Poetry - It's Cool Again, Man!

Spirit Flame = My Generation Haiku

We were the Flame Seekers

Now, in the Autumn of life,

We are the Flame Keepers

JAF 2020

Me In The Universe

JAF 1987

This childishly simple picture was inspired while I was hiking at a favorite power spot i used to go to in Marin County. I was vibing on the prehistoric cave paintings

our ancestors had created, so, I decided to make one of my own. It's still pretty much how I feel.

Poems and song lyrics 1969 -2020

all writings on this page by JAF

( a song is not a poem but,

you will find both here, anyway)

Table of Contents

Spirit Flame - My Generation Haiku

On The Floor of the Universe

We Are Free

Love's Mad Sugar

Earthquake Country

My Self, Again

Falling Leaf

At The Gates of Eden,

Singing, " Give Peace A Chance"

Snowflake Lady

The Cosmic Breeze

I Want To Feel My Lover's Body

Who Needs Another Singer,

Who Needs Another Song?

Mixed Up Confusion

Past Life Echo

Visions In Wisconsin - excerpt -

My Friend, Michael

- Untitled -

Absolutely My Very Last Poem On Nature

Rain Magic

Everything's Great

We Are Sugar Babies, Now

Reindeer Woman

Our Beautiful Tree

On The Floor Of The Universe

I'm Scared of the dark

and all of it's creatures

that writhe in hiding...

that is why

the moon

spills over unseen tears

encrusts the world in living silver

sets the crazy ones wild

sets me free....

soon, I shall wander

on the floor of the universe

suspended between

irrelevant sunshine

and the surprise of fireflies

JAF 1970

WE ARE FREE

Heading 6

JAF 1975

LOVE'S MAD SUGAR

Oh, my lover~ You wear your skirt so high

You wear your shirt so tight

Your eyes, they shine liquid bright

....Alone,

last night I soaked the sheets

your vision dancing within me

.....Now,

today, in the summer sun

we explore the hills

above my town

an eagle soars

in the china blue sky

a lizard at my feet

sweat trickles

and tickles my skin

stings my eyes

bursts salty on my tongue

......far away, the Sacred Mountain

( calm... powerful... )

...human insect swarm in the city below...

cool breeze and love's mad sugar

in our damp hair.....

Many centuries later,

you take my hand,

laughing,

" Let's put on our clothes

It's time to go

to leave the wild symphony of flowers behind!

( for a time ) "

JAF 1983

& included in my loose collection

of poems and images,

" A Slim Volume of Erotica " 2010

EARTHQUAKE COUNTRY

We're in earthquake country' Mister

so, you know you'd better take care

'cos when the ground starts shakin'

hearts will be breaking

and, fear will hang in the air

Yes, it's earthquake country, Missus

you'll be trembling in the Hand of Fate

as the earth starts to ripplin'

and suddenly to rippin'

you'll peace with your Creator, make

Oh, it's earthquake country, Sugar

but, it sure beats floods and typhoons

so, when the dust does clear

survivors shed tears

glad it's rarer than Blue Moon

JAF 2005

MY SELF AGAIN

It's late evening

and i

want to slip

into an altered state

Give me my pipe

and a cup of something wonderful

give me girls and boys

poems and songs

dances and drums

imagination

and ecstasy

give me freedom to be

myself

again

JAF 2001

FALLING LEAF

I can't get used to

death

Jerry died and I

was a mess....

I thought i had it together

I'd had a lot of practice, after all

and I could stand stormy weather...

...well, I can...

but...

each time

it's like the first time

and, it takes a while

to come to terms with grief

everyone

is

a

falling

leaf

from The Tree of Life

into

Infinity

and

JAF 2005

AT THE GATES OF EDEN SINGING, "GIVE PEACE A CHANCE"

Was it a moonlight Sonata

Was it a Rhapsody in Blue

Was it a Black and Tan Fantasy

that made me think of you?

I was at a Beggars Banquet

In China Grove near Blue Jay Way

When I heard Tales of Brave Ulysses

How he'd joined the Soft Parade

When Gloria and Johnny B. Goode

Went Dancin' in the Streets

I Got a Rocket in My Pocket

Girl, You really Got A Hold On Me

Yes, I was at The Gates Of Eden

Singing, "Give Peace A Chanc"

With A Love Supreme and a Book of Dreams

I am ready for the Last Dance

'Cos Johnny was a Shooting Star

But, you know His Aim Was True

And , After Bathing At Baxter's with many Old Masters

His legend only grew

JAF 2002

SNOWFLAKE LADY

Had I thought to tell you

What might you have gone and said?

As it is, you don't know

Whether I am living or dead!

Our eyes met once,

Did you see me?

T'was like a fairy tale...

It was mid december

And winter had tucked us in

You were on the side walk

You made the city so strangely warm

Snowflakes so soft

Never touch ground

T'was like a fairy tale

Then the crowd stole you away

But, I'll find you again, somehow.

Then i am going to show you

Just how I love you so

Snowflakes so soft

Never touch ground

T'was like a fairy tale

Now it's mid December

And I'm in your lovin' arms

We stay close to the fire

Feel the wintertime tuck us in

Snowflakes so soft

Never touch ground

It's like a fairy tale

JAF 1969

my first song lyric

I WANT TO FEEL MY LOVER'S BODY

I want to feel

the phosphorous tint

of sheets laid out across pillows and mattress

built into rumpled blankets

I want to feel

the steady circulation

of my lover's body

struck against the midnight rippled curtains

And to hear breath

sunk in darkness

too deep to touch

too alive to sleep thru

arms, legs, elbows, knees

steaming

lips and pubic hair

Lastly the tongue bath

lastly the dizzy cascade

JAF 1972

also included in my loose collection of poems,

A slim Volume of Erotica

WHO NEEDS ANOTHER SINGER?

Who needs another singer?

Who needs another song?

Still, I burn the midnight oil

Writing all night long

Putting pen to Paper

Putting drumstick to skin

I'm searching for the Lost Chord

To bring us all home again

My loins a fountain of life

My heart an ocean of love

My mind a Library of Congress

My life a dance of joy

sorrow and joy

Yes, I'm standing on the seashore

Yes' 'I'm singing in the rain

Searching for the Lost Chord

To bring us all home again

Who needs another singer?

Who needs another song?

Still I burn the midnight oil

writing all night long

JAF 2002

song lyrics

MIXED UP CONFUSION

Well, it's a mixed up confusion

and it's bringing me down

Things ain't what they used to be

And the Reaper keeps coming around

Mixed up confusion

I feel it day and night

I survive on a wing and a prayer

On this cosmic mystery flight

Yes, it's a mixed up confusion

And, I am turning grey

Earth is hurtin', nothing is certain

But, we still have music to play

I'm in a mixed up confusion

Over why you left last night

Waves of change on the beach by the ocean

In the full moonlight

I'm in a mixed up confusion

And, I can't say where I'm bound

Nothing's ever what it seems

I feel like shattered clown

I feel hung up, I feel lost

I can count the time but, not the cost

It's my mixed up confusion, but this, too, shall pass

And, when I get right back on top, it's gonna be a blast

JAF 2003

song lyrics

PAST LIFE ECHO

It's a past life echo> echo >echo

she said, just a past life echo>echo >echo

A past life echo> echo> echo

just a past life echo>echo >echo

well, it may be an echo but, it sure feels real to me!

I love the way she moves

Down to her molecules

I love the way she moves

Down to her molecules

So, it may be an echo, but it sure feels real to me!

And, I'm alive again

So alive, again

I feel alive again,

Like I can fly again

So, it may be an echo, but it sure feels real to me!

She brings me spirit guides

It happens all the time

Angels and spirit guides

It happens all the time

So, it may be an echo but, it sure feels real

it may be an echo but, it sure feels real

to me>to me >to me

JAF 2012

song lyrics

FARTHER NORTH

Farther north

my house sleeps

perhaps

and waits for

spring to kiss

the snow

and invite

the glistening

stillness

to steal away...

At night

the Valkyries

(drunk on

moon potion

and having spoken

to the stars)

laugh in hollow

exhortation to

chill the earth

and shiver with

loneliness.

Farther south

than this

I wait

(eager to resume)

and remember

strange games

to be elaborated

upon

In time

I shall

come

to the orgy of heat

and gather a tan...

then answer the sun

with the moon.

JAF 1970

THE COSMIC BREEZE

The cosmic breeze

is cold

and stark

icy sharp

truth (illusion)

I have not been here long

huddled

as I am

without blankets

without shelter

very little protection

in this here universe

and it's cold

very cold

JAF 1972

notes: this one written

after being molested

by a favorite teacher

excerpt from

VISIONS IN WISCONSIN

I am thinking

of air locked in closets

living rooms

bedrooms.

swirling

! running in long stumbles,

brushing quickly

over light tips of grass,

meadow flowers

....air smelling of lilac

and wood,

brooding in lazy galactic clouds

calmly stirring

over wine glasses

pipes and ash trays

tropic conversations

far away

JAF 197

MY FRIEND, MICHAEL

My friend, Michael

a child at heart

(though very smart)

I've seen him play

with swords and hats -

I bet you thinks

he odd.

Well, see him now

his brains across the table

so to speak. Sometimes he screams at night,

and some mornings

he can't drink tea

easily.

And yet, he laughs

and works hard at happiness.

" I weren't like this, always "

he knows,

and so do we.

It's a hell of a bind

but, he'll get better.

Now, tell me

who do YOU love?

JAF 1971

ABSOLUTELY MY VERY LAST POEM ON NATURE

Nothing is eternal

neither art nor trees.

Yet, when they plowed down

my well seasoned brothers

only their age eased my pain.

Fall didn't kill

those crippled wood -

only mankind grinning

behind his iron mask of God.

There are places here

chilly enough to be called "winter",

crowds of people sized trees

standing damp

before the jury of pines.

I have come here

to die and be reborn, for it is a full year

since i examined

the dark rust

scattered in the grass.

Before I leave'

let me touch

cool moss and stones

and talk to the forest

across the meadow:

nothing is eternal

neither art nor trees -

love them madly!

JAF 1971

note about this poem:

I grew up on a cul de sac by a swamp and acres of wild forest, a small river, and a huge abandoned golf course. It was all of our childhood playground right into our teens.

I grew into a deep connection to our earth there...

and now, it was gradually being developed for housing. I could feel nature being destroyed and it was very upsetting. I found out later that, a dear friend of mine, who i had no idea had ever even been in my home town, actually helped save and preserve a huge area of open space there, which made me very happy. My prayers were answered. Balance was maintained.

- UNTITLED -

Morning broke

like an arm.

thru the day

the long daze, confusion turned to sadness

sadness to anger,

and reversed:

sky grey

trees greyer

dry wind blowing

scratchy brown leaves

(posthumous whirl) -

you are trying to get home

before the thunder

kills you with rain.

Do you know the feeling?

that one.

in my stomach.

JAF 1971

notes: At this point,

I was dealing with a lot, as an young hippie kid. (weren't we all?) Nixon and Vietnam and the fact that i might soon be drafted, my girlfriend possibly being pregnant, the drug war and the cops raiding my bedroom at my mom's house - thank God they didn't find the acid! - on top of all of the normal teenage anxieties.

Rain Magic

The rain drops won't stop

People complain

but, I think it's nice

The raindrops outside

make inside so cozy

after we have all run

outside and splashed in the puddles

Rain magic

rain magic

rain magic....rain...

I think

if life were more

like a great green rain forest

we'd all be much happier

rain magic

rain magic...

rain...

The mushrooms we dined on

make inside so squozy

after we have all run

outside and danced in the puddles

Rain magic

rain magic

rain magic....

rain ...

I think

if life were more

like a great green rain forest

we'd all be much happier

Rain magic

rain magic

rain magic....

rain.....

The raindrops won't stop

people complain

but, I think it's nice....

JAF 1972/2015

this is one of my earliest and best songs, expanded upon many years later

Everything's Great

Everything's great

when I'm with you

I'm a new and better man

when I'm with you

I'm full of joy and hope again

when I'm with you all is possible again

It's a new world again

when I'm with you...

And then, everything's great

'cos I feel how much I love you

Everything's great

and, I start to make some plans

everything's great

as I start to draw near you

everything's great

and then I see you with your man!

Yes I see you with your man

and you're making it, oh, so clear

Now my happiness unbounded

turns to waterfall tears

my happiness unbounded

turns to waterfall tears...

So. I try to run away from it

I love you so

I try to get around it but,

I love you so

I try to rise above it

but, I love you so

I try to unplug it

but, I love you so

Try to put a lid on it

but, I love you so

then I try to fucking drown it

but, I love you so

It only serves to compound it

Everything's great

Cos' when I'm with you

I'm a new and better man

When I'm with you

All is possible again

It's a new world again

when I'm

with

you

JAF 2012

song lyric

We Are Sugar Babies, Now

When we kissed we felt the lightening strike

we melted together then, pulled back in fright

for though I was single, you were someone's wife

How could something so wrong feel so right?

But, I'm your sugar baby, now

You're my sugar baby now

we are sugar babies, now...

'said you've been watching me for such a long time

you get flushed and nervous when you are by my side

We were drawn here thru all space and time

and that's why

I'm your sugar baby now

you're my sugar baby, now

we are sugar babies, now

Love comes

when you least expect it

try your best- you can't neglect it

lay down your boundary -

it won't respect it

so, it's up to you -

do you dare reject it?

Something primal has stirred up our souls

hearts and minds together, so bold

and our bodies, they just seem to know

how to live and laugh and smile as love unfolds

that why I'm your sugar baby, now

you're my sugar baby, now

we are sugar babies, now

Safe and happy in each other's arms

candle light revealing hidden charms

best spice we ever had, by far

good medicine, we are

and, I'm your sugar baby, now

Your my sugar baby, now

we are sugar babies now

JAF 2012

song lyric