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

                                                                                                   
              I LISTENED TODAY


 My day had changed, some people appeared to me,


 As I was thinking of my losses and more to lose 
 Again.

 Things become much brighter when you learn  of a 
 Worse pain,

 From a country, Guatemala is from where once they 
 Came.

 Our paths had crossed for a reason I do believe, 
 Meant to be,

 I gave them many things that were of help and worth 
 Far away.

 A man told me of life as a child in a place much 
 Different than here,

 A tortilla on the ground, brown and some green, a 
 Fight for this meal.

 He spoke of trimming away the bad and eating what 
 Was left,

 Of cheese that was molding after some days, clean 
 Away the worms, okay.

 If we would throw upon the ground our food not wanted,
 Pick up they would do,

 His story of a father who died from sickness and hunger 
 So that they could eat.

 All the clothing I gave to them would be to those over 
 There like gold or money,

 Shoes for their feet, today such a great feeling, my 
 plans had changed.

 He said to me, " If you think you're full and had 
 Enough to eat, save half

 For tomorrow, fore nothing matters more than the 
 Hunger inside,

 I listened today to a man who was once a child in a 
 sorrowful place.
                      Keith Garrett

            I'VE STOOD STRONG


 I've stood strong, Oh! so long and watched
 time pass,

 To see the sunrise, to see the sunset.


 Above me, the clouds drift past each day,


 Can't see where they go, this Is where I stay.


 In the dark of night I stand not alone,


 What keeps me company Is that which roams.


 The wind passes through me on a journey across 
 The sky,

 I'm never cold nor have I died.


 Many have visited and stayed where I stand,


 Some are now part of this land.


 I'll still be here long after you,


 I've stood strong, I'm different, this Is true.


               By Keith Garrett 

          " TIME STANDS' NOT STILL"


 A clock may stop In the middle of a day,
 Time keeps on ticking ones' life away.



 Measured by years' the number you are,
 How old will you get, will your existence go far.



 Months' are a piece of time In your life,
 As each passes by, shorter becomes your flight.



 Weeks are measured seven days' at a time,
 Fifty two as twelve months' go by.



 A day has twenty four hours' for you,
 The sun comes up and goes down too.



 hour by hour our days' will pass,
 No slowing them down so our lives will not go fast.



 What Is a minute but sixty ticks at a time,
 Second by second older we find.


              Keith Garrett

               IT'S NEVER TOO LATE


 It' s never too late to open your eyes,


 To say a thank you, too show a smile.


 It's never too late to listen with your ears,


 Of words said that are needed to be heard.


 It's never too late to be less selfish of a man,


 Or to show your love to that special one If you 
 Can.

 It's never too late to give of yourself,


 Unless there's no room for change In you and 
 That's sad.

 It's never too late to try and to do,


 Grow as a man and be strong as a rock for yourself,


 And those who love and count on you.


                                                                                      
          Keith Garrett

                 FACES OF CHANGE


 I slip and fall, rise up on my feet to walk 
 once more,

 The hurt shows' through, bothered by me pain 
 Of the fall.

 Each day tells' of a different story, a turning 
 PPage of this time,

 Memories of a face which lives with me day and 
 Night.

 They pass us by, cross our paths' for only a moment,


 Faces of change In a world of mystery and surprise.


 She follows' me on a course far, far away or close 
 Behind,

 Is It that I'm following her as these steps' search 
 To find.

 Faces of difference, faces of change, go away, 
 They go away,

 Some may stay as others' appear without warning Into 
 A heart's day.

                  Keith Garrett

                                                                                                       
                FACE OF THUNDER



                                                                                 
 Appears with many a storm, it is not seen,




                                                                              
 Growls, lets out an echoing roar from above.




 Not a soft voice as it screeches out with anger,




 Picture a face with mouth open wide, fiery eyes.




 Traveling around, town to town, a booming sound,




                                                                                  
 Listen for the rumble, a face of thunder.


              Keith Garrett

            JOURNEY THROUGH TITLES


 I wish I were blind from some of the things 
 I've seen,
 While out in the street many sad and haunting 
 Things were to be.
 Could somebody tell me where it is that thunder
 Road lives,
 I heard it was somewhere down by the river.

 You know it takes a leap of faith to live through 
 Struggles,
 Each morning we wake to the rising, it has meaning.

 When we feel alone, it only takes a little human 
 Touch,
 Otherwise, at times we just want to fade away.

 Once walking the streets of Philadelphia, I felt
 Trapped,
 Before me was a darkness on the edge of town.

 Have you ever had a lonesome day, everything seemed
 Missing,
 You were the nothing man, searching for your land 
 Of hope and dreams.
 I went back to my hometown, i had to drive all night,

 Atlantic City was the place, that was my lucky day.

 It was warm out, everywhere there were girls in their 
 Summer clothes,
 There I stood, Living proof that life is good.

 In my thoughts, like Springsteen, I want to say I'm a
 Rocker,
 You know it's a man's job to take care of his family.

 I believe everyone is born to run, and I know two heart's 
 Are better than one,
 I'll work for your love sweetheart, because I love you.

 The wrestler takes it one day at a time, he survives,

 In certain situations I am tougher than the rest.

 Some are forced to live in places that resemble a 
 Jungleland,
 Remember, to survive in this world the phrase is none     
 But the brave.
                  Keith Garrett  

               FROM HEAVEN,

             CAN YOU HEAR ME?


 I look to the sky, can you see me through the 
 Clouds,

 I'm standing here Lord, what shall I do to make It 
 Today?

 From my eyes there are many tears that flow to 
 No end,

 In this body It Is my heart that cries for your help 
 To ease my sorrow.

 Stand by me when my loneliness Is much more than I 
 Can bare,

 Take away this pain and anger that live In my soul 
 As I move forward.

 Take from me these nightmares that visit when I sleep, 
 Oh! please,

 Let me rest as my body feels' so very tired from 
 This plight.

 From heaven, can you hear me, do you know who I am,


 Will you listen as I ask for your guiding hand?


              Keith Garrett

             FOLLOW THE RIVER


 Watching the water as It flows' down stream,


 I walk Its' path on either side.


 As the river turns,' swaying from side, to side,


 The rushing water crashes and throws' Itself at me


 As I make my way along.


 On my journey past trees and hills,'


 Notice do I the bright sun and big white clouds' 
 Passing me by.

 Follow, follow the river on a course chosen by 
 Itself,

 Onward, downward until such a place where the 
 Water lies still.

 I follow the river to a resting spot,


 Now It Is time for this soul to sleep.


                                                                                      
     Keith Garrett