Author Archives: The Smoke

I got a letter from Nigel He says he’s doing fine He says he made it to Havana Now he’s just wasting time. I finish off my coffee Turn out the light Fifteen minutes to get to work Or I’ll be out on the street tonight. So Nigel’s in Havana looking for a boat SpeakingContinue reading “Nigel in Havana”

Is there beauty in darkness? Is there light at the jagged edges of the world? Can you stop a raindrop from falling? Can you speak what’s at the core of you? Big black crow falling from the blue sky Diving, shadow sliding, hanging, gliding No use hiding. Is there solace in silence? A time whenContinue reading “Big Black Crow”

The rolling hills surround you as you’re heading for the plains The sky is overburdened with promises of rain Flood markers show the height as the water levels rise I hope I make it to Tocumwal before the breaking of the skies. In this semi-darkness the land shows its true light In phosphor greens andContinue reading “Tocumwal”

I was born when I never should have been born And I cried when I never should have cried And I learned things I never should have learned So I burned, yeah I burned. I loved what I never should have loved And I gave what should never have been given And I yearned forContinue reading “Never Should Have”

Just one step, a single step A stumbling step, a lonely step. Just one word, a simple word A word unheard, a word absurd. You done have to shine, you don’t have to rise You don’t have to soar across the skies. You don’t have to reach the farthest star Everything you need is whereContinue reading “(You Don’t Have To) Shine”

Black Roses She made me think of black roses When I needed darkness She showed me the way. So fragile Her skin was like porcelain Her tongue was like acid She showed me the way. Black roses on a blood red dress Dark kisses and a sweet caress We are alone But we can beContinue reading “Black Roses”

I dreamt I saw my father last night in a house to which he aspired He held something in his hand; a hammer, a bottle, a wire. We looked at each other, he gently smiled. He hugged me, holding his fears. He said, “I’ve waited a long time to do that son.” I said, “I’veContinue reading “Thirty-Nine Years”

“Faster! Faster!” said the one you’re after As he drove away across a sea of alabaster “South,” I think, escaped his lips To the azure coast and the sailing ships. “Later! Later!” said the agitator No matter how I try I just have to hate her. She’s good with her hands, a mistress of disguiseContinue reading “Faster Faster”

It’s as cold as Satan where I’m born I tangle my flesh in the mountain’s bones I crush and I crack the gelid stones I’m as simple as a knife when I leave my home. I cut and I carve my life in the hills I sing my song amongst the springs and rills DraggedContinue reading “River Raver”

When all the songs have been sung And all the music has been played. When all the rhythms have been strummed And all the guitars put away. When all the stars are in their places And the angels in their beds Moonlight shining on their faces Love cradling their peaceful heads. When all the bulletsContinue reading “The Stars In Their Places”