richard (rewrite three)

richard greets me at the door
with a song and a smile
and says "good to see you
haven't seen you for a while"
I don't tell him I'm in trouble
and I've been depressed
stuck in my apartment
like I'm under house arrest
but richard knows that
I don't know how
but that's not what we're talking about now
we're talking music
we're talking songs
and richard brings me back into
a world where I belong

richard hands me a guitar
and gets himself a uke
my voice is rough and hollow
and it makes me want to puke
but richard says it's fine
and encourages me
and I feel just like I might be part
of some community
and richard knows that
it's natural as the wind
he opens up his heart
and invites everybody in
with songs of real life
itchin' to get played
richard brings me back into
a world where I'm okay

richard takes the chorus
and he solos on the strings
and the melody's ascending
from its bruised and broken wings
and it rises like the phoenix
from the ashes of despair
when you need the music most
it's always in the air
and richard knows that
it's everything he hears
sounds of love and laughter
ringing in the atmosphere
like a guardian angel
or a long-lost friend
richard brings me back
into a world worth living in

Occasion

I was standing outside the church,leaning on a lamp pole, when I saw her. She was dressed like nobody's business and we don't get many good-looking' women 'round here so she was, um, an occasion.

And what was I doing at the church? I was there to get married.Yeah,that really happened. It's not just gossip, it's the real fuckin' thing. Yeah, the bitch never showed up. I was, as they say, stood up at the alter. Humiliated in front of family and friends. Fuck.

So anyway I was at the church.I was just about to light a cigarette when I saw her. I'm glad I didn't. Most women these days don't like smoking. She was wearing this sheer light blue dress that showed off her legs. She had a cute figure and an incredible face. So fuckin' good looking. I couldn't wait till she turned around so I could check out her ass.

So this, my friend, is where I made my stupid mistake. Deciding to follow someone, particularly a beautiful young woman who is,to be kind to myself,at least ten years younger than I am. She is also, of course, a stranger. I didn't know her name or nothing about her. When I look back on it I realize that I was a real fuckin' creep, but I had no idea of it at the time.

consumer haiku

it's so fuckin' hard
living this consumer life
too many choices

richard (rewrite two)

richard greets me at the door
with a song and a smile
and says "good to see you
haven't seen you for a while"
I don't tell him I'm in trouble
and I've been depressed
stuck in my apartment
like some kind of house arrest
and richard knows that
I don't know how
but that's not what we're talking about now
we're talking music
we're talking songs
and richard brings me back into
a world where I belong

richard hands me a guitar
and gets himself a uke
my voice is rough and hollow
and it makes me want to puke
but richard says it's fine
and encourages me
and I feel like I might be part
of a community
and richard knows that
it's natural as the wind
he opens up his heart
and invites everybody in
with songs of faith and courage
that are itchin' to get played
richard brings me back into
a world where I'm okay

richard takes the chorus
and he solos on the strings
and the melody he's playing
launches from its broken wings
and it rises like the phoenix
from the ashes of despair
when you need the music most
it's hanging in the air
and richard knows that
it's what he hears
sounds of joy and sorrow
ringing in the atmosphere
like a guardian angel
or a long-lost friend
richard brings me back
into a world worth living in

so it doesn't matter

I am so fuckin' tired
of thinking about the meaning
of my small, insignificant life

I'm thinking:
I need to buy a TV
and learn to enjoy reality shows

and then I'm thinking:
you elitist bastard
like TV is beneath you
like reality shows are beneath you
nothing is beneath you,
you miserable sack of shit

so it doesn't matter 
no matter what I do
I apply it to my fuckin' life

I am so fuckin' tired

richard (rewrite one)

richard greets me at the door
with a song and a smile
and says "good to see you
haven't seen you for a while"
I don't tell him I'm in trouble
and I've been depressed
stuck in my apartment
like some kind of house arrest
and richard knows that
I don't know how
but that's not what we're talking about now
we're talking music
we're talking songs
and richard brings me back into
a world where I belong

richard hands me a guitar
and gets himself a uke
my voice is rough and hollow
and it makes me want to puke
but richard says I'm good
and encourages me
and I feel like I might be part
of the community
and richard knows that
it's natural as the wind
he opens up his heart
and invites everybody in
with songs of faith and courage
that are needing to get played
and richard brings me back into
a world where I'm okay

and this old world
goes 'round and 'round and 'round
and this old world
spins around

richard takes the chorus
and he solos on the strings
and the melody he's playing
rises from its broken wings
and it rises like the phoenix
from the ashes of despair
when you need the music most
it's hanging in the air
and richard knows that
it's what he hears
notes of joy and sorrow
singing in the atmosphere
like a guardian angel
or a long-lost friend
richard brings me back
into a world worth living in

and this old world
goes 'round and 'round and 'round
and this old world
spins around

nothin' 'bout nothin'

you can't tell me nothin' 'bout nothin'
you don't even know my name
there's something funny
in that pipe you're puffing
there's something in your heart
that knows no shame