Tony Tolbert's poems

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As I rock slowly in my back porch chair,                                                       

with eyes locked in an apathetic stare,

my mind views what optics no longer see,

in a time that never again will be. 

A chill in fall’s air rouses conscious sight.

The Sun is poised above the brink of night.  

I look around savoring what I see,

then journey on, pondering what will be. 

I cannot hang one light in the sky,

nor give a reason as to why.

I can only gaze at that above,

the Artist’s canvased work of love.

No human eye will ever see,

No one’s soul will ever touch

Where I sojourn peacefully,

And yearn for so very much.

There is a place I can go

When I want to get away.

It’s a place only I know.

I fear one day I will stay.

Bloodcurdling screams and spouts of red,

Another body amongst the dead,

Slain by one not at all alive,

Using the flesh just to contrive,

Hidden behind a pallid mask

In bloody gore tonight to bask.

A girl shrieks and clutches an arm.

A lad, spurred by her close alarm,

Enfolds her safe with firm embrace

As his cheek warms against her face.

The horror flick has one hour more

But he ignores demons and gore.

A stub still burned in the tray.

A long-lashed smoke was in hand.

The next round was on the way.

We yelled requests at the band.

We had pigs in a blanket,

always tasty with good ale,

pickled eggs for our palate,

acridity to inhale.

Redneck delicatessen,

good ol’ boys havin’ fun,

eatin’, drinkin’ and laughin’,

weekend unwind overdone.

To revelry devoted,

as to ignore any wrong,

we were blustered and   bloated,

unharmonious in song.