Tag Archives: Michael Yost

A Slower Path

What we’ve taken on heavies our load
Done with such confidence that we seemed bold
Truth be known we’ve slipped up before now
Dreams had to be left behind disavowed

Not being forgot, a slower path we’ll take
Our reputation being built on what we make
Not like Sisyphus we’ll roll over the peak
Finding smaller hills from others who speak

© 2016 Michael Yost 5/23

It Should Have Been Six

 

If she would love me I’d feel it forced

If she would love me I’d feel remorse

It should have happened already by now

It should have happened before our vows

 

If I had known it was out of sympathy

If I had known before today she’d be free

It should have been done with feelings of love

It should have been done without feeling shoved

 

If you told me I wouldn’t be grieved

If you told me I would feel deceived

It should have been your responsibility

It should have been six so you were easier to carry

 

© 2011 Michael Yost 06/27

 

Irrationality

Start capturing your own irrational fears
Before they take over and become too severe
They can cancel your life before it begins
You could cut yourself off and fall deep within

You can put down on paper just what came to mind
Doesn’t mean that you’ve found or know where to find
Relief from this maze or where it’s defined
Because when you’re inside you feel maligned
© 2011 Michael Yost 07/10

In the Glass I See

There in the glass I see a sixteen year old boy with an old man’s mask on. I begin to notice the dark circles under the green eyes that sparkle; nothing dull yet; but his glasses do need cleaning. I see white stubble and mustache with a two inch long goatee on his saddening face; like he’s had no reason to shave in the past few days. Looking closer I see the goatee covers a weak double chin with a single wrinkle that goes down the length of his neck. The same white stubble covers his shaved head to cover the thinning bald spot in the back and what’s left of his front hairline.
His round upturned nose reminds me of a Santa’s nose, but there’s a thin scar going diagonal from the left nostril to the top that makes his nose tilt to the right side of his face. His cheekbones are set high, but it seems to highlight the dark circles more. The ears are long and close to the head.
Wait a minute… he’s starting to smile with a broad grin and his eyes are lighting up and sparkling even more. His whole face transforms and laughs a little with a tear rolling down his cheek and then is when I happily succumb to my fate realizing the old man is me and that my wrinkles are really my laugh lines. My green eyes are still that of the sixteen year old from so many years ago… but they’re still with me today.

© 2011 Michael Yost 12/10

I Haven’t Done Anything yet Either

The halls echo softly with children’s cries

Mom lies in her locked hole getting high

Garbage strewn beneath the children’s feet

Refrigerator unplugged with nothing to eat

 

Bulging bellies in America hard to believe

And there’s no one around to care or to grieve

Fly’s in the kid’s eyes are having a feast

Even the roaches deserted with no crumbs to eat

 

© 2011 Michael Yost 06/20

Hurt and Love are Magnetic

You hurt when one of your loved ones hurts. There are no words that can make their hurt go away or ease unrequited love.  All you can do is be there when needed.

2016 Michael Yost 04/08

Cold Again

Her side is cold again
Asking aloud what about us
I’ve have always been here
I did it this time by turning your head away

Nobody lives forever on the blue
Smaller than a grain of sand’s molecules
Single molecules one million times smaller than a grain
Tumbling in the abyss being pushed and pulled

The walls were cold and very white
Not unlike the foam from her ski do’s wake
I caused her to look away and she hit a boat
And her side will again be cold

© 2013 Michael Yost 05/06

Pete

childrens-portrait-photographer-elliot-jonah-bridge-1

That’s Pete and myself 20 years ago.
Today I walked the rail alone, because Pete had to ride.
It was a beautiful coach and everything;
He always looked his best in his dress blues.

It was a beautiful spring morning then too.
The ground was soft that morning and fruitful;
The worms we got were huge and the trout ate em up.
Almost as big as the ones crawling out from under that tarp.

I brought this picture today to remember important things.
Pete’s sacrifice is obvious and full of meaning.
What’s not so obvious is that
Pete greased the last three feet of that rail.

©2011 Michael Yost 01/14

Pete is everyone’s brother, son and father

up.the.anteater@gmail.com

http://www.booguloo.wordpress.com

I Need to Up Wright

I need to write this today
Waiting to fall in love and play
I need to melt at first sight
And please let it happen tonight

My ache is real and gaining strength
The pendulum blade drops in length
How many failures before my death
Before the blade takes my last breath

Last words written with the fall of night
Then the Queen’s ball only pairs in sight
I see Gwen smile does she wait for me?
No the Prince comes up and I flee

© 2016 Michael Yost 04/10

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

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

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

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