barnacle

shenanigan hooligan
playing the fool again
barnacle rambles
along the sidewalk
trash blows upon him
swirling wind eddies
caught in the tide pool
of days and chances
capturing glances
a quick step and skip
a smile upside down
he gathers his pants
and dances

his gaze floats along
locked inside the past
poison whispers burn
his eyes with tears
in the rain falling
into his life at last
three children gather
inside his thoughts
more time is needed
to find what is lost
brutally honest
he hides behind lies
truth and trickster
darkness and light

shenanigan hooligan
playing the fool again
barnacle wanders
through lonely alleys
a sad spectacled face
parading disgrace
mocking our masks
facades for our taste
big shoes slap along
with a buoy in tow
in resonant prayer
as above - so below
restlessly searching
silently screaming
for the beauty of
life's torrid glow