Turning Twenty-Two

Turning Twenty-Two

Yeah, I turned twenty- two today

And I didn't know what to do or to say

How to act or how to feel, if this was it, if it was real?

If I should rejoice or just lament about the money that he'd spent.

I sat with my father and that made him glad

For so very long now he's been so sad

And everything seems to just make him mad

But me and my birthdays and poetry.

There was a cake, there was a dish

I blew out the candles and made a wish

I wished for a life that was happy and free

And that things could go back to the way they used to be.

When I was a boy and life was a game

Of long summer days and walks in the rain

Of puppies and kittens and laughing till crying

And there was no such thing as divorce or dying.

I remember those days and they make me smile

As I visit my childhood and forget for a while

How different life is now and how lonely it seems

When compared to the world that I live in, in dreams.

I turned the Big 2-2, twenty two today
 And my friends all teased  me and called me "Old Man" and such

And the presents were nice

And I admit I was touched.

But for some reason I felt old

And not young anymore

And I felt I had walked through a no-going-back-door

And that I had set foot on a far away shore............

As I looked at my father,
 Being brave, though bereft

I looked into his sad eyes..........

And I saw myself.

©by Voo

For Daniel

different isn't evil

different isn't evil

different isn't evil

necessarily bad

or to be shunned

excommunicated

or banned into oblivion.

why do we tend

to think in those terms?

draw back in fear

at the conspicuous?

cover our eyes and retreat?

everything's odd

in this life

everything's bizarre

to an outsider

who does not understand.

who's to say

what's normal

or not?

and what is normal

in a strange world?

i look at people

and i see myself

i dive in shallow

and i see depth

for i am different.

though they look at me

as though i were not from here

and turn away

as though they perceive

that i am dangerous.

different isn't evil

for the world would be

an evil place, if true

and God would be evil

for creating it.

but in His eyes, it's lovely

it's special and wondrous

and beautiful in a thousand colors

different isn't evil

it's just different.

©by Voo

Aug 5, 07

5:45 p.m.
(who is definitely different)

You're Not Alone

You're Not Alone

You're not alone

Although you feel

That life and love

Is hardly real.

You're not alone

I feel your pain

I see you crying

In the rain.

You're not alone

Angels above

Look down on you

Through clouds of love.

You're not alone

The earth below

Keeps track of steps

Each place you go.

You're not alone

The oceans cry

And rush to shore

When you pass by.

You're not alone

Just think you are

You see a black sky

I see a star.

You're not alone

You'll never be

I'm in your heart now

And you've got me.

©by Voo

May 2, 08

You've Got Me Now
by Cleve Francis

You Are Not Alone
by Michael Jackson

Walking and Talking and Staying on the Path

Walking and Talking 

and Staying on the Path

The world is full of spin doctors and talking heads that talk
When all the world is crying out for those who walk the walk
The politicians tickle the ears, tell us what we want to hear
And promise us futures so shiny and bright
 But always starting next year.

The news medias censor the worst down to bad
 Then tell us the bad with a laugh
Show us the freeways full of Hollywood heroes
 And beckon us off of the path.

Fundamentalist fanatics, they call those who walk there,
Mental cases thumping Bibles in hate
 While the rock stars on drugs and the gangstas and thugs
Are idolized at the world's open gate.

Tolerate! they scream in rage,
Tolerate our sin!
And they tolerate but hate and berate
 Those who are born again.

The songs they teach our children today
 To sing and imitate
So filthy when you hear the words,
They leave your mouth agape.

What passes for entertainment now
 Would make a blind man blush
They've got their rights and we've got none 
So we look away and hush.

That's the way of the world, we tell ourselves,
 There's nothing we can do
And the tidal waves fill the earth with a lie
 While they wash away all of the true.

We feel so helpless, we feel confused,
 We wonder what comes next
Saturday morning cartoon shows
 Full of violence and sex.

Our children lose their innocence
 Before they even start to talk
And all because they have no guides
 That know how to walk the walk.

Sometimes the World and the Church look so much alike
 That you cannot tell them apart
God is Love, they will say, how can you judge me today
 If Jesus really lives in your heart?

And we cower and nod and embarrass our God 
'Cause we don't want to embarrass the lost
So we blend in and pray that somehow they'll find the Way
But to lead them there is just too high a cost.

But on Christian t.v. where the Gospel is free
And the love and prosperity flows
Prophets thrill us with tales of how they're living so well
But they can't tell us where the money tree grows.

Most televangelists make you feel so condemned
( If you don't send your pledges in quick)
Tonight if you pay we'll send miracles your way!
And send a prayer cloth to lay on the sick.

They drive around in limousines
With bodyguards and chefs
In mansions live, while the masses give
Till there is nothing left.

Just once to see a preacher...
 Stand up on t.v. and say......
The need is great and I see your state
And I'm sending you money today!

How can the world think Christians are different
If all they see is greed?
"Gimme the fortune and gimme the fame
And Lord, send others to meet all the need."

The paths of holy righteousness
Are rocky, lonely places
You don't find gold on the side of the road
Or many friendly faces.

You cry your tears and you face your fears
And you swallow all your pride
And you show God's love to your enemies
 Though your fear says you're dying inside.

Few rewards you find on that long, narrow path
 Till you get to the end of the road
As you watch the crowds run in their pursuit of fun
 While you're trudging along with your load.

The path of least resistance is full 
And the path of resistance is bare
More often than not you'll see no one beside you
But your heart knows that Jesus is there.

And shame for the world and it's sin bows your head
And you cry out for redemption and glory
Though it's arduous and hard, obedience has a reward 
And it's there at the end of the story.

But the World plays it's games and the Church calls it names
And the airwaves are filled with the talk 
While God's Heaven awaits to open up pearly gates
At the end of that path and that walk.

The world could not contain the books
Of all that Jesus said
So they recorded His most important words
And we read them now in red.

And all of the things that He said He would do,
 He did them in love and in trust
He talked and He walked and He showed them the Way

And that's what He expects of us.

©by Voo Shining Stone

Jan 27, 2005

 2 a.m.

The Parking Lot Puppy

THE PARKING LOT PUPPY

I found you in the parking lot

You Said:  If I follow you home

Will you keep me?

I said:  Well, you are kinda cute

Let me think it over. Okay! I thought it over!

Let's go over to Starbucks and I'll observe you

And see what kind of tricks you can do

And if you've been properly trained.

And we did and you were and I was tickled pink

(Whatever the heck that means!)

Well, I was tickled and probably pink also

I don't know. But you sure were cute.

You Cocker Spaniel, you!

You Pomeranian puppy, you Beagle baby

You Sheep Dog that turned Hound Dog

Turned Shar Pei turned Rottweiler

Turned Pit Bull turned Pot Bellied Pig

(Oh, wait, wrong species!)

What happened to my cute little

 Adorable Puppy Boy? What happened to my

 Sad eyed little affectionate sock chewer?

You're just fat and bald and wrinkled

And inconsiderate and indifferent

And uncaring and mean!

So, go get all your toys and your comfy bed

And your bowls and your leashes

And your squeaky stuff and your treats

And get in the car!

I'm taking you back to the parking lot

Where I found you and setting you free!

No, we can't go to starbucks and talk!

And no, don't look at me with those

Big brown moist eyes

I'm not falling for that routine again, mister!

Get out now

 And follow some other poor girl around

And ruin her life

I'm not gonna be your pal no more!

Sorry...........

Didn't mean to slam the car door on your tail

(much)

Buh..Bye!

And I watch you shuffle away dejectedly

With your tail between your legs

With your arms all full of the great stuff I bought you

And for a moment, I feel sorry for you.

But then I see the sign I had slapped on your back

Which reads:

If you find this dog, don't pick him up!

Call the Dog Catcher immediately

May have rabies, definitely has fleas

Is not house broken, is extremely spoiled

Loves nobody and he ain't no friend of mine!!

(Or anybody's.)

And I smile at your retreating backside

As a tear tries to roll down my cheek

Then you turn to look at me over your mangy shoulder

With that little once endearing leer

As if to say "Watch this!"

And you approach a pretty blonde girl

Getting out of a Toyota

Who reaches down to scratch behind your ears
Goes "Ooh and Ah! You Sweet Boy, you!

And scoops you up in unsuspecting arms.

©by Voo

Oct 13, 2005 

7:15 p.m.

Oct 13, 2005

 7:15 p.m.