Tag Archives: Poetry

Just Another Old Puckered Butt on a Rollercoaster

The measuring tape suddenly snapped back

Like a mind filled with hate
it seemed to attack

Reeled in, the tape tightened stealing the slack

Also stealing my emotions but for fear and lack

These thoughts now focused and no longer concealed

Anger and guilt rose to see
what routes were sealed

When they arrived a large bell ominously peeled

The rocks under foot opened losing their faith to be healed

Michael Yost
07/20/2020

Just Another Daze.

Don’t let the Alarmists Ring the Bells.

The Clown Made Me Do It!

I’m Not but what a cover.

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

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

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

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

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

Inkwell

Catching the morning sun through the dust
I cried from inside of my inkwell
Hoping for the day she would have some trust
Sliding down again cursing her hell

When your muse feels ignored and alone
She picks up the pen to help me out
Don’t be surprised when she won’t throw a bone
No matter how much you whine and shout

Finally I get out of my inkwell
Walking to my muse I start to sweat
Your tactics will never compel
And I guess I’ll always be in your debt

© 2016 Michael Yost 01/19

Circumstances

Step into your new image that you created
You’re not set in stone or some higher fate
Don’t twist and turn at each other’s debate
Rely on the new you and not hesitate

You lift with the winds going up and around
Fearless and searching the wide open ground
Spotting the plunder you angle your glide down
They didn’t have a prayer or heard a sound

Character requires some decision
The picture you paint should have precision
To accomplish whatever you envisioned
And ensure you provide enough provisions

2011©Michael Yost 11/08
Revision 2016/1/08