FIELD OF DREAMS
"He Will Be Missed"
AWAY FROM IT ALL
It's a pleasure sir
take a gander,
peace and quiet...
life couldn't be grander.
A loner you say.......
no frigin' way,
I did my tour,
in that bastard war.....
Most of my buddies never came back,
how they would have loved living in this old shack.
Memorial Day, not that special to me,
for every day I honor them, so you see....
One day a year is not nearly enough,
for their family's it's gotta be rough.
I'm proud and honored to be a Vet,
the results of war one never forgets.
I pay my respect each and every day,
missing my friends in every way.
Thanking God for every breath,
I got life, they got death.
This freedom I have, a costly price,
live or die....a roll of the dice.
Memorial Day, this might be.....
but, I thank them daily, because I'm FREE!!
©Chuck Preston 6/2008
CATCH MY DREAMS
Catch my dreams
they bring nothing but sorrow...
don't let them enter
for they will control
my mind my soul...
Protect this nest
where I lay my head
erase these images, these visions,
bring me peace as I enter into sleep...
Save me from the wars I've lived
the horrors that linger inside me
the nightmares of times passed....
take them from me
for they are destroying
all that is good....
You are the Dreamcatcher
reliever of torment,
restorer of good,
silencer of bad,
draw them from the night,
banish them into never
bringing peace as I rest...
©Chuck Preston June2002
THE POCKETS
(Of War)A sudden miscue,a thoughtless mistake.
pocket's of darkness could be your fate.
keep the rack tight, be ready for attack.
always be watching your brothers back.figure the roll of the jungles green.
enemy's hiding and can't be seen.
listen for the sounds, like a snapping stick.
better be ready, better be quick.On the table, playing a life and death game.
eliminating opponents, but gaining no fame.
shoot straight brothers the pockets are small.
as one exits this table they'll roll and fall.Charlie a solid and the home team.
stripes, our Brothers, fighting machines.
wages are high, winning means life.
clear this table, protecting the stripes.
This slate once filled, now only a few.
sent to the pockets by a dangerous cue.
replacements standing by, ready to re-rack.
game after game of these deadly attacks.there are no winners in this game of grief.
sinking the eight brings little relief.
reward for victory, a restless night.
one day closer to a homebound flight.
©Chuck Preston ~ 9-4-2002
A WRITERS KEYS
Fantasy, reality, feelings from within
a special gift of one's inner-self
speaking not aloud only in silence
quietly tapping keys.....escaping
A world of violence, an unwanted subject,
the pain, the suffering.....another's
words of relief. For some,
a reminder of reality
As Veterans still struggle today
a happy ending..... just a fantasy.
Names on the Vietnam Wall.....a reality
each name, a story of happiness,sadness
Each writer absorbs in different ways
each in their own separate thoughts
fingers glide across different keys
but telling the same stories
Enter into a victim's soul
take their place, think their mind,
fantasy quickly turns into reality
truth then escapes from the keys
A reader reads the words
a writer bares his soul,
all should read between the lines,
where the whole story is being told
Chuck Preston 11-18-2002
Absent but never forgottenfor there are no more tomorrowsas time stands stillwaiting for thosewho have failed to returnmissing from our presencenot from our mindsin this moment they are losttrying to find their way
Disappearing into the mist of warunable to see clearlybeyond the heavy dewstheir screams our silence,their wants,our dreamstheir emotions, our tears.their peace our fears.alone they are not,alone they will never be.
Knowing they feelour prayed thoughts,somehow somewaysoothing, entering into their soulsguiding them into the lightwarming them in the darkness of nightspeaking with themin our dreamsreaching, holding themoffering breath for them to breathe
They are part of usas we are themliving for now in separate placesthem, above the sun and starswe, below and not so farour hands soon to claspfor it's in God's willbut for nowtime is standing still
Chuck Preston 6-4-2002
QUIET MOUNTAINA mild breeze caresses my face.
The sun dims my view.
I stand on a balding mountain.
With clouds that are fresh and new.The pines whisper words.
That only I can hear.
Lost but not forgotten friends.
I feel them standing near.A beautiful sound of silence.
Fills my heart with love.
Releasing unwanted memories.
Into the skies above.The cover begins to darken.
Brightness growing dim.
My body filled and glowing.
The pines begin to sing.Hands placed on my shoulders.
Guiding me to a path.
Now all together.
In friendships meant to last.The past now seems unimportant.
The future seems so bright.
No more pain and suffering.
As I fade into the light.Chuck Preston 1-27-2006THE OUTLAW WAY
Staring out a window,
from a beat up old Motel
a position earned and paid for
in a life where I didn't do so well...
Snuggled here in the mountains
gazing out at the snow....
a lonely side of lonely
just going with the flow.
A quiet man by nature
with not to much to say....
mostly keeping to myself
and doing things my way.
In my heart I carry love
for my family and some friends....
but will probably be a loner
until the very end.
This is not my choosing
it's just the way it's been....
some expectations set to high
might change, not knowing when.
Wish I had a reason
for what I have become....
sometimes a frightening feeling
not following the rule of thumb.
Life is what you make it
ambition is a must....
this ingredient if missing
will leave you in the dust.
if one chooses to go this way
and sit out every dance....
very seldom will you find
you'll get a second chance.
life has many pages
most of them un-read....
not all words are simple
and many seldom said.
when believing in a negative view
that tomorrows just another day....
better think twice before you act
or face the "outlaw way".
©Chuck Preston 12~18~2001
ENDED PAST
(A New Beginning)
A future becoming brighter
the past fades into darkness
old wounds starting to heal
by the medications of today
an old puzzle finding new pieces
ink becoming unreadable as pages age
yellowed by rays of future dreams
rough edges replaced by the smoothness
of each new day, each new beginning
a new born child, a certain smile of hope
innocence, as eyes open for the first time
an uncertain future but started with love
a new life to be protected by lessons learned
by past generations, past mistakes
Absorbing the cost of freedom
in an realistic sense
focusing on new tomorrows
starting this minute, this day
each new birth, just one of countless numbers
a priceless speck of growth
to blossom beneath the sun
each new birth, powerful enough to change the future
a given gift from others teachings
accept this knowledge, take it's strength
a satisfying pride growing within
holding ground as those before you
a family tree bearing strong branches
standing tall through the weathers of time
tomorrows will be yours
the past will become your strength
©Chuck Preston
MAKE BELIEVE ?
Making friends in cyber spaceis it only make believe?at times it seems so very realbut we turn our backs and leave...
We write words of comfort,helping heal scars from the past.sometimes battling one anotherknowing make-believe won't last....
Make-believe we're helping,with our prayers and pensdo we really mean the wordswhen we click and send....
Are we playing a world wide role,with people we'll never meet.Are we really touching themfrom our computer seat....
Everyone has feelings,everyone has a heart,we've all endured the stress of lifeand have known this from the start....
Make-believe, maybe not,compassion is for real.so maybe thinking before one writesimagining how others feel....
Yes, we are all guilty,perfect we are not.communication on this levelin which we all are caught....
laughter, sorrow everyday things,are topics we all discuss.no matter who or where you are,understanding is a must....
©Chuck Preston 11-2002