DESPERADO


 More than one hundred years ago he lived,


 In a small village somewhere in Mexico, a boy.


 Poor was his family as each day was a struggle,


 There were those close by, the bad ones who stole 
 Everything.

 A day came when his village was destroyed, family
 Killed,

 Survived did he to one day grow to be a man.


 Revenge would be his only friend, not a bad man 
 Was he,

 With pistols at his side he would seek justice.


 They called him desperado, a no good criminal,


 He stole from them who once took everything meaningful.


 His gun did the talking, anger ate at his soul,


 He lived by campfire, ate what he shot or stole,


 Justice was one day his, his reward was always on 
 The run.
                             Keith Garrett

                                                                                                     
               DANCE HALL GIRLS


 From a hard day's work they come to town,


 Out on the range, from their farms, from the saddle.


 For a drink, a card game, or something to eat,


 They come to let off steam, music, and dance hall girls, 
 On this night in the heat.

 In dresses with smiles, it is their job to entertain,


 A drink with a cowboy, a fantasy for he.


 They drink and they gamble, dance with the girls,


 Hoping to spend a night not alone.


 Dance hall girls in an old western town,


 Men come from all over for the scent of perfume 
 And a smile.

                                Keith Garrett

                                                                                          
                    CHILD WITHIN


 Run and run until the day was done, fun in the sun,


 Not a care, chasing butterflies within the wind.


 A book that's numbered beginning with one until 
 It's done,

 I played in the sun, playing and laughing with children 
 No more.

 A child with adult that would one day find a way out, 


 Child within, the older we get always seeking a part 
 We once were.

 Our faces do change, lines appear in the light, older 
 By night,

 Hair turns color as the seasons turn into years, eyes 
 Show more.

 One less fear, a new one is here, another tear, dried 
 With the years,

 I see where I've been, we all walk our ongoing road, we 
 Have a child within.
                                   Keith Garrett

                   WIND IN THE FOREST


 Wandering, walking, leaving behind this world 
 For a while,

 Letting my footsteps' take me beyond what I know, 
 Letting go.

 Deep, deep Into a land of which perhaps there's 
 No return,

 Chances taken by a man with many fears, today I live.


 Trees so high that darkness fills the sky, can't 
 See the light,

 Where the moon rests, not visible to these searching 
 Eyes.

 Sounds' of the forest are the only company to me,


 Speaking words to the trees, does anything listen?


 I can feel and hear the wind In the forest,


 It speaks In sound, It Is with me, It finds me.


                  Keith Garrett 

                  SEEKING TOMORROW


 There's no way to see It, search and search,


 I watch for tomorrow as today live, only live.


 If this next should be a blessing given to me,


 Will I see all the beauty that's put before these 
 Eyes.

 Blinded by the past, painful memories still a vision,


 Walk forward I do Into perhaps tomorrow, seeking.


 Dream upon dream and hope everlasting,


 Energy and strength will guide me from this day.


 Seeking tomorrow Is a heart felt thought to be,


 Seeking tomorrow, when It comes, watching I'll be.


                  Keith Garrett   

                                                                                                         
                 A VIEW WORTH SEEING



 Fortunate if you are to see through the darkness,


 For granted do not take the gift of light, always 
 Night.

 Scenes and visions from the mind are wonderful at 
 Times,

 To open your eyes and nothing rests in your sight, 
 A fright.

 A view worth seeing comes to the grateful eyes, 
 Day or night,

 The morning light, with the birds beautiful in 
 Your sight.

 Wherever you go a picture of color awaits, always 
Changing,

 Each day a different view, open your eyes to a view 
 Worth seeing.
                      Keith Garrett

                                                                                            
                  A TRIP TO ANYWHERE


 I'm searching for loose change, standing
 By the car wash,
 I'm happy just waiting for a ride.

 Here it comes, sir! does the bus stop at 
 82nd street,
 My pink Cadillac is a stolen car, I just 
 Gave it a name.
 This hard land does not make me a lucky man,

 My wife and I were once the honeymooners, now 
 Trouble in paradise.
 So young and in love, we were two for the road,

 The wish I have is to be back in your arms.

 Don't look back says a man with sad eyes,

 I used to be a man at the top, now I have 
 Restless nights.
 The bus stops here where I rendezvous with her,

 Give the girl a kiss and stare over the rise 
 Of the sun.
 We go to a place and watch a T.V. movie,

 I'm always here when you need me "she says"

 We watched seven angels, It started to rain,

 There was a great thunder crack.

 Some of us have hearts of stone, not us,

 Bring on the night, when the lights go out, 
 So peaceful, shut out the lights.
                       

                      Keith Garrett

               HER EYES, BIG AND BRIGHT


 She stands there in the morning light,



 The sun shines bright, down from the sky.



 She waits for me,  there in the wind blown grass,



 I watch her as silence surrounds our world.



 Trust is no easy task as this beauty has been hurt 
 Before,


 Her eyes, big and bright, I saddle her and ride in 
 The night.

                         Keith Garrett

                 WATCHER OF THE SEA


 High above the water, overlooking the ocean,



 Built above the rocks standing tall under the sky.



 With Its' eyes of light so bright watching for those,



 Guiding who might approach these shores, looking.



 For so many years It sees, watches, and waits,



 As from across the horizon travelers make their way.



 Watcher of the sea keeping your eye on what Is all 
 Around thee,


 Whether the light of day or the dark of night, you watch.



 Trusted by many are you, counted on for safety,



 You are the watcher of the sea, lonely as It may be.


                    Keith Garrett

                 TO CATCH THE WIND

 Out there, free In the early morning light 
 From the sky,

 A shadowy figure stands motionless, as the wind 
 Blows across the land.

 Feeling the fresh air swirling around this  
 Powerful spirit,

 It raises Its' head to the rising sun.


 Miles and miles to the North, South, East, and West,


 This great beast can run under the wide open sky.


 This miracle of nature, a magnificent creation 
 From heaven,

 With speed and quickness, gallops to everywhere.


 Such a gentle friend which stands up tall,


 Fast, Oh! so fast he may run, and run to catch 
 The wind.

                     Keith Garrett