Empty Staff

by Thomas M. Pender
 

It's time to kill Music
For crimes against
The Heart
For the rape of Love
And the murder of Faith

We once sang to the Son
And now we play to the Fire
Our melodies were sprung from light
But our tunes now are children of heat
If you scream
They will dance
For while they can still hear
They no longer listen

God gave Music to Man
And Man shared Music with Hell
To create Noise

Our babies know no Beauty
Because they cling the Noise to their ears
They have forgotten how to talk
How to listen
How to feel
How to think

The notes no longer engage the heart
But the gut
Instinct
Drive
Fear and Hate
The light dims as the fire spreads

Start again
With an innocent child
And empty staff
And Love



written by t. michael pender  3/6/97
copyright 1997 T. Michael Pender.  All rights reserved.

What If . . . ?

What if I loved you enough

to fly to the sun without wings

to bring you its fire without gloves

to light up your body without end?

What if you loved me enough

to close your eyes without fear

to cross a bridge in your heart

to get to our home before dawn?

What if our love was enough

to take us to worlds not yet touched

to be on our own among all

to create a new life just for us?

What if our love already is enough?

And what if tomorrow

It’s more?

written by t. michael pender  9/24/98
copyright 1998 T. Michael Pender.  All rights reserved.

Fools And Kings

by Thomas M. Pender 

With a title inspired by a Billy Joel line, this was a poem from a transitional phase, in which I was talking myself into coming out of my shell and learning to say what I felt and wanted.  I wasn't quite there yet, but I was very close. . . .

 

If I am labeled a Fool

For speaking my heart

Then I hold my head high

And speak for all Fools

For Kings have high rank

And shining adoration

While the Fools are shunned

And ignored

Yet

Were I to remain silent

And let you leave

Without knowing I care

I would merely be a silent Shadow

By voicing my emotion

And my honest affection

I may risk ridicule

But I have survived ridicule

For one day

My honest proclamation

Will catch a dream

And that love

Will make this Fool

A King

written by t. michael pender  10/29/86

copyright 1986 T. Michael Pender.  All rights reserved.