In Memory of Sadie

I rode my bike to Johnson Avenue
And stopped to visit your grave.
The ficus tree is getting bigger every year
Nourished by your essence.

You were such a good listener.
I could tell you my deepest secrets,
Bare my inner soul, reveal my fears
And no one else would ever know.

I need you to comfort me once more
And snuggle up to my ear.
Look into my eyes and turn the pain
Into just another chew toy.

You were an eighteen pound female
Terrier with an attitude and could always
Make me laugh when I was down.
Thanks for the smiles once again my old friend.

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Rock Bottom

The Doctor said you were sitting on a fence
Somewhere between here and rock bottom,
But you wouldn’t go to the halfway house
Where help was offered and had to be earned.

I was a fool to bring you home and give you
Yet another chance to stop drinking for good.
All you had to do was stay sober, find a job
And go to ninety meetings in ninety days.

It took three days for the spin cycle to kick in
And a full load of clean sheets was thrown
From a whirling barrel onto the dirty floor.
I don’t think I can fix the machine this time.

Four months ago we said goodbye to my family
And got ready to head south for the winter.
I hope this parting memory will haunt and
Inspire you for the rest of your life.

My three-year-old granddaughter
Stood at the top of the stairs
With tears streaming down her face and asked,
“Where are you going, Auntie 'M'?”

You gave her such a big hug full of love
And told her that you weren’t going forever.
But the quicksand already held your leg,
Just waiting for you to struggle and sink.

Waiting to pull you down to rock bottom.

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The Demons Inside

The demons inside pull you closer
To despair and depression
Curling you up in a ball.

Loving, caring and sharing are on hold
While you fight for your life
In the darkness.

The bedroom is your den lined with
Comforting duvets and pillows
And the TV keeps you comatose

I can’t go there to help you
Because they won’t let me in
With my sword and my senses.

My rage and strong will are useless
And can’t fight this shadow
That haunts and destroys you.

The salty air and ocean breeze
Are just outside the door
Waiting for your footprints on the beach.

Can you come out and play?

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Snowbird Surfer    

 (1) He drove down from Indiana,
Where the snow was piled up to his door
He followed all the signs to Ron Jon’s,
Took a picture and went in the store 

He tried on a Speedo ball bagger,
But the girls said “That’s not for you.”
So he bought some board shorts and a T-shirt,
Some cool shades and a boogie board too 

CHORUS

Warm sunny days are here at last
Ice scrapers and boots are in the past
A beach towel and flip flops are all he needs 

Now he’s a snowbird surfer
Headed on down to the Pier
A snowbird surfer
 With a cooler full of ice cold beer 

(2) He took it real slow and easy,
And tried not to look like a fool
But bikini girls kept on walking by,
And all he wanted was just to be cool 

So he got on his board and flipped over,
Then he ran right into a shark
But the bull let go when he tasted like snow,
And ate his ticket to a Disney World park. 

CHORUS 

BRIDGE

Well his boogie board days were numbered,
When the ambulance took him away
Now he’s got a first class hospital room,
For three thousand dollars a day 

He was a snowbird surfer
Headed on down to the Pier
A snowbird surfer
 With a cooler full of ice cold beer 

Did you ever notice?
Bikini girls smell like coconuts.

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