Strenghts And Not Poem by Joseph White

The day dawns raising some hopes
and brightening other's outlooks
even over and amid mounting fear
of the next day

The sunrise unleashes breathtaking vistas
of cacti and tumbleweed desert
it washes the shadows from the mesquite trees
and the sun will shine in our yard, too

Alleluia! my lips taste the cold sweet tea
in the palace of the holy mother
who reminds the wind how to blow
and me that all things must pass

She reins in the crows
here to peck at our hearts
as we sleep....others roll up sleeves
to work in the dark night

We oft dream of terrible truths
and fairy tale lies laid on bones of elders
as the diamond's sheen falls
from the ruby sadness of street lights

My hands fumbled at the door's lock
wanting to find shelter inside the house
from the owner who now
lies under the grass

In life, he was starvation thin and
in desperation's hold, sadly his love
was void and shapeless as water
and it ran from his heart in a torrent

His passing salted my wounds
but the woman he chased now
swears like a sailor on shore leave
that is almost more than I want to know

Now I'm knockin' around and knockin' heads
in the downtown bars with names like
The Torch Room and Jim's Tavern
I find refuge in the joints

All of them are dark when entered
but soon all the smoking patrons are seen
as they lift beers and bourbons
to the music on the Wurlitzer

The faces are hard from being
long hours from home and
with no intention of going soon
more's the pity, more's the pity

About three A.M., I stumble
to my small apartment and fall
into the unmade bed hoping
I will awake tomorrow

To raised hopes and brighter outlook
well, we all want something unattainable
but I really know those are dreams of youth
and those with purpose and I am no longer young