Cold Bone

Let me introduce to you
Georgeanne Bender, a girl
whose parents didn't know
what college to send her

they opted for DUKE
then Louisiana State U
but neither of those two
fit Georgeanne's suit

It turns out, she had been
Daddy's little knobby kneed
Apple dumpling, sugar plum
who learned to jump and run

Said Dad: "Little Georgie girl,
even when you are heavier,
you are still my little savior."
And it took to heart for sure.

So then, how does your kind
come up with those rhymes
like when you say rum and lime
is it Georgie girl on your mind?



Patrick Darnell

I Drive a Truck

by Pat Darnell

I drive a truck
that's got something written
...on the side

I drive a truck
it's got something written
...on the side

It says Micro Mickey's
Double D-D's
Carpet Cleaning
Specialties and Supplies
Honk if you like.. it says...
if you like the way I drive

I drive a truck
wid' that written
on the side

I got no where
to go that
I can really hide

Mickey thinks its funny
I don't see it all that way
he don't have to drive it
like I drive it around all day...

I might drive to Alabama
I might drive to Oceanside
I might drive to Odessa
Or Columbus, Ohi'
Or maybe Argentina;
People allus' honkin' at me
...nowhere can I hide, in'a
truck with them things...
...written on the side

if you see me out a truckin'
remember how I...
...remember how I ride
please don't...
please don't honk at me
when you read...
...when you read what's
written on the side.

Lot's of trucks goin' by
...going by all day and night
"You the only one I can trust
with all those supplies..."
Says Mickey D D to my cries.

Blue, silver-tan; green and white
lot's of trucks going by
I'm feelin' so uptight....

Some of them got something...
something written on their side...
I drive D-D's truck...
...cannot shuck ya and jive...
cannot lay down dirty and die--
You know Mickey: I cannot tell you lies

I sure am wishin' that I was not denied...
'sure wish I could,
...could a' instead a' drive --
Could a' instead a' drive
a Harley Davidson Electra Glide

Lawd a'mercy... Lawd alive--
please deliver me, Lawd
...deliver me from this
...this delivery truck I drive
wi' all that mess
...all that mess,
written up on its side.

[Endorsed by The P Darnell and Arthur T Reading Rainbow Write at least one Poem a Week Coalition 1986 - 2009]

Patrick Darnell (2009)

Addled Ambulations

Resource notes taken,
goes directly into paper,
re-write up to three drafts,
handled and edited later

FedEx waits at my door
depending on paper cuts
mind, body, and soul sore
this rhyme sucks more 'n more

Sometimes I get so tired
and bloody, I just let it go,
regardless of the stage it is in,
walk away, slip away pliered

Sometimes I hang in
for harmony obfuscated
Sometimes focus abated
from beginning to end,

which makes sensual
harmonious voice,
brilliant content and style
as if a palette choice
with plan visual
and a foot in the eternal

Often focus fraught,
and my humor is not --
really start to stooper
sounding like a Hoover.

Addled ambulates
damaging briefs
in long winded tides
pressure sucking out insides

Much befuddlement
esoteric rudiments
languages, logarithms
algorithms, audacity
condensation equality
balanced formulations,

postulated reason,
simple formula
in judicial sensing
canceled bail out
thought opinion in
faulty grammar cleansing

Is that more eloquent,
more efficient stuff
more concise intention
than declaration suffocation


In conjured systems
and time lagged creations
due to counselors
and others whose
eyes do not want to face
myths of truth's roots

Yet, they that are just file clerks,
inefficient at that...
that anyone places trust in
Postulate that crap

Because I am older enciting
have been creative 42 years
drafting, designing, certifying
just to be nullified by peers

printing, painting, presenting
trading at shows,
I jam as much
into assignment
as possible;

TEXT me tomorrow ..
OK?


pat. pend. / Pat Darnell


Patrick Darnell (2009)

Modern Warfare

Show no Mercy!! 

by Pat Darnell

Graphics that inhabits
Our house and lawn
... do the best
... to calm the storm

We are an uproarious crowd
And we usually get very loud;
Because the cute Avatars in us are proud
Of our techno-cosmic shrouds ...

The thing that is new
is 'Modern Warfare Two' --
Seems it is too fun for Pat 2 and his crew;
They go to their various homes
and boost each other's gnomes

And laughingly slaughter each other
 with their sisters and mothers at home;
Murdering each other with machete
... with daggers, machine guns, and curette
Virtually, they do, while hardly breaking a sweat.

So, certainly, we are not complaining ...
... for this strange techno loop remaining ...
In our homes, gardens, and glade;
No, we are pleased, satisfied, and gratified;
Their virtual blood-soaked battles are ratified ...
...
We just wish Mid Eastern heads
could learn also to play war instead.

Copyright © 2010-11 Patrick Darnell

MooPig Graphiques and ReWildings :: Nigel Pulit Says -- HERE

Lost Boss

We have to get to Whitehurst!
Tuaca, Liqueur.
Cryptomatic
Rikki Likki con Nikki

Wait ...

That has merit!

Craft-o-matic
Anchormeister
Dart-inspection on her blouse
FAST FOOD ZEN
19:56 You only remember wha' cha'
Need to rememba', Atlanta.

Jones Beach
Long Island, New Yoik. Watching

The Sunrise.

The desert is your toilet, Jack.
Yarn Shoppe?
Grits and ... See you don't really
Have to pray for toilet paper.

20:20 blatantly cute...
Big A's!

Poindexter and the Metal Benders
Peggy snorted again.

Czech is in the male.
Vocal gender switching.
Lost boss.

Copyright © 2010-11 Patrick Darnell

Not in to It

Things we love dearly
go often astray
cold drinks clearly
won't right the day.

Love is mild sunstroke
nausea, throbs and pain
night terrors afloat --
volumes of water retained

Love is a blue heart
dead in its blood toll
-- to make it restart
will leave gaping holes

How love changes us
accidents happen
-- bloody dangerous --
... like walking in Manhattan.

Go we through motions
creating at best
no good solutions
we all know the rest

Love is our vintage
all bottled and stored
how we live and age
with those we adore.



Copyright © 2010-11 Patrick Darnell

Poem a Day on a Sleepless Night

by Pat Darnell for Cage Potatos Everywhere



I was conceived in the backseat
cup holder of an S.U.V. [Es Yoo Vee]
Going up US Interstate Highway ...
... one hundred and forty-three

Lord I was born an armchair man
Lord I was born an armchair athlete ...
Trying to escape a living
Doin' the best I can in retreat ....

When it's time for leavin'
I hope you understand
I eat peaches and then I eat the can.
Lord, I'm no ramblin' man.

Copyright © 2010 Patrick Darnell

Singing Falsetto

by Pat Darnell | 2010

The best place to play

They call the ghetto

Where is there a park bench
... to lay down
... none in the shade

Where I can curl up
... and do time again

... can't afford, I don't ask
... lead a conscience green

... read your last letter last night
... whimpered alone

... all for lost time
... scripts down a scene

Unscripted it felt
What I think
ask her: No. It's done.

What am I going to tell everyone?

Little League Sign Up Day

by Pat Darnell | 1995

Sun struck driver
creeps by
urchins carry
boom boxes on shoulders
along sidewalk warm
playin' winter's discoveries
like teenager alarm.

Cabin weary moms
stretch out
in dusty, musty
jogging suits
a little saggy

faded and bagging
on hibernated legs
and torsos a little loose
like pajamas on the Mamas

Every one out
for a look see
at salted curbs
debris, will there be
one more frost?

on Easter...?

before soil disturbed
by daffodil, tulip
strawberry, and weeds

No sign of Dad yet
no hurry, except
for those in charge
of today's
Little League Sign Up

Around you see
those with tans
already they
been livin' largess
heavy hitters
who split
during winter mess

Yes; some Mom's 've been yachting
Some Dads leisured on Feb beaches
near America's Cup sweeps
lucky ones with nose up
richer gettin' richer
parents persnickety,
their kids are all pitchers!

Try-outs in the gym
winters melting
in fields wetting
So the clickety-clack
of baseball bats
must wait till
winter whey
all goes away
in seasonal decay
is born Little League Sign Up Day !

Pain Never Ending

by Pat Darnell

My Pain is endless
it never ceases
On waking, it cringes
At dusk, infringes
Keeps me sleepless

A neck strain today
toothaches yesterday
rheumatism, eye strain,
I'm not pretending,
Enemies? Your revenge
on me, I'm getting

Daughters your anger
answered this appendage
As pain never end-age
Upon a man intending
no elder life like this

Sometimes a lung
sometimes a thumb
feet like slabs of numb
chest's dull nag ...
... head hung

By witness of bone
these prizes I bear
alone
can I mitigate home

No mantel nor cloak
to conceal or abide
this stranger than life
episode I wish to hide

My humble prayer
to God above ...
release all my folk
from this despair

Calmly, quietly,
in warm attachment
... let me go,
for these pains impeding
pain never-ending
no one should ever know.

Earth Does

by Pat Darnell

What tethers
us in space?

No tackle
nor knots I've seen

like a kite
on a string

pulls to earth
us back in

a bucket
out of a well

depth breadth
comprehensible expanse
trek out a far distance

not to be lost
at our entrance

looking for face
recognizable out in space

what tethers us
in space?

Let Loose a Tear

by Pat Darnell | Nov 2007

This crying
should probably
stop,

in a decade
or three

I keep trying
to write
the alternate ending

Sort of turns
out like a
letter within a story

True love reared its head
leered at me
then went to bed

Goal achieved
like background music
at cinema twenty-three

Focus on victory
break through stillness
celebrate in warmth

Accept my fate
story goes on
as endless coast

Of treasure, love, sea
tears and prophecy
some old songs

Lifts a few of my burdens
takes me back
'n lets loose a tear

Lord let me die in a Book Store

Lord let me die
in a book store

So my last look
is edges of books

let my head fall
on the bones of Elisha

atop collections
of Natural Curiosities

In the Barnes at noblesse
or Joe's Book entrance

let my arm grow limp
under weight of clearance

99 cent bargains in tow
of Pollack, Tristan and van Gogh

So I will have died
just as the dead rise

so, Please do not weep
over my face ... nor book

You might get wet
the type on my place

or dampen picture anthology
of one more LOOK .

[pd]

Patch

by Pat Darnell

Shadow won't stick
won't stay attached
sent me adventuring
for thimble and tack
'n needle to patch.

Patch where past
meets a future
but jealousy flaps,
cuts quick ... a
perfect suture.

No more than rocks
can walk on water,

with little faith and stuff,
to arms! ... say for starters
shadow always tempted,
... sure enough ... Seems,
Shadow always gets broader.

[pd.2009]

King’s Vine

by Pat Darnell

Beneath King’s boots
Ancient vines tug
From exigent roots
And links divine

oak limbs hold them
Up very high then
How thick or thin the vine
Is how high the vine

And repeats ...
... for all time

Vine without End
Without end Vine

[pd. 04.11.2010, Bryan TX]

Response to "Sky is Crying" by Elmore James

Pat Darnell and Friends says:
March 24, 2010 at 10:59 am |  Bryan, Texas
Another Impromptu Unsolicited Lyrics by Pat Darnell
Inspired by Elmore James “Sky is Cryin’” and only took nineteen minutes to pen.

[Spoken Introit over Slide]
Really can’t blame it
… on anyone else
even if I preferred death
I’ve got eight lives left.

Blues Man

[Music Direction: Sniffingly]
I’m a bluesman
and a Houston Astros’ fan
that combination …
… ain’t too sublime man [ya' kno']

So you see … like the sky,
I cry’s all the time
My last good memory
Comes from 1969

My favorite actor’s he,
… Ernest Borgnine, din’t you hear…
and, Stocks I bought 2KY…
tanked in twenty aught nine

I’m a Blues Man dude
and an Astros’ fan, so,
when the sky is cryin’
I’m a Dome Man too

My wiring is cooked
as thin as cotton twine
and some bad person took,
my good shoes all shined –

And then d’ey stole…
my George Foreman grill
That I got …
at Downtown Good Will
but e’en that…
… din’t cook all the time

So, go ahead on…
… ya’ll doin’ most fine
… ask around my neighbors
what you pro’bly gonna find?

[Thas' right]
‘Dey don’ e’en kno’ my name
[Jus' that I]
I is the Blues Man…
… and a Houston Astros’ fan
Cryin’ like the sky …
… I was a Domes Man too…
Just the same, all the time.

Hey now, I ain’t through –
I is a Blues Man…
… [Wha's my name ...]
… and a Houston Astros’ fan
All the time, just the same.

Yeah the sky is cryin’
Baby right down on my
South Side Houston Bolo tie
Baby I can’t take it no mo’ …
Tears runnin’ on down to my
blistered, bare naked and raw
bloody — swollen — toes
_________

Pat. Pend. APR 2010; Darnell