Just Thinking-Contemplating

Just Thinking

Got up on a cool morning. Leaned out a window.
No cloud, no wind. Air that flowers held
for awhile. Some dove somewhere.

Been on probation most of my life. And
the rest of my life been condemned. So these moments
count for a lot-- peace, you know.

Let the bucket of memory down into the well,
bring it up. Cool, cool minutes. No one
stirring, no plans. Just being there.

This is what the whole thing is about.

Contemplating

Waking up on that crisp, cool morning. I opened my front door.
Dew on the grass, clouds orange from the morning sun.
While the flowers are limp, from the cold night.

Been held back my whole time on earth. And
The rest of my time restricted. So I can't
Take moments for granted because they matter to me.
Peaceful--one might say.

Let the glass of thoughts down under the faucet,
And fill it up. Cold, ice cold time. Frozen
With nothing to do. Just present.

This is why I live my life...

Jamie Braddock
(Modeled after William Stafford's "Just Thinking")

Bus Four

I look around at my surroundings.
Walking through campus,
Snow is falling.
And the trees are swaying.
I get to my first destination.
Sitting there on that cold,
Old bench,
I am waiting for warmth and shelter.
As my second destination approaches,
I see a struggling old man to my right,
Now sitting with me on the bench.
Traveling with this man,
We're headed toward destination number three.
Awkward silence is broken,
When the man says, "Hello."
I respond with the same remark.
Finally at the last stop,
I begin to walk off bus four.
Before entering the cold winter air,
I look back at the man.
He says,
Goodbye...

Priorities

Same ol' me.
Just thinking,
About what's going to happen next.
What we do now
In the present,
Determines our future;
Good or bad.
Same ol' me.
Just thinking...
I'm sick of me,
Thinking constantly...
About you.
What's it for anyway?
I'm trying to lift the world
For you with my shoulders,
But it won't budge...
Same ol' me.
Just thinking...
Why should I make you
A priority in my life,
When I'm just an option in yours?
Am I wasting my time?
Only you and God know.
The same ol' me
Would wait for you,
Until you make up your mind...
Now,
I won't do that.
I can't.
Still the same ol' guy,
With the same ol' personality.
Something has changed though,
The search for that special someone;
Continues...

One Day

Sometimes I lay under the moon

And I thank God I'm breathin'

Then I pray don't take me soon'

Cause I am here for a reason

Sometimes in my tears I drown

But I never let it get me down

So when negativity surrounds

I know someday it'll all turn around because

All my life I been waitin' for

I been prayin' for, for the people to say

That we don't want to fight no more

They'll be no more wars

And our children will play, one day

It's not about win or lose 'cause we all lose

When they feed on the souls of the innocent blood

Drenched pavement keep on movin'

Though the waters stay ragin'

And in this life you may lose your way

It might drive you crazy

But don't let it phase you, no way

Sometimes in my tears I drown

But I never let it get me down

So when negativity surrounds

I know someday it'll all turn around because

All my life I been waitin' for

I been prayin' for, for the people to say

That we don't want to fight no more

They'll be no more wars

And our children will play, one day

One day this all will change

Treat people the same

Stop with the violence down with the hate

One day we'll all be free and proud

To be under the same sun

Singing songs of freedom like


I chose this song by Matisyahu because I find his music really easy to listen to. His lyrics in his songs speak to me in a poetic way. I enjoy most of his music, and he is very talented. This songs lyrics are all about being sad and down about something but not letting it get to you and overcoming your problems. This song relates to my life right now in a different kind of sad and depression. My favorite lyrics in the song are, " And in this life you may lose your way, it might drive you crazy, but don't let it phase you."

Alone

He feels empty with the life that surrounds him,

Tossing and turning endlessly.

Trapped in a world he wants to be a utopia,

But it's everything besides that.

The man feels headless,

Because he doesn't know what to think.

He views himself dead on the inside and out,

Looking for a way to escape his problems.

As the washer goes round and round,

It wears and washes down his emotions.

Spinning and spinning,

Without any sign of stopping.

He's trapped--

Forgotten...

Why do painters enjoy the thrill of paint?
I miss the Tuesday nights, hanging out with my father.
I'm not going to give up what I want, I'll stay strong.
My feelings and my thoughts are read on this paper.
As the sun rises, I love the sight of that sky...blue.
When we talk, I hear your voice like music.

Your voice symbolizes each sound, like notes of music.
How do you ruin a perfectly clean canvas? Paint.
I love looking into your eyes, and all I can see is blue.
One of the persons I look to the most is my father.
It's a damn shame that our nation revolves around green paper.
One of her best qualities is that she's independent and strong.

The legs she uses to pick herself up, they're weak, but strong.
As I turn the dial clockwise, the vibrations are in sync with the music.
The grocery stores are going green, no more asking, " Plastic or paper?"
The next art project requires either charcoal or paint.
I am the man I am today, because of my father.
The water is erie black, yet daytime comes, and it's blue.

As the shower pours out water, the pressure is warm and strong.
My favorite pair of jeans, comfy and fit, are denim blue.
The man upstairs looks over me, and I call him father.
Putting my headphones on, I listen to the sound of music.
Moving the brush side to side, I paint.
The money isn't there anymore, he ended our subscription to the paper.

To start the nice warm fire, I use old paper.
The flame reaching such a temperature, the base is blue.
I'm empty on the inside, and I would rather watch walls dry of paint.
I look back at our relationship, and I probably came on too strong.
As Lupe spits to his beat, he creates music.
I want to have kids when I'm older, and become a father.

Fifteen years from now, I look forward to the day of the fathers.
Hospitals are going with technology, no more paper.
Things that make me smile in life are necessary, like music.
I cheer for my team every week, wearing maze and blue.
The heroes of September 11th, qualify as army strong.
I now comprehend why painters enjoy the thrill of paint.

I look into my fathers eyes, and the gentle shade of blue.
I write the poetic thoughts on paper, my grip proper; strong.
The music my ears listen for, is often expressed with paint.

Something Else

The world moves with you.
Orbiting around the sun.
Please don't stop breathing...