PAINTED CLOUDS

 I walk the morning, the air has a chill and a 
 Breeze,

 Out In the distance, above the hills, they float 
 Like balloons.

 Shapes or sizes and colors of difference,


 Splashed across the sky are painted clouds.


 Vanish, they go away for a moment In time,


 Reinvented, shaped from heaven above.


 Pastel colors appeared In my sight,


 Rays of light from the sun trying to peek through.


 An Invisible smile, a memory of a face sketched,


 Forever In my mind, eyes of beauty, a voice that 
 Echoes

 Through the clouds.
                                                                                                Keith Garrett

                     TRIALS' OF A MAN


 Once a child, a small boy from many seasons' past,


 In this time and place destined to be a man.


 Through many battles I've had to persevere,


 Like heading Into a strong never ending wind.


 I'm learning to move away from the confrontation,


 Choosing a new direction, energy not wasted.


 Struggling to do everything right as I walk forward,


 Positive lessons' to take ahead, I've learned from 
 My past.

 At one time I put away my faith, put It high on a 
 Shelf,

 Keep living, keep moving along, and try always.


 I've had losses and love lost but this won't end me,


 In this, things gained simultaneously.


 I still seek some of what's been lost, still within 
 Reach,

 Some gone forever, forever a memory.


                       Keith Garrett

                                                                                                
                 HANGMAN


 On a dirty street, in a western town back in time,  
 The gallows,

 He is the hangman, stands always still as the shadows 
 Drift with time.

 He is everywhere, face covered always in a mask of 
 Darkness,

 Not a ruler  but he holds the authority to life and 
 Death.

 A noose hovers, it sways with the wind, waiting for those 
 Who sin,
 You  didn't just break the law, the ultimate crime lived 
 In your mind.

 A life you did take, murder will get you a date with 
 The hangman,

 Many years ago when life was hard on the trail, guns an 
 Every day tool.

 When a man chooses the wrong road, decisions of criminal 
 Deeds will do him in,

 The hangman will watch as you climb the stairs, each  
 Step You will sweat.

 A choice you have made, time to pay, the hangman does 
 Have his day.
                                       Keith Garrett

                       "FOREVER"


 Above from the wide open sky the sun shines ever 
 So bright,
 Will It warm our world always or one day say a 
 Farewell?
 What If the wind that we can not see goes away,

 Will It again blow across the hills and make the trees 
 Sway?
 The glowing moon sits like a lighthouse In the sky,

 Watching, always watching but for how long will It rise?

 The rain falls from the sky, from the clouds that 
 Drift on by,
 Will the drops take from the Earth the thirst so as 
 Not to die?
 See the animals run through the woods and across the 
 Plains,
 Today they live somewhat free, tomorrow will they be?

 We live, we love, dance to the music, sing from our 
 Hearts,
 Search for the happiness that makes It all worth living.

 There are things that may be never, things never lost,

 Nothing lasts forever fore forever we are not.


                    Keith Garrett

                       BARBARA JEAN


 You were standing by your mamma, you were just 
 A little girl,

 Backwards' the wind takes my thoughts' Into what 
 You as a small

 Child could be, a little girl named Barbara Jean.


 In you lives, still this dreaming young spirit that 
 Flew forward,

 The wind and time has carried you, such a wonderful
 Mother,

 Here to where you still wander and dream, you! 
 Barbara Jean.

 You are just days' older, every day one day older 
 Than yesterday,

 Stand you still do as always your mamma watches 
 over you.

 Not there was I for each of your childish birthdays,
 Mo not yet,

 Fore all the ones' you would celebrate would bring us 
 Together sooner.

 I believe In my wishes and dreams' that you are younger 
 Than yesterday,

 With much love from a son who says' thank you to a girl 
 Named Barbara Jean.

                               Keith Garrett

                                                                                                        
                A SUMMER NIGHT



 When the sun goes down and the heat of day fades,



 A quiet visits the night, crickets are alive yet 
 Not in sight.


 Darkness has a certain feel to it, peaceful is my 
 Thought,


 While many living things drift off to sleep day begins
 Too.


 Stars so bright hanging in stillness beyond what is sky,



 The moon shows its light,  high above it watches always,



 A Summer night has its own beauty till mornings light.


                Keith Garrett

               A MINUTE FROM HEAVEN



 I live a life that seems more than half way done,


 Started at a beginning, seen more than sun to sun.


 I've walked this land and had my share of pain,


 Friends whom have come and gone, love them just the same.


 A family through struggles and laughter, 


 Children grow up so fast, will they only remember my name?


 I had my share of good, other things I've paid the price,


 All i ask of you dear lord is that you consider my fight.


 A minute from heaven is what we have each day,


 Step by step when the time has come, would you kindly 
 Show me the way.
                       Keith Garrett

            CRY BY THE LIGHT OF THE NIGHT!


 When there's nothing left, only those whom are of 
 Destruction,

 They live, but they are without a soul, a heart, any 
 Love connection.

 Hunt we do for food, water gathered by the riverside, 
 I cry,

 How for personal gain and greed can it all be thrown 
 Away?

 We run from the day, dodge by the dark of an endless 
 Night,

 Sleep is rare, with an eye open weapons are to be a 
 Trusted friend.

 There's no time being afraid when you're running for 
 Your life,

 The thought of what's right or wrong lives in your 
 Weary minds.

 Cry by the light of the night! run in the darkness, 
 Seek daylight,

 The battle may be strong, the war will end, I'll be 
 With you again.
                           Keith Garrett

                   BEACHES AND OCEANS

 To love the beach, walking along the sand so warm,


 Looking ahead of me at the pier in the distance.


 The feel of the wind as I'm walking along the wet, 
 Sandy shore,

 The sun shining in the sky, seagulls flying in search 
 For food.

 My thoughts are of many things as I dream of life's 
 Pleasures,

 At peace I am, strolling along listening, always 
 Listening.

 The waves are a beautiful sight, musical tunes crashing 
 Upon the open shore,

 The horizon seems like forever as I stare in silence 
 At its mystery.

 Shadows from clouds darken the ocean but only a touch,


 The wonders of life that live beneath the waters are 
 Seen from within.

 Beaches and oceans have been forever,


 There's a great love for me as they go on together.

                      Keith Garrett

                                                                                                                
                 BE NOT HERE



                                                                                      
 Disappear, go away and leave me alone,


 I don't need you anymore, you bring nothing.


 My energy is being drained, a piece taken away,


 You're out there but I need you not here.


 Be not here whoever you are, stay away,


 I've seen you in too many places around this world.


 You've done much harm to me fore you are them,


 You don't have a place in my life, a disease you be.


 Not to be trusted, worn by you are many faces,


 Many faces you are, which might be the right one,


 Be not here and I won't have to wonder who you are.


              Keith Garrett