"Carmine Red Metallic"

Journey
In a Monte Carlo.
Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'
A doomed yet historic love.

Wet passenger side seat.
Throes of passion meet.
Burnt orange Texas Tennessee blend.
Rock the house down BLM.

Killeen Texas gal,
20 years ahead of the Tennessee.
I miss you every day,
I miss you and I miss your sting.

Riding together in a Monte Carlo,
Heading to your home,
Mother's inspection of shirt tuck.
Brenda's ire of you, lovestruck.

Do you ever talk to Felicia?
Of base dances, the gender men?
Do her letters still peregrinate
Edifices longing for satisfaction?

Our song was ‘Hot Blooded'
Yet Steve Perry intervened;
Event horizon the Rape of the Lock.
All things lost, all in between, and all of us.

I love you Beverly,
I lost you and love you still.
The dust of dreams cast bitter wayfarers
In this land of Nod, yet I abide alone, anon.

"A Soldier Leaves Madrid"

Horizon mountains
Kneel reverently
As the old warrior
Gazes afar.

Behind lay battles,
Friends,foes and her-
Esmeralda of the plains.
Keeper of wayward hearts.

Ahead lay the Nazis,
Authors of the Perfect Plan.
Efficient disposers, impure purifiers.
Hollow men with hollow hearts.

The old warrior inspects his men.
Saplings cut across the USA.
First grade writing class now,
Pencils dragged with heavy hearts.

Sea foam pierces nostrils
As pings and plunks
Of bullets assault steel and flesh-
Dead men fighting with ripped hearts.

"Normandy! Normandy! Normandy!"
Cry the surf waders, slogging
Slow-motion, hating their killbox,
Loving their country with all their hearts.

…

Marie du Mer cleans the fish
Her Papa brings home for supper.
The biggest one is old and scarred.
His belly carries a locket, a heart.