Paul J Penton – Songwriter

Fragments & thoughts April 22

April 22

Ford Falcon rounds the corner
as I’m waiting to cross
a defective muffler
that shouts at me as he plants his foot
to beat the traffic racing the bridge
he doesn’t know just around the bend is a ‘divvy’ van
with checkered police
eager to test his breath
like they did with mine
I was clear and free
not a drop of wine
maybe a residue from that Mount Pleasant Chardonnay
from the previous evening
but nothing to be alarmed about

A woman sits on the beach
her husband and child
playing in the wet sand
building a castle
she’s buried in a camera
I hear the pictures electronically tick over
as she relives yesterdays moments

The tide is out
wet sand on a higher part of beach glitters
where the moisture is
feet squeak along compacted sand
meditative and repetitive
putting me in a state of mind
where you can be doing one thing
and thinking of another
and you let your mind wander

sand bars made by the outgoing tide
are ripples and shades of brown
dark and light
like corrugations on well travelled dirt road
accompanied by the bells of annoyed plovers

not much seaweed here
just thin sea grass and bulbous poppers
footprints untouched by the tide
waves are triangles that collide into each other
meditate repetitive waves

SATISFY ME

I know I need to ‘get a life’ ,
but I can’t think where to start
someone said I was ‘living in the past’
another said you’ve got to ‘live from the heart’
another said ‘action’ would provide the key
I’ve tried those things but none of them seem…….
to satisfy me

Someone said I should get laid and find a loving woman
I went to bars and drove fast cars but couldn’t meet none of ‘em
I tried the papers, internet and (everyone I knew)
all the personal columns
tried coffee shops and adult courses
still I’m sailing in the doldrums
no matter who I meet I just can’t seem to make it happen
I’m the only one I know who can make me happy
I’m the only one I know
who can satisfy me

so many experts and corners criers seem to know me
my expectations aren’t too high of how it should be
I’ve seen it all on panavision
on the dreaded television
and why don’t life just seem to work
the way it does on TV
now why don’t life just seem to
satisfy me

is there a happy ending
a resolution coming [to be]
I guess Iv’e come so far to fall before I am free
I’ve got to have the latest thing now hang the expense
I know I can’t just get by with just false confidence
so put me in your trust and tell me all that you see
and let me know the things that i need …
to satisfy me

HUNDRED TIMES A DAY

What are you thinking?
You ask
a hundred times a day.
I offer no reply
just disconnection and waiting
for something to happen
no reply.
Even if you ask me
a hundred times a day.

Do I love you?
Am I, ‘in LOVE’.
How would I know?
What is it anyway;
Obsession,chemical?
Spriitual, mystical?
Obsession?
cannot say.
Even if you ask me
a hundred times a day.

The best for us
is to sep-ar-ate.
find your feet,
in all you’ve created.
Where you can know
what you want.
What’s in your heart.
Something else or me.
I’ve no answers you see,
even if you ask me a hundred times a day.

No promises
that change will come.
Reasons, there are none
don’t seem to make sense.
Step back, take in the vision.
come to understanding,
of all that’s been,
and what might be.
I don’t know which way,
even if you ask me, a hundred times a day.