As Far as You Know

In and out of my head.
In and out of the past.
In and out of the moment.
Member of your cast.

If you want the best of me,
You’ve got to let me be.
You don’t know what you want,
But I can help you see.

But focus is on you.
You must adjust your sight.
It’s just a thing that happens,
For those who’re living right.

It comes with letting go,
Of control; that which you hold.
You’re wired but you don’t know it.
You do how you were told.

Taught to see a certain way,
But there’s much more to see.
Awareness has the answers.
Observation is the key.

Just noticing what is.
And, being thankful you are here.
Imagine you’re a captain.
You’ve a boat that you must steer.

And, the weather’s changing constantly.
Some days there will be storms.
Calm waters will not last.
Roses have their thorns.

He said that we are “Stiff Necked”,
Which is to say, we stare.
What is it that you’re minding?
Move on, That is my dare.

Move on.

Luck

How alone he must feel
To leave his wife via text;
Scared to face her
And of what comes next.

He simply shares
That he wants out.
His story is one
Of weakness and doubt.

That-he-can’t-handle the weight
As husband and dad
While working a job.
Ain’t that so sad.

Poor little guy.
Let’s give him some space.
He needs time for himself.
He needs his own place.

Because then he’ll find “Happy”.
I’m teasing of course.
As, WE wonder what’s up.
What’s the real source?

Another woman? A man?
What is his plan?
Mid life crisis?
The guy up and ran!

So, we’ll wait and see
If there’s something he’s hiding.
The truth will come out.
He and karma colliding.

Careful with Covid-19. Deep, Short Stories and Lessons by Joe.

ON A WALK

I passed a pleasant looking young lady who was walking her dog.
She said, He’s just out for his daily sniff.
I didn’t said, Me too.

Then, I didn’t say,
I’m happy to see you. You smell good.
And then, I didn’t go up to her and sniff her crotch.
The End.

GET IT YOURSELF

“Daddy. Can I have a pancake?”
Yeh. Get it yourself.
“Why?”
Because you can and because I said so, Muffin. Get your own pancake.
The End

Boy oh Boy

And so the next time I-passed-by
I gave her more distance.
And she stayed where she was.

The first time, i ran her off,
And I saw that she was uncomfortable;
That I’d encroached on her space.

Did she see me as just passing by,
On a well worn path,
That I walk every day?

Did she feel threatened?
Did she blame me for it?
Or, did she simply react
Without judgment?

I’m not sure that others are so thoughtful and considerate;
Like I find myself in other people’s world; a nuisance and someone to point the finger at, as if I’m always walking on eggshells and the one taking the high road; like others are entitled to behave like children; like growing up has meant something entirely different to me.

How was your day?

What can I say?
It’s been a hell of a day.
Some good and bad.
How was yours?

If I was a drinkin’ man
I’d be hittin’ the fridge
And-crackin-open
That-first-bottle of Coors.

But, I’m not. I don’t drink.
And-I-have-time for a chat.
Wanna talk? Or-do-you-not really care?

How was your day(?),
Is a nice thing to ask.
But, don’t bother asking
With that stupid blank stare.

Change Your Behavior

Unreal
How-far-apart
We-seem-to-be
In-our-minds.

Layers
And context
And stories
Of all kinds.

Perspectives
And focus;
Attention,
Here and there.

It’s when we focus
On others
That that we show
That we care.

So, try dropping your thinking,
And learn just to be.
With attention on others.
And just see what you see.

Observing’s the practice.
Non reaction’s the game.
If you try this, I promise,
You won’t be the same.

You’ll be growing awareness
Of what life reallly is;
A blessing to live.
You’re a child of His.

Sticking to it

Lesser men
Would have called it a day,
And headed back home,
But that’s not my way.

They’d have turned around
And stuck to the trail;
The one the came in on
After deciding to bail.

But, I stayed the course,
And I battled my mind.
I could have easily quit,
But I decided to grind.

Toughness and grit,
When things got tough.
I can do it, I said.
And that was enough.

The will to go on.
That’s all that you need.
You choose to turn back,
Or you decide you’ll succeed.

Focus and stay focused

At a point, you-just-stop-listening.
You’ve got to move ahead.
You have learnings in its place;
Other’s thoughts and what you’ve read.

I’m talking about Your-schedule;
Your time. It must be planned.
If you have goals that you will reach,
You’ve got to play your hand.

Controlling the controllables.
Defining the distractions.
An important key to mind?
Awareness, of your reactions.

They will derail your focus.
They lead to rabbit holes.
Reactions are a killer
Of one’s dreams and goals.

Coronavirus Blessing

Some space from eachother
Is just what we needed.
Like we’re a-part-of-a-machine
That’s become overheated.

It’s a chance to step back
And for us all to reflect.
To evaluate self
And to consider neglect.

Now, closer with family,
And work in its place.
We all can revisit,
That which we chase.

As it was we woke up,
And rejoined the grind,
Mindless behavior
Leaving values behind.

Like we’re now waking up,
Each day more tuned in.
To what’s really important.
The chance to begin.

A new path is here;
A new day to do right;
To be mindful of others;
To choose not to fight.

Because the roles we’ve been playing
Within the machine?
It’s time to check the engine.
It’s not running clean.

So what is your part?
What will you do?
It’s a chance to make change.
To thine own self be true.

And if we are
We’ll come through this much stronger.
Cleaner parts
Means the engine lasts loner.

We know this is true.
That we each play a part.
We need everyone’s best,
And that it come from the heart.

One love, together.
It starts now at home.
Minding right now.
Leave the BS alone.

Do I want it?

If what I want is to win,
Then I need to commit.
I believe that I can,
But-that my current game’s shit.

I put myself in position,
To see where I stand.
And i got what i asked for;
Brendan’s Hand.

I put up a fight.
And I learned what I need.
I now know the steps;
The path to succeed.

And, it starts with health;
My physical side.
My body was failing.
My brain had lied.

I believed in my story
That i was ready.
But, as it turns out,
B’s far more steady.

It’ll take some time,
But I’ll try again.
I now know where I stand,
And i Believe I can win.

It may not happen next time.
But, I do have the game.
Not to see this through
Would be a shame.

So I’m putting it out there.
You may call me crazy.
And, if I never beat B,
It’s cause I’m just too damn lazy.

That I won’t do what it takes
To-raise my-level of play;
Embracing the challenge,
Or walkkng away.