CliffSongs, Friends & Others

In some ways, this is one of the sadder pieces I've had to write.
This woman had asked me to write a poem about her daughter who had died the year before...

A Song for Haley and Me

I still smile when I remember your smiling scrunched up nose,
The blush on your cheek stolen from a fragrant rose.
Posing for any and all in sweet innocence,
That you should be gone at all makes the least of sense.

The world was SO big, and you loved all you could see,
I still believe you were the best part of me.
And now you are gone from us, we that remain flesh,
But I am sure you know that you are not loved any less.

Sometimes I look at you with our pictures side by side,
Something I have never done without having cried.
And sometimes I think a full life for you was denied,
Because sometimes it seems that you were taken without having been tried.

I remember Grandpa caring for you in ways he'd never before shown,
As if this might be his last chance; could he have known?
You brought out the best in us, we had so much to give,
When you died, I often thought that I could not live.

Sometimes I look at you with our pictures side by side,
Something I have never done without having cried.
And sometimes I think a full life with you was denied,
Because sometimes it seems that you were taken before I had barely tried.

Now I am left with memories, some pictures, and emotions coated with dust,
And a longing to ask The Creator the questions that I must.
But for now I can get by on this certainty:
That no matter where I am, my baby is watching over me.

Sometimes I look at you with our pictures side by side,
Something I have never done without having cried.
And sometimes I think a full life for you was denied,
But I know I cannot reach you without first having tried.

Cliff Lake
12/6/1998

A friend of mine asked me to write this one about her adopted brother who is also my best friend.
He still lives, & has yet to see this piece.

Eulogy for a Drunken Friend

Chorus:
Two steps forward and then one step back
Sometimes with only one foot on the track
Two steps forward and one-step back
Sometimes he falls off the track
But one day he will move forward,
And when he does, he won't be looking back

He's got eyes drooping back into his head,
And a belly out to here
And a fatty nose perpetually red
And his hair won't grow in front of his ears
But on those days when you most needed a friend
He looked mighty good
Whether he was far or near.

Chorus

Now maybe he couldn't shake his brew,
But I never knew his mind to be unclear
And he usually had the right words for you
No matter how many of his hands held a beer
You always ended up seeing him when you were blue
'Cause with one joke, he could dry up anybody's fear

Chorus

Now, there were times that I'd dismiss him
But still he ambled on
But now I find that I'll miss him
But it's too late; he is dead and gone
But the day will come when I'll need him to listen
And that's when I will sing this song

Cliff Lake
11/3/96
2:15AM CST

One of the owners of the carnival I worked for requested this birthday greeting:

Not Fifty-Nine

There's a lady around here somewhere who may have just turned sixty
And because she's middle aged now, she may not be so lickety splixty
Yet she's a slyboots, this one
You might say she's slixty,
This lady around here who may now be sixty

Let's say you need some advice,
I myself have turned to this person who might by sixty
She may just be able to help you through
Your little fixty,
Up those fashionable sleeves she wears
She might have a little trixty

This woman whom some say is now turning sixty
So keep in mind our friend,
This Grace, now allegedly sixty,
Because you know, she's not just our ticket pixty,
No, she's got a brain razor sharp and quixty,
And if you don't believe me just ask Chris or Vixty.

Cliff Lake
8/25/95

Best friends sometimes find it hard to say everything they mean, so they ask me...

Colleen and I

Sixth grade enemies, remember that?
The slightest excuse was good reason for a spat.
But on any and all that looked on we had our revenge:
Because in spite of ourselves (and each other) we became friends.

Sisters, friends, confidantes are what we have become.
In my book, girl, you are number one.
All those hours on the phone, wasn't that fun?
Telling each other the secrets we wouldn't share with anyone.

And then there were the rumors, and the Big Fight,
Thank God the truth was finally dragged into the light.
We got through it all, with only the slightest of pain,
What I am trying to say is that, somehow, we will always remain

Sure, college is only mere months away,
And "Goodbye" will be the hardest thing I have ever had to say,
But you I will always trust, tears bring only rust,
You see, there is something of you in me, and there it will always stay.

Cliff Lake
11/28/'98

Another carnival piece, this time about one of the owners,one of the owners' girlfriend,and Kent Sykes. This one also has the distinction of being the very first poem I ever wrote to someone's specifications. It took me 45 minutes...

Trucks, Tires, & Women

(Thanks to Kent Sykes for inspiration, madness and other gases.)

Blonde and sleek and pretty and mean,
She's a real man-drivin' machine
She don't need no one stokin' her fires,
She just needs a man to keep her in tires
Always lookin' round for them Firestone deals,
This here woman's really Hell on wheels.
She could just about drive you mad -
But you'll never get there
'Cause her tires are bad.

Chorus:
One of 'em can't keep rollin'
One of 'em blows up trucks,
But I ain't got nuthin' on either of them
Guess I'm always shit outta luck
But I'll just keep on drivin'
And pullin' 'em both on down the road
But I might be headed for my own little break down
'Cause three is a heavy load.

Built and busty, she keeps me lusty,
But she's got piston trouble
She's datin' my boss and that of coss
Continuously busts my bubble
She drives like hell, creatin' that smell
Whenever she's throwin' her oil
And I gotta shut down when she goes aground
That woman's keepin me at a boil

Chorus:
I used to be a groover, but now I'm just a mover,
And haul 'em from fair to fair.
And these two women, though they keep me grinnin'
I'm glad I cut my hippie hair.

I gotta call 'em friends;
They're no means to my ends,
So I gotta pick ' em when I see 'em
Though I'm not dead yet,
I've got one regret -
Part of me belongs in a museum.

Cliff Lake
7/29/94

Self explanatory, no intro needed.

In Viet Nam

Thirty years ago I left, never to be the same.
Thirty years ago I learned a country's new name.
Thirty years ago I put my uniform on.
Thirty years ago,
I went to Viet Nam.

We were a unit, we were a team, we were friends.
We were soldiers, we were The Enemy, we were the means to an end.
We were applauded, we were scorned, we were gone.
But mostly we were nameless faces,
We were in Viet Nam.

And Mr Nixon cried : "Escalate !!" and, my God, how we cried.
And the hippies cried : "We want Peace !!" and, my God, how we tried.
And our Moms and Dads watched us on the news in their homes and,
my God,
how they died.

The jungle was alive, and I descended into Hell.
The jungle was an enemy, and I hated it well.
The jungle was my hiding place, be it ever damned,
Because the jungle helped me lose myself,
Lost in Viet Nam.

And Mr Nixon cried : "Escalate !!" and, my God, how we died.
And the hippies cried : "We want Peace !!" and, my God, how we cried.
And our Moms and Dads watched us on the news in their homes and,
my God,
how they tried.

I met so many men, I watched them come and go.
I met so many people, most I would never know.
I met so many dangers, they made me what I am,
I met so many, but they're behind me,
Dead in Viet Nam.

And Mr Nixon cried : "Escalate !!" and, my God, how we tried.
And the hippies cried : "We want Peace !!" and, my God, how we died.
And our Moms and Dads watched us on the news in their homes and,
my God,
how they cried.

I could never figure out why these 2 women wanted this one written,

but it's probably none of my business anyway.

Eric
(By request, 2nd attempt)

It seems we never got a chance, the reasons aren't clear.
No time to share the secret glance, and now you're far from here.
We barely even said hello, and good-bye took less time,
And so you never got to know, it seems like such a crime.

Now gone from us is your smile, that we do so adore.
Just think of us once in a while, we'll never ask for more.
And we too will remember you as you walk in distant ways,
And know too that our hearts are true, and will be all the days.

And as you walk far from this home, in spirit so shall we,
No matter how far from us you roam, it's Eric we'll always see.
We'll close this now, we'll say good-bye, but there's one thing left to do,
Listen sometimes and you'll hear us sigh: "Eric, we love you."

Cliff Lake
1/22/'98

Check out my OTHER pages...This was just a small sampling of styles.Just CLICK on one of these links!

[Sampler] [Web of Romance]
[Romantic Love] [Dark Words]
[Carnival Times] [Storybook]

[Blues] [Comedy]
[About the Author]

The Allman Brothers Band

Friends & Others, poems written by request

Had a BAD relationship? This page is for you!

If you need a poem or song that falls into ANY category,
email me and I'll do what I can...or recommend me to a friend!

CliffSongs@classicnet.net

Background Music:

In Memory of Elizabeth Reed by The Allman Brothers Band