Original Poetry by Uncle Roger


Added Sept 2, 1999
Visits
"Thank you for coming to visit," he said,
"thank you for coming to visit."
He then said that he said what he said
so that we would come visit again.
The pain of a man with five children of whom
None save but one ever visits
is heard in the words that he quietly whispers,
"thank you for coming to visit."


Added Feb 22, 1999
He doesn't live here anymore
He doesn't live here anymore,
the man that I once knew.
He's disappeared inside his mind,
away from me and you.

The man that used to live here
was so bright and quick to smile.
Now we only see that face
once in a long, long while.

Enery now and then he peeks out
with a smile for you and me.
Every now and then I see a
little bit of normalcy.

But mostly he hides away,
out of the public view.
Some don't realize he's gone,
they haven't got a clue.

The man that used to live here
doesn't come 'round much these days.
There's someone who looks a lot like him,
but he's different in so many ways.

I wish we could get together,
that missing man and I.
There's so much I didn't see
in those days gone by.

I'd like hear his stories
now that I know their worth.
To learn from him his history,
and what he did upon this earth.

I rarely get to see him,
now that the time has passed.
I thought he'd always be there,
but he slipped away so fast.

I never took the time
to see his point of view.
Now he doesn't live here,
the man I never knew.


Added Jan 5, 1999
Dad has no pictures of me
Dad has no pictures of me
sitting on his bookshelf.
He's got my late Mom,
from our last trip to Disneyland
and Aunt Barbara and Uncle Bob.

He's got his Mom and Dad
and his sisters
who died in a concentration camp
and a picture of the orphanage
where he grew up.

There's a picture of him
at the helm of a motor yacht
from when he was young
A few opera stars,
and his friend from Austria.

For christmas, my sister Rita
gave him a frame
containing several pictures
of her
At work, at play, her dog.

He put it up, of course
for all to see
Especially himself
to remember she
who lives a mile away.

But dad has no pictures of me
sitting on his bookshelf
I guess he's tired
of looking at me
since he sees me everyday.


Added Sept 9, 1998
Hard Work
Shirt and tie; fancy shoes,
Keeping up with market news.
Working hard to get ahead,
Saving up lots of bread.

Tattered hat, threadbare shirt,
Hands too numb to feel the hurt.
Working hard to stay alive,
Hasn't got a chance to thrive.

Housewife, mother; faded dress,
No one home to impress.
Working hard to feed her young,
Broken dreams are all but gone.

All together on the bus,
You, me, them -- us.
Working hard, no reason why,
Just keep working 'til you die.


Who's Rich?
The life we wish to lead,
someone else has.
It flows along unappreciated,
envied.
While we wish, and sometimes work,
for someone else's life,
ours slips quietly by,
unappreciated.


Added July 10, 1998
Fear
How does it feel to know,
deep down inside,
that you really are helpless,
dependant on others,
despite your bravado.

And to watch your children
disappear
one by one by one
while you grow more and more
terrified
of being left alone, abandoned.

How does it feel to look
into the future
and see yourself falling,
lying, unable to get up,
and no one there to help you up,
to lift you, to support you.

Because it has happened before
and it will happen again,
only,
will anyone know?
Will anyone care?
Does anyone care?


Added March 1, 1997
Ode to a lobotomy
Welcome to the asylum, my friend.
It's good to have you with us.
Your sanity's in doubt again,
but please don't make us fuss.

We'll help you out,
we'll set you straight,
we'll make you right as rain.
Just close your eyes,
and breathe the gas,
you'll never feel the pain.

We'll make some changes, to your head,
you'll sleep until we're through.
You'll wake up in a comfy bed,
And feel as good as new.

You won't miss your mind,
I think you'll find,
you won't need the parts we tossed.
It's our creed,
you'll never need,
that which you've already lost.


Added through 1996
Passengers
People.
Different Shapes,
          Sizes,
          Colors.
All going different places,
Thinking different thoughts.
All riding the same bus
Together.


Memories
Places I've been
Places I've worked
People I used to know
All come back to me
As I ride by.


En Retard
Late for work
Again
I look at the bus driver,
but he won't drive any faster.
I look at my watch,
but it won't run any slower.
So I sit back
and take a nap.


Sanctus
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus
says the man

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus
Glory be to the father
but not the mother.

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus
says the man
in the big house
with all the gold
and the armed guards.

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus
says the man in the big house
to the people on the streets,
living on the streets

Get thee down on thy knee
on hardwood floor
and sing praises to him
lest he be piqued and strike thee down.

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus
says the man
Thou shalt not kill
Thou shalt not steal
Thou shalt not have a good time,
or be too happy
Thou shalt not, thou shalt not
but what shalt thou?

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Whilst we art in the projects,
Hollow is thy name, and vain, and profane.
Give us this day a little bread,
like those who use your name to gain.

Lord have mercy, God have mercy
No!
I will NOT ask for mercy.
I do not want mercy
I want to look God in the eye and say
Get thee off my back!

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus.
Boy do you have some nerve.


Changes
As I watch myself change
I wonder,

Who will I become?
Who was I before?

When will I be me?



Home
I used to count on you
when I needed to go home
but now that you count on me
How can I go home?
Who can I go home to?


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