Red Dress And No Shoes

You want a happy ending just like everyone does
but that isn't always the way the story goes
when it's a page turner and the punch line at the end
leaves you empty handed and a bit  more aloof
words fall flat and I'm left in your silence

...and I'm standing at the corner flower shop
wearing a red dress and no shoes
and I can't remember why I came here
and can't remember how to get home

It has been a long time since we crossed paths
and sometimes it's the length of time
that soothes the wounds and heals broken dreams
not a heart bending string broken absence of emotion
spending too much time on my own - too much time alone

...and I'm standing at the corner flower shop
wearing a red dress and no shoes
and I can't remember why I came here
and I can't remember how to get home

Doesn't really matter that much
when all that passes for good looks is a cheap imitation
my lack of sentiment my short falls and my limitations
victims need an advocate and I need a priest
nothing can touch me when I'm standing this high on the wall
and nothing can catch me when I lose my footing and begin to fall

...and I'm standing at the corner flower shop
wearing a red dress and no shoes
and I can't remember why I came here
and I can't remember how to get home
I spend too much time in the shadows
I spend too much time alone
and I'm standing at the corner flower shop…

© 2015 TrilbyYates

Sail Away With Me

Waves caress port side
leaning to the left
filling the sails 
with a new 
direction
unknown
last breath
secrets from the other side – 
Whispering angels 
hovering above
- let him exhale one more time…
But I know prayers 
are rarely answered 
and coincidences 
never ring true
And songs blow by
haunting tunes 
of love and sorrow
I hear it in the wind
“…sail away with me honey, hold my heart in your hands, sail away with me honey, sail away with me now…” 

© 2015 TrilbyYates

Captain

One foot in front 
of the other
a sexy aloof 
sway of the hips
purposely oblivious 
to watching eyes
entranced by the sounds 
that surround 
Atlantic breeze 
always makes 
the heart skip a beat
passion still flows -
A smile appears as corners 
turn up on glossy full lips
simple thought sings silently
when out of the blue
4” stiletto gets stuck 
random spaces between
floating dock on top 
of a restless sea
throwing off the perfection
of a seductive stride
sweet sound 12 bar riff
the only vibration 
that echos bouncing 
from mast to mast
obscene ranting 
of frustration
pick up the pieces 
dust them off 
take another step
a bit more aware 
of what lie ahead
go against the grain
blow caution to the wind 
one last act of defiance
step on board 
a swaying 40 footer
heels in hand
exposing a subtle
amount of long legs
a left hand salute
questioning eyes
“Permission to come a board, Captain?” 

© 2015 TrilbyYates 

Sway Of The Dance

Red wine sipped through lips
painted shades of frost and crimson
...dark eyes look away -  a seductive glance
meant only for you and
when the night tumbles around us
while stars shoot across the sky
there will be a time when your hands embrace the moment
and hold its place with mine…

That first kiss speaks volumes
a prelude to what could be
…if we want it badly enough
please don't take for granted
that my affection will remain open to you
I could hold out for a lifetime to get it right
what we dream, what we have lost
keep the heart beating…

Dare I caress the sway of the dance - again? 

© 2015 TrilbyYates

A Generation Of Fuck Ups

We may be of
A different blood line
We are sister friends
Of a similar kind
And as far as 
Fuck ups go
On a scale 
Of one to ten 
We are an odd 
Yet profound eleven 
...and while you 
Laugh at me 
We both know 
I bring a smile
To your mouth
And nothing else 
Truly matters
Our world 
Seems to be 
...a flat disc 
That has been
Shot bulls eye
Into another level 
An organic sphere
...at times
Dark hole 
Transparency 
Glistening light  
Penetrates 
With a pure abundance 
Of beauty
Blinded by
Our own delight
You glance away 
Eye contact 
...is painful 
Fear they can see 
Into your soul 
Truth be held high 
Truth be told 
Glimmering images
Reflect and shine
Close your eyes 
I will open mine
The thoughts 
You think 
...I can hear
Volumes of silence
There is a link
They hold a power 
And a strength 
So we will blow out the candles
Turn the music down low
We will dance...and sing
Hips swaying 
From side to side 
Fingers snap 
In the abstract
Lost in the absence 
Of logic or sound
We have no reason
To hoover or hide
We are Women
A Generation Of Fuck Ups 
And we wear our title 
With gallantry and pride!

© 2015 TrilbyYates 

Small Boy Tender

Small boy tender child 

Wide brown eyes 
With an angelic smile… 

That could melt butter

 - in his mouth

While dripping sweet 

Saccharine like words 

Of lies and deceit 

One push 

Slight of hand 

Reaches out 
To be held 

 - poor little sister

Cracked skull

Echoed cries 
and life 

...swing in the balance

Baby dolls
 - toy guns 

Put away 
For safe keeping

Time capsule 

Records sealed 
To protect 
“innocence”

Carefully wrapped

In newsprint 
from 1965

Is no longer 
A figment 

Of Freud’s imagination

While sharing 
The mid night oil 

With the likes 
of Jean Piaget

A child’s dream

…small boy tender child 

Wide brown eyes 
With an angelic smile… 

Our love fans 
the flame
Desire fuels 
the fire 

We have a slow 
Dance of our own

Following the rhythm 

Of a distant 
...drummer

And I’m tearful 

When old photos 

seem to fade

Yet your words 
Move through me 

Like the hum 
Of a warm guitar

With the harp blower 
 - vibrating

There is not a breath 
taken...between us

As he holds onto 
That infamous note 

Like a one hit wonder

A precious soul
Small boy tender child 

Wide brown eyes 
With an angelic smile… 

Careful not to 
rush the beat

Reminiscent 
of a frantic lover

Maintaining 
the perfection 

- of our love song
Small boy tender child 

Wide brown eyes 
With an angelic smile… 

That could melt butter

 - in his mouth

While dripping sweet 

Saccharine like words 

Of lies and deceit ~ 

© 2014 TrilbyYates 

Music Time

I fell in love with a boy
who held music in his hands
like a fragile thought
that could easily slip away
it filled his heart
like there was never
enough time
for all the notes to play
making his chest ache
the way mine did
every time he kissed
my finger tips
we would make love
on the music room floor
while searching for inspiration
knowing it was only
moments away
nothing seemed beyond our reach
so we would wait
and watch the sunrise
slowly coming up and over the city streets
there is such beauty in the breaking of dawn
hitting high notes within the perfection
of a continuous and endless line
listening closely until we couldn't - dance any more
...remember my name - he'd say
I would look deep into his eyes
while strumming my guitar
never missing a note
his face etched in the most cherished
place in my mind and we both knew
I was his and he was mine
we would be forever - connected in music time

© 2014 TrilbyYates

Wise Ass Kid

Those days 
When thoughts 
Swirled around 
In my mind 
Creating an energy 
Cause and effect 
Suddenly out of thin air 
A call or note 
Song from the past
A nudge from
Turbulent times
A cosmic force connects 
A reminder tap tap
You can never go back
Although I lean on the belief
Nothing is set in stone
Except birth and death
Those sweet innocent days
Are few and far between
So be careful who you 
Day dream about 
Strangers appear 
In familiar garb
Time passes snap
and mindful images 
Never seem to fade 
Wishful thinking 
Is an independent luxury 
Like a journey to an exotic
Far away unknown land 
Scrolling through photographs 
and tag lines eyes blur to focus
Wondering playfully - pause
What's going to happen next 
The wheels turn slower 
and the clock ticks louder 
Adjusting the bar downward
Dragging realistic wants and needs
Lacking subtle expectations 
To an abrupt unexpected halt 
Gears jam and all I can do 
Is scream profanities into a void
Pathetic reminiscent childlike questions
and obscene childlike gestures
Blurted out with no rational
Like a wise ass kid hanging 
On any city street corner
In any city in the world
Unique - not unto its own
Self absorbed truth seeker
Asking why always why
As if expecting some profound
Heavenly answer to fall peacefully
Settling at my feet
Like a feather from the nest
Pride is a virtue
Ego is a vice  
I continuously stumble around
Exhausted from the battle
My internal war rages on ...


© 2014 TrilbyYates

King And Queen Of The Prom

I can walk 
down the street 
with my wings glistening
in the moonlight
and my skirt hiked 
up to Heaven 
I can carry 
a tune 
and write 
the lyrics 
with my eyes 
glazed over 
from the lack 
of empathy 
One hit wonder
fly by night 
captivator 
feet never 
firmly planted 
on the ground
Surround sound 
and all that 
matters...
We were flying high 
We were invincible 
The king and queen 
of the prom 
neither went to
We were untouchable
Golden sparks flying 
into an endless night

We were flying high 
We were invincible 
The king and queen 
of the prom 
neither went to
We were untouchable
Golden sparks flying 
into an endless night 

© 2014 TrilbyYates

Dazzling My Senses

All the human elements 
lined up with perfection
- the tangible and the abstract...
The underlying passions and dreams;
the insecurities and vulnerabilities - risk factors 
We all have our fantasies
tucked away quietly at times,
joyful exhilaration at others - how risqué
- slightest blush at the thought
I tumbled willfully without intention
into a gentle comforting place
as if magically conjured up 
by some unknown source;
Moirai song of fate 
pleasantly lulling away 
any sense of fear - or logic
Surprised how perfectly 
your hand fit into mine;
sand and sea - intoxicating...
A sense of knowing reassured
an unwillingness to turn away
Admitting that sometimes
I fall down the rabbit hole - with eyes wide
Alice In Wonderland's flawed belief
questioning all that is good 
and all that is grand,
all that is outstanding 
and unique - simply sublime
Smiling at the familiarity 
acknowledged by the look in your eyes
My life has become a free fall 
 - with no expectations
Allowing me to keep clear 
of becoming judgmentally minded
So while thunder storms 
and high humidity swirled around us 
dazzling my senses...
 - you leaned in and kissed me once more ~

© 2014 TrilbyYates 

Geographically Undesirable

The rain is falling
wind is singing songs
beyond the dunes
Dark clouds form overhead 
and the waves have 
kicked up a notch;
perfect back drop 
for a romantic at heart
pinned with dedication 
to my worn out sleeve
I walk barefoot in the tide
emotion and passion
rush in pulling at my vulnerabilities 
But don't get me wrong 
I'm not complaining,
or ready to bag the ideology 
Naivete pure and innocent 
somewhere out there 
beyond the horizon, 
beyond the geographically 
...undesirable tag -
Burning sage 
and lighting candles
dancing under a full moon
Whispers vibrate hidden stories;
secrets shared but never told
And I continue blind faith
and wounded glory
not for the weary or fainthearted,
that somewhere out there
value isn't measured in miles
and sparks will fly outside the radius
imaginary lines drawn in the sand
Somewhere out there 
beyond the horizon, 
beyond the geographically 
...undesirable tag -


© 2014 TrilbyYates 

Inconsequential Meeting

Had a dream about you last night;
seems since we had our inconsequential meeting - 
inconsequential feels so removed 
and so cold 
and my head hurts when I think
and I'm starting to feel too old 
to be a player in the dating game 
... anyway

Confirmation washes over me
like the cold waters of a great sea
confirmation washes over me

When I saw you my childhood sense 
of insecurity was shaken;
sort of rattled my proverbial ego sustained cage,
and now I'm reading the same lines
over and over again
still on the same damn page - 
- expecting a different ending

Confirmation washes over me
like the cold waters of a great sea
confirmation washes over me 

I never know what to think
when thinking is all I have time to do
I never know what to think
when the heart beats one way 
and the other is slightly out of sync 
...just never know how to feel
since my inconsequential meeting with you
And now I don't know what to think
... anyway

I had a dream about you ...


© 2014 TrilbyYates 

Heaven, Hell or Brooklyn

Walking beyond the dunes
sea grass slips
between my fingers
The roar of the ocean
calms my nerves
and I remember
how you felt
beneath the waves
The Siren's song whistles
in the night carried
by an ocean breeze;
and every night your memory
brings me to my knees
And I wonder...
Heaven, Hell or Brooklyn - where is love

Gates of Heaven open wide
but I'm lost in Hell's grip
held tight in Hell's grip -
I'm the prom queen that was never crowned
I'm the missing chapter in my own lyrical book
Dylan-esque quality but he choked on my words
how brilliantly absent minded
how brilliantly absurd

Last night I walked into a bar,
not sure if my wounds were covered,
not sure if I'd gone to far
but your blue eyes lit the way
making it easy not to stumble
making it easy to imagine
with a kiss so deep, 
vows never to be broken
and I'm at a loss for words 
and don't know what to say
So now I wonder...
Heaven, Hell or Brooklyn - when is love going to stay

You have that last nail in the coffin look
Not a criminal or a crook
But you stole my heart from me
Pages folded over in the last chapter of my lyrical book
Heaven, Hell or Brooklyn - when is love going to set me free

Maintaining faith hasn't always been kind,
but never mind, 
I fell asleep during the best part
While your eyes look deep into mine
God only knows it's a fresh start
And now I'm wondering
wondering out loud
wondering about Heaven Hell or Brooklyn

Where is the love that's supposed to carry me through
Where is the love that I've been hanging on to
Faith isn't just for the weary,
Faith isn't just for the forgotten
Maybe I shouldn't have spoken so boldly,
maybe I should have kept my mouth shut
but fuck, what have I got to lose 

I'm the prom queen that was never crowned
I'm a missing chapter in my own lyrical book
Dylan-esque quality, but he choked on my words
how brilliantly absent minded
how brilliantly absurd...

Heaven Hell or Brooklyn - where is love now

© 2014 TrilbyYates 

Love Chanting

Summer sun 
short circuit 
cuts directly 
from my brain 
to my heart
eyes close
and I can see
...a clear path  - to you

Each ray 
that shoots 
across the bow 
of this 
magnificent vessel 
mind and spirit
carrying with it 
a message
...of love - to you

Chanting with the tide 
full moon is on the rise

Goddess of Love
Goddess of Light

                                                               photo by TYates


© 2014 TrilbyYates 

Hiding In The Shadows

Hiding in the shadows
of my room 
with the door closed 
 - listening to the sounds 
listening to the sounds
with my hands up against the wall 

And off in the distance 
I hear you running 
down the hall 
shouting words
words of warning and well wishes
completely delusional 

Standing in my room 
with the door closed
- listening to the sounds
there isn't much left to do
how can I stand by
how can I help you

When all has been taken 
and too often forgotten
straight forward implications
double handed speculations

And you are running 
down the hall
shouting words
words of warning and well wishes
completely delusional

Two fisted revelations
Tower of Babble communications
There is nothing I can do
how can I stand by
how can I help you...

Hiding in the shadows
of my room 
with the door closed 
 - listening to the sounds 
listening to the sounds
with my hands up against the wall

© 2014 TrilbyYates     

Dear Life

Is this the way it's suppose to be?
The way it's supposed to play out?
My mind is telling me one thing...
but time doesn't seem to be on my side
I'm kicking and screaming
being dragged through life
scuff marks on my hands and knees - 
Is this really the way it's going to be?
The way it's supposed to play out?
I'm kicking and screaming,
broken arms and broken legs -
Heart fails and shock sets in
Does it seem to matter much?
Hey I'll tell you what - you can sit on the side line
and watch the show
I'll even supply the popcorn and balloons
a side show with music and a harp player
But, but I promise you,
I'll tell you straight up,
I'm hanging on for dear life
barely hanging on for dear life
Is this really the way it's supposed to be?
The way it's going to play out?
If I had known this long ago
I may have already checked out...
I may have already checked out;
taken that short walk with rocks in my pockets
The cold waters surrounding me,
the cold waters taking me down
kicking and screaming
scuff marks on my hands and knees -
You my friend can sit on the side line
and watch the show;
I'll even supply the popcorn and balloons
a side show with music and a harp player
But, but I promise you my friend,
I'll tell you straight up
I'm hanging on for dear life
...barely hanging on for dear life


© 2014 TrilbyYates 

Oh The Random-ness Of Thought

Half way between
here there and everywhere 
spark an interest 
douse the flame 
and the Circle Line 
has the second best view 
of a city of sleepwalkers 
daydreamers 
Svengali's and the like 
but man was i wrong 
when i thought i saw 
the span of the greatest bridge 
in the world 
in your eyes 
even though 
i never noticed
if you were looking at me 
or across the room 
i tend to drift away
from time to time
side effects 
of climbing too high 
without a safety net...

© 2014 TrilbyYates


The four universal healing salves:

When did you stop dancing?
When did you stop singing?
When did you stop being enchanted by stories?
When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence?
Where we have stopped dancing, singing, being enchanted by stories, or finding comfort in silence is where we have experienced the loss of soul.
Dancing, singing, storytelling, and silence are the four universal healing salves.

~ The Four-Fold Way: Walking the Paths of the Warrior, Healer, Teacher and Visionary

So Many Places We Can Go

Change always comes
and I spend my summers
flying high without a care
I have to 
or I wouldn't survive
so now with a clean slate
baby you look
like someone
I used to know
someone
I used to know
someone
I need to know
and even though
every thought
is black and blue
shaded colors like a bruise 
the center of the universe
holds more for us
it holds more for us -
Lovers come and lovers go
but when they dare reach
deep inside and don't hesitate,
when they feel that bounce back
reflection mirrored image
black and blue
the center of the universe,
yes,
the core of the universe
between me and maybe you...
we have to know
It's worth even those moments
all those moments
when we are on our knees;
bloody sweat soaked t-shirt
tells another story,
wrapped tightly
around the main source
of heartache -
Come on it's an apocalypse,
it's that slippery slope
we've come to know
it's that slippery slope
we've been warned about
Put your arms around me,
and hold me close
close your eyes
kiss me deeper
than we bury our dead,
kiss me until
you reveal your soul -
steal mine if you like
it's yours to own
Put your arms around me,
and hold me close
close your eyes,
close your eyes
there are so many places we can go
there are so many places we can go...

© 2014 TrilbyYates 

Twinkling Lights

Warm cup of coffee 
hands wrapped 
tightly around 
over sized thermos
skim latte 
with a dash 
of cinnamon
comfort zone
no way home
thoughts interrupt
warm and reminiscent  
shooting shiver 
from head to toe 
gazing amusement
while black swans glide 
ceremoniously atop 
the biting cold waters 
Saugatuck LIS Atlantic
fed riverbed
elegantly withdrawn
as the world drives by 
stone overpass 
white blanket holiday snow
wind gust grabs a hold
symbolic flags blow
tide seems mid to high 
full moon mesmerizing glow 
not a lonely place 
sitting in the quiet
of all that is before me
Mother Natures 
early morning winter show  
pre-dawn blues
shake rattle and roll
remembering songs
that touch deep into the spirit
and truth seeker soothes the soul
blue notes strung together
twinkling lights from long, long ago
...such a long time ago...


© 2013 Trilby

One More For The Road

Ambiance
candle light low smoldering glow
not tagged for tender romance
self serving no holds barred seduction
of another kind...
Bar scene fades defiantly out of view
as the backroom juke joint
grabs hold soothes the heart
and shakes the soul

Time passes reluctantly
yet the heart beat carries the crowd
unified movement sweltering heat
his music becomes my own...
We are ageless as images of youth
begin to blur colorless montage
just the way Mother Nature intended
magical streaks shades of grey
run translucent color through his hair

And the Music man
oblivious continues to play
mesmerizing the lovelorn
eyes closed, head tilted

focused far off in a melodious zone

he blows a sultry song
as if his world is a slow burn
of notes and tones
saved for me, yet
shared with the lost and lonely
with pleading reverie one more for the road...

For now my journey has
purpose, reverence and intent
The Music man holds my hand
guiding me along the way
while I absorb song and sound
eyes closed, head tilted
focused far off in a melodious zone
conjuring up and improvising
notes and tones
with pleading reverie one more for the road... 

© 2013 Trilby