THE WILDERNESS MAN

A man in the wilderness once asked of me, "How many strawberries grow in the sea?" I answered him as I thought good, "As many red herrings as swim in wood." "Well, young man, I really must know, How many igloos are made out of snow?" "Your question I'll answer, and take a firm stand, As many castles as are made out of sand." "You have all the answers, but if you are so smart, How does a bald man comb his hair's part?" I thought for a second and replied, "It is true, He'd comb his hair with a comb, just like me or you." "One last simple question, and then I am gone. How does a man with no mower cut the grass on his lawn?" "Well, the answer to this is simple at best. How does a bird with no twigs build up a new nest?" "Your answers are stupid, not answers at all. Just questions and stories that are 50 feet tall." "Sir, I'm sorry to see that you feel just that way. But my answers are just answers I'm sorry to say... ....aren't they?" Copyright ©1998 Broden Franklin (TitoQ) Ps.. If to you, my reader, this just makes no sense It is me, not you, who should feel dumb and dense. This poem is dumb,demented; deranged if i may, but poems are just poems, even bad ones... aren't they? :)

HIGHFLYER

I was a child, like a seagull, noisy, graceless, and skyloving. I could fly reckless, an umbrella in a storm, the sun my drum, my feet beating a running rythm. I could soar, wingless and carefree, all squawking, and feathers, and feet. No falcon precision, or eagle grace. Racing against the wind with tearing hurricane defiance. And then I lost my seagull abondon. Running became all shoes, and knees and lungs. My flying turned to aerodynamics no longer inspired by the wind. My heart longing to be a young seagull, racing against the eternal wind once again. My aching body unwilling to soar weighed down by the weight of the world. Copyright ©1998 Broden Franklin (TitoQ)

THE MANIC

Some place far from here the manic mans her roost ready to crow to those below her drug crazed obsentities and alcohol rage babbling on like a young child speaking of crack filled nightmares and acid hallucinations Crying into the wind, of dreams unfulfilled and times long gone her eyes crazed, her mind long gone her soul stripped away by grief, and remorse and self pity She starts to dance upon the rooftop basting in sweat despite the cold winter wind yelling through the moonlight as the sky brings in its profetic storm natures messenger of hate, and depression and all that is wrong with the world Just a drug crazed junkie to lonely to feel her own pain to tired of life to bother living Her last thoughts as she steps outward plunging towards the dark street below turning all pain and agony, all the wastes of her life into solid black numbness are simply stated..... Maybe now they will listen..... maybe now they will see that I am human too.... Copyright ©1998 Broden Franklin (TitoQ) Ps... This poem in no way reflects my personal view of life... ...so don't a worry, I'm happy. Dedicated to my inspiration.....Summr.....you made me pick up my pen again and start writing sheerly for expression....your praise and understanding is much welcomed...thanks...your friend always.

IF I COULD ONLY TELL YOU

You are the sun that lights my day you are the sign that guides my way you are the thing that makes me pray and everything would be all right if I could only tell you You are thoughts that run my mind you are so one of a kind my soul's yours for all of time and I know everything would be all right if I could only tell you You are the path that sets me straight being with you just feels so right you truly are my soul mate and everything would be all right if I could only tell you I want to be with you forever love some one else: I could never just me and you in love together and only one thing I wish I knew.... How on earth to tell you Copyright ©1998 Broden Franklin (TitoQ) Ps... TitoQ... dedicated to someone special... Topaz =)

MEMORIES OF YOU

Memories of you lie in the tattered walls of my mind circulating through my body my very life essence memories of the good times the happy times the times when we were together memories of you The thing keeping my head above water when I am destined to sink keeping me moving when I should stop and give up hope The only thing keeping from just laying down to die keeping my soul ablaze when it should be extinguished like long forgotten dreams just memories of you.... Copyright ©1998 Broden Franklin (TitoQ) Miss you grandpa... memories of you... dedicated to Victor Franklin

UNTITLED

Dark was the day as I strolled endlessly through time, lost... a young orphan in a cruel world motherless... friendless... hopeless... crying out through the fog for seemingly an eternity a cold frightened bundle of rags my shouts drawing answers... but only from those as confused as me a magnet of hurt and pain attracting only sore and lost then you came along all knowing and feeling and understanding your bright glow scaring the darkness away starting for me a new beginning a new warm summer day without fog or dark just blazing peace and happiness you gave me what I needed most a friend and a new hope like a saint you gave this... without question or thought... of something in return well I wish to give you something as well in return for the gift which you have given me it is neither elaborate nor expensive but it is a rare gift indeed I give you my friendship and love and a promise that whenever you are in need... I will be there for you... Copyright ©1998 Broden Franklin (TitoQ)

RAIN

Rain pour down on me from the heaven so high drench me with your cool soothing touch caress my body with your loving fingers let me feel at one with the rain Rain enlighten me with tales of your journeys seep into my mind and tell me of your dances with the clouds play upon my brain with your puddles of joy and flow through my body washing in all the good you've seen please rain come wash away my sorrow... make me who I was before Copyright ©1998 Broden Franklin (TitoQ)

UNTITLED

I am the new baby thrust into instability out of the safety of the womb forced into a dying world where exceptions have no place and originality is frowned upon I am the child molded by everyone's rage and disgrace never reaching for what I want just what they want for me slowly blended into the melting pot society I am the teen controlled by others for so long that life seems like an effort not an adventure self confidence shattered crushed beneath the thousands of others just like me I am the parent intoxicated with unhappiness and disbelief in people not fixing my ways... just re-circulating them into my own family ignorant of the torment I've created the same hopelessness that destroyed my chance at life I am the old man ready to die and leave the world finally aware of what went wrong just too tired to care... to late to save anyone descending to the grave only bitter and unforgiving as the circle of pain continues Copyright ©1998 Broden Franklin (TitoQ)

NO ONE CARES

Like a fading day I feel like a rat in a cage I can cry up a blaze but no one cares anymore All happiness is gone as I sit here all alone my hopes and dreams were all wrong but I don't really care anymore Long gone is the day where life meant anything starting to fade right away and they don't care anymore Hoping soon it will end my scream penetrates everything no one understands my pain or don't they care anymore? Copyright ©1998 Broden Franklin (TitoQ)

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