Category Archives: Poetry

Inspirational Inadequacy

By lytspeed Posted in Original Poetry, Poetry Leave a reply

An author breathes within the book before
Me, holding forth upon his mistress, Art.
She rides upon his words into my heart,
Inspiring me to try my hand once more.

Expecting muse caress, I feel a door
Slam harshly.  My inadequacies start
To show, as inspirations now depart
And settle with the dust upon the floor.

“It’s not supposed to be that easy, kid,”
The author says.  “We have to face our fears.
The essence of the Art is in the pain,
The struggle to express the feelings hid
Beneath our hearts and in between our ears.
So pick that pencil up and try again.”

— Stace Johnson, 2000

Tikkune

By lytspeed Posted in Original Poetry, Poetry Leave a reply

Tikkune

The crimes of body, heart and mind reflect
Upward into my soul. My spirit strains
To fly on high while tethered from below.

To make a change in spirit I must make
A change in how I live; the world of soul
Can not be whole if leaking like a sieve.
The holes in soul must be repaired before
It can begin to soar. To fill the holes
I made with thoughtless acts of years before,
I must atone for wrongs I’ve done. To free
My soul for flight I must begin with me.

And so I chant the Aleph-Beis and do
My work the best I can; I volunteer
My time to help advance my fellow man.
I question all my motives, I exa-
Mine all my fears. I keep my rage in check
So I won’t be the cause of others’ tears.
I strive to keep integrity in place
So I can give my soul a little grace.

With every act of good I do, my soul
Lifts up a little more. I know the day
Will come when it will finally learn to soar.

— Stace Johnson, 1997

New Year’s Day

By lytspeed Posted in Family, Original Poetry, Poetry Leave a reply

New Year’s Day

My name is Edward Andrew, and I’m six years old.

You lie in the wheeled bed, puffy and pale
Riding the waves of morphine
(or is it Bartlett Lake?)
I help the illusion along.

Howdy howdy there, friends and neighbors!
This is El Monte Slim f’m El Monte Slim Chev’rlet …

A cough chokes you back awake,
Fear and confusion cloud your eyes
No, don’t speak; I point to the tube
You say goodbye with your eyes.

… I wait for delivery each day until three,
Oh Lord, woncha buy me a color TV?

A simple flick of the switch and my decision is final.
A few shuddering, spasmodic breaths and it is done.
You expire at my side, hand in my hand, my
Tears exposed in the glare of my own inadequacy.

See ya at the beach, Bro.

— Stace Johnson, 1997

Little Things

By lytspeed Posted in Lyrics, Original Poetry, Poetry Leave a reply

Little Things

(song lyrics)

Some people try to ignore or deny
The Magic of being in Love
They bicker and fight and sometimes they might
Even give their lover a shove

But we know the way to make Love stay
Is to let the trust flow
Support and respect have the effect
Of helping true Love to grow

(Chorus)
A note and a rose on a soft white bed
The warmth of your breath as you kiss my head
Candles flicker gently in the air
Little things we do add up to a Love that’s rare

It just takes a few moments with you
To turn a frown around
And when I stay for the rest of the day
My feet don’t touch the ground

The Love that we give helps us to live
Through the tough times
Through hardship and wealth, sickness and health
Our Love continues to climb

A note and a rose on a soft white bed
The warmth of your breath as you kiss my head
A tender smile when one of us is blue
Little things we do add up to a Love that’s true

(Instrumental Break)

A note and a rose on a soft white bed
The warmth of your breath as you kiss my head
A hug on a darkened baseball field
Little things we do add up to a Love that’s real

— Stace Johnson, 1994