On my way back in the dead of night I pass by a mistimed overtake or an unforeseen skid. Strewn flowers line a trail of broken things and regrets as onlookers gather. At the centre of it all, an old market woman lies spread eagled, her white face mask standing bright against hair matted into the dark wet shine around the back of her head. Unencumbered, her eyes remain fixed at the heavens as if to ask – ‘is there anybody out there?’ Not brave enough to see if she is answered, I check that my helmet is fastened and accelerate home.
I know we didn’t plan it Some people won’t understand it Not gonna take it for granted I’m a hopeless romantic it’s true There’s nothing I wouldn’t do To make you shamelessly swoon Don’t say ya don’t feel it too I’m a hopeless romantic with you
Some people don’t like flowers cause they’re dead when you pick em But hey I thought that these would look swell in your kitchen Listen I got a lot of feels that can’t remain static It’s why I’m such a goddamned hopeless romantic Frantically trying to slow down with my timin’ And gather these scattered thoughts of mine into a rhyme, There’s a lot of love in this world but it’s mostly unsaid, And I’m willing to bet that fuels a lot of regret, So fuck it – I wanna sync up my heart with my head and my mouth to your mouth and tonight with my bed So instead of being afraid of it being too soon I’ll say hey – it’s been a week and I’m falling in love with you If you’re feeling it too then just tell me the truth You might as well make a little use of your youth At this stage being coy won’t do ya no favours So let’s go home and get noise complaints from the neighbours
I know we didn’t plan it Some people won’t understand it Not gonna take it for granted That I’m a hopeless romantic it’s true There’s nothing I wouldn’t do To make you shamelessly swoon Don’t say ya don’t feel it too I’m a hopeless romantic with you
See that’s the thing about me, I only know one speed It’s how with relative ease I wear my heart on my sleeve Believe in something hard enough and you will see The power that we have in how life’s tapestry weaves I need to cause a commotion with this deep ocean of notions I’m not one of those to just go through the motions And I’ve spoken before – I don’t do heartbroken no more The present gives too much, who’s even keepin score So whatever if whether it lasts forever or never, right now it keeps getting better and better Hey let’s get piercings together and maybe a tattoo I know I sound crazy but so do you!
Does your boyfriend compliment you Does your girl do the things that I do Don’t tell me ya don’t feel it too, I’m a hopeless romantic with you
I know we didn’t plan it Some people won’t understand it Not gonna take it for granted That I’m a hopeless romantic it’s true There’s nothing I wouldn’t do To make you shamelessly swoon Don’t say ya don’t feel it too I’m a hopeless romantic with you
Step off that plane and into a wall of sticky heat The thick air enveloping me like in a lucid dream Only carrying bold ambition, no worldy possessions in tow (To thank for that was Aeroflot, who left my bag in Moscow)
If this city can be described in one word well that word is ALIVE It’s inhabitants buzz around like in a busy bee hive Swarms of scooters honking their hooters moving together like schools of fish Yielding right of way is right out of the question You just drive straight in, red lights are but a suggestion
A world of fast tracked friends, a sense of fun without end A place where people are just themselves, there’s no need to pretend Well I’ve already leveled up and am now ready to feed the beast The gloves are coming off in this Wild Wild East
As always – the clock’s ticking, so what’ll I do? Everything I can dammit, and some extra stuff too – I want to take cool photos I want to write some rhymes I want to “find myself”, (for like the seventh time) I want to learn the local customs I want to dine off the street I want to fall a bit in love with every person that I meet I wanna stay up all night waiting for the sun to rise above the clouds (But then end up missing it cause I’m too busy making out) I wanna smoke the local weed and drink ice tea too, I’m trying all the new things, don’t get me started on the food! Pho, bun cha, ban xeo, Rau muong, goi cuon, com chay and cao lau! I want to soak up the city vibes, every day and every kind, As I step outside my front door to breathe in that fresh… uh nevermind
I’m here to remind myself that destiny can be mine It’s choose your own adventure, and my choice is adventure every time I want to share my energy and get high on connection With someone who gets me, and understands my direction I’m gonna flirt with Jupiter and ask the moon to dance I’ll stare right into the eye of that great thing we call… coincidence I’m striving for that experience most potent – Of being completely at peace with the present moment
I’m not thinking about my life plan, and the things I’m supposed to do I’m not worried about my pension or even my next solid poo I’m fucking here, now, to feel! And what I feel is joy Well shit son, looks like you made it… welcome to Hanoi.
Often would I sit, in a despairing pit Of my own creation which – chained my spirit to the floor To escape this mire, I knew I would require Underneath me a fire – just to get me out the door
See – to live a life sedentary, can depress the soul aplenty It affects the landed gentry – as it does the poor But then I read the news, that with just a pair of shoes You can break out of those blues – if you try to run some more
The thought it made me queasy, that it could be so easy A disposition made breezy with a jog and nothing more?! I decided I would try it, though I didn’t fully buy it, But to keep my demons quiet – it was worth a shot for sure
So with my trainers laced, and my running songs placed in a list, I then faced – my fears and went to war, Slowly did I first move, as I got into the groove And let the rhythm of the tunes – choose the pace I hit the floor
Soon I was pushing through the pavement, every step I made a statement of this newfound elatement, hot damn – what a score! I could feel my mindset morphin’, as I came up on endorphins And without shame or sin?! I should really run some more
With growing confidence came quickened haste By Odin’s Raven this is great! Why was I told not of this before? Though I began to feel some pain, as my body it did strain, Against this relentless train – of might and magic most pure
But no time for doubt or rest, ignore that drumming in your chest, I’ll beat my personal best – if I can press on and endure, Then my joints they did rattle as I began to battle With my mind’s inner-prattle – “slow down!”, it said (what a bore)
Nothing can stop me now, just when I’ve figured how To plough my energy with such force, Imagine then my sense of wonder, when I felt a crack of thunder My body torn asunder – by the gods of excess and more
I started then to feel, in truth… ethereal, The smoke cleared to reveal what held me back – strewn on the floor wasting no goodbyes, I took it in my stride, and cast that mortal coil aside – my spirit free To run some more
Meow meow meow (how do you do) isn’t it great to be a cat? I’ve a long swishy tail and sleek black fur I do a Rolls Royce purr who doesn’t love that?
dogs I have no time for, heavens above! with their boundless enthusiasm and unconditional love it’s a well known fact – the beasts have no tact and while to them you might be Master to me darling, you’re staff
you rescued me from obscurity and a life of boredom on dreary streets you enjoy spoiling me, I love it myself it makes my whiskers wiggle now let me knock every thing off your shelf …just for shits and giggles
ah I see you’re home purr purr purr please feed me right meow you obsequious cur ah… you got me a cat thing… that was expensive I’ll bet not to be unkind but you won’t mind if I play with the cardboard box instead? where are my manners, I do say I have a gift for you too – it’s in the litter tray
very well, I’ll humour you Human you may give my belly a rub but do it for more than just three seconds and I will fuck your shit up
it’s 5am, meow wake up! I need to go outside well thank you dear for opening the door… but now I see it’s raining I think I’ve changed my mind
I’m there when you’re happy I’m there when you’re sad I’m there on your darkest nights I’ll purr on your chest to try help you rest when you’re high as a fucking kite
I’ll intertwine our spirits as I rub ‘round your legs the very Shadow of your soul in flux there are those who would surely beg for their own little living Horcrux
so when you fuck off
without so much as a farewell I’ll leave my mark and haunt your heart (you can be sure of that) but do you think I’ll care, or even tell? bitch please
why hello little bat flyin’ ‘round the room were you here this entire time? what have you been doin’? did you try to hide from wild eyed lies? was the banal banter too much to bear? were you fried by the intensity of our cries and untouched electricity left hanging in the air? do you feel that you didn’t get your share? were you tucked away up there dreaming of all of the things you would dare do when you would wake? well the party’s over little bat, you’ve arisen far too late and all your frantic flutters and romantic stutters are lost in this hour of wolves
I feel the air ripple little bat as you flit about all sultry and the pitter patter of leathery matter attacking walls and making curtains scatter but you can’t stop here! This isn’t bat country you’re dazed and confused little bat, did you fly too close to the sun? that star can damage you know, it’s not always loads of fun were you blinded by the sight of lights that aren’t quite right and now feel a bit fucked?there are certain things that can’t be unseen, and it sure seems like you’re stuck but! there’s an open window of opportunity little bat, you just have to stop and look
I still hear your squeaky cries little bat, I wonder who were they for? do you think anyone discreetly cries for you anymore? I’m crying for you little bat. I’m crying for us both what will you do with your freedom I’ll never know
Hey… what were your plans for today? (and I know you know what I’m about to say) but I don’t think we’re quite done with our play which began sometime around… yesterday If you’re not feeling finished, well that’s no surprise we’re only getting started if we see the sunrise!
YES you have things to do, and your logic is sound but this voracious appetite knows no bounds and while ya can repeat an exam, or leave your work without you can never relive a good night out So don’t fret about your future don’t fill your present with sorrow we procrastinators are the leaders… of tomorrow! but today you are mine and I won’t be unkind so this day and a night and day I will borrow
You owe nothin’ to no-one but your truest self and I’ll be damned if you’re left up there on that shelf we vowed not to suffer life’s strife and toil so let’s now fuck up these mortal coils! and in exchange for an indeterminate toll? well, only the best sex drugs and rock’n’roll be audacious and take your soul for ride (perhaps with some lysergic acid diethylamide) and can I just say it would be simply uncouth to not compliment that orange with a glass of vermouth or a bottle or five (I don’t really mind) let’s get it all in while we’re still alive! and can get some real milage out of our youth
So, you roll that up I’ll run down to the chino ya gotta make your own luck, that’s one thing we know reality is boring, so fuck it – let’s have fun and frolic with satyrs and nymphs in the sun don’t blink, it’ll fly, that’s true enough just think of all that’s gone by since you last woke up it’s ok to want more, there’s nothing amiss HOW could we possibly be expected to work on a day like this? So if you’re ready to laugh at the void and dance by the abyss then take my hand, and just say yes…
You came to me this morning And you handled me like meat You’d have to be a man to know How good that feels, how sweet My mirrored twin, my next of kin I’d know you in my sleep And who but you would take me in A thousand kisses deep
I loved you when you opened like a Lily to the heat You see I’m just another snowman Standing in the rain and sleet Who loved you with his frozen love His second hand physique With all he is, and all he was A thousand kisses deep
I know you had to lie to me I know you had to cheat To pose all hot and hide behind The veils of sheer deceit Our perfect porn aristocrat So elegant and cheap I’m old but I’m still into that A thousand kisses deep
I’m good at love, I’m good at hate It’s in between I freeze Been working out, but its too late It’s been too late for years But you look good, you really do The pride of Boogie Street, Somebody must have died for you A thousand kisses deep
The autumn moved across your skin Got something in my eye A light that doesn’t need to live And doesn’t need to die A riddle in the book of love Obscure and obsolete Until witnessed here in time and blood A thousand kisses deep
And I’m still working with the wine Still dancing cheek to cheek The band is playing Auld Lang Syne But the heart will not retreat I ran with Diz and Dante I never had their sweep But once or twice they let me play A thousand kisses deep
I loved you when you opened Like a lily to the heat You see I’m just another snowman Standing in the rain and sleet But you don’t need to hear me now And every word I speak It counts against me anyhow A thousand kisses deep
Don’t matter is the road is long Don’t matter if it’s steep Don’t matter if the moon goes out And the darkness is complete Don’t matter if we lose our way It’s written that we’ll meet At least that’s what I heard you say A thousand kisses deep
Well that’s my story I admit it’s broken and its bleak But all the twisted pieces fit A thousand kisses deep
I wrote this drunk in Paris in the aftermath of last night When a fling and I said our last goodbye, and had our final fight. For this one though don’t shed any tears, it just wasn’t meant to be, She was a person of unnecessary fears, and I of apathy.
The concept of letting things go was something she hated, it wouldn’t have been a hit, Whereas I was so emotionally constipated, I just couldn’t have given a shit. We also had different interests surely, so I’m thinking it wasn’t a surprise, She liked Charles Dickens and getting up early, I preferred drinking (and sometimes kissing guys).
This trip was well planned though, I was thinking ahead And if there was a theme I would say it was “death” – We went to cemeteries, the catacombs and a show in the Bataclan theatre, But I knew it was a crisis when I started wishing that ISIS would come back and attack so I wouldn’t have to be with her.
After our last awkward hug I found myself a cool pub, figuring what harm then, And on the spot I ordered four shots, and proceeded to chat up the cute barman. Today has been fun – I went for a run, and am determined to make the best of my stay, I’m now locked in my room to write with some rum, and channel my inner Ernest Hemmingway.
I like Paris! It’s a cool city (even if some might complain), While I have to admit, it ain’t no Madrid, There’s certainly worse places to break up with a chick, And have a story arc of triumph over distain.
hyperactive squirrels runnin’ ‘round my brain causing no pain but derailing that train of thought that elusive linearity that’s really a formality demanded by this reality and polite conversation I ought to focus more on what I’m doing and who I’m talking to wait what was I doing and what did they just say to me? the squirrels scatter Think of something quick – I’ll ask a question! Always ask a question to buy yourself some time, for time is cheap when you cram so much into every second, and your words are weapons, to fight back against distractions and negligence and I’m back on track! I’m now present. devoting every bit of my attention to the question by wrestlin’ cognitive control, lettin’ my thoughts come and go, like a meditation pro, and it’s just me and the other person. the only two people in the universe I look into their eyes to let them know I’m there (which is fair, cause I really DO care!) And there’s nowhere I’d rather be. And I blink blinking breaks the eye contact and in that millisecond I wander just slightly, to the feeling of skin healing down yonder that’s what I get for frying bacon naked I wonder did she ever fake it? why do I fall in love with every person that I meet? why bother falling in love when I can fall asleep! is everything that’s in front of me really all there is to see? Am I finally the person that I want to be? I’m now drifting freely through memories and possibilities and scurrying up the bark of a large oak tree and I know I nearly have enough acorns to last me the winter and SQUIRRELS! Ye feckers! Be gone! I will be strong I will stay focused on…on… …ah shite I’ve been away again for far too long how are your powers so potent?! you adorable fluffy-tailed coked-out rodents robbing me of my sincerity Will you not just let me be present?
This repeats in my life, over and over and if you think this is bad… well… that’s me when I’m sober
Ramble The World 