Survivor

Bowling with my mind
It's somewhere in the gutter
No one left behind
Earth melting like warm butter

Surfing with my mind
Falling off the pace
Looking for my kind
No trace of the human race

Looked out from the highest point
The most beautiful sight I did see
Nobody to disappoint
Just me and a big palm tree

Mahalo

Thanks for the Meadow
Thanks for the Valley
Spirit always on the go
Escaped from the alley

Thanks for the Sports Exchange
Thanks for the Climber's Supply
They probably think I'm very strange
I am a dork and I won't lie

Thanks for the open sea
Thanks for the beach break
Surfing for myself and me
No one makes my heart ache

Creep

The man with the sunglasses
Was he looking at all the asses?
Peeping at me up and down
Boy, this made me really frown

"Where's your ride?
Do you have something to hide?"
Don't want to end up hog-tied
That's not how I died

Drifter

No permanent address
No rent to pay
Free from duress
But no place to stay

How did this start?
Where does it end?
Am I playing a part?
Right now I'm in Bend

Hope

I have always wanted to share a rope
But I don't want to feel like a dope
What if he tells me nope?
It's not like I'm asking him to elope
For now I remain silent and just hope . . .

Crossing Over

A brief candle;

both ends burning

An endless mile;

a bus wheel turning

A friend to share

the lonesome times

A handshake and a sip of wine

So say it loud and let it ring

We are all a part of everything

The future, present

and the past

Fly on proud bird

You're free at last.

---Charlie Daniels

Backwash

I am the Soul of a thousand deaths

With a thousand fears

But with a thousand ways to overcome them

Breakthrough Breed

The coolest cats on the planet come from hardy seed
They don't need a commercial to tell them what they need

They keep getting up after they fall on lead

They always choose the right passion to feed

We are frequently distracted as we toil and till

Like the one responsible for that oil spill

Quality and character cannot be reduced to a pill

Integrity and strength can be found in Lynn Hill

To others it is impossible, but it can be done

It's not always the most talented, but who has the most fun

If you are willing to spend 10,000 hours under the sun

You could make that breakthrough, you could be the One

Off-Width Crack

What would I do without my pack?
It is surgically attached to my back
Pouches and buckles it did not lack
I think I will name it Companion Jack

I always hike with Jack on my back
But as I leave stores I get some flack
It's not as if their computers I hack
Society sometimes won't cut you slack

To pay the bills I had to sell my rack
I lost what I had betting on the track
I was so distraught that I took some crack
That is how I ended up in the sack with Jack

"It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)"

Listening to the rapids while composing my rap
I'm very tired and feel a little like crap
This morning I drank the water from the outdoor tap
I think it made me sick cuz all I want to do is nap

Not having a mom to take care of you can be a drag
Moms can teach you not to hit, not to lie, and not to brag
Wherever I roam, the locals are generally nice
I've been lucky to hear all their motherly advice:

Hide your backpack and rope in the tall grassy field
Don't jump when the ranger taps on your windshield

While you sleep in your car, leave your keys in the ignition
You can get away faster, it's not superstition

Soak your achy limbs in Squaw Creek cuz it's like ice
Only spend your money on black beans and brown rice

Stay away from that creep who gave you a wink
Run like the wind and don't bother to think

If you are having trouble pretending to be strong
You can stay at my place and I won't ask you what's wrong

When people take the time to save me from insanity
It fills me with hope for all of humanity

I guess it takes a village to support this Stray Cat
To all the compassionate guardians out there, I tip my hat!

PS
The Depot will only sell you beer in a glass
Go to Deschutes Brewery for a pitcher
And they treat you with class