Scarcity of Heart

Scarcity of heart makes one
Tremble due to
Lack of blood pumping and
Coursing through your veins there
It makes you cold too and
Emotionally unavailable
Attacks the laughter glands
Just so
Scarcity of will power is
A problem of the brain
Blows to the head will
Affect this
As will personal attacks you receive
And criticisms alter
One's will, ambition an' drive
Quarrel not with yer neighbour
Over a tree over bearing
And stymieing your vitamin E
Intake
You might move
To another place more sun soaked
Keeping the peace with your neighbor
A happy by product
Maybe your brains and
Laughter glands will return too
From and as a result of this
Courageous act
Your will power to remove yourself from
Overbearing shade of said tree there
But woe if it is a
Cloudy day
Then all bets are
Off the table

By: Daniel Smallegange

Back Then

Kiss my grits she said
The woman on the
Television screen
She said that a lot
It made us laugh
Or some of us
I was only young
A little kid
And my Dad would say
Change the channel son
Why do you think I had you for
And I'd run to the tv
And switch the dial
Then run back and sit by his side
We had five channels only
Back then
And he'd say
Naw, change it back
And I'd run back and switch
As the lady would be saying
Kiss my grits again
She said that
A lot
But it wasn't always funny
Back then

By: Daniel Smallegange

Off Away

Down by the side of the hill
Off away
From the road there
Lay back and await
Yer fate
Stick to the shadowed parts
So's your skin won't dry out from sun
Avoid the light too as it
Shines and blasts all before it like the truth of allmighty God
And beware its glaring focus which can reveal
That which you may wish hidden
Off away
Down by the side of the hill
Lay back
Maybe a friend will arrive
Or an enemy you've been wanting to see
Deal with according to his or her
Merit or sins accumulated
Quick or slow
Embrace them in shadows
Either side of passion
Love and hate two sides of the same
Like a knife edge
Avoid the light as mentioned
In case of witnesses
From the road there
Down by the side of the hill
Off away

By: Daniel Smallegange

Countrylife

Smear yourself in countrylife
In black stuff and rye
With consequence and gratitude
The milk and honey of
The promised land
Coat thyself in and
Dance
Let them
Those wearing cities and towers
To cover up their shame
Doused in perfumes
Of diesel and the mob
Let them point and shout
While you revel in
Countrylife
Sweat out swamps and mud
To make up foundations
Of property and chattels both
Walk then run
Head high and
Dance
In the wholesome embrace of
Countrylife in open space
Greet the sun as it
Beats upon you
Smear oneself in indulgence
Not the papal kind
The kind that tastes of
Fornication and beer
Armour in contradictions
And shots of whiskey
Let them point and shout
Those trapped now in
Citizen ivory towers
Of their own make
Walk then run
Into sunshine
Dance and embrace
Consequence and gratitude
Countrylife

By: Daniel Smallegange

Await Hunker Down

And to stare into the eye
Of the storm and not
Buckle panic nor flee
But smile and grit
With teeth barred and
Angry hiss
As the winds howl
And the rain dances
Upon the edge of vision
Await
Hunker down
Hold on to stout beams and loved ones
For your supports
Ideas and fond remembrances and dreams
And to stare into the eye
Of the storm
With calm heart
That is courage my love
That is hope
Hold on

By: Daniel Smallegange

Meanwhile, at the Cat Policy Debates. Comic by Dan Smallegange

As We Walk Along and Scent the Air

Collapse your fears and

Insulate yourself

From my aggrandizements and also

Tears

Come along and sing with me

Hold my hand and let

My fingers gently caress your waist

While we walk along and scent the air

Free of worry and scorn

Free of the irons and chains

Of our anxieties

Enjoying each other's

Proximity and trust

Not allowing

Apprehension

As we walk along and scent the air

As empires march and grow and

Die

By: Daniel Smallegange