Friday Night 

Tuning up,

Chilling out,

People talk and roam about.

Drinks and food,

New people meeting,

Only one night and very fleeting.

Standing up, I stand out,

Sitting, still a stranger,

But I fear not for there's no danger.

Coffeehouse is closed,

Where will I go?

Back to my car or move with the flow?

Following the crowd,

But not going to conform,

Maybe I should change 'cause it's getting warm.

A band stage is set,

Here to entertain?

Waiting for them is as smart as for rain.

Go where there're people,

Find a new spot,

Suddenly Greenville doesn't look so hot.

Frustration

Choices,

Decisions,

Options flying,

I'm lying.

Heading for a fall,

Choose none, lose all.

Panic,

Chaos,

Head spinning,

Not winning.

Not a single clue,

What on Earth can I do?

Lost,

Lonely,

None for me,

Where is she?

Searching online and off,

I find only scoff.

Blocked,

Diverted,

No directions,

All misconceptions.

So many things to distract,

Will I ever make the pact?

“Fight or Flight”

I take a breath and the adrenaline hits,

Driving my body into frenzied fits.

I look around for a place to hide,

But I’m kept from running by wounded pride.

The danger is here, it’s all around,

And I’m too scared to make a sound.

I need a slower heart, a clearer head,

But as it is, I think I’m dead.

The answers are here, they’re in my grasp,

But as my hands shake so, I cannot clasp.

It hits me suddenly and I’m overcome,

As quite suddenly, my whole self goes numb.

I close my eyes and begin to rest,

As the teacher comes by and takes up my blank test.

Fatherhood

A father’s mission in life is simple:

To lead, protect, and serve his family.

All other things come second.

Whether through blood or marriage,

A father must have the same role.

He must be there for his daughter’s first date,

And later to give her away in marriage.

He must be there to watch his son graduate,

And later to watch him succeed.

In all these things, his presence is crucial;

For, in the beginning, the father watches over his children,

But in time, he must eventually be watched over by them.

A father’s role varies but is always important;

He’s the handyman, the repairman, the mechanic,

The warden, the banker, the guardian, the leader,

The chauffeur, and most of all, a friend.

You’ve been all these things and more to us.

Because of this, you will always have the supreme title:

Father.

Faces

Faces of friendship,

Faces of love.

So many faces watching me,

Which one is true?

The older surfer girl?

The jealous mother/aunt?

The too-busy reformed one?

The distanced new friend?

The fellow student?

The angel-voiced friend?

Or maybe it’s someone I have yet to notice?

Maybe they’re awaiting a sign.

Maybe they’re just afraid.

Maybe they don’t want to ruin something.

Or maybe they’re just indecisive.

So, to whom do I look?

Who will be my center?

Who will I devote myself to?

Who will be my all?

Patience is a virtue but how long must I wait?

Only time will tell……

"Face Paint" 

A grin, a grin, what a wonderful thing!

If it opened up wide, it surely would sing.

Varying in shape, emotions flowing from one to another.

The terrible frown, its evil twin brother.

The laughing smile, showing pleasure within,

Gleaming with pride while overwhelming the grin.

The teasing smile, spreading temptation throughout,

Showing treasure awaiting if you follow the route.

The terrible scowl, causing shame when it's seen,

Making the guilty sweat till they wear a bright sheen.

The face is a canvas, expressions merely paint,

The right combination can cause men to faint.

©Jon White, 2002

Encounters
 

"Hi! How are you?

What is your name?"

The opening overtures

To an intricate game.

Information like pieces,

Flowing one to another.

Soon you'll know more of them

Than sister or brother.

The longer you talk,

The deeper you'll go,

And when you'll stop talking,

Only chance will show.

A friendship formed,

A bond is made,

But however strong,

Without upkeep it'll fade.

So if you meet and befriend,

Be sure to follow through,

For if you stop and friendship dies,

Forever loss will haunt you.

©Jon White, 2002

Elijah’s Monologue

A raven’s feast from God to me,

An amazing sight for any to see.

A flowing brook to quench my thirst,

To keep me going throughout the worst.

To a starving widow am I lead,

To ask for great faith as well as bread.

Above her son, in faith am I placed,

And no greater test has ever a mother faced.

Soon the boy becomes out of reach,

But I was sent here to do more than preach.

Through me does God restore the boy’s life,

To show He is watching and to end this mother’s strife.

©Jon White, 2002

Downward Spiral

Black hole deep and sinking fast,

I'm not sure how much longer I can last.

Each decision apparently wrong,

My life's starting to sound like a country song.

Financial, social, emotional, my circumstances a mess,

Yet my fault alone to this I'll not confess.

A long, sorrowful twist of fate,

Or can I chalk this up to sadistic hate?

Is it still paranoia if someone is behind you?

Either way, I still don't know what to do.

Walk right up and face the gun,

Or turn tail like a vampire from the sun?

A hard thing to do, this choice to make.

My only wish, from this nightmare to wake.

©Jon White, 2002

"Desolate"

Deviants scheme and poets dream,

Tearing reality at the seam.

Tyrants hold an endless reign,

And madmen think themselves more sane.

If you wish to shed no tear,

Try very hard not to visit here.

In this land of great despair,

Death and Desire make the perfect pair.

Before the land became so desolate,

The cries of children did resonate.

No more rain, no more storms,

There is no water in any form.

With the land so weak and dry,

The only thing left to do is cry.

With His mighty hand, God swept the Earth,

Leaving only life's misery and mirth.

©Jon White, 2002

Decline  

Kids running freely - I used to be one.

Games spread throughout - they used to be fun.

Innocence lost - did I ever have it?

Love not in sight - will I ever find it?

Friends all around - does it matter?

No girls in range - could it be any sadder?

Lust or avoidance – neither is wanted.

Beautiful or not - only one is flaunted.

Sport to console - good change or not?

Walking to driving - both are hot.

A job or a girl - priority one?

One brings the other - what should be done?

Work out or sleep in - need I ask?

Shape up or ship out - another boring task.

Odd stares and friendly grins - both seen.

I am myself - is that obscene?

A Gift

Eternity spent with God on high,

Well out of sight from midnight’s sky.

Golden cobble on which we tread,

Drinking limitless wine rich red.

Pearly gates with guards unseen,

Prepped for battle with senses keen.

Precious stones thought less than mud,

More value placed in a rose’s bud.

Rewards in Heaven for each good deed,

We may receive but will not need.

Eternal forms we gain above,

From our Father in a gift of love.

Eternal bliss spent in glorious praise,

As our voices to God with hands we raise.

Entrance is a gift, given for free,

Leaving acceptance as the only fee.

A Lover’s Oath

Once we were friends but now we're much more,

A great life ahead with so much in store.

Each day is a celebration, our love born anew,

Each day made more special just for being with you.

No jealous glances, no secrets to keep,

Just a day spent laughing and at night together asleep.

One day this might end, one day things may change,

But this day we're together and our love will never change.

So bring the storms, rake the skies,

But let it come as no surprise,

That death can come from below or above,

But death will never touch our bountiful love.

Blind Sight

I’m coming to feel another,

Drawing you away.

I really wish this small-time flirt,

Would realize I’m here to stay.

He once had you, but he gave you uo,

For what reason I don’t really know.

But if you can’t see it, then I won’t tell you,

That he’s putting on another show.

I thought we had something special,

But I guess that I was wrong.

I didn’t realize his grip on you

Is still so very strong.

I wish you’d see that I did try explain,

To show you exactly how I feel.

I never really got the point,

That the fun we had was no big deal.

I hope you’ll be so happy together.

If I see you I’ll speak or nod.

At least through all this pain and strife,

I still have my friendship with God.