Pleading for Air

By Rick Williams


The freezing rain that fell that night
broke trees and branches with its might.

Then people piled and burned the stuff
that fell when trees had had enough.

The pungent, bluish smoky haze
goes not, but rather, here it stays.

Instead of hauling it away
they opted to burn fires all day.

Sure, nature's way of pruning a tree
isn't everyone's cup of tea;

but I wish that folks would think of those
that have bad lungs or tender nose.

Our eyes burn hot when we're outside
in neighborhoods where we reside.

Come on people, stop burning crap
that's still full green and filled with sap.

House Guests

By Rick Williams


When house-guests drop into your life
you try your best to be
a gracious host or hostess;
treating them with dignity.

For their visit we must shelve
our privacy at home;
we don't know what they'll hear or see,
or where they'll peek or roam.

We know it's just for a short while
that they'll be in our way
but what an impact they can make
when in our house all day.

Their tastes or lack thereof can be
a catalyst for pain.
TV, food, or anything you do
are reasons to complain.

Let's say we choose to slave all day
to make them something great
they'll say, "Oh no--I can't eat that--
it keeps me up too late."

You do your best to keep it quiet
because that's what nice folks do
but when you need to get your sleep:
Consideration--Out it flew.

I'm sure it's not intentional
when guests step on our toes
they're just opinionated folks
with every thought disclosed.

When your rope is wearing thin,
and they're just too much to face
sneak off to your favorite private spot
you call your Happy Place.

Nipples

By Rick Williams


Nipples big, and nipples small;
I'm pretty sure I love them all.

While visible is, of course, better
I also like them under sweaters.

There's something about them that I love
but what it is I'm not sure of.

Maybe it's the boobs they're on, no
maybe it's the way they grow.

I do remember there was one time
when I was in the check-out line...

The cashier asked, "Hi, how are you?"
when I answered her nipples grew!

I think that I was mesmerized
by how they instantly re-sized.

I know I lost my train of thought
when they spoke to me, "Forget-us-not."

It's easily been decades now
since that event made me say 'wow'.

I bet I'd recognize her to this day
those nipples made that moment stay.

A Thank-you to Gwen

By Rick Williams


Our bridges, metaphorically, have spanned
a lot that's shaped our lives
experiences that have flowed beneath
have placed wisdom behind our eyes.

I wish still had details from
how and when we met
but these days I find it's harder
to remember than forget.

The things you recommend I do
when I'm spouting 'woe is me'
are all good things I need to hear
but I'm too damned blind to see.

I know that I'm a selfish man
I've always leaned that way
Unfortunately, I'm much more 'me' than 'we'
in decisions made each day.

I'd like to think I've gotten better
as I've aged and learned
but once again I ran right smack
into a lecture that I earned.

So if you see me at it again
with my self-centered line of thought
Feel free to let me have it with
both barrels--hold back naught.

A Limerick for Gwen

By Rick Williams


A golden-haired woman named Gwen
who was special to me way back when
We had some good times
although none involved rhymes
I was apparently less poetic back then.

A Different Path

By Rick Williams


Apathetic
here I sit.
I can't quite shake the feeling;
Wondering long,
"Where'd I go wrong?"
and staring at the ceiling.

Much more I'd earn
if I had learned
way more while back in school;
I'd likely be
well off and free
had I never played the fool.

The money goes
to all of those
that prove that they were scholars;
If high school's tops
and the learning stops
we'll never see big dollars.

I can't go back
to change my track
and right my stupid wrongs;
Instead I sit
and reflect a bit
writing melancholy songs.

Waving 'Bye to Youth

By Rick Williams


Remember when
we had smooth skin
and our hair contained no gray?

Our minds were clear,
we had no fear,
and our days were filled with play!

Fun came first,
and we immersed
ourselves in it a lot.

We'd play the fools
and break the rules
without a second thought.

But now we're old
and much less bold
and we have much more to lose.

So we move slow
with sounds of woe,
and praise our pees and poos.

Limericks of Coworkers

By Rick Williams


There once was a driver named Bill
who seemed to have only one skill:
Doing everything slow
was his usual M.O.
The chance of him working was nil.

He coughs like he's dying of T.B.
He smokes like a chimney, you see.
If he laughs at your jokes
he will cough 'til he chokes
and his face will turn red as can be.
_____

Tenny is trailer-trash grade
whose lifestyle is naught but charade
his upperclass cars
are old beaters with scars
When he hired on the boss was well played.

The right-winger he pretends hard to be
is all so his bosses will see.
He has zero clues
of political news;
He's brown-nosing I'm sure you'll agree.
_____

Katie, a new girl that was hired
because Scott, under work was so mired
she has a nice smile
and she knows how to file
So I hope that her skills are admired.

Sometimes when she puts up her hair
I see her tattoo and I stare
I wonder, "Are there more?
Does she have tats galore?"
But inquire such a thing I don't dare.
_____

There once was a guy named Metheny
who lived his whole life for his weenie.
When he'd find him a chick
she would point at his dick
"It's cute but a little too teeny."
_____

There once was a tall fellow named Brandon
who spent all day with papers he scanned in.
Sometimes he'd clean,
or even run a machine;
and occasionally run software he planned in.

A Tribute to Bruce

By Rick Williams


A lot of things have been repaired:
Machinery, pipes, and wiring,
but after years of working hard
Lansciardi is retiring.

He has been our "go-to" guy
when things at work would die.
It seemed he could fix anything.
If not, he still would try.

It didn't matter if he was clean
he'd jump right into messes.
He'd clear a plugged-up toilet
or work on oily presses.

Installations and upgrades
were also things he'd do.
No matter how complex they'd seem
He could see them through.

He taught a lot of people things
that they had never known.
He was a patient teacher too,
and taught without a groan.

We always knew when he was near--
his whistle could be heard.
That's how he announced himself
without a single word.

Many times he worked so hard
and he was stretched so thin
he needed clones to help him finish
so his next job could begin.

I'm sure that there are things at work
he'd just as soon forget,
but he'll miss things too--I'm sure of that
but won't too soon I'll bet.

There is one thing that might be good
about Bruce leaving us,
and that's the blame game we can pull
whenever we get cussed.

I can hear it now--just wait:
"Who didn't get this done?"
We'll be able to point a finger
"It was Bruce--Yep, he's the one."

It's time that he slowed down a bit
and treasured things in life;
He'll get to count his blessings
and spend time with his wife.

It will be weird after he leaves
on that you can rely,
but he has worked his years;
it's time to say goodbye.

Cranial Cobwebs

By Rick Williams


The cobwebs in my aging brain
are continually conspiring
to make it a monumental strain
to dredge thoughts I'm requiring.

Maybe it's the years of use
that have taken a heavy toll,
or maybe I've run out of space
in my cranial dust bowl?

At one time it was easy to see
the corners of my mental room
but now it's dark and dimly lit
filled with haze and gloom.

Although my head seems packed
with murkiness and sludge
it still seems plenty able to
opinion-ate or judge.

I have to focus hard on things
to do them well enough,
but that's another problem
because focusing is tough.

Some things I remember well
like who sang what and when,
the characters of movies
and other roles they're in.

I remember all the trivial stuff;
it easily comes to me,
but ask what I must do today
and blank I'll likely be.

There is short term memory
and long term so they say,
but I really wish I could recall
the stuff I need today.

Sue gets frustrated at my lack
of remembering certain tasks.
Like what to do or what to buy
the first time that she asks.

I feel so badly when I fail
it's not for lack of trying,
and when I say I don't recall
it's not that I am lying.

If I could really concentrate
I'd probably be okay
but that ability, like I said,
was lost along the way.

Perhaps I burnt too many cells
with fun like drugs and booze,
but what if I stayed pure and good
and still had missing screws?