The King or the Fool

How does beauty fall from trees
red and yellow floating leaves
How do rivers shape perfect stones
thrashing and tumbling to resting thrones
And where to look for perfect sweets
but honeycombs of the working bees
And where to escape sun's burning rays
but under trees in cool palm shade
Not all that is good
can come from one thing
but if you can find it
you could be king
Regret is in waiting
where recognitions are few
Opportunities passed
by the man who's a fool

That Old Crab

Cangreja that old crab
she showed her face today
it's been clouded in gray
ever since I left
but now she's cowering back into fog
tucked behind murky covers
consuming every feature
like erasers on chalkboards
yet we remember how she stands
and there will be more lessons later
as white dust clears

Maria that old crab
she showed her face today
and clouded me in gray
now that I am back
she trips over her own shoes
left on unlike all others
covering those tired feet
mud caked over lost direction
yet we know she'll always return
with more lessons to come
in fossilized footprints

From a Soda in Puriscal

The man in the green hat
playing the bells for no one
no chance for optimism
his cup is always empty
And the silver truck gringo
adds bass to the bells
and the bread store alarm
adds the high pitch scream
The fat Saprissa Tico
throws in a chuckle
with Liga fan cymbals
dark bottles smashed on walls
And the hurricane rains
keep rhythm going strong
and pedestrian pocket change
remains maracas tucked away
while the man in the green hat
always nods and waits
banging on his bells
begging for some change

Scatter

Hey there Rusty
What did you do
to be placed in such a spot?
She whispers something to me
something I thought I knew
something we all forgot

And my heart is buried here
Scatter my ashes someplace else
Water them with one tear
but keep the rest to yourself

The deerhunter wonders how
it was he who fell one cloudy dawn
and plots are filled
Everything is fine now
I'm told by fragile fawn
and slip on marble pills

Don't dig up my heart
Leave it in this box
and if you want advice that's smart
don't believe the fox

Listen to Rusty and his friend
They lay next to her
the deerhunter and him
She tells me it's not the end
In that we can be sure
Lights on down below while lights above are dimmed

I blinked yesterday
but I didn't cry
The ground had something to say
She tells me she's alive

And I realize the lights never went out
I just flipped some switches
that threw us in the dark
What is it all about?
We can all dig ditches
but it's not where we should park

Scatter my remains
Keep me up above
Everything's the same
Live is made of love