I understood you
From the moment you said goodbye
I laughed so loud and long
That I started to cry
What begins with thunder
Ends with a soft lonely sigh
I guess it all makes sense
When the parade passes by
I called all my friends
To tell ‘em I needed no one
I howled all night at the moon
Till I got burnt by the sun
Told myself I felt good
In truth I wanted to die
Some of us act like fools
When the parade passes by
I saw a man hit someone in the face
Just to take away their dignity
I saw things standin’ in the wrong place
That no one had a right to see
So I clenched my jaw
And disappeared without a trace
My race had been run
I finished last in this human race
You understood me
Got it right more than someone else
So I put you in my will
And I left you my house
Although I didn’t own itj
It’s the thought that counts
I hear that it made you cr
But at least you’ll think of me
When the parade passes by
(C) Frank Howson 2021
Posted in Amy Winehouse , Art , Arts , Australia , Australia Day , Battle , Beach , Bias , Blue Eyes , Cafe , Calvary , Cats , Children , Chlldhood , Christmas , Cigarettes , Circus , City , Civil War , Coffee , Creative , Crime , Critics , Damage , Dance , Dancing , Directing , Dogs , Dream , Dreamers , Erotica , Eve of Destruction , Fame , Family , Fathers , Fear , Fight Game , Fighter , Film Business , Film Directing , Film Festivals , Folk Heroes , France , Frank Howson , Freedom of Speech , Gangsters , Germany , Glory , God , Heroes , History , Hollywood , Holocaust , Houdini , Humanity , Humor , Husband , Infidel , Ireland , Jail , Jerusalem , Jessica , Jesus , Jewish , Las Vegas , Life , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Love , Lovers , Mardi Gra , Marriage , Married , Media , Merlot , Mothers , Movie Stars , Movies , New Orleans , New York , Night , Night Club , Nightclubs , Obervations , Old Men , Opinion , Our Times , Poem , Poet , Poetry , Political , Politics , Press , Prisoner , Prose , Recordings , Records , Regret , School , School Years , Secret Agent Man , Sensual , Seven Deadly Sins , Sexual , Sin City , Social Comment , Sons , Spirit of Christmas , St. KIlda , Stage , Stage Craft , Stars , Strangers , Street People , Stripped , Sway , The Blues , The Boxer , The Law , The Ring , Theater , Theatre , Tinsel Town , Uncategorized , Valentino , Verse , Villains , War , Weapons , Westerns , Wife , Wine , Writer , Writing , Yes Virginia , Youth , Zoo
Tagged Creative , Frank Howson , Life , Literature , Love , Poem , Politics , Prose , Stories , Story , Writing
Jun · 29
Everything’s black
Except for a spot
Some people are laughing
The critics are not
They stare at their watches
And not at your show
And then before your best scene
They quietly go
Everything’s wrong
With our you know what
There isn’t an ending
And barely a plot
The writing is patchy
And the cast all miscast
It’s first in the lifeboats
We’re going down fast
And I’m caught in the spotlight
Tonight I’m a falling star
And when it’s so over
I’ll be found in the bar
Trapped in the smoke and the small talk
Alone in my mind
“Well, what did you think of the show?
Forget it, I’d rather not know
Just pour me drink
Don’t say that you think
Why must the curtain come down again
On every show?”
Opening night
And the locusts descend on the feast
The scenery falls down
But it can’t kill the beast
The straight man is funny
And the clown wants to die
And the chorus of dreamers
Are learning to cry
And I’m caught in the spotlight
Tonight I’m a falling star
And when it’s so over
I’ll be found in the bar
Trapped in the smoke and the small talk
Alone in my mind
“Well, what did you think of the show?
Forget it, I’d rather not know
Just pour me drink
Don’t say that you think
Why must the curtain come down again
On every show?”
One more closing night
And dawn comes on time
The butler’s been questioned
For Joe Orton’s crime
My gypsies are waiting
So begin the beguine
Once more I have stumbled and mumbled
My way through the final scene
And I’m caught in the spotlight
Tonight I’m a falling star
And when it’s so over
I’ll be found in the bar
Trapped in the smoke and the small talk
Alone in my mind
“Well, what did you think of the show?
Save it, I’d rather not know
Just pour me drink
Don’t say that you think
Why must the curtain come down again
On every show?”
(C) Frank Howson 2021
Photograph by Raija Sunshine
Posted in Action , Aged , Alamo , Art , Arts , Australia , Australia Day , Battle , Beach , Beggars , Bias , Calvary , Cigarettes , Circus , City , Classics , Creative , Crime , Critics , Damage , Dance , Dancing , Directing , Dream , Dreamers , Fame , Fear , Fighter , Film Business , Film Directing , Frank Howson , Freedom of Speech , Glory , God , Heroes , History , Hollywood , Homeless , Humanity , Humor , Hunter Thompson , Husband , Infidel , It's A Wonderful Life , Las Vegas , Life , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Love , Lovers , Luna Park , Media , Movie Stars , Movies , Music Business , New York , Night , Night Club , Nightclubs , Obervations , Old Men , Opinion , Our Times , Paris , Poem , Poet , Poetry , Political , Press , Prisoner , Prose , Records , Regret , Romance , Self Destruction , Sherman Oaks , Social Comment , St. KIlda , Stage , Stage Craft , Stars , Strangers , Street People , The Blues , The Boxer , The Law , Theater , Theatre , Tinsel Town , Uncategorized , Vegas , Verse , Writer , Writing , Youth , Zoo
Tagged Acting , Actor , Actors & Actresses , Broadway , live , Music , Musical , performers , plays , Stars , Theater , Theatre , theatricals , thespians
May · 08
I’ve been poisoned
By too many poisonous demons
Posing as friends
Posing as human beings
Lying about their past and their future intentions
Stealing everything of mine
They thought I cared about
Money, trophies, and work
That I had paid for in blood, sweat and marriages
But they got me wrong
I couldn’t be found there
For I was already somewhere else
Someone else
Someone stronger
Someone colder
Their resentment actually empowering me
For all they did was prove
That material things are just that
They don’t get you to sleep at night
They don’t buy you a genuine embrace
They don’t ease your mind or your load
They don’t short cut you into heaven
They don’t justify your rusted conscience
For to lose it all
Is to finally be free
To shed every skin of protection
Until you are as liberated
As a new born naked baby
Free falling to a soft landing
And accepting it all
Pining for nothing except this moment
Where no memory exists
And there are no debts to be repaid
No one to breathe life into
And no eyes that can make me flinch
For when I look at you now
I see into your very soul
(C) Frank Howson 2020
Posted in 9/11 , Action , Aged , Alamo , Animals , Art , Arts , Australia , Babe Ruth , Battle , Beach , Birthday , Blue Eyes , Bob Dylan , Bobby Darin , Brian Wilson , Cafe , Calvary , Casino , Charles Dickens , Children , Chinatown , Chopper Read , Cigarettes , Citizen Kane , City , Clark Gable , Clinton , Cole Porter , Cowboys , Crime , Critics , Damage , Dancing , Directing , Dream , Dreamers , Easter , Erotica , Eve of Destruction , F. Scott Fitzgerald , Fame , Family Tree , Fear , Fight Game , Fighter , Film Business , Film Directing , Film Festivals , Folk Heroes , Folm , France , Frank Capra , Frank Howson , Freedom of Speech , Gangsters , Germany , Glory , God , Gore Vidal , Gratefiul Dead , Hank Williams , Hemingway , Heroes , History , Hollywood , Homeless , Houdini , Humanity , Humor , Infidel , Interrogation , Ireland , Irving Berlin , It's A Wonderful Life , Jail , James Stewart , Jerusalem , Jesus , Jewish , Johnny Depp , Keith Richards , KGB , Life , Lincoln , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Love , Lovers , Luna Park , Marilyn Monroe , Marriage , Married , Media , Melvyn Douglas , Mothers , Movies , Music Business , Nazis , New Orleans , New York , Night , Nightclubs , Obervations , Old Men , Orson Welles , Oscar Wilde , Our Times , Pick-Up Artist , Playboy , Poem , Poet , Poetry , Political , Press , Prose , Recordings , Regret , Robin Williams , Rod McKuen , School Years , Secret Agent Man , Self Destruction , Sensual , Seven Deadly Sins , Sexual , Sherlock Holmes , Sherman Oaks , Sin City , Social Comment , Sons , St. KIlda , Stage , Stage Craft , Stars , Strangers , Stripped , Sway , The Beach Boys , The Boxer , The Law , The Ring , The Sea , The Sultan of Swat , Theater , Ther Beach Boys , Trump , Ulysses Grant , Uncategorized , Valentino , Verse , Villains , War , Warren Zevon , Werewolves , Wife , Writer , Writing , Youth , Zoo
Tagged Frank Howson , Poet , Poetry
Oct · 02
Love requires patience
Life takes time
But how long must I wait
Until the Gods make you mine?
Nothing makes sense
Until you don’t need it to anymore
We miss our golden chances
We take the wrong door
Wish I lived inside your heart
To know your joy and pain
To learn what makes you happy
And what brings you disdain
I’ll love you till the end of time
And in that other life too
No matter what the ups and down
I’ll be true to you
You were the people’s princess
And on every stage you starred
I never deserted my mission
Although the nights were long and hard
So many have stood in our way
And ran our ship aground
They put our hearts in chains
And sold our flesh by the pound
But you can’t put a price on magic
No assassin can freeze its breath
For love knows no seasons
And can not be stilled by death
(C) Frank Howson. 2020
Posted in 9/11 , Action , Action Movies , Aged , Alamo , Animals , Art , Arts , Australia , Australia Day , Battle , Beach , Beggars , Berlin , Bias , Boats , Cafe , Calvary , Casino , Cats , Chelsea Hotel , Chlldhood , Christmas , Cigarettes , Circus , City , Classics , Coffee , Cowboys , Creative , Crime , Critics , Damage , Dance , Dancing , Directing , Dogs , Dream , Dreamers , Easter , Eve of Destruction , Fame , Fear , Fight Game , Fighter , Film Business , Film Directing , Film Festivals , Folk Heroes , France , Frank Howson , Freedom of Speech , Gangsters , Germany , Glory , God , Gore Vidal , Hank Williams , Heroes , History , Hollywood , Homeless , Houdini , Humanity , Husband , Infidel , Interrogation , Irish , Jail , Jerusalem , Jessica , Jesus , Jewish , Life , Lincoln , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Love , Lovers , Mardi Gra , Marriage , Married , Media , Merlot , Mothers , Movie Stars , Movies , Music Business , New York , Night , Night Club , Nightclubs , Obervations , Old Men , Opinion , Our Times , Paris , Playboy , Poem , Poet , Poetry , Political , Politics , Press , Prisoner , Prose , Recordings , Records , Regret , Romance , School , Self Destruction , Sensual , Seven Deadly Sins , Sexual , Sin City , Social Comment , Sons , Spirit of Christmas , St. KIlda , Stage , Stage Craft , Stars , Strangers , Street People , Stripped , Sway , Terrorism , The Blues , The Boxer , The Happy Prince , The Law , The Ring , The Sea , The Sultan of Swat , The Yankees , Theater , Theatre , Ther Beach Boys , Tinsel Town , Valentine , Vegas , Verse , Victims of War , Villains , War , Weapons , Westerns , What's Exactly The Matter With Me? , Wine , Writer , Writing , Youth , Zoo
Tagged Dreams , Frank Howson , Lovers , Magic , Sensual
Sep · 08
I saw a future. Or perhaps just a dream. A city where rats the size of dogs scurried along streets, growing stronger feeding on toxic waste. Crowded sidewalks filled with beggars begging beggars for a crumb. Or some leftover soup. Or a new messiah.
The billionaires were safely living in their gated, climate controlled glass domes, inventing wars, viruses, and new political puppets.
I saw Satan on the news channels every night. He is a very eloquent speaker and seems like a cool guy to hang with. He has everyone conned and no doubt thinks we’re fools. But we don’t care anymore. And therein lies the problem. He hasn’t defeated us. We have. We are suffering from the deadliest virus of all – apathy.
I’ve sometimes wondered where my life will end? In the gutter, in a mansion, or on a plane suspended between two places? Between here and there. Near and far.
At school we were brainwashed with our teachers’ political beliefs, assumptions, approved view of history, religion, regrets, and frustrations. They have groomed us to live the same disappointing life they’ve lived. Sing c’est la vie.
My heart is wearing out from the residue worry of things I don’t even clearly remember anymore.
I do believe that God sends us signs. And the other day I passed one that said, “Eat More Cake.” It spoke to me. Although I felt sad for Marie Antoinette who lost her head saying much the same thing.
My refrigerator has been talking to me about conspiracies. It told me it knew who killed the Kennedys, but said my life would be in danger if it informed me. I thanked it for caring about my welfare and turned in for the night. At the Godly hour of 3am I was awakened by the pillow whispering in my ear. It told me it knew who killed Anthony Bourdain. I told it to “Fuck off!”
(C) Frank Howson 2020
Posted in 9/11 , Action Movies , Aged , Alamo , Art , Arts , Australia , Australia Day , Babe Ruth , Baseball , Battle , Beach , Beggars , Berlin , Bias , Birthday , Blue Eyes , Bobby Darin , Boston Red Soxx , Brian Wilson , Cafe , Calvary , Casino , Charles Dickens , Children , Chinatown , Chlldhood , Christmas , Cigarettes , Circus , Citizen Kane , City , Coffee , Cole Porter , Cowboys , Creative , Crime , Critics , Damage , Dancing , Davy Crockett , Directing , Dogs , Dream , Electric , Elvis , Erotica , Eve of Destruction , Family , Fathers , Fear , Fiction , Fighter , Film Business , Film Festivals , Film Frstivals , Folk Heroes , France , Francis Church , Frank Capra , Frank Howson , Freedom of Speech , Gary Cooper , Glory , God , Gore Vidal , Grace Kelly , Greville Street , Hank Williams , Hemingway , Heroes , Hollywood , Hong Kong , Hong Kong Lover , Houdini , Humanity , Humor , Husband , Infidel , Interrogation , Irish , Irish Ditty , Irving Berlin , It's A Wonderful Life , Jail , James Stewart , Jerusalem , Jessica , Jesus , Jewish , John Lennon , Johnny Cash , Johnny Depp , KGB , Las Vegas , Life , Lincoln , London , Lonely , Love , Luna Park , Mardi Gra , Marilyn Monroe , Marlon Brando , Married , Media , Merlot , Mothers , Movie Stars , Muhammad Ali , Music Business , Nazis , New Orleans , New York , Night , Night Club , Obervations , Old Men , Opinion , Orson Welles , Oscar Wilde , Our Times , P.F. Sloan , Paris , Pick-Up Artist , Playboy , Poem , Poet , Poetry , Political , Politics , Press , Prose , Recordings , Regret , Renee Geyer , Robin Williams , Rod McKuen , Roy Orbison , Satan , School Years , Secret Agent Man , Self Destruction , Sensual , Sexual , Sherlock Holmes , Sherman Oaks , Sin City , Social Comment , Sons , Spirit of Christmas , St. KIlda , Stage , Stars , Street People , Sway , The Blues , The Boxer , The Eagles , The Kinks , The Ring , The Sea , The Sultan of Swat , The Yankees , Theater , Theatre , Ther Beach Boys , Tinsel Town , Trump , Ulysses Grant , Valentino , Vegas , Verse , Victims of War , Villains , War , Warren Zevon , Werewolves of London , Westerns , What's Exactly The Matter With Me? , Wine , Writer , Writing , Yes Virginia , Youth , Zoo
Tagged 9/11 , Abuse , Acting , Action , Action Movies , Actor , Angels , anger , Animals , Art , Arts , Baseball , Beach , Behind The Scenes , Birds , Bob Dylan , Book , Boxing , Business , Cafe , Casino , Cats , Cheating , Childhood , Children , Childrens , Christianity , Christmas , Cigarettes , Circus , Clowns , Cocaine , Coffee , Concert , Congress , Creative , Crime , Critics , Dance , Dancing , Death , Director , Dogs , Dreams , Drugs , Easter , Elvis , failures , Fame , Families , Family , Fantasy , Fathers , Fiction , Fiction Writing , Fighting , Film , Film Festival , France , Freedom of Speech , French language , Games , Gandhi , Gangsters , Genocide , Germany , Giving , God , Happy , Health , Heroes , Hollywood , Home , Homeless , Homeward Bound , Hong Kong , Human , Humanity , Humor , Husband , Ireland , Jealousy , Jerusalem , Jesus , Jewish , Journalists , Jury , Justice , Kids , Las Vegas , Legal , Legend , Lessons , Letting Go , Life , Life and Times , Literature , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Loss , Love , Lovers , Magic , Married , Media , Memories , mistakes , Morality , Mother , Movie Industry , Movie Stars , Movies , Music , Musical , Mystery , Nature , New Orleans , New York , Night , Nightclubs , O , Observation , Observations , P , Painting , Paris , Performance , Personal Stories , Pets , Poem , Poet , Poetry , Political , Politics , Pregnancy , Press , Production , Prose , Psychology , Public , Recreation , relationship , Relationships , Religion , Reporting , Romance , Romans , Roots , School , Secrets , Sexual , Sherlock Holmes , Shopping , Social Commentary , Social Sciences , Song , Sons , Sports , Stage , Stars , Stories , Story , Strangers , Sun , Sydney , Terrorism , Thanks , The Beach Boys , The Kinks , Theater , Theatre , Thought , Truth , Twin Peaks , United States , Vegas , Video Games , Vietnam , Virginia , War , Wife , Wine , Wonder , Writer , Writing , You , Youth , Zoo
Aug · 25
I think I was wounded a while ago. Around that time you said goodbye. I remember it rained as if on cue. But you hanged me on every word. I guess I had it comin’. You see, I believed in you. And once a man opens his heart like that, the high noon train pulls into town. Someone must’ve telegraphed my vulnerability to near and far, and the resentful saddled up. I think I might get shot dead, right here on this street where we first kissed. Under that deceitful moon. Will you shed a tear for me? Will I even be missed? Was I ever noticed? Tell me it ain’t been for nothin’. Tell me I’ll leave a mark. I guess we should’ve had kids for that, but you were rarely allowed out after dark. How did I get cast as an outlaw? How come I’m always on the run? I remember being a sweet faced boy who only ever wanted to do right. I hope they don’t shoot me in the back. That’s a coward’s death. I want to stare them down. Way down to hell and back. Want ‘em to know what I’ve been livin’ with. Want ‘em to know I know who they are. Sorry, but time has hardened me. I told you I could change. But you wouldn’t commit, would you? I told you to jump and I’d catch you in my arms. But you didn’t trust me, did you? I guess you’d been wounded too. So here we are on Main Street of some dusty shithole backlot town. We both deserved more than this, ending up in a B grade cowboy movie. I could see you as Joan of Arc. And me as Mr. Chips. Ah, what a pair we’d have made. But Central Casting had no imagination and fucked us up. Y’know I’d have laid down my life for you, just so you could walk over me. How’s that for a loyalty not found in all those thieves who stalked your doorstep? I’m gonna have some words to say to God when I see him later today. Why did he torture me by sending an angel and then cutting off my arms? We were just two poor kids thrown together, and saw something of ourselves in each other’s eyes. Maybe I lost myself in you. That’s why you grew stronger at my expense. And if so, I don’t regret it. For I cared more about you than myself anyway. And as the clock strikes twelve, I’ve grown as wise as the servants, and as gentle as the doves. Having said that, there’s a train to meet, my love, so I’ll just leave it here and say farewell.
(C) Frank Howson 2020
Posted in 9/11 , Action Movies , Alamo , Amy Winehouse , Animals , Art , Arts , Australia , Australia Day , Battle , Beggars , Blue Eyes , Boats , Bobby Darin , Boston Red Soxx , Brian Wilson , Calvary , Cary Grant , Cats , Charles Dickens , Charlton Heston , Chelsea Hotel , Children , Chinatown , Chlldhood , Christmas , Cigarettes , Circus , Civil War , Clark Gable , Classics , Coffee , Cowboys , Creative , Crime , Critics , Damage , Dance , Dancing , Davy Crockett , Directing , Dogs , Dream , Dreamers , Easter , Errol Flynn , Fame , Family , Fathers , Fear , Fiction , Fight Game , Fighter , Film Business , Film Directing , Film Festivals , Film Frstivals , Folk Heroes , France , Frank Capra , Frank Howson , Freedom of Speech , Gangsters , Germany , Glory , God , Greville Street , Hank Williams , Hemingway , Heroes , History , Hollywood , Homeless , Humanity , Humor , Husband , Infidel , Irish Ditty , It's A Wonderful Life , Jail , James Dean , James Stewart , Jerusalem , Jessica , Jesus , Jewish , Las Vegas , Life , Lincoln , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Love , Lovers , Marlon Brando , Married , Media , Melvyn Douglas , Merlot , Mothers , Movie Stars , Movies , Night , Night Club , Nightclubs , Obervations , Old Men , Opinion , Orson Welles , Our Times , Playboy , Poem , Poet , Poetry , Political , Politics , Press , Prisoner , Prose , Regret , Roy Orbison , School , School Years , Self Destruction , Sensual , Sherman Oaks , Sin City , Social Comment , Sons , Spirit of Christmas , St. KIlda , Stage , Street People , Sway , The Beach Boys , The Eagles , The Law , The Ring , The Sultan of Swat , Theater , Theatre , Tony Curtis , Twin Peaks , Ulysses Grant , Uncategorized , Valentino , Vegas , Verse , Victims of War , Villains , War , Wife , Writer , Writing
Tagged 9/11 , Abuse , Action , Action Movies , Actor , Actors & Actresses , American Civil War , Angels , anger , Animals , Art , Arts , Baseball , Battle , Beach , Behind The Scenes , Betrayal , Bias , Birds , Blacklist , Bob Dylan , Bobby Darin , Book , Boxing , Business , Cafe , Casino , Cats , Cheating , Childhood , Children , Childrens , Christianity , Christmas , Circus , Clowns , Cocaine , Coffee , Cole Porter , Concert , Congress , Creative , Creative Process , Crime , Critics , Dance , Dancing , Death , Directing , Director , Dogs , Doritos , Dreamers , Dreams , Drugs , Easter , Electric , Elvis , failures , Fairness , Fame , Families , Family , Family Tree , Fantasy , Fathers , Fiction , Fiction Writing , Fighting , Film , Film Festival , Film Making , Forgiveness , France , Freedom of Speech , French language , Games , Gandhi , Gangsters , Genocide , Germany , Giving , Glory , God , Grateful Dead , Happy , Health , Heaven , Hemingway , Heroes , Hobos , Hollywood , Holocaust , Home , Homeless , Homeward Bound , Hong Kong , Human , Humanity , Humor , Hunter Thompson , Husband , Idols , Ireland , Irish , It's A Wonderful Life , Jealousy , Jerusalem , Jesus , Jewish , Johnny Cash , Johnny Depp , Journalists , Judge , Jury , Justice , Kids , Kings , Lamborghini , Las Vegas , Legal , Legend , Lessons , Letting Go , lierature , Life , Life and Times , Literature , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Loss , Love , Lovers , Magic , Make Believe , Making Movies , Marlon Brando , Married , Media , Memories , Merlot , mistakes , Monogamy , Morality , Mother , Movie Industry , Movie Stars , Movies , Music , Musical , Mystery , Nature , Nazis , New Orleans , New York , Night , Night Club , Nightclubs , O , Observation , Observations , Old Men , Orson Welles , Oscar Wilde , Outsiders , P , Painting , Paris , Perfect , Performance , Persecution , Personal Stories , Pets , Pick-Up Artist , Poem , Poet , Poetry , Political , Politics , ppp , Pregnancy , Press , Prison , Production , Prohibition , Prose , Psychology , Public , Public Life , Recreation , Redemption , Regret , regrets , relationship , Relationships , Religion , Religion and Spirituality , Reporting , Romance , Romans , Roots , Roulette , Santa Claus , School , School Days , Secrets , Sensual , Shopping , Sin City , Social Commentary , Social Sciences , Song , Sons , Sports , Stage , Stars , Stories , Story , Strangers , Sun , Sydney , Taco Bell , Terrorism , Thanks , The , The Beach Boys , The Eagles , The Game , The Ring , The Sporting Life , Theater , Theatre , Thought , Truth , Twin Peaks , United States , Valentine , Vegas , Video Games , Vietnam , Villain , Virginia , Wagner , War , Wife , William Shakespeare , Wine , Wonder , Writer , Writing , You , You are , Youth , Zoo
Aug · 05
I remember a place
Not far from here
In a small town
I held someone dear
In a strange time
My favourite year
Now I can’t think of it
Without shedding a tear
Some people change
Some people rust
Some people betray you
And piss on your trust
I’m running out of time
To do the things I must
I once drank a toast
To Hollywood or bust
I see children holding children
On this broken highway
I see men hurtin’ people
If they don’t get their way
I see women too scared
To go out after day
I was beaten to a pulp
When I tried to have my say
So sit down beside me
And remind me of things
Tell me all your hopes
That you pray tomorrow brings
How you dream of blue skies
And golden rings
Here I’ll wait out the storm
To hear how the bird sings…
May it tell me the news
That you’re happy and well
And that you rose
While your demons fell
And that you kept your pride
When you were told to sell
May that bird bring me the news
Be I in heaven or hell…
(C) Frank Howson 2020
Posted in 9/11 , Action Movies , Alamo , Animals , Art , Arts , Australia , Battle , Beach , Beggars , Bias , Blue Eyes , Cafe , Calvary , Casino , Cats , Children , Chinatown , Chlldhood , Christmas , Cigarettes , Circus , City , Coffee , Cowboys , Creative , Crime , Critics , Damage , Dance , Dancing , Dogs , Dream , Dreamers , Easter , Fame , Family , Family Tree , Fathers , Fear , Fight Game , Fighter , Film Business , Film Directing , Film Festivals , Folk Heroes , France , Frank Howson , Freedom of Speech , Germany , Glory , God , Heroes , History , Hollywood , Holocaust , Homeless , Humanity , Humor , Husband , Infidel , Interrogation , Ireland , Irish , Irish Ditty , Irving Berlin , It's A Wonderful Life , Jail , Jerusalem , Jessica , Jesus , Jewish , Life , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Love , Lovers , Marriage , Married , Media , Mothers , Movie Stars , Movies , Music Business , New York , Night , Night Club , Nightclubs , Obervations , Old Men , Opinion , Our Times , Poem , Poet , Poetry , Political , Politics , Press , Prisoner , Prose , Recordings , Records , Regret , Romance , School , School Years , Secret Agent Man , Self Destruction , Sensual , Seven Deadly Sins , Sexual , Sin City , Social Comment , Sons , Spirit of Christmas , St. KIlda , Stage , Stage Craft , Stars , Strangers , Street People , Stripped , The Blues , The Boxer , The Happy Prince , The Law , The Ring , The Sea , Theater , Theatre , Tinsel Town , Uncategorized , Valentino , Vegas , Verse , Victims of War , Villains , War , Weapons , Werewolves of London , What's Exactly The Matter With Me? , Wife , Wine , Writer , Writing , Yes Virginia , Youth , Zoo
Tagged 9/11 , Abe Saffron , Abuse , Acting , Action , Action Movies , Actor , Actors & Actresses , after all , Alamo , American Civil War , and people , Angels , anger , Animals , Art , Arts , Babe Ruth , Balcony , Baseball , Battle , Beach , Beggars , Behind The Scenes , Bergman , Betrayal , Bias , Birds , Blacklist , Bob Dylan , Bobby Darin , Book , Boston Red Soxx , Boxing , Brian Wilson , Business , Cafe , Calvary , Casino , Cats , Charlie Rich , Charlton Heston , Cheating , Chelsea Hotel , Childhood , Children , Childrens , Chopper Read , Christianity , Christmas , Cigarettes , Circus , Clowns , Cocaine , Coffee , Cole Porter , Concert , Congress , Corona Virus , Creative , Creative Process , Crime , Critics , Cyber Relationships , Dance , Dancing , Death , Directing , Director , Dodger Stadium , Dogs , Doritos , Dreamers , Dreams , Drugs , Easter , Electric , Electric Guitars , Elizabethan era , Elvis , Erotuca , failures , Fairness , Fame , Families , Family , Family Tree , Fantasy , Fathers , Fiction , Fiction Writing , Fight Game , Fighting , Film , Film Business , Film Festival , Film Making , Folk Heroes , Forgiveness , France , Frances Farmer , Francis Pharcellus Church , Frank Howson , Freedom of Speech , French language , Games , Gandhi , Gangsters , Genocide , Germany , Giving , Glory , God , Gore Vidal , Grateful Dead , Hank Williams , Happy , Health , Heaven , Hemingway , Heroes , Hobos , Hollywood , Hollywood Boulevard , Hollywood Nights , Holocaust , Home , Homeless , Homeward Bound , Hong Kong , Human , Humanity , Humor , Hunter Thompson , Husband , Idols , In my time of dying They'll call for a holiday at the workhouse For there'll be no bills to be paid Mouths to be fed Or favours to be returned And the women that loved me may walk a little slower And , Inequality (mathematics) , Infidel , Ireland , Irish , Irish Ditty , It's A Wonderful Life , James Stewart , Jealousy , Jean Paul Sartre , Jerusalem , Jesus , Jewish , John Ibrahim , Johnny Cash , Johnny Depp , Journalists , Juanita Nielsen , Judge , Jury , Justice , Kids , Kings , Kings Cross , Kyle Sandilands , Lamborghini , Las Vegas , Lebanese Australian , Legal , Legend , Lessons , Letting Go , lierature , Life , Life and Times , Lincoln , Lindsey Van , Literature , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Loss , Love , Lovers , Magic , Make Believe , Making Movies , Marilyn Monroe , Marlon Brando , Married , Media , Melbourne Observer , Memories , Merlot , Mischa , mistakes , Monogamy , Moral Dilemma , Morality , Mother , Movie Industry , Movie Stars , Movies , Museum of Tolerance , Music , Musical , Mystery , Napoleon , Nature , Nazis , Nest , New Orleans , New York , News Coverage , Night , Night Club , Night Clubs , Nightclubs , Nile , O , Observation , Observations , Old Men , Opinion piece , Orson Welles , Oscar Wilde , Outsiders , P , Painting , Paris , Perfect , Performance , Persecution , Personal Stories , Peter Fonda , Pets , Pick-Up Artist , PinLeague , Poem , Poet , Poetry , Political , Politics , ppp , Pregnancy , Press , Prison , Prisoner , Production , Prohibition , Prose , Psychology , Public , Public Life , Recreation , Redemption , Regret , regrets , relationship , Relationships , Religion , Religion and Spirituality , Reporting , Rod McKuen , Romance , Romans , Roots , Roulette , Roy Orbison , Russkies , Santa Claus , School , School Days , Secrets , Self Destruction , Sensual , Sexual , Shek-O Beach , Sherlock Holmes , Sherman Oaks , Shopping , Sin City , Small Miracles , Social Comment , Social Commentary , Social Sciences , Song , Sons , Sporting Heroes , Sports , Stage , Stars , Stories , Story , Strangers , Street People , Stripped , Sun , Sunset Boulevard , Sway , Sydney , Taco Bell , Tennessee Williams , Terri Garber , Terrorism , Thanks , The , The Beach Boys , The Beat , The Eagles , The Game , The Happy Prince , The Kinks , The Married Woman , The Poor , The Ring , The Sporting Life , The Sultan of Swat , The Twin Towers , Theater , Theater Craft , Theatre , Thought , Tightrope , Tinsel Town , Tony Curtis , Tortilla , Truth , Twelfth Night , Twin Peaks , United States , Valentine , Vegas , Video Games , Vietnam , Villain , Virginia , Wagner , War , Warren Zevon , Wife , William Shakespeare , Wine , Wonder , Writer , Writing , Yes Virginia there is a santa claus , You , You are , Youth , Zoo
Jul · 25
Today
I looked at the sky
And wondered why
Nothing makes sense down here
We judge people on shades
And not substance
We fall over ourselves
To worship idiots
We stay too long at parties
For fear of going home with ourselves
To the same room
Tomb
We live and die in
We put on a happy face to answer the door
But can’t sustain it
It’s easier to go out
Than let anyone in
I used to be a fast runner in my youth
Because there was always a clear finishing line
Now
I run from things
And just keep going
I miss getting a tin medal
Though
And applause
And hugs
It’s lonely running from something
You don’t understand
To somewhere you may never belong
So I prefer to run in circles
Some tell me that’s a waste of time
But isn’t that life?
Today
I looked at the sky
And wondered why
(c) Frank Howson 2020
Posted in 9/11 , Action , Aged , Alamo , Animals , Art , Arts , Australia , Australia Day , Battle , Beach , Beggars , Bias , Blue Eyes , Cafe , Calvary , Cats , Chlldhood , Christmas , Cigarettes , Circus , City , Cowboys , Creative , Crime , Critics , Damage , Dance , Dancing , Directing , Dogs , Dream , Dreamers , Fame , Family , Family Tree , Fathers , Fear , Fight Game , Film Business , Film Directing , Film Festivals , Folk Heroes , Frank Howson , Freedom of Speech , Gangsters , Glory , God , Heroes , History , Homeless , Humanity , Humor , Husband , Infidel , Ireland , It's A Wonderful Life , Jesus , Jewish , Life , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Love , Lovers , Luna Park , Married , Media , Merlot , Movies , New York , Night , Night Club , Nightclubs , Obervations , Old Men , Opinion , Paris , Poem , Poet , Political , Politics , Press , Prisoner , Prose , Records , Regret , Romance , School Years , Sin City , Social Comment , St. KIlda , Stage , Stars , Strangers , Street People , The Blues , The Boxer , The Law , The Ring , The Sea , Theatre , Uncategorized , Vegas , Villains , War , Weapons , Werewolves , Wine
Tagged 9/11 , Abuse , Acting , Action , Action Movies , Actor , Angels , anger , Animals , Art , Arts , Baseball , Beach , Behind The Scenes , Birds , Bob Dylan , Book , Boxing , Business , Cafe , Casino , Cats , Cheating , Childhood , Children , Childrens , Christianity , Christmas , Cigarettes , Circus , Clowns , Cocaine , Coffee , Concert , Congress , Creative , Crime , Critics , Dance , Dancing , Death , Director , Dogs , Dreams , Drugs , Easter , Elvis , failures , Fame , Families , Family , Fantasy , Fathers , Fiction , Fiction Writing , Fighting , Film , Film Festival , France , Freedom of Speech , French language , Games , Gandhi , Gangsters , Genocide , Germany , Giving , God , Happy , Health , Heroes , Hollywood , Home , Homeless , Homeward Bound , Hong Kong , Human , Humanity , Humor , Husband , Ireland , Jealousy , Jerusalem , Jesus , Jewish , Journalists , Jury , Justice , Kids , Las Vegas , Legal , Legend , Lessons , Letting Go , Life , Life and Times , Literature , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Love , Magic , Married , Media , Memories , mistakes , Mother , Movie Industry , Movie Stars , Movies , Music , Musical , Mystery , Nature , New Orleans , New York , Night , Nightclubs , O , Observation , Observations , P , Painting , Paris , Performance , Personal Stories , Pets , Poem , Poet , Poetry , Political , Politics , Pregnancy , Press , Production , Prose , Psychology , Public , Recreation , relationship , Relationships , Religion , Romance , Romans , Roots , School , Secrets , Sexual , Sherlock Holmes , Shopping , Social Commentary , Social Sciences , Song , Sons , Sports , Stage , Stars , Stories , Story , Strangers , Sun , Sydney , Terrorism , Thanks , The Beach Boys , The Kinks , Theater , Theatre , Thought , Truth , Twin Peaks , United States , Vegas , Video Games , Vietnam , Virginia , War , Wife , Wine , Wonder , Writer , Writing , You , Youth , Zoo
Jul · 15
I used to be Kit Carson
But I lost my way
So I changed my name
To Danny Kaye
And uprooted myself
To Hollywood
Where the people
Were socially minded and good
I bought a nice house
With a swimming pool
And sent my kids
To the finest school
I drank and had fist fights
With Errol Flynn
Until that limey bastard
Did me in
They say the universe
Is a living thing
So I guess you could call it God
Or some thing
I remember the second time
I saw your face
You were workin’ the street
To get your own place
I bought you a coffee
Just to pick your mind
In the next morning’s papers
They said I was kind
I don’t understand
Where I’ve been goin’ wrong
I guess I took my good luck
And sold it for a song
I sold you too
Which wasn’t nice
If I’d waited 6 months
I’d have gotten twice the price
You didn’t understand me
Now or then
But that doesn’t mean
We can’t be together again…
Frank Howson (c) 2020
Posted in Action Movies , Aged , Alamo , Art , Arts , Australia , Baseball , Battle , Beach , Beggars , Bias , Birthday , Cafe , Calvary , Chinatown , Chlldhood , Christmas , Cigarettes , Circus , City , Clark Gable , Classics , Coffee , Cole Porter , Cowboys , Creative , Crime , Critics , Damage , Dance , Dancing , Directing , Dogs , Dream , Dreamers , Elvis , Fame , Family , Family Tree , Fathers , Fear , Fight Game , Fighter , Film Business , Film Directing , Film Festivals , Film Frstivals , Folk Heroes , Frank Howson , Gangsters , Germany , Glory , God , Hemingway , Heroes , History , Hollywood , Holocaust , Homeless , Humanity , Humor , Infidel , Interrogation , Ireland , Irish , Irish Ditty , Irving Berlin , Jail , Jerusalem , Jessica , Jesus , Jewish , Life , Lincoln , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Love , Lovers , Lynard Skynard , Marlon Brando , Marriage , Married , Media , Merlot , Mothers , Movie Stars , Movies , Ned Kelly , New Orleans , New York , Night , Night Club , Nightclubs , Obervations , Old Men , Opinion , Orson Welles , Oscar Wilde , Our Times , P.F. Sloan , Poet , Poetry , Political , Politics , Press , Prisoner , Prose , Recordings , Records , Regret , School , Secret Agent Man , Self Destruction , Sensual , Seven Deadly Sins , Sexual , Sherlock Holmes , Sherman Oaks , Social Comment , Spirit of Christmas , Stage , Stage Craft , Strangers , Street People , Stripped , The Beach Boys , The Law , The Ring , The Sea , Theater , Theatre , Tinsel Town , Twin Peaks , Valentine , Valentino , Vegas , Verse , Victims of War , War , What's Exactly The Matter With Me? , Wine , Writer , Writing , Yes Virginia
Tagged 9/11 , Abuse , Action , Action Movies , Actor , Angels , anger , Art , Arts , Baseball , Beach , Birds , Bob Dylan , Book , Boxing , Business , Cafe , Casino , Cats , Cheating , Children , Childrens , Christianity , Christmas , Circus , Clowns , Cocaine , Coffee , Concert , Congress , Creative , Crime , Critics , Dance , Death , Dogs , Dreams , Drugs , Easter , Elvis , Fantasy , Fathers , Fiction Writing , Fighting , Film , Film Festival , France , Freedom of Speech , French language , Games , Gandhi , Gangsters , Genocide , God , Happy , Health , Hollywood , Homeless , Hong Kong , Human , Humanity , Humor , Husband , Ireland , Jealousy , Jerusalem , Jesus , Jewish , Jury , Justice , Las Vegas , Legal , Lessons , Life , Life and Times , Literature , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Loss , Love , Media , Memories , mistakes , Mother , Movie Stars , Movies , Music , Musical , Mystery , Nature , New Orleans , New York , Night , O , Observation , Observations , P , Painting , Paris , Performance , Personal Stories , Pets , Poem , Poet , Political , Politics , Pregnancy , Press , Production , Psychology , Public , Recreation , relationship , Relationships , Religion , Romance , Romans , Roots , School , Secrets , Shopping , Social Commentary , Social Sciences , Song , Sons , Sports , Stage , Stars , Stories , Strangers , Sydney , Terrorism , Thanks , The Beach Boys , Theater , Theatre , Thought , Truth , Twin Peaks , Vegas , Video Games , Vietnam , Virginia , War , Wife , Wine , Wonder , Writer , Writing , You , Youth , Zoo
Jun · 21
I have only a limited amount of time left to inhabit this body. But I will go on. Like we all do. As a speck of dust floating in the universe. Free, untroubled, and no more time constraints. Oh, and the music, the symphony of silence, which will move even a speck to feel whole like never before.
Having been educated for a lifetime on earth, we are acclimatised to being alone. But it won’t bother us anymore because we’ll now know that it’s at our core to be this way. On earth we lived outwardly for the enjoyment of others, whilst living our real spiritual life within our heads.
It was good preparation for this new life. Our real life. Devoid of any more death or disappointments in this void amidst the great vastness of all voids. Drifting. Weightless. Nowhere to go for there is no “where.” There is only here. And now. No time to be on time somewhere. No further commitments or responsibilities. Nothing to feel guilty about for there are no religions in this new place of real love and peace. All that belonged back in that ant-like existence when we had so little consciousness we could never comprehend the complexities, and yet simplicity, of this great vastness and freedom of being. In this new existence you can let your mind wander for a thousand years, even a million, in old time, and then snap back to a moment before that thought even occurred.
You now realise that the great artists – the writers, the painters and the composers – instinctively understood it.
Finally, we are fulfilled with a capacity to love that was once capped on earth by a ceiling we feared pushing beyond. But now, we experience it to the full which unleashes a bliss to make each of us feel like God. Because in this moment that never ends, we are God.
I was young just yesterday, and now I am older than the world will ever be.
Looking back at my earth life, I now realise that most of us were only living because we feared dying.
But there’s nothing to it.
(c) Frank Howson 2020
Posted in 9/11 , Action , Action Movies , Aged , Alamo , Amy Winehouse , Animals , Art , Arts , Australia , Australia Day , Babe Ruth , Beggars , Berlin , Bias , Birthday , Blue Eyes , Boats , Bob Dylan , Cafe , Calvary , Cary Grant , Casino , Charlton Heston , Chelsea Hotel , Chinatown , Chlldhood , Chopper Read , Cigarettes , Circus , City , Civil War , Clark Gable , Classics , Clinton , Coffee , Cole Porter , Cowboys , Creative , Crime , Critics , Dance , Dancing , Davy Crockett , Directing , Dogs , Dream , Dreamers , Easter , Electric , Elvis , Errol Flynn , Eve of Destruction , Expensive Winos , F. Scott Fitzgerald , Fame , Family Tree , Fathers , Fiction , Fight Game , Film Business , Film Directing , Film Festivals , Film Frstivals , Folk Heroes , France , Frank Capra , Frank Howson , Freedom of Speech , Gangsters , Germany , Glory , God , Gratefiul Dead , Greville Street , Hemingway , Hollywood , Holocaust , Homeless , Hong Kong , Hong Kong Lover , Humanity , Husband , Infidel , Interrogation , Ireland , Irish , Irving Berlin , It's A Wonderful Life , Jail , James Dean , James Stewart , Jerusalem , Jessica , Jesus , Jewish , John Lennon , Johnny Cash , Keith Richards , Life , Lincoln , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Love , Lovers , Luna Park , Marriage , Media , Melvyn Douglas , Merlot , Movie Stars , Movies , Nazis , Ned Kelly , New York , Night , Night Club , Nightclubs , Obervations , Old Men , Opinion , Orson Welles , Oscar Wilde , Our Times , P.F. Sloan , Pick-Up Artist , Playboy , Poet , Poetry , Political , Politics , Press , Prisoner , Prose , Recordings , Records , Regret , Robin Williams , Rod McKuen , Romance , Roy Orbison , School Years , Secret Agent Man , Self Destruction , Sensual , Seven Deadly Sins , Sexual , Sherlock Holmes , Sherman Oaks , Sin City , Social Comment , Sons , Spirit of Christmas , St. KIlda , Stage , Stage Craft , Stars , Strangers , Stripped , Terrorism , The Boxer , The Eagles , The Happy Prince , The Law , The Ring , The Sultan of Swat , Theatre , Ther Beach Boys , Tony Curtis , Twin Peaks , Ulysses Grant , Uncategorized , Valentine , Vegas , Verse , Victims of War , War , Weapons , Werewolves , Westerns , What's Exactly The Matter With Me? , Wife , Wine , Writer , Writing , Youth
Tagged Abuse , Action , Action Movies , Actor , Angels , anger , Animals , Art , Arts , Baseball , Beach , Birds , Bob Dylan , Book , Boxing , Business , Cafe , Casino , Cats , Cheating , Childhood , Children , Childrens , Christianity , Christmas , Circus , Clowns , Cocaine , Coffee , Congress , Creative , Crime , Critics , Dance , Dancing , Death , Director , Dogs , Dreams , Drugs , Easter , Elvis , Fame , Family , Fantasy , Fathers , Fiction , Fiction Writing , Fighting , Film , France , Freedom of Speech , French language , Games , Gandhi , Gangsters , Genocide , Germany , God , Happy , Health , Hollywood , Home , Hong Kong , Human , Humanity , Humor , Husband , Ireland , Jealousy , Jerusalem , Jewish , Jury , Justice , Kids , Las Vegas , Legal , Lessons , Life , Life and Times , Literature , London , Lonely , Los Angeles , Loss , Love , Magic , Media , Memories , mistakes , Mother , Movie Stars , Movies , Music , Musical , Mystery , Nature , New Orleans , New York , Night , Nightclubs , O , Observation , Observations , P , Painting , Paris , Performance , Personal Stories , Pets , Poem , Poet , Poetry , Political , Politics , Pregnancy , Press , Production , Prose , Psychology , Public , Recreation , relationship , Relationships , Religion , School , Secrets , Shopping , Social Commentary , Social Sciences , Song , Sons , Sports , Stage , Stars , Stories , Story , Strangers , Sun , Sydney , Terrorism , Thanks , The Beach Boys , Theater , Theatre , Thought , Truth , Twin Peaks , United States , Vegas , Video Games , Vietnam , Virginia , War , Wife , Wine , Wonder , Writer , Writing , You , Youth , Zoo
May · 16