Christmas Time Again

Keeping with the last theme (question) I actually wrote a song/poem to "Christmas time is here" (there is no plagiarism here!) plus it shows how much I truly do hold the original in my heart. The cool thing about it is you can actually sing this one just like the original, so this is my official homage to the masterpiece of an original. From my "Gray Matters" collection here it is, I hope you enjoy.


Christmas Time Again

Christmas time again

Time for peace my friend

Christmas is the greatest day

I wish it would never end.

Snowfall everywhere

Gifts of love and care

Sleigh rides through the countryside

With family there to share.

Goodwill everywhere

Giving thanks and care

What a special time of year

As we praise the Lord with prayer.

Christmas time again

Hope and bliss my friend

Today is for our savior

Christ was born in Bethlehem.

Today is for our savior

Christ was born in Bethlehem.

Children laugh and sing

Joyous caroling

Building snowmen in the snow

Rejoicing and worshipping.

Warmth replaces chill

Everything is still

Chocolate by the fireplace

Candles line the windowsill.

Tummies are all fed

Almost time for bed

Soon we’ll be in slumbered sleep

While dreams of glee fill our head.

Christmas time again

Trust in faith my friend

Today if for our savior

Christ was born in Bethlehem

Today is for our savior

Christ was born in Bethlehem.

What's a Christmas staple to you?

The time has come upon us again...Christmas!!! The most important holiday ever...and also the most exploited/commercial holiday ever. I won't get started on that (maybe another time) instead I want to ask you what's the one thing, whether it be a movie, cartoon, hearing a Christmas song, reading a Christmas book/poem or putting up a Christmas tree and decorations that gets you in the mood for Christmas? Staples of Christmas time to me are (mostly the same with everyone too I bet) "A Christmas Story", "It's a Wonderful Life", "A Christmas Vacation", "Miracle on 34th Street", Rudolf, Frosty, Charlie Brown, The Grinch, endless Christmas carols and "Twas the Night before Christmas"... Personal favorites to me are "A Christmas Story", "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Frosty the Snowman", " The Grinch that stole Christmas" and my absolute favorite Christmas song: "Christmas time is here" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio off  "A Charlie Brown Christmas" soundtrack/cartoon. And last, but certainly not least the birth of our loving Savior Jesus Christ. Whether or not he was truly born (or conceived) on December 25th we won't really know until we get the chance to ask him ourselves (God willing). So now I ask you, what's yours?

Also I would like to thank Diane and Karen for your kind words it means a lot. God bless.

Fortified Fortresses

This poem is from "The Dim Light" collection and deals with a subject I've had since I can remember. It's classified as a "distress or uneasiness of the mind"...anxiety or more specifically for me social anxiety. I hope you enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Fortified Fortresses

Scattered amongst the broken variants

is a vessel, of a man, in a shell.

Echoing weepy words worded and heard;

you know there’s a hell, this is where you’ll dwell.

He won’t leave, but doesn’t want to be left,

dampened sagas and glimpses implicate.

The forum on his demeanor is lithe

and just fragile enough to indicate.

Watch for the marquee matinee unfold

in the backdrop of ill equipped tidbits.

It will not grow old, so let it be told,

he feels at ease in the land of misfits.

In close quarters without neutral borders

frolics a man with a begotten soul.

With urgent excerpts of hurt to exert

he knew it was best to live in a hole.

Clasping together a will and a way

he composed a vow to seek assistance.

Enshrined was the fear of a new frontier,

but he desired to have an existence.

Thanksgiving Memories (when young)

What memories do I remember about my Thanksgiving’s of the past? Well there are several to choose from, but mostly I remember it being held at my parent’s house with me watching football, waiting for my grandma (DeCarlo) and my aunt and uncle (Day) to arrive. I remember we ate at the dining room table (which was off limits the rest of the year) and falling asleep a short while after eating dinner. I remember sometimes we played cards (31) and eating chocolate pie for dessert by the fireplace or kerosene heater. What do you remember?

The Day Gave Way

This poem is from "The Dim Light" and is sort of a hybrid of free verse w/some rhyme. I hope you enjoy.

The Day Gave Way

The pulsating ripples on the ocean’s blanket
subside occasionally and accordingly.
Waves waver like the movement of a rowing boat
as inhabitants of the great mass drift unfazed.
Ragged rocks and ancient coral wait to ambush
while hiding underneath the unforgiving brush.
An assortment of birds fly bye, sprawling carefree.

Ships and boating vessels startle the world beneath.

I feel a driving urgency compelling me

to chase the exploration of my untapped mind.

Lord almighty sees Earth’s reflections from up top.
The sky’s painted with foggy aqua-fresh colors.
Is this sense of clarity just an illusion
that happens to be making its own conclusion?
Dawn appears to me persuasively bright today.
Pea soup covered and concealed the surrounding air.
Vision wasn’t crisp but the air was refreshing.
The sun responded to its captive audience
by playing many playful games of peak-a-boo.
And the whole entire expedition meshed in sync.

The mystique’s ambition was clear and contagious.
The day gave way for refuge, it was infectious.
It inspired me to seize more than to stake my claim;
it inspired me the way an omen does the same.

My transition was a souvenir for the day.

I inherited the epitome of light,

a landmark embodied in mystical splendor.
The day gave way to my inner inspiration.

Maybe the day’s intentions were more intended.

Maybe it was destiny, maybe, just maybe…

The Great Debate: Secular music vs. Christian music

My friend Steve and I have debated over this subject a few times (always in a civil realm, of course) and many good points (+ opinions) have flown back and forth. His theory is: he only listens to Christian music and will only listen to Christian music stating secular music is not worth listening to. Now as someone who only listens to 1 radio station (Air1) I have no problem with that except (cue suspenseful music)…just because an artist or band doesn’t play Christian music do we assume they are not believers or write inspiring songs as well? Some secular artists might be more of a faithful follower than a Christian artist, but if we refuse to listen to them because they are not labeled as “Christian Artists” who’s in the wrong? My theory is: use your own discretion when you listen to music, if you listen to something that riles you up and makes you want to hurt someone, chances are that’s not the best music for you to be listening to. I think we all need as much positivity in our lives as we can possibly get, but as long as the music doesn’t “change” you (or you let it change you) I say go ahead and listen to what you like. Now one could argue I am just defending the fact that I listen to Coldplay, Linkin Park, Muse, Interpol and others to which I can’t disagree with them. But I also listen to Red, Kutless, Tenth Avenue North, Thousand Foot Krutch, Pillar, Plumb, Group 1 Crew, Sanctus Real and many more so I say: use your own discretion when you listen to music. I know in my case sometimes I need or yearn to hear a certain kind of song that might not be Christian. Am I any less of a Christian than Steve because I listen to secular music as well? Is Steve any less of a Christian than me for judging that all secular music is bad? I don’t think so...what’s your opinion on it all?

A Golden Oldie

This poem I’d say dates back 9 or10 years ago. It’s from my “Open Your Mind” collection of poems (my first collection). I wrote this as an open letter of sorts to my girlfriend at the time (now my wife), for I was still hurting from past relationships. Much like Pasteurization, my trust is a timely and difficult process, but an extremely imperative doctrine (if you will) to the makeup of me. Even reading it now I can revisit the emotions of way back then. I hope you enjoy it.

Pasteurize
I’m sorry, but don’t get too close,
you’re not permitted in my vault.
How’d you get that skeleton key?
In fairness, it wasn’t my fault.
I’d rather not embrace that thought
it pulsates a wound oh too deep.
I transform into my facade
rather than just going to sleep.
I don’t want the despair again
so I question any interest.
I can’t distinguish real from fake
low tolerance, what’s to suggest?
Come close, but you should watch your step
my heart’s protected by judgment.
It’s tiresome always on my guard,
I resigned without my consent.
I reformed my way to reason
inflicted, I’ll try to adjust.
Please, just grant me a little time
and in return, you’ll have my trust.