Institutionalized, You And I

We're both doing time,
You're doing yours
And I'm doing mine.
We eat the same food
And drink the same water.
At this point, it doesn't even matter.
We're both institutionalized
Doing what we do to survive.
We're not that different, you and I.
We're under the same roof,
Behind the same bars,
We're both packing state issued ID cards.
An older, wiser inmate
Once shared with me;
The only difference,
Between he and I,
Is that I havn't
Been caught yet!
After a shift I go home
Through the gate,
You look through the bars
And just sit and wait.
I go to my bed and
Rest up for some more,
You lay in your rack
Knowing I'll be back.
You play your games
And I'll play mine.
We're just doing our time,
You and I,
God only knows
For how long a ride.

An Ode To Cleaning House Nude

I sing the joys of
Cleaning my house nude.
Not a stitch of clothing on
To encumber my labors.

I'll dust and sweep and mop,
Do the windows and the dishes
And the laundry; all done
As natural as the day I was born.

I'll organize and pick up the clutter
Of life and love and of all
That makes our home our home
And our lives our lives.

The summer's sun will heat my shoulders
As I garden and cut the grass.
I thank God for our private
And fence enclosed backyard.

After the day's (or night's) endeavours done
I'll sit in my home and
Enjoy the fruits of my labors -
Nude.

14 White Hairs And Counting

I can count the 14
White hairs on my chest.
The hair on my head is starting
To really salt and pepper also.

Who's the man
In the pictures on
My drivers license
And work I D cards?

The man staring back
In the mirror appears
A bit different from the
One I was getting used too.

Lately, I find it more difficult
To get motivated and
I'm a whole lot more understanding
Than I ever was before.

I remember my grandfathers,
One lived into his 80's and
The other lived into his 90"s.
At 45 now, I'm halfway there.

I wear no line bifocals and
My knees and back ache a bit more.
Thankfully, I'm not losing
My teeth or hair.

I feel well enough,
Most of the time, and
My heart, spirit, and mind
Are sometimes understandably weighed with concerns.

Only when my heart, spirit, and mind
Soar, they soar to heights
A younger man may
Not necessarily appreciate.