LIGHT & DARKNESS
VOL. 10
THE WANDERER
By Robert L. Shelby
Copyright 2013 Robert L. Shelby
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I’M THE DREAMER
I’m the preacher
talking about love tonight
I’m the bird
scared of falling and of flight
I’m the giant
standing on your little toe
I’m the reaper
and to me your life you owe
I’m the driver
taking you out for a ride
I’m the animal
waiting to be called inside
I’m the river
turning slowly into steam
I’m the dreamer
and tonight you are my dream
I’m the stone
that lingers on your heavy soul
I’m the fox
looking from my hidden hole
I’m the witness
in the trial on my life
I’m the liar
and I swear I’ve got a knife
I’m the writer
making stories just for you
I’m the hero
looking for a love that’s true
I’m the star
sending out a single beam
I’m the dreamer
and tonight you are my dream
I’m the dreamer
I’m the dreamer
and tonight you are my dream
I’m the dreamer
I’m the dreamer
and tonight you are my dream
LOVE IS WAITING
We send people to the moon
but we can’t put our kids through school
We have kings and queens that reign
but we can’t let love rule us all
You can be a hero for a lifetime
but in the end you’re just a fool
You can wrap yourself in plastic
but you still won’t be a doll
We have songs and tales of wisdom
but we make the same mistakes
You can kill and slaughter daily
but you can’t hold your castle every night
We all could live as good friends
but with strangers we get the shakes
You can be a charmer of all wildlife
but you still can die from just one bite
We have food to feed the homeless
but we toss it on the ground
We can change the weather as we please
but we can’t change ourselves within
We have music all around us
but we can’t hear a single sound
You can run forever and be first
but in life you still can’t win
And I know that love is waiting
out there for us all
And I know that love is waiting
somewhere beyond the wall
BOOK OF LOVE
I left bookmarks on the pages
that speak of better times
scattered in the midst of covers
and found between the lines
While this world rages war
we escape into fairytale
where on a bed of silk
we are covered by a veil
And we lay there until forever
in the drowning summer Sun
talking about the lost days
before we were more than one
In the distance burns a fire
growing by each flame
for all the past mistakes
we are both to blame
As the Sun falls in the ocean
you shift closer to me
and whisper words of love
beneath the old palm tree
And I close the book of love
thinking of those times
scattered in the midst of covers
and found between the lines
And I know that you’ll be waiting
on the beach for my return
standing by the fire
for us it will forever burn
MR. STRANGE
I was up for an hour
when the mailman brought me a letter
it had words of change
I should change?
For worse or for better?
Later in the morning
I was standing under the cold shower
singing songs of change
I should change?
To a gun or a flower?
I was walking the street
when a young lady came up to me
asking for change
I should change?
And get a degree?
Later in the day
I was sitting in a bar with my friend
talking ‘bout change
I should change?
And follow your trend?
Oh, I can’t change
I can’t change
I can’t change
I like being strange
I was driving in my car
when the traffic lights turned to red
waiting for a quick change
I should change?
Before I end up dead?
Later in the night
I was tossing in my restless sleep
with dreams of change
I should change?
Sell high or cheap?
Oh, I won’t change
I won’t change
I won’t change
I like being strange
THE BURNING GIRAFFE
Up ahead in the distance
I saw a burning giraffe
walking through the city
echoing the devil’s laugh
And I’m stuck in the doorway
where I stood and said goodbye
it doesn’t matter where you run
the end is always nigh
In front of me a faceless committee
speaking words on my behalf
shutting down all that once was me
making way for the burning giraffe
And it walked on through our lands
countless bodies in its wake
yielding to the devil’s commands
our lives are forever his to take
Sometimes I may feel dead and gone
but I’m not yet buried in the ground
and like the young one said -
words I’ve spoken seem to leave a hollow sound
Even the colors never stay the same
in this massive world I feel so small
if only one day I could escape
from the sight of the picture on the wall
THE FLICKERING LIGHTS
The flickering lights are waiting
outside, to take you away
the low sound voice is fading
telling you baby to stay
‘Cause nothing here is sweeter
sweeter than your lovely taste
so please don’t run away
don’t you let it all go to waste
I’d like to say I’ll be drinking
until I see the good lord above
but you know me and my thinking
I’m going down into the ground
I don’t even want the option
of a meeting with my maker
I’d have nothing nice to say
I’d be an evil ball-breaker
As a man of many vices in my queue
listen here’s what I advise
don’t go repeating your lies
‘cause they’ll start to feel true
Well I’ve been drinking since noon
so you better turn around and run away
I’ll be at a critical level soon
I might tell you that I love you today
The flickering lights are waiting
and my low sound voice is fading
You better turn around and run away
I just might tell you that I love you today
NO BRAKES
Can’t sing about a Cadillac
ain’t got no fancy car
but I’ll find you baby
wherever you are
Don’t need any wheels
to be a rolling man
I’ve been on my way
since the world began
You can find yourself
on the open road
and if you carry a gun
don’t forget to reload
I’m a rolling man
and I’m coming through
I’m a rolling man
I thought you knew
Ain’t got no Cadillac
no hot keys to flash
there’s more in this world
than diamonds and cash
Don’t need any wheels
to be a rolling man
I’ve been on my way
since the world began
If you find yourself
alone on the road
keep your gun close
and don’t forget to reload
I’ll find you baby
no matter how long it takes
with full speed ahead
ain’t got no brakes
I’m a rolling man
and I’m coming through
I’m a rolling man
on my way to you
LOVED AGAIN
Seems like only yesterday we met
and instantly connected
on the hill not far away
now the frequency is jammed
with static noise
and there’s nothing left to say
The years go by as moments
and you grew into a stranger
right in front of me
the light I once saw in your eyes
is now long gone
like a ship lost in stormy sea
Loved again
I wish to be
once again
like you loved me
For days and months that passed
I tried and fought so hard
to get through to you
but you pushed and shoved away
like I was the least important man
that ever talked to you
We could fly away together
but you would rather be
on your very own
strong and independent
a lonesome bird
you would rather fly alone
Loved again
I scream and moan
once again
like we were known
A WORLD CALLED HOME
I have seen a child
crying for his mother
knowing that no other
could stop his flow of tears
And I have seen a child
hiding from his father
a face so pure and sweet
against a man that’s running wild
This time we need more love
on a world that you call home
I have seen an old man
help a young girl in distress
and as she said God bless!
he just smiled and walked away
And I have seen a boy
rob a kind lady blind
creeping up from behind
not caring for her life
All this in just a day
on a world that you call home
I have seen a soldier
screaming in the night
wanting someone to rewrite
all the madness he has inside
I have seen a dog
howling at the moon
singing loudly out of tune
throughout the restless night
All this in just a day
on a world that you call home
This time we need more love
on a world that you call home
THE DEVIL’S GIFT
There’s a young girl
walking the streets tonight
to where, oh where
is she in a hurry
this time of night
The old church bells
rang at midnight straight
the Devil awakened
the girl took her life
and sealed her fate
The Devil’s gift
from the ancient red book
with drawings so dark
showing just how
young virgins he took
There was a young girl
walking the streets tonight
to where, oh where
was she in a hurry
this time of night
###
AUTHOR’S NOTES
“How was your journey?” I hear you ask. Silently. And not at all ‘cause you don’t care. But I’ll tell you anyway. It was good, it took two days, but I finally made it to New Zealand. Been here for about three weeks now and so far I like it.
As for this volume, it was written towards the end of winter 2013, and that’s it. Hope you like it, if not, too bad.
Just one more volume coming up and then we are done with this. Only stories left to be finished and published, which means nothing. I don’t know, I’m tired, no idea what to write. Worst outro ever. Have a nice day.