Frederick M. Markhan

Hutchinson, KS, USA

I've Gone Too Long(Without Democracy)

I've been without democracy too long.
Listening to people that stirred me wrong.
I believe that King is innocent,
And I see us getting militant.
bullish mob are forever growing strong,
Oh, I've been without democracy too long.l
Drugs and democracy really don't mix,
Yet, people are drinking whisky by the fifth.
I guess I've been treating the poor too kind.
Been ignoring the rich,
I must be blind.
I've been putting the congressman down,
so, they rarely come around?
Oh, I've gone too long without democracy.
Civil right..
Gay rights.
Women's rights.
What the hells going on?
Oh, I've been too long without democracy.
Well, what's wrong with me?
Oh, people can't you see?
I've gone too long without democracy.

April

Enchanted mornings burst with surprise
intemperate colours lure the clock
impatience charges the pulse of the time
vigor and passion, ardent eyes
resplendent fascination of life
rife with interrogation
new reasons invented, ornated, aborned
in laycinths tell and bight - revelation
in holy lilies white majesty.
Sloughing off grey fatigue, I blend
with blades of grass
with seeds bearing fruit without end
with shells, mothers of pearls
with trees stretching arms up in the light
my songs are kites flying high
red balloons dancing in the sky
pigeons soaring together over the roofs.
I am writing letters full of love.
Did laughter and I always share
the same redolent, promising air?

Tears From Oklahoma

Tears from the heart
fell on the April day;
for the dead and wounded
in bombed out ruins they lay.
The tears felt like
mighty torrents of rain,
for their loved ones are broken in pain.
Tears for the children
lost and injured hear;
for the parents and families
loved so very dear.
Tears of fear and sorrow,
tears of compassion and hate;
and all the living wonder who,
perpetrated this horrible fate?
Cheers for the mighty
heroes and brave;
who search night and day
to find and to save.
Will time ever mend
all the heartache we have here
and wipe away the tears of a river
we have flowing here.