Crystal Mansion of Lies

Where light once was

There is no more,

She picks herself up,

Off of the hard cold floor.

She looks in the mirror

Seeing bruises and blood,

Wrenching pain and crippling fear

Replace hope, joy and love.

What did she do?

What did she say,

To make him so furious

To react this way.

She cleans herself up

Hoping makeup will hide

The nightmare she lives

In her crystal mansion of lies.

She remembers the man

He used to be,

So gentle and kind,

Happy, fun and carefree.

Now he’s a stranger

With a heart of stone,

Mentally and physically

Crushing her mind, body and soul.

She wants to escape

Take her children and run,

He said if she does

He’ll end her with his gun.

She cries off and on

Performing daily routines,

Mourning the loss

Of her silver shattered dreams.

He came home drunk last night

Stumbling through the front door,

Cursing and slapping her

She couldn’t take anymore!

She ran to their pristine room

Beat him to his loaded gun…

For the last time he lunged at her,

Now he is done!

© Leatherman 2014

Breathe

The air that I breathe

Cannot be seen,

Yet I know it is there,

Because I live.

The blood which flows

Through my veins

Sustains my life as well.

I don’t feel it,

I cannot regulate it,

Yet it keeps me alive.

Every creature on earth

Is a masterpiece

Created by The Master.

Who can control the sun?

Its heat maintains

The power to keep us warm

Millions of miles away,

Without destroying us.

The universe is in perfect balance

Because You made it Lord!

All one has to do to believe in You,

Is breathe.

©Leatherman 2014

Let Them Pass

Dark clouds hover high above, as tyrants plot to destroy

This sacred land of which American Patriots love…

War vets who bravely answered their beloved country’s call,

Are now denied entrance to THEIR gallantly earned statues and memorial walls…

Arrogant politicians insolently forget,

This great country owes an enormous debt of gratitude to her military Vets…

Fading away slowly with age, WWII’s once young men should be highly revered,

Until they’re honorably laid to rest in a hero’s grave…

They are the U.S. Marines, who fought valiantly hand to hand,

Destroying our enemies on hostile blood soaked foreign sand…

They’re Soldiers, who landed on the beaches of Normandy,

Charging forward amid lifeless fallen comrades, to keep our country free…

They’re Seamen, who pounded their targets nonstop with bombs of fury…

And Airmen, who flew dangerous missions upon silver wings of glory…

The generations more recently, who fought in Korea and Vietnam…

Securing freedom as an inheritance to America’s future children…

The younger vets of Iraq, Afghanistan too…

Deserve better treatment than they receive from haughty political fools…

Shame on you Mr. President and your sycophant disrespectful cronies!

To these heroic men and women, you’re ALL nothing but greedy lying phonies!

They are the ones, who have unselfishly sacrificed flesh and bone,

While you sit comfortably upon your sanctimonious bloody White House throne!

Some may be feeble, tired and old, but they still have a fire

Burning deep within their virtuous soul…

Mr. President, remove the barriers, open the gates, and let them pass,

Before they storm your gates of spite like yesteryear’s battles,

And embarrass your anti-American ass!

© Leatherman 2013

He Is Gone

Stop the clocks,

Turn off the lights,

Silence the laughter

Of children playing,

He is gone….

Draw the curtains,

Latch the doors,

Leave us

In our time of sorrow,

He is gone…

He was our strength

In moments of weakness,

A beacon of light

To guide us,

He was our compass

When we lost our way,

Our voice when we couldn’t speak,

He shared his wisdom

When we were unwise,

He was the heart of our family.

And now…

He is gone.

For Amy

© Leatherman 2013

Forgiveness

Oh despair

Inconsolable soul,

Haunted by past sins

From by gone days of old…

Burdened with deep remorse,

Amid constant reminder

By beloved impervious brood…

Binding torturous shackles

Revivify brittle aging wounds…

Countless attempts at redemption

Seem impossible to gain…

Sadly the beast of rage succumbs,

Feeding an appetite for vengeance,

Savoring the taste of perpetual pain…

Glaring dark eyes give an embittered glance,

Youthful tongue utters sharp lexis,

Piercing a still mourning heart

With its bloodthirsty willful lance….

Alas, the spirit grows weary and frail,

Fraught with intense tormented regrets,

Attempting futilely to make amends,

Shedding impenetrable tears of distress and fret…

Forgiveness, the key to peace of mind,

Beautiful white wings of freedom,

A quenching drop of cool clear water

To a soul’s embedded burning guilt….

Longing for that glorious day,

When my lips, for the last time declare

Two heartfelt words to you, “I’m sorry”…

I yearn to witness your eyes and mouth say,

Sincerely “I forgive you”

©Leatherman 2013

My Silent Scream



Who will consider me?

For I have not yet emerged…

Who will speak for me?

For I have no words…

Who will stand up for me?

For I’m much too small…

Who will fight for me

Against man’s brutal law?

I’m growing everyday

In my mother’s womb,

As they lead her to

A cold sterile room…

My comfort is her beating heart

Until I feel my body

 Violently ripping apart…

No one thought of whom I’d become,

I’ll never ever play,

I’ll never laugh or run…

No one came to rescue me…

No one heard

My silent scream!

©Leatherman 2013



The Color of Hate

The blade has no sense of hate,

Nor can a gun or its bullet

An enemy make

Hands are directed by

Evils ominous plan…

Tearing and thrashing,

Delivering brutal blows to

Their fellow man

Blood spilled for vengeance,

Greed, power or envy…

From the beginning of time,

Vain notion of superiority…

The tragic human fallacy

Dwelling much deeper

Than the pigment of skin,

More intricate than dialect,

Global location or

Disparity of religion

The color of hate

Has no tincture at all

It’s the beast of darkness

Occupying anguished barren souls

©Leatherman 2013