THE MIDDLE PATH

The middle path is the hardest road for a man to walk with grace

I’ve spent my life in a cold dark cell or else, well, lost in space

My heart full of peace, harmony, love, greeting each one with a smile

Or hanging out down on Hooligan Street with O.J., Erik and Lyle

People would say as I traveled their way, “There goes John; he’s sober and chaste.”

Or else they would point as I lit up my joint and say, “There goes John; what a waste.”

A fit vegetarian, healthy of frame, living on sunlight and seeds

Or making my way down to Tom’s Number 5 to score a cheeseburger with speed

Then back in A.A., at least for a day, with a promise never to swerve

Or down a dark alley, syringe in my arm, determined to fry that last nerve

It’s a struggle, my friends, to live a moderate life when your personality leans to extremes

Some said it was youth but to tell you the truth, I think that it’s mostly my genes

Nevertheless moderation’s my goal; my resolve is unsurpassed

(Hope springs eternal in the heart of a man who refuses to learn from his past)

Still this is my row, though it’s a hard one to hoe, and I frequently feel God’s wrath

When I come to that three-tined fork in the road, I’ll head for the middle path

RHYME TIME

Summer sweats
Stealth Jets
Bombs whistle
Anti-missles
The moon’s on fire
God’s a liar
No hope

Shoot some dope
Turn a trick and

Suck some dick
Kill the truth
Hitler youth
Have some fun
Take a gun and

Shoot someone
Body rots
Damn fine shot
Get a medal
Recognition
Another case

Of ammunition
Castrate
Masturbate
Always take
Don’t create
Smoke a joint
Have a drink
Keep yourself

In doublethink
Buy some coke
Now you’re broke
Have no friends?
Kill again
Go to church
See a priest
Sins absolved
Then repeat
Rape, loot,

Kill some more
War is what

Our country’s for
Rob your local

Liquor store
Go outside and

Buy a whore
Hate your brother
Rape your wife
Turn around and

Take a life
Drive by;

Two more die
Who will cry?
Got to have

An alibi
Eyewitness;

Someone saw
Cut his head off

With a saw
Scoop his brain out

Eat it raw
Go to prison,

Still no wisdom
Stick around and

Get religion
Gang rape
Then escape
Change your luck and

Run amok
Mink, sable, rabbit fur

Postal office massacre
Go straight
Change your life
Have some kids and

Get a wife
Find a job
Earn some bread
Grow infirm
Then you’re dead