After a couple of decades in Poetry Purgatory, Duke LaRance is more than delighted with the reception he has received at Impspired as well as his paid hangout where he continues to knock ’em out of the park one after another with 12 pieces added to the “Front Page Picks” in three years.

Scurry

Awake too early again
sleep only a dream
I wish I could
turn my mind off
disconnect my brain stem
from my medulla oblongata 
I have had enough
seen enough
heard enough
felt too much
switch on the light
I am ready
to scurry
back into the woodwork
again 

Rattled

I live next to the tracks
right side of the tracks, mind you
if I am not alone when I check out
let a train be screaming past
sparks from the wheels and rails
leaving a blazing trail in the tinder
horn blaring at an eardrum busting volume 
so, nobody, not anybody has the satisfaction
of hearing my death rattle
when I say, “toodle-oo”

Tired Old Bones

It seems that my trail has been chosen
and there is no other way to atone
saddle up and ride, these tired old bones
and ride off into Nowhere alone
 
Things have a way of not working out
I sure as Hell do not know why they should
there are so many things need blanking out
I would torture myself more if only I could
 
There is no doubt my noose has tightened
and I am beleaguered on all sides
my boat will capsize before it will righten
to break apart in the cruel crushing tide
 
And so, it seems, my soul is awash
in the cruel, crashing, crushing tide
Lord, most of all, save me from myself
as I, in Thee somehow abide