior’s a little sensitive about his red hair and only his friends can call him Peckerwood. Now where is that boy?”

© 2012 Michael Yost 3/13

Under Her Cup

Keep your only love under your cup
Don’t let your eyes settle too long on him
While sitting at the long table for sup
Close your eyes for prayer and hymn

Your father watches you close to see
Whether your blue eyes remain shut tight
And he can’t see your foot rub his knee
Suddenly the ground shook with a fright

More pleading prayers and hymns calmed the earth
Then a black cloud and red fire spewed up
Like labor opening giving birth
Her secrets out up from her love’s cup

© 03/12 Michael Yost 2016

The Lesser of Two Evils

The Lessor of Two Evils

Listen, her sobs shaking the tower
Slimy trolls are climbing towards her
Her mother-in-law left her to rot
Her elfin ears were burning red hot

She knew her mother-in-law was mad
She didn’t know why and it made her sad
The troll’s breath straightened her golden curls
Making her so sick it made her hurl

Trolls started melting and died from her puke
Far off she seen her husband the Duke
His mother started to run away
Knowing very well she’d have to pay

He called the Princess, let down your hair
When he reached the top, she was scared
He cut her hair and tied it secure
Had her follow him down staying demure

© 03/12 Michael Yost 2016

Disguise

*”If you wanna find
Out what’s behind these cold eyes
You’ll just have to claw
Your way through this
Disguise”

Working the floor smiling hiding tears
People behind pushing trying to steer
Her young death hard keeping up the facade
Sadness now wanting madness’s rod

No more penance and self flagellation
Opening these gate’s reputation
Run away or you’ll make your own wreath
Looking up you’ll see you’re underneath

© 03/10 Michael Yost 2016

*In The Flesh
Roger Waters
Pink Floyd
The Wall

Making of Stairway To Heaven

Morgan Says it All

Funny-Orangutan

Possibilities

Looking beyond the possibilities
Shows the doors of probability
Sesame only echoes futility
By my chiney chin chin’s hostilities

© 2016 Michael Yost 03/08

My Hiding Place

All I can give are these few words written here
Uncovering part of my life hoping to clear
Being left behind wrestling with my old fears
The same unspoken problems behind my tears

No molds or experience just an empty void
Tripping over my cold darkened thoughts yet a boy
Being held backward or worst yet pushed through destroyed
Reliving parts of my life no longer being toyed

The mirrored web cracked splintering some of my sins
While I tip toe on eggshells, needles and pins
Hoping today the rest of my life begins
Opening the locked doors that are held tight within

© 2014 Michael Yost 04/05

Funky Walk

Marble Music

Aluminuggets

Not having ten advisors I look to you
You seem to know the answers with no voodoo
Watching the caldron my fate seems to bubble up
Dipping in the chalice I taste the corrupt

Picking up the gold nuggets emptying the cans
Looking towards the new horizon I stand
Watching the sun crest over the fall tree line
Gathering in the carts I count all that’s mine

© 03/03 Michael Yost 2016

Walking Around Me

Walking around me their heads close together
Heading toward then running up the red stair
The blue stair just ahead slipping on my tears
Trying to catch them on the red stair without fear

Crossing onto the red stairs my nose bled
I’m trying to get over the things they’d said
My own light flickering starting to fade
Breaking my spirit leaving my edges frayed

Now two more behind me conjuring dread
Spells ringing and bouncing inside my head
Crouching down I jumped to the blue stairs
Scared the witches catching them unawares

Jumping higher than I thought possible
I thought that their flying seemed impossible
I seen them fly solving an aged old question
There wasn’t a saddle they stayed on with suction
© 2016 Michael Yost 03/02

When Will You Fight

 

When are you going to get up and fight
Knowing you’ll be found righteous and right
Laying on the floor sobbing is quite the sight
Get up when you fail show him your spite

Facing the mirror blood flows like he said
Fingers interlaced behind my head
Feeling defeated forehead on the wall
There was a tear sheet, “You Better Call Saul”

© Michael Yost 03/16