Lost Childhood

She lay every night
And dreads his arrival
Predatory approach
That threatens survival

She feels the difference
Naïve adolescence
Her warrior spirit
And sage-like prescience

She feels like giving up
When hands begin to creep
But knows it’s not enough
To only hide and weep

Still, her fear restrains her
From speaking out aloud
His threats are in her ears
A strong voice sure and proud

His gun between her lips
Keeps her voice for a time
Until she realizes
His actions are a crime

It would be many years
Until she found the will
To jail her tormentor
The pain is with her still

Between Two Worlds

Among my people as we talk
The more I learn as we walk
The love of language as we speak
The word "Kaska", I finally meet

As I meet family I did not know
Love and happiness I'm soon to show
Deceased twelve guns made a blast
A great chief, is now in the past

Culture and language, we tried to preserve
Leave the city and return to reserve
In the moment I start to believe
I'm told I'm "Kaska", I cannot leave

All my dreaming and wishing
Would lead to hunting and fishing
My brother "Du'ch"
Knew where to find the hooch

I'm neither white nor brown
I'm a stranger in my hometown
When I say "Hello"
My people say you have to go

You pass an elder a plate
Their angels will appreciate

Eagle Tragedy

Eagles soaring up in the sky
Looking down as pigeons fly by

In the tall trees the great nests sit
The fledglings chirp in the thick mist

Making their homes in glen and dale
Could not have known their betrayal

Beautiful bird killed for profit
Talons, feathers, only off it

Avian slaughter sends out chills
Through the forests, cities, and hills

Wholesale slaughter fueled by greed
Cold avarice rather than need

Natives betrayed, one of their own
Heinous crimes, discord was sown

Only lost souls could do such things
With selfish wants and pride of kings

Forty birds that once touched the sky
Gliding free, will no longer fly

The Shining Sword

There once flew an airplane
They called the shining sword,
The Lancaster bomber
Held back the Nazi horde.

Its four Merlin engines
Could really work magic
They helped bring airmen back,
Others' deaths were tragic.

Day after day they flew
Through enemy fighters
Those who came back were few,
Tired from their all-nighters.

Coming back to England
The Luftwaffe would wait
And shoot them as they land
To try and seal their fate.

But despite their attempts
To stem the bombing tide
The Lanc' crews were too brave
To ever run and hide.

Let us all remember
The sacrifice they made
And salute their valor,
Then thank them for their aid.

Reunite With the Light

You've sung your song
You've cast your spell
To send your soul to heaven/hell

Dropping doctrines like shedding clothes
You panic from your many woes.
Regret what's lost, regret what's not
Creating foes you cannot stop

Instead of making that sacrifice
Maybe you could just be nice.
Give up the thrill, give up the kill,
You may not have to roll the dice

I must admit I'm feeling blue
But still know what I have to do.
I wish you could see the path that's right
To reunite with the light

My prayers will always be with you
As long as your heart remains true

The Liquor Store Blues

At 6'oclock alarm goes off, I shuffle off to work
So that I can labor for some self-important jerk.
I change into my uniform, just polyester hell
Not only does it look like crap, it also makes me smell.

At 10'oclock we open, the drunks are lined up deep
Their buggies full of empties are enough to make me weep.
A lush has grabbed his vodka, and stumbles to the till
He runs into an end display and trips on his own swill.

His alcoholic perfume, which permeates the air
Isn't as unnerving as his dull and vacant stare.
He pays for his purchase, a penny at a time
And throws in a comment that the price is a big crime.

I nod in his direction, and he staggers to the door
I really don't know how I can take it anymore.
Liquor, liquor, everywhere, but not a drop to drink
This is really hard-earned money, despite what others think.

Stale Love

So you say you love me
But my wants are hollow
A devil to tempt me
An angel to follow

A lover to love me
Joy in which to wallow
Instead of a vulture
I'd quite like a swallow

I really did love you
Now you make my skin crawl
I wish you would vanish
Or get up and stand tall

I just want my freedom
From boredom and from you
You're stuck like an anchor
On a ship with no crew