Alkaso City

I was drawn into that place with dust in my face

Kinda haggard and worn out by then

Quite a sight on that old mule, sorry for him

But sorrier for myself

Oh I knew I was selfish, but that didn’t bother me none

Just wanted to lay my head down on a pillow

With the company of a woman who was willin’.

First bar I seen was like dishes piled up in a stained sink

Stinkin’ and dirty, the noise was like static on an old radio

But it felt like home to me

Couldn’t wait to tie up Norton, and settle myself on a bar stool

I ordered my first drink in miles, and belted back a cold snort

How did I end up like this?

Once I had a kinda decent life.

Never mind that now, got past wishin’ a long time ago

Got my face in the perfume of a woman’s neck

So my head doesn’t have to think no more, not right now anyways.

I’ll wake up in the morning with the slimy grime of cheap lovin’

But some of the ache will be gone, and maybe then I can clear up my head a bit

Told the old kitchen hand to throw the slop to Norton

Maybe the stable boy bedded him down out of mercy

Like this whore beside me, everyone has some kind of purpose.

Lookin’ out now at the sun shining hard on the porch out back

First time I noticed the sky in ages

Kind of surprised that the woman stayed around

Even brought me taters and grits for breakfast

And hot, strong coffee that stayed in my guts.

She’s sweepin’ out the cabin by the shed, for me, she said

Maybe I’ll hang around here for a bit, Alkaso might grow on me

Same way her eyes locked onto my face is kinda growin’ on me

Didn’t think I had anything left to give…

Could be wrong again.

cailin raine

On Ageless Grace

I walked in mists unfolding

And danced in dreamless, smoky clouds

I wandered through depths unending

In sunburst beams of light, where sad hearts can’t be found

I walked another level where the angels shine

And danced another world where thoughts are true

I rambled, sought, and found the answers

There are no limits!

No barriers for you.

Flit along the grass, oh, little one!

Run in perfect nature's Grace

Flee among the leaves, sun-shadows falling

For yours is life and love, it's yours to chase!

Yours to live amid the senses; you have ages by your side

You are free under the sun, with Mother Earth as your guide

There is no need to walk in darkness, no need to drift in slumber

No need to fall, no need to hide.

cailin raine

Our House

There is a fuzzy old picture

Blurred dim in old black and white

Taken of a house held dear in memory

Soft in the luminous snow light.

It holds a precious spot in the valley

Where the hills gently meet the river bed

Where we walked with old shoes on the bottom

And with grubby, brown hands we were led.

In summer the rapids were singing

In winter the ice held us still

The house sits in shadows and memories

In my heart it remains, always will.

It speaks of a time which was simpler

Its ways were of water pump and shed

I danced in the moonlight in nighties

And then snuck upstairs to my bed.

In the morning the floor boards forgave me

Their squeak was of wooden and worn

My secret was kept in the rafters

And the spirit of writer was born.

I think of the chipmunks and squirrels

That scurried in long grass at night

As I watched for the dawn at my window

And waited for sweet morning light.

It was then that the sunlight brought gladness

As I hurried to bacon and eggs

And stood in the earth of the garden

On brown, sturdy, growing, young legs.

The house nestled there in the valley

Still calls to me some long, lonely nights

And I walk on the green of the rolling lawns

And again all of life just seems right.

cailin raine

When Jesus Takes The Wheel

There was black ice early that evening and I had just turned the corner

Headed up the highway to pick you up from skating lessons.

I had read about black ice, and I knew the temperature was right around zero

But nothing had prepared me for this invisible, dark surprise!

Suddenly I was on a skating rink of my own, with snow banks for walls

Without skates, but with four, round, rubber tires instead.

The steering wheel was useless, it made no difference at all

I was a speck spinning out of control, cast like dice on a sinister ice.

Swirling snow, mind-blurred…in the centre was a sane space

Where peace sat like a bubble; I reached it and sat myself there.

It was like sitting in the middle of God’s hand; I waited

While the car spun about me in mad oblivion.

Up ahead approached a huge semi, and I did not miss the connotation with

Your estranged father, was bemused by it, even in those crazy moments.

It would surely kill me, crush my tiny, brown Chevette

Like candy wrapper thrown nonchalantly to the ground.

Peace hung over me like a canopy; I felt almost happy!

But there was a much stronger pull; I could see your little face

The only thing I could really see, was your little face, waiting, waiting

For Mommy to appear and pick you up from skating, why was I late?

What if Mommy could not show up that day, or ever again?

My heart was lying broken in my chest at the thought

And fierce supplication brought me strength; an angel sat beside me

And another sat on top of the car.  I would survive and arrive

To pick you up and not leave that little girl alone.

The car lurched then, charged like a bull, evenly hitting the snowbank

Head on, straight, clean, perfect angle…what magic made the car ride up

Over the bank directly into the field below, an oasis of snow?

I was driving in the field now, and I looked up to my right…

To see not one, not two, but three semis roar by.

They had not even slowed, to do so on the black ice

Might have been total catastrophe.

A young girl watched from her farmhouse window

And she jumped into her car to come to my rescue.

I was climbing up the steep embankment, slogging through

The deep, white drifts… aching for you and for our wee car, “Beans”.

But I was fine, and I was coming to get you!  My plan was to hitch into town,

Acquire a tow truck and get to that skating rink come hell or high water,

To reach you and ease your fear, to put a smile back on your sweet face.

Angels had whispered to the wonderful girl sitting by her window;

She drove me into town and the tow truck had soon rescued Beans,

Still intact, unscathed, and I was on my way again, cautiously wary

Of the wicked ice and the mere seconds it could take to lose control.

I pulled into the parking lot of the arena, hurried in to find your

Anxious, bright eyes glued to my face, and with relief I took your hand.

You were the reason I prayed; You were the reason I stayed.

You were the reason that Jesus took the wheel that day.

With love forever to Little Flower, Mom