Turn A Page Or Two

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

I Shall Rise

Meat and bones dollars and cents he takes a chance

Here’s a dollar baby do you do more than dance?

Sparkling eyes tomorrow dies in yes and no

Let’s make the trick quick I gotta do a show

I’ve been cheated by men full of greed

They take and take but have no need

But I shall rise you can’t keep me down

I shall rise you can’t deny my crown

My past of a fool fuels the rocket to fly

I declare beware I ain’t gonna take a lie

Look hear mister I got my fighting shoes on

Have no sad tear sweet sister my life ain’t gone

I’ve been cheated by men full of greed

They take and take but have no need

But I shall rise you can’t keep me down

I shall rise you can’t deny my crown

On La Rue Avenue there’s a comic store

Batman and the Joker fight in eternal war

Can you sleep at night sir that’s the real score?

It’s easy to get high but it’s hard to soar

I’ve been cheated by men full of greed

They take and take but have no need

But I shall rise you can’t keep me down

I shall rise you can’t deny my crown

Scum of the Earth Jesus died for you

What is your worth one and one is two

The calculus of capitalism is pain

Like a crook you took from the insane

Let me explain you’re a carnal crook vain

There’s a cop waiting to stop your red corvette

You’re a real prince but even the kings regret

I’m going in the dungeon to find my gold

Life is a tale and the future’s still untold

I’ve been cheated by men full of greed

They take and take but have no need

But I shall rise you can’t keep me down

I shall rise you can’t deny my crown

Check Out CAN I GET A WITNESS

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Chasing the dragon. Having a six pack of Old Swills and a few hits of reefer in preparation; except we never called it reefer only marijuana and pot. So unable to face reality soberly we self medicate and take another step into the great oblivion. As we stare up at the crescent moon confident no human being ever came close to landing on it. The orchestration of lies well that’s the Dragon’s grand design. He allows you to chase him not out of fear. Rather you embolden yourselves to merge deeper into the darkness. So when your pathetic lives slip into monotony and the emptiness is complete you can always remember those gold old days. Davis 305 huh Ed? Yes sir, salute the hierarchy because you own a nice house and have a wife who gave you a few little ones. Meanwhile the world is plummeting in a spiral as the hungry jaws of the abyss lie gaping open lubricated with the lustful drool of desire. Getting wasted. A black celebration. I come to you once more in the spirit of freshness and vitality. The cool spring breeze shall fill your sails as you journey to the land of purpose and fulfillment. I am a soldier in the army of the Lord. I was once one with the void. I have surrendered mind, body and soul. In giving all I attained all. So with the entire universe in my hand I gently toss it into the collection plate a free will offering to the God of Love.

Check Out LETTING IT OUT

Friday, August 8, 2025

My Decision

(An chapter from CAN I GET A WITNESS)

Becoming a Christian was the best decision that I have ever made in my life. I want to show the dynamics of my conversion. Everybody’s decision of faith comes about differently but I am sure there are also similarities.

First and foremost I was convinced that Jesus Christ was the Son Of God. This conviction came solely from the reading of the Bible, in particular the New Testament. In fact I hadn’t even read the Old Testament when I was baptized. My friend Frank always liked to rave about a book he read called, “Lord, Lunatic or Liar.” I never read it but Frank may have given me a copy of it. The basic premise of the book is that if you dissect Jesus’ words there are only three conclusions that you can come to. That he is either the Lord or a lunatic or a liar. I believed He was the Lord.

Secondly Frank’s Bible studies taught me the plan of salvation at least in a primitive form. The study he shared with me was something he developed as an offshoot from his experience with the International Church of Christ. I can’t remember much of it. However I did discover a study when I was searching in the basement. I had to laugh at the simplicity. The study presented a scripture and then there was a question regarding the scriptures. Then four answers were presented making it multiple choice test. I recall reading a question, “When the Eunuch heard the gospel how did he respond?” One of the answers was to say the sinner’s prayer, another was of course baptism.

Frank also used the book of Joshua to help me understand the nature of the gospel. It just so happened that we were studying the book of Joshua in Bible study at the time. In particular we talked about the walls of Jericho falling. God gave Israel what seemed to be some outrageous and illogical commands. They were to silently walk around the city day after day and then on the final day shout. Israel obeyed God’s command and they were successful. The principle is that if God commands you to do it then we are to obey, even though it doesn’t make sense. So getting immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, (Acts 2:38) might not make sense to us but it is what the Bible teaches. Now I understand that at baptism we join Jesus on the cross and the blood washes us from our sins, Romans 6. (We will look at this in depth using scriptures.)

Thirdly I had a lot of people who were great Christian influences in my life. They were warm and accepting and showed me genuine Love. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this. If the Love wasn’t present I may not have accepted Christ.

I had announced to Frank that I had planned to hitchhike across the country. So what he did was teach two studies on one night. I believe it was a Thursday. As a result of the studies I was convicted that I needed to get baptized. My motivation was to get my business right with God and to do what He wanted in my life. I remember driving to Patty’s apartment who was Frank’s girlfriend at the time. I was praying with all my might that I wouldn’t die along the way. When I got to Patty’s the bathtub was full of water waiting for me. I was baptized.

Frank said something to the effect, “When you got baptized you shoulder wasn’t under but it doesn’t matter.” This statement always pricked at my heart from time to time. I certainly didn’t believe I wasn’t a Christian. My life had drastically changed for the better. However from time to time, the devil would torment me with those haunting words. Then I said to myself, ‘why are you being so foolish?’ I simply went into the water once more making sure I was completely buried in the water. Now all doubt is settled in my mind about my baptism.

Three important things happen at baptism. As we mentioned before one’s sins are forgiven and the new Christian receives the gift of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:38. The third is that the person is reborn and enters the kingdom of heaven, or the Church of Christ. “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,” John 3:5. No matter what the age of the Christian they are a babe in Christ spiritually immature.

Babies of course must be treated with special care. If ever a Christian needed the love and the support of the congregation after baptism is the moment. The presence of a young Christian should make us use our tongue with care, especially when talking about others and church problems. A new Christina needs to be fed with milk and not meat. The Bible in Hebrews 6:1-2 defines what milk is. “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

Even if you do your best to help a new Christian some are going to leave the faith, it is what scripture teaches. Luke 8 depicts the conversion process as planting seeds in four different soils. The first seed lands on the way side and there is no conversion. That is the person who doesn’t believe. The second falls on the rock. These people start to grow but have no root. They eventually fall away. The third group falls among thorns. These grow but are eventually choked by the cares and riches and pleasures in life. Only the last group consisting of those with a ‘good and honest heart’ hears the word and keeps it bringing fruit, so based on that if one out of three people remain faithful you are doing well.

Mind you that it is not your position to determine who is a genuine Christian and who is going to fall away. Some of the strongest Christians I know had a shaky start in their faith. Personally, several months after my baptism, I was committed to a psychiatric hospital. I am very glad not everybody gave up on me. Also you have to understand that not everybody in the church is a genuine Christian. Mathew 13 depicts the ‘kingdom of heaven’ as being full of wheat and tares. The wheat is the children of God and the tares are the children of the devil. Over time it may become evident as to which member is wheat and which member is a tare. People are known by their fruit. So we can go to Galatians chapter 5 and see the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. Those who do evil are for the devil and those who do good are for God. But we are not to judge, that is Jesus job. We don’t know the heart. The parable of the ‘wheat and tares’ commands us to let them grow together. At the harvest, or Judgment Day they will be separated. The reason giving is that if we pull up some tares we might inadvertently pull up some wheat in the process. Also when wheat and tares are young they are indistinguishable in appearance when compared to the wheat. Best policy is Love everybody and hope for the best.

Friday, May 9, 2025

Goodbye Galena

Goodbye Galena goodbye

You hopping now

In the grassy fields of the sky

Heaven is blue

With white clouds of delight

I wish you

A future ever bright

I am still holding fast

But one day I too shall pass

Please get on God’s good side

So when it is my turn

I’ll have no concern

And I’ll walk through those pearly gates wide

I promise

To bring you carrots and lettuce

So goodbye Galena farewell

Remember you’ll get no treats

If I wind up in hell

POLISHED FRAGMENTS

Poet To The Poor

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Hey Tamron

By John Kaniecki

Hey there sweet baby girl

Precious black pearl

Woman of the world

Elegant lady of style

Give me a precious smile

Let’s talk and laugh a while

Blow the silver trumpets

Let the sacred flag be unfurled

Our banner of freedom flapping in the breeze

Love will put your mind at ease

For our Father

The maker of our soul

Keeps complete control

Understand

He holds the universe in His hand

Can you comprehend

He calls you friend

So in word and deed

Be a friend indeed

Jesus went to the cross

So that not one would be lost

Day after day after day

Trust and obey

No matter how grim things become

God’s will shall be done!

I was Eve the mother of creation

I was the first nation

In almost forgotten days of old

My people discovered secrets untold

I was a Pharoah with a grand pyramid as a grave

I was a humble galley slave

I marched with Hannibal to Rome

I was a wiseman my name now unknown

I was Cleopatra on her golden throne

I was sent to toil in a harsh wicked land

I made a rebel stand

I had dignity in the face of hatred

I was sacred

I fought the good fight

I made a stand for what was right

I am the Creator’s delight

Tomorrow an angel of light

Black clouds drawing near

I refuse to give in to fear

I’ve been fighting all my life

I’m no stranger to strife

We’re still singing We Shall Overcome

For the work isn’t done

Until we are all free

And live decently

So let evil come and spit in my face

I shall conquer with Grace

Oh, wizards wicked and cruel

Who seek to conquer and rule

Don’t count me as a fool

Because I believe in the golden rule

Right is right

And wrong is wrong

I shall sing my song of delight

I am strong

You shall see

Hope gives me the victory

It is already won!

Tamron Hall, I hope you like my little song

For you see

I like my woman as my coffee

Hot, black and strong!

POLISHED FRAGMENTS

Poet To The Poor

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Money And Power

Capitalism’s cat she’s a playboy bunny

She doesn’t dig true love it’s pure money

A wad of cash and she’s your sweet honey

She’ll laugh at all your jokes even if they ain’t funny

Twin demons money and power

A hungry beast seeks to devour

Now is darkness and the final hour

Bowing down to money and power

An ogre with orange hair he’s selling us out

He looks in the mirror that’s all he’s about

What profit a man to gain the whole world’s control

And at the very same time you lose your soul

Twin demons money and power

A hungry beast seeks to devour

Now is darkness and the final hour

Bowing down to money and power

Martin counts every penny he’s got a disease

He wants a life of leisure to do as he please

Lie after lie it’s the blind leading the blind

Generals and bankers a blight on mankind

Twin demons money and power

A hungry beast seeks to devour

Now is darkness and the final hour

Bowing down to money and power

In Red China a million soldiers march in line

In Harvard business school mammon is divine

Pay your indulgences so you can enter paradise

Give all to the poor it’s my best advice

The final countdown Babylon’s beginning to fall

The Masters of War snivel wanting it all

Cracks in the foundation hear the Liberty Bell

They offer you heaven only to give you hell

Twin demons money and power

A hungry beast seeks to devour

Now is darkness and the final hour

Bowing down to money and power

Sunday, March 2, 2025

Shades Of Blue

By John Kaniecki

There are many shades of blue

And all I recall

Remind me of you

There are many shades of blue

Wide, thin, small and tall

But none of them are true

I see the sky

I cry
I see the ocean deep

I weep

There are many shades of blue

And all I recall

Remind me of you

And how you weren’t true

So what’s a poor boy to do?

There are many shades of blue

And I’d trade a kingdom or two

For one of those days full of charm

When I held you tight in my arms

But the past has fled

And my heart is dead

It is no longer red

But alas

Entrenched in a blue steadfast

There are many shades of blue

And I wish I never knew

Your love so tender and sweet

So in bitter defeat

I lay these words at your feet

There are many shades of blue

And the poet cannot conceive

Or the man of faith believe

Or have a clue

Of the love one can receive

From somebody as wonderful as you

Thursday, February 13, 2025

I’m Coming Home

Goodbyes are sad so Grace silently slipped away

Searching for dreams of eternal sunny days

Somewhere out there in this crazy world of ours

Grace would find her place among heaven’s stars

And in guarded moments all alone

A voice whispered I’m coming home

Those were the best times I’ve ever known

Maybe someday I’m coming home

Hustling bustling serving cold beers to old men

Lost in the daze of do you remember when

Honest work always comes with an honest price

So unhappy inside came the same advice

And in guarded moments all alone

A voice whispered I’m coming home

Those were the best times I’ve ever known

Maybe someday I’m coming home

Another town another year chasing those shadows

If she had wings she’d have gone where the wind blows

One day she looked in the mirror in surprise

It was finally time to face those wicked lies

And in guarded moments all alone

A voice whispered I’m coming home

Those were the best times I’ve ever known

Maybe someday I’m coming home

She had read the story of the prodigal son

But it wasn’t the same thing that’s she’d done

Forgiveness truth be told takes a life time

And some words well sadly they never rhyme

What would she say would she scream or maybe cry

Could she confront the evil behind the lie

The taxi was driving down familiar roads

Grace had an iron cross such a heavy load

And in guarded moments all alone

A voice whispered I’m coming home

Those were the best times I’ve ever known

Maybe someday I’m coming home

Friday, January 31, 2025

Something Funky

Nanana was my favorite chic freak of the weak

Saturday evening at the bar I was hitting my peak

The golden sun glistened glowing on her pinkish hair

In the mourning I said hey baby what you doing here?

I came in for something funky don’t you know

Like front row tickets for the fashion show

I am a lover and a fighter like two is two

I came in for something funky and that’s you

At Sunday morning service they played the honkey-tonk

The lesbian reverend was preaching on the wages of zonk

We were full of the spirit rolling up and down the aisles

The children hit the sacred wine bursting with bubbly smiles

I came in for something funky don’t you know

Like front row tickets for the fashion show

I am a lover and a fighter like two is two

I came in for something funky and that’s you

Monday morning I awoke to relive the nine to five

Nanana was cooking bacon and eggs to survive

I said darling I need some coffee and I need it hot

She smiled showing all her golden teeth “Oh damn I forgot”

I came in for something funky don’t you know

Like front row tickets for the fashion show

I am a lover and a fighter like two is two

I came in for something funky and that’s you

Rats running in the maze run alone

Love is a mystery with so much unknown

He is a she or she is a he confusion avails

The muted poet he spins the best tales

The weddings in late March she bursts out without a look

My time of month was stolen most likely by a crook

Smiles on her face transformed to a hurricane of tears

There are things that frighten you and then there are real fears

I came in for something funky don’t you know

Like front row tickets for the fashion show

I am a lover and a fighter like two is two

I came in for something funky and that’s you

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Two Plus Two Equals Five

Cosmic pilgrims slipping moondust into the sacred wine

Shakespeare on acid tripping lusting for the right line

Jesus on the mountain top he’s feeding five thousand souls

Jim Morrison drunk refusing to pay the parkway tolls

Two plus two equals five

We’re passing through the great divide

Mankind is gonna survive

Two plus two equals five

Apollo was an outright lie but Aphrodite divine

Bankers bowing to golden Baal crying mine mine mine

I heard a rumor that Bob Dylan was selling out

I believe in true love but I confess sometimes I doubt

Two plus two equals five

We’re passing through the great divide

Mankind is gonna survive

Two plus two equals five

Where are we going where have we been?

Babylon the whore waging war in sin

Planet Earth spinning spinning spinning

Satan looking on grinning grinning grinning

When you get out on the yard you gotta rock and roll

Are you aware that somewhere there is a man in control?

The great Pele could score a goal from almost midfield

One day the mathematics professors are going to yield

Two plus two equals five

We’re passing through the great divide

Mankind is gonna survive

Two plus two equals five

Last time I tried to check the clocks were still keeping time

All of the popular melodies have rhythm and rhyme

In February’s chill I’m still looking forward to spring

Poetry is fine but I want something that I can sing

Two plus two equals five

We’re passing through the great divide

Mankind is gonna survive

Two plus two equals five

To Purchase Facebook Poems

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Love

Love is like baking cookies of delight

You got to get the recipe just right

Start with a heaping measure of grace

If you did it correct, you have a smile on your face

Mix in some sugar, doubly sweet

Some kind words makes the task complete

Make sure that you include some of your heart

That is the extra special part

Allow the cookies to go through the fire

A little pain is needed, whatever the desire

Keep after them with proper concern

Otherwise they just might burn

Once they are baked allow them to cool

Move to fast, well you’re a fool

Cause patience is the number one thing

You can always hum if you can’t sing

Take a nibble just for a taste

Share with everybody let none go to waste

When your cookies are gone, just bake some more

Remember, make Love, not war

Thursday, August 1, 2024

Just In Case The Generator Explodes

FAWM # 24

I could have been an engineer singing endless blues

But I couldn’t face my fears and ran to the drugs and booze

Equations of salvation brilliant minds to abuse

We’re getting ready for the next war and we don’t want to lose

I’m sitting by the fire writing romantic odes

Just in case the generator explodes

Down in Galveston they’re receiving illegal loads

Just in case the generator explodes

Pop singers producing mediocre music just to sell

She’s wearing seducing clothes we all can tell

Her manager wears pink suits like a pimp on the run

Making money honey well to him its great fun

I’m sitting by the fire writing romantic odes

Just in case the generator explodes

Down in Galveston they’re receiving illegal loads

Just in case the generator explodes

Somewhere riding the great plains is the ghost of Crazy Horse

Things were bad way back when and now they are worse

The Mississippi River is weeping for her lost

We never talk about the American holocaust

I’m sitting by the fire writing romantic odes

Just in case the generator explodes

Down in Galveston they’re receiving illegal loads

Just in case the generator explodes

And should I buy the two compendiums

You got God’s or the devil’s kingdoms

One is truth the other only lies

Make your choice and be wise

One and one is two and that is basically true

The straight and narrow necessitates only a few

Ron’s soon to call to tell me the events of the day

In the end past the final bend we all exit the same way

I’m sitting by the fire writing romantic odes

Just in case the generator explodes

Down in Galveston they’re receiving illegal loads

Just in case the generator explodes

Saturday, July 27, 2024

Downtown Ken Brown

FAWM # 21

On the streets the punks are dealing junk

Hot women selling fountains of funk

Showing more than a decent man should see

Crying “Oh la dee, have a little trick with me”

Do you hear?

And nobody messes with Downtown Ken Brown

He’s the king of the hood with a thorny crown

Seek and the truth shall be found

God surely blesses Downtown Ken Brown

The inner city ain’t pretty until you look at the soul

It’s far more than labor and rock and roll they stole

But the beauty survives in rhythmic vibes

There’s something righteous in being happily alive

And poets on the corner in revolutionary anarchy

Crying “Oh la dee, have a little trick with me”

Do you hear?

And nobody messes with Downtown Ken Brown

He’s the king of the hood with a thorny crown

Seek and the truth shall be found

God surely blesses Downtown Ken Brown

Pink Cadillacs and street preachers named Jack

We heard you got the Word so we got your back

Handing out tickets for Jesus and food and clothes

The best blessings are the kindnesses everyone knows

And on the corner are junkies seeking sympathy

Crying “Oh la dee, have a little mercy on me”

Do you hear?

And nobody messes with Downtown Ken Brown

He’s the king of the hood with a thorny crown

Seek and the truth shall be found

God surely blesses Downtown Ken Brown

A man of the streets politics is simply let’s pretend

Every time an election comes you got a friend

Down in Washington FEMA is building crosses

When you’re sacrificing others you don’t count the losses

And on the corner the lambs are crying silently

Crying “Oh la dee, have a little mercy on me”

Do you hear?

And everybody messes with Downtown Ken Brown

He’s the king of the hood with a thorny crown

Seek and the truth shall be found

God surely blesses Downtown Ken Brown