The Other Side

From the other side I watch through a window I’m forced to stare,

Mouth agape I feel as though I am riddled in despair—tonight,

The words never leave me, happiness is a beast that roams free

And I am caged with my eyes held open, to the best of days—

The yesterdays—that will always be incomplete.

The dreams that once were—the dreams that were once

Buried deep—reappear at the worst of times; my dreams

Surface when I think I’ve found the moments I’ve

Been searching for since I was old enough to speak.

From the other side the world is grey, the sun never rises

As the clouds stay plastered in their lifelong homes—

From this side I am tortured with the optimism and

Innate pessimism that battle deep within me—the flickers

Of hope which are so delicate, they disappear likes a

Candle’s light—oh—how we speak silently, the words

That I always thought were right but never uttered—

From the other side I pace the floor unable to think,

Tearing at my hair and starting at an open window,

Waiting for the answer to appear to me on the fragile

Wings of a broken bird—Cruel fate with a twisted grin,

Cruel fate which must know ever malcontent wish

And tests me as such, midst the tears and shame.

The lust and fire that is systemic from vanity

Forces me to stare through an open window, 

Wishing I had the strength to shut out the light.

     Dannyetman

www.yetmanpoetry.blogspot.com

Ode to St. Lou

Bleachers painted red, as heroes take the field;

Hope carried through April by the bats they wield—

From spring training until the season’s end

Warriors are struck down while others are on the mend.

Old favorites blend with new faces,

As the freshmen round the bases;

A future hall of famer waves goodbye

As a fearless leader leaves with a sigh—

Still the crowd roars with each pitch,

Waiting patiently for October’s niche.

Players creep from their winter homes—

Upon the field, again they roam,

The redbirds on the field stretch their wings,

Pitchers loosening arms, batters taking swings.

A familiar face, lost before opening day,

Replaced by the young arms eager to play—

Backed by players who became legends in fall,

Aided along the way as they’re given the ball.

Knees and shoulders, injuries take their tolls,

Breaking bodies but never dampening souls.

The dog days begin to set and players start to mesh.

In their heads, last year’s championship still feels fresh.

As the leaves stain red to match a nation,

The playoffs come again, eight team’s aspiration.

September magic returns, a familiar friend.

Bringing one game, a chance to evade the end—

Players sit calm on the bench, fearless eyes

They know what it means to live or die.

Knowing what it is to persevere, to fight

It all comes down to one October night,

One night where bravery comes up short,

Champagne bottles remind us of a beautiful sport—

The redbirds are headed home again,

To defend the crown, and keep their reign.

A single strike from defeat, on baited breath

A single pitch could mean the season’s death—

They show the nation they’re here to stay,

They persevere again, live another day.

But the bats grow cold, sat down compliant—

Tonight, they are David against the Giants.

There will be no parade, no more champagne,

No championship rings—all the effort feeling vain.

But on a silent October morning,

After a night of broken heart’s adorning

Heroes are welcomed home, and upon their return

They plan for next year’s Championship—the one they've earned.

DannYetman

www.yetmanpoetry.blogspot.com

Older Still

Dark nights far from home still the presence of fear.

One foot then the next, through the cutting wind—

Disappear from the sight of the last familiar face;

And hang onto the thoughts of none.

You would give anything to say you’re lost,

But you’ve walked these streets alone—

Time and time again with your mind left dormant…

You will find your way home again.

Lose your way in the night, lose track of time

Listen to the sound of your heart beating—

And know the fright keeps your feet moving;

Know that this will not be the last night.

You will try to disappear.

       DannYetman

www.yetmanpoetry.blogspot.com 

On a Night Like Tonight

It’s on nights like tonight I can’t help but think of you,

As I stare upon never changing ceiling tiles I wonder

Where are you from, where are you going?

What made you smile last, what causes tears?

Will you remember my name when you’re grown and gone?

The room spins and my eyes begin to grow weary,

I’m not even sure if I’m awake or asleep anymore

But I can’t help my continuing thoughts of you.

In a week you may forget me or perhaps it will take a month.

Perhaps in a year you’ll be gone forever or maybe it will take two.

My hands are shaking, my heart barely beating—I must be afraid

What am I afraid of? I’m afraid of you, always have been.

It seems that I only lose my voice when I want to speak the most

And it seems I want to speak when I’m close to you.

          DannYetman

http://yetmanpoetry.blogspot.com/ 

Out The Door

Fall for life's silly gain,

it's been an hour or two.

Life's cloudy, I see a figure;

I see you.

With hands clean and face naive

you find words to ask for more.

Words to start your life,

and send me out the door.

Innocent, face naive

you say you'll never leave.

But I watch you

leave why don't you?

Innocent, face naive

you say you'll never leave.

Time's up; adieu, adieu

all I see is you.

Live from memory

and see what it is to me.

Tell your friends your dying,

and see what you are to me.

I'll show you how to disappear

if you show me what it is to you.

Tell me words to believe,

and I'll cry my story to you.

Innocent, face naive

you say you'll never leave.

But I watch you

leave why don't you?

Innocent, face naive

you say you'll never leave.

Time's up; adieu, adieu

all I see is you.

Living and breathing

like when lovers part,

the rain falls hard,

the rain falls to heart.

Without words to say goodbye,

face solemn, face naive,

look into the clouds

and say goodbye to me.

Innocent, face naive

you say you'll never leave.

But I watch you

leave why don't you?

Innocent, face naive

you say you'll never leave.

Time's up; adieu, adieu

all I see is you.

Innocent, face naive,

all I see is you.

            DannYetman 

Our Eyes Danced

On the first day of the new year, my mind did wander;

wander past the chair I rested.

As I waited, lost in mind,

the rain did plunder,

plunder on my midnight haven.

The Thunder brightened, I sat, frightened,

with the floor rocking, my mind

began to soften to the eyes that did wander.

As our eyes danced, the night grew eerie;

the night did drag this cat to me.

Now his yellow eyes stare at me;

by moonlit eyes the night he sees.

You're no cat I whisper to him,

you're no cat says he to me.

I jump from my chair to stand in fright,

what are you? Human by face, human you be?

You are no cat, he says to me.

-Yes to this you did implore, but we still sit on a single fact.

I am human but you are not a cat.

You sit in a fashion oh so feline, But feline can you be?

In my house you do sit most intrusive,

and I stand frightened but somehow enlightened;

for before me sits a demon, in the body of a cat,

and that demon won't let me be.

-I'm sorry sir, a cat so I be,

I am not a demon, I'm just me.

Sir look upon my body, it's fur you see?

I'm sorry sir, I'm just me,

I came with the rain seeking you my friend,

will you at least hear my midnight plea?

I'm but a cat seeking refuge in your haven,

my friend, without you I die you see?

-You're no cat you're the evil in the world I see,

let me kill you, on your blood I'll feast,

your paws track blood into my home.

Why should I believe in you when I could believe in me?

-For on my paws the thoughts do rest,

the words I stress, even in the blood I dress.

You look at me and see a demon in your home,

but I look at me and a cat I see.

-To this we must disagree,

for I look at you and a demon I see.

You call me friend but I look to you and who do I see?

A demon... A demon in all its plea.

I grab this knife, I hold it tight,

you are no cat, but the evil I see.

You are no cat, but the wrong in my life.

Leave cat! Let me be.

-Your statements implored yet again,

but this time you see it fit to ask my leave?

So hold that knife and hold it tight,

with that knife may you kill today?

On this night I'll let you sit,

sit as your heart plunders; sit as your words thunder.

So hold that knife and hold it tight,

but now I leave you, and say goodbye today.

As his shadow let me be,

I looked and watched the evil that is me.

Feline was the cat, a demon I did not see.

That cat was not evil, the evil was in me.

Through the rain the cat now wanders,

the cat now wanders because of me.

Friend, so called the beast,

love, it was to me.

        DannYetman