At the age of ten, yes! It was nineteen seventy two, I remember well,

The feeling Is still fresh Inside as they were the greatest team of all.

Each day as I came home from school I would check the paper to see

If a game was on t.v. or the radio, I was excited either way.

I had a poster of the team on my wall, today I have a collectors picture

Of that same team, the nineteen seventy two Lakers were for me a dream.

That team with the greatness of a Jerry West,” Mr. Clutch’ was so awesome,

It took more than twenty years before and I never thought anyone would

Break their record of going sixty nine and thirteen, A fantastic accomplishment.

Their thirty three game win streak was awesome that year along with a championship,

Bill Sharman was one of the greatest coaches In NBA history, over forty years ago.

Wilt the stilt Chamberlain, one of the greatest scorers and defensive players,

With West and Gail “Stumpy” Goodrich bringing the ball up the court was the best.

Elgin Baylor another great forward In the hall of fame, part of that amazing team,

Happy Hairston I remember as a forward with great rebounding skills, so long ago.

A shot blocker and great moving down the floor on the fast break, Wilt for the slam dunk,

Keith Erickson number twenty four, a member of that Lakers team once upon a time.

Pat Riley and Flynn Robinson off the bench playing defense and points scored when needed,

Two basketball players whom were a big part of that nineteen seventy two dream team.

Think back to a player, Connie Hawkins, known as the Hawk as he soared to the basket,

The fabulous Forum as It was known to be, the house that Jack built, Chick Hearn would say.

The nineteen seventy two Los Angeles Lakers took on and battled the New York Knicks for

The NBA championship and won, a team of greats In an era of great things and accomplishments.

Where were you In 1972,? I was a boy who dreamed of heroes and while I listened to them on the

Radio because It wasn’t televised It was Chick Hearn who brought It all to life, I saw everything.

My stepfather was there and had the greatest time that I wanted but He had to go with a client,

I was disappointed but I listened to the game on the radio, what a great time back then.

When I woke up In the morning he was gone to work but there was a book, laker pennant, and a

Basketball that I will never forget, Where were you In 1972,? I was watching from my mind the

Lakers win the championship and as I dreamed and wished I was down there on that floor I

Then drifted off to a peaceful sleep, this Is to you the great Lakers of 72, where were you In 1972.?

Keith Garrett

WHERE WENT MY PURPOSE

Lost at times, feelings of despair and worthlessness,

My existence appears meaningless at this point in time.

Work has always been my everyday, a year now gone away,

I thought I had found a place, an escape from that which has faded.

A peaceful, mysterious, world of writing where I am the guide,

Working out in my yard, a piece of land of solitude, I thought.

That’s not who I am, rest and relaxation is good for the moment,

Roaming the land by foot, wandering great distances in thought.

Listening in my head to words and instruments of beautiful music,

Many things, hobbies or projects to fill my days while I dream away.

My purpose in life, where did it go, am I thinking and seeing the wrong way,

My working days that for now and maybe forever have gone away,

Was that it or is my purpose around me everyday, my life in every way.

Keith Garrett

WHERE THE WIND BLOWS

Where does the wind go when it’s no longer here,

Does it travel to far off places, will the same wind reappear.?

If it blows across the ocean has it a plan of its own,

Are their many different winds, who would know.

It passes us by in an instance of time,

Cool or warm, soft it may feel,

Wicked with speed, fierce it may be.

Where the wind blows is a mystery only god knows,

Beyond the clouds, across the mountains it flows.

It has not a face as it makes itself known,

Since the beginning of time, where does the wind blow.?

Where the wind blows, many think they know,

From long ago many souls have followed and never

Have seen where it goes, where the wind blows.

Keith Garrett

WHEN YOU WERE THERE

THEN YOU WERE NOT

I see you In the Spring as the flowers start to bloom,

You are my mother as the sun Is shining upon you,

This would be our Spring, A daughters love would be.

Summer sun so high In the sky, heat lives In the night,

Time spent together, playing In the sand at the beach,

Your son I am, young, as for you I’ll never change from today.

September late, Fall shows the start of Its most beautiful face,

The shadows appear differently as soon Thanksgiving seems thankless,

When you were there a smile I remember and think of, things you would say.

Comes Winter with a chill, I love you mother, please don’t make me say goodbye,

The snow begins to fall, It was you whom did see It, you awoke me with a surprise,

A night ride with you on a horse through the snow to a place I’ll not forget with you.

When you were there I had a mother whom showed much love and care for a family,

Then you were not, where you went those whom love you know, you were here, this is so.

Keith Garrett

WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD

You were just standing there weren’t you, yesterday you were a child,

Only a moment ago It seems like today, years ago now as those days are gone.

At times life seems so very long which Is a wonderful thing,

Wake up do you to a morning, one just like before but something has changed.

The dreaming child, the one whom believed In magic and wishes has gone away,

They are alive kept always Inside, bring them out for a day so that they do not die.

When you were a child the sun would shine while riding your bike along side friends,

Days seemed to never end, not a care In the world playing hopscotch or a treehouse

Built In a field by boys whom were young then disappeared Into many years ahead.

Pretending was you that little girl who wished to be a princess and daddy was the hero,

Chasing butterflies and jump rope, tea parties were magical the day when you were a child.

Playing kick the can walking down the street,

Having sword fights with sticks pretending they were guns.

Model airplanes and sleepover’s, making tents for the night,

Baseball In the park, flying kites watching the sun going down.

When you were a child yesterday for just a little while.

Keith Garrett

WHEN YOU THINK YOU KNOW ME

I have had my share of physical and emotional hurt, I stand strong,

When It Is said that I’m a mean sort of man, then you don’t know who I am.

If talk about me and criticism without the facts behind my back Is what you choose,

Not a friend of mine you will find when your mouth opens much to wide.

My struggles are accepted, I bow down to no one for anything,

I’ve been laughed at for my writing by mostly those whom should love and support me.

When you think you know me whether you do or you don’t,

What kind of person might you be If you wish failure and hurt on me.

Music is fine as Bruce Springsteen the boss Is one listened to anytime,

I walk the miles and feel sorry for those whom wear not a smile.

If you have not a care then shake not this mans working hand,

When you think you know me, think again, are you really family or friend.

Keith Garrett

WHEN YOU SEE THEM

Somewhere among the crowd one of them may be shopping,

At a restaurant they could be sitting at a table before your eyes.

A beautiful day at the beach in some year past or present they were,

Might have been at a ball game cheering just as you were having a day.

Walking down the street it could be you pass them by each day not knowing,

When you see them it is most possible that the years have disguised them.

Sometimes and not to often we may slow down and take notice of a face,

It may not be whom we wish to see or maybe the most fortunate are we.

At times I wonder if down the street they may live a neighbor not known by me,

A nod on the street by a passer-by, a smile from a face that might be a friend indeed.

Over the years we spread further apart, not always in distance but in time,

When you see them take a closer look as they are no longer whom they were back then.

Keith Garrett

WHEN YOU DON’T REMEMBER ME

Life can change in a single second, altering lives forever,

One thing happens and a chain of events moves far beyond.

We have a most powerful and amazing gift, it is the brain,

This is a mechanism that is at the same time most fragile.

In the blink of an eye everything we know can be unknown,

An accident, so fast to be struck with trauma to our minds.

Our time may be over and we don’t even know what’s happened,

We die that fast or even worse that we live without knowing.

Not enough understanding of the simple thoughts that hide,

A love that can remember almost everything but you are not there.

When you don’t remember me as you did only a moment ago,

I remember all things for you, we are now strangers,

We have a choice, you’re alive and we can together start over.

Keith Garrett

WHEN SLEEP DOES NOT VISIT

Suddenly as fast as I visit sleep then awake do I to the late night,

Not a pleasant adventure as tired is my mind, body, and eyes.

Stories are told by me, seen over and over as I lay there awake,

Television shows In detail, memories played repeatedly,

Thoughts of the day, thoughts of many yesterdays come to mind.

Good or bad, I can’t sleep as my brain try’s to figure out and

Understand that which can’t be ever changed, endless headache.

When sleep does not visit there Is no clue to what wanders the mind,

Why these life experiences keep me searching for answers always.

When sleep does not visit me then I must turn to fantasy for sleep.

Keith Garrett