Twilight

  Fell asleep in the desk chair,

over the side, with my arm on the recliner, but woke up quickly when Amy yelled my name. She scared the crap out of me. Apparently, she thought I was dead. Fair. I'm going to miss that woman when I'm gone

But it's better than missing her while I'm still here

It all seems a little too surreal...

What I'm giving you...

 will take a lifetime to digest. It's in multiple blogs. Multiple social media posts. 

It will take an odd kind of dedication.

This is for very few. 

World Builder/ Face The Maker

 I'm going to do this

because I want it to happen

what are the consequences

I don't care

Says the strong willed

with no vision

with no comprehension

of just or fair

---

Draw me a picture

of how you want the world to be

Don't forget the little details

The Devil is woven into the fabric of reality

-----

Tell me, World Builder

You who decides who lives, who dies

What was the original plan? 

Tell me, World Builder

Maker of the ocean and the skies

keeper of the machine that grinds the lives of man?

-----

If I say I don't believe in your God

You should know it might be out of spite

It may be because your God doesn't believe in me either

and none of this is worth the fight. 

-----

I'm going to do this

your life will be as we say

We believe we are as good or better than god

or we will make him show his face, someday

------

We are going to do this

because we want it to happen

what are the consequences

I don't care

Says the strong willed

with no vision

with no comprehension

of just or fair

-------

Draw me a picture

of how you want the world to be

Don't forget the little details

The Devil is woven into the fabric of reality

------

Tell me, World Builder

Are You who decides who lives, who dies?

What was the original plan? 

Tell me, World Builder

Are you Maker of the ocean and the skies

or are you merely keeper of the machine

 that grinds the lives of man?

Mark Burkenbine. March 9th, 2024

What's a Full Life?

I was thinking about what a full life would entail. A laugh. Smiles. Adventures. Love. Flavors. Scents. Wonder. Discovery. Knowing. Pain. A win. A Loss. Sorrow. Memories. Mistakes. Worry. Hope. Ambition. Wisdom. Death.

I thought I'd write something happy today

but it didn't sound like something I'd say

 I've lived and loved

been found and got lost

got things for free

that weren't worth the cost

Been stupid, been smart

between love and health

many ways to break a heart

I've met people I like

I've met people I liked 

that didn't like me

I've told more truth

than I've told lies

I've paid harsher dues 

for honesty

( I'm not one for wanting things

I know I don't deserve

Only thing this world owes me

is the painful death

I worked hard to earn)

Kids and grandkids

Wives and exes

friends and family

I rarely see

..............

.............. memories

Miscellaneous misadventures

Things in the road and car wrecks

wins and losses, homeless

and unpaid debts

Loved the good, and the bad

laughed more than  cried

Learned to roll with it

instead of sinking deeper

no matter how hard I tried

(I'm not one for wanting things

I know I don't deserve

Only things this world owes me

is the painful death

I worked hard to earn)

What's unique to me

is mine

Full life

beautiful mind

If a life is judged by experiences

my glass is full

except for one

Turn out the lights

It's been fun

Only one thing left to do

after a long last goodbye

...........................it's time

(I'm not one for wanting things

I know I don't deserve

Only thing the world owes me

Is the painful death

I worked hard to earn)

That's a Full Life.

Art of chasing

In an impossible situation
The act of chasing a dream
May be the dream.
Live love. Love to live.
Embrace consequences.
There are none
Without action.
Mark Burkenbine , 2017

Some good, some great, some awful, all will lead to more

Can't Go broke selling shit to an idiot

tin cans tumble and roll down dark city streets
winds blow tumbleweeds across the plains
bugs and rodents looking for meat
dust gathers on a vacant window sill
dust gathers on what remains

What a crazy nightmare my life really is
Honey theres got to be a better way than this
Fighting traffic
as the days go by
at the end of the day
you have to ask yourself why
ask yourself why

You can't go broke selling shit to an idiot
It's true

cause i got those
cause I got those suburban white boy
free public wifi
keep gettin knocked off the internet blues

You can't go broke selling shit to an idiot
It's true


repeat.



repeat.

Can't go broke
selling shit to an idiot

written and published by Mark Burkenbine
November 8, 2014
Mark Burkenbine  Copyright 2014

Truth Looks You in the Eye/ A HOLE Lot of ME( In Social MEDEA)

 Truth looks you in the eye


and there it was
the truth
it was looking me n the eye
the whole damn time
and so i figured it out
and Ive been waiting for someone to be honest
to stop toeing the line
and they never did
and they never will
those lying bastards still lying still
but I know
and when the moment is right
the truth will find its keeper
like a bump in the night

and its all -----
------just a story
what weve
------- been told
when we are young
we are taught to believe
 the bill of goods that we've been sold

but a truth that has been buried
will just grow more pungent, sharper and bold
like the prized cheese that lies beneath the mold

It is always there
no disguise
it doesn't always call attention
but Truth always looks you in the eye

Truth Looks You in the Eye
Mark Burkenbine  Copyright 2014
written and published November 09, 2014

A HOLE lot of ME( in Social MEDEA)

Won't you like me
won't you share
I know you are marketers
I know you don't care

Do I know you
are you who you say you are
you can show me
what you had for Dinn R

Look at all these friends I have
Look at all these friends I have
but

I'm my favorite
This guys got a plan
I'm my own
#1 Fan

What's so social about this Social MEDEA

I get asked to buy things
I always wanted
asked to buy a cream
that I need for this rash
aspirin for my headache
loans for much needed cash

It's almost like they can read your mind
excavation of the data of the social MEDEA mine

There's no I in Social MeDEA
There's no I in Social MEDEA
I took the I   from I DEA
and gave it A-Hole lot o me
A-Hole lot of ME
Theres A-HOLE lot o me
I can spell it
anyway I want to say
Social MeDEA

A HOLE lotta ME in Social MEDEA
written by Mark Burkenbine  November 8 , 2014
Mark Burkenbine Copyright 2014

World of Author Untimely: Zombie :AFTER #6 ....a show opener

World of Author Untimely: Zombie :AFTER #6 ....a show opener: Zombie After (Life is a Deathtrap) You can SAY good BYE to Everything & EveryONE That you HOLD, my dear This LIFE thing is a DEA.

PLay Audio

stronger willed men

no jobs in the future
not many jobs in the past
machines to do any mans job
coming down the path

there has always been someone
to pick up the slack
thinks of something to keep us from
being dead on our backs

now they call them 'entrepreneur'
word   gets thrown around
              now and then
but we used to call them
the stronger willed men

aint nuthin stopped us yet
no reason to think it will
we know one will figure it out
the others will follow him until...


stronger willed men
written  and created by Mark Burkenbine on September 30, 2014

Mark Burkenbine copyright 2014

Profile.

No Soul on the Radio

No Soul on the Radio

Aint no soul on the radio  Aint no soul on the radio   Aint no soul on the radio
Aint no soul on the radio  Aint no soul on the radio   Aint no soul on the radio
Aint no soul on the radio   Aint no soul on the radio  Aint no soul on the radio
Aint no soul on the radio   Aint no soul on the radio  Aint no soul on the radio
Aint no soul on the radio  Aint no soul on the radio   Aint no soul on the radio
 Aint no soul on the radio     Aint no soul on the radio

Aint no soul on my radio     aint no soul on my radio

Aint no soul on the radio  Aint no soul on the radio   Aint no soul on the radio
Aint no soul on the radio  Aint no soul on the radio  Aint no soul on the radio
Aint no soul on the radio  Aint no soul on the radio  Aint no soul on the radio
Aint no soul on the radio  Aint no soul on the radio

written created and vocalized by Mark Burkenbine  August 14 2014

Copyright 2014 Mark Burkenbine

Theme from A Little Testy

oh jeez. OH JEEZ . Tell me ,
 Who have I angered today?

Sometimes it seems like
people think
I opened my eyes
to upset them as if

or they didnt like what I had for dinner
or the color of my excremen   t

oh jeez oh jeez tell me
how did I anger them today

was it my sunny disposition
or did I upset a sacred cow
or poke another angry bear
i lost my left one in the divorce
you who would think I could get a little testy
 get thru it   somehow, just plyin  my wares

oh jeez oh jeez
cant we all just get along

things didnt go well ,
well you know that is true
I must say  When the judge said off with it
 see it every other weekend and holiday
I must say, i was a little blue

I heard you keep him
in a jar on your dresser
by the TV  by the TV
But we miss him, me and the right
I have developed a limp & I cant sleep thru the night
you see

So i heard, he opened a bar, and is doing well,
after the emancipation from you
My left is a little jealous, cause Im kind of a loser,
But it is good to know he isnt just watching life
with no participation, no one to screw

A LITTLE Testy, oh you have no idea
happy that he moved on  and grew
 not the same little Testy
Not even the same shade of blue

oh jeez OH JEEZ
Why are they so angy tell me please
what did i do
what did I do
 oh JEEEEEEEEz
a little testy
a little testy

on the third saturday of the month
i get to see my left nut
that i lost it in the divorce,  when she got      full custody
she keeps it on the dresser in a jewelry box   next to the tv
i dont even get to see it on the holidayee


Theme from A LITTLE TESTY, written and published by Mark Burkenbine on August 14, 2014
Mark Burkenbine copyright 2014

Social Media Guru

Every time  I almost think
that the world is caving in on me
and this has just been the worst
damn thing that could happen to me

I realize I am starting to sink
into a place only i can see
and that just makes my bubble burst
& im just another  selfish SOB

Its about the loved ones,
 family and friends
not whether or not I get to
make jokes or sing on a stage

as my mum,dad
or my ex wife
may have said
You are 46 and its time to
act your age

so we are moving into an old folks home
just to have a roof over our head
and ill just have to make due with singing
at open mic night in the activity room instead

broken dreams may live forever, but we have to throw them away
what color is that recycle bin probably an old looking gray

was all that time just wasted away

Maybe someone new will come along and decide to give that dream a shot
I hope they make it but a little nasty part of me hopes not
that was my dream, you little snot.

Do it your way cause its hard enough to succeed anyway fool
do it your way cause failing at someone elses is still on you

Social media guru wont you help me find the answer
the marketer says for a couple bucks we can make a plan
social media guru wont you help me find the answer
because nobody else seems to understand

Im not as helpless and inept as I seem
so much silence as I scream into an internet vacuum
Things are really just that bad
I ask 4 help for the sad,  poor , broken ,you assume

social media guru wont you help me find the answer
the marketer says for a couple bucks we can make a plan
social media guru wont you help me find the answer
because nobody else seems to think Im a good enough man
to pull us through lifes little guillotine
So much silence as I scream into an internet vacuum
Things are really just that bad
I ask 4 help but we arent sad, just broken & poor, no one is immune

Social media, guru, please, just get us thru

She is the best person I will ever meet
and deserves so much more than me
at least according to the social standards
that seem to lag behind , tragically

I would sell every thought in my brain
to make everything alright again
we got a special situation, health has taken leave
social media guru please
Social media guru wont you help me find the answer
the marketer says for a couple bucks we can make a plan
social media guru wont you help me find the answer
because nobody else seems to understand

Im not as helpless and inept as I seem
so much silence as I scream into an internet vacuum
Things are really just that bad
I ask 4 help for the sad,  poor , broken ,you assume

as I scream into an internet vacuum

Do it your way cause its hard enough to succeed fool
do it your way cause failing at someone elses way is still on you

written and created by Mark Burkenbine July 25, 2014

Copyright Mark Burkenbine 2014

Homeless with you

I already knew I  married the right one
good woman,good home, good memories I hope never fade
and then life threw us this curve
kind of sent us sideways

a year of being banged up and sick
operations,  and repossessions
 hospitals and bankruptcy...so many busy days
     Life can be a  fulltime job without getting paid

Landlord sold the condo
we are out on our ass
with  pockets full of tears,
 hearts full of hope and it all seems fair
living in the car
getting by doing this and that
    here and there

Moving back to be near the kids
and see our grandson
is the early last wish no one should have to ask or say
you made that decision for us both
and special doesn't even begin to describe what you deserve every day

I hope you understand
I know it sounds so wrong
but there is no one i'd rather be homeless with, than you, my wife
Homeless with you, I know will always be
The best time of my life.

I know she deserves better than my selfish ways
I offer to take her to her family but she says that is me
and I am glad she said that even though I can't find a way to get her a home

I will tell you this, we have been through so much
we live by our means,no credit , no crutch
we grow stronger every day, we remember who threw sticks and stones,
we are together and that means never alone.

Hotels, lakes and rest stops...thanks to those
family , friends and kindly souls
Thank you one and all from the bottom of my heart
for understanding we are stronger together than we would be apart.

I hope you understand
because i know it sounds so wrong
but there is no one I'd rather be homeless with, than you , my wife
Homeless with you, I know will always be
The best times of my life

copyright Mark Burkenbine 2014

Mark Burkenbine    July 1, 2014

Mark Burkenbine-Change a Life 4 Better Album

Everytime I Drive Away--Mark Burkenbine at Lindsborg Bandshell

judgement

And so I say excuse me, I'm sorry, I made many mistakes
I will do my best to make a better situation.A better job. A more reliable place.
But I will not lie down in shame because you are upset
Life did not stop because of what you think
And you seem to think I'm running from a debt
I'm running from nothing
Running towards the clock
Five years to do what I can
And then my heart will stop    me    where I stand
Excuse me I'm sorry I made the mistakes
I spent a year by my wifes side
Concerned about which one of us may die
I'm not running from a thing ,you fools
There is no place ,nowhere i can hide
When the clock stops spinning I will die.
Until then I will work my debt and burn the candle from both ends
Do the things I didn't do...help anyone I can...love my wife and kids
And Find out who I really have for friends.
I don't need a god, judge or in law to tell me what I have done wrong
I know my situation and I am changing things as we speak
And while I have lost some things due to consequences of my actions
I knew what I would and could lose
I look at my healthy wife and kids and know I would give up everything again
And I will be rebuilding from beginning to an end
Until the clock stops its spin.
And when my wife and kids smile at me again
Ill know this life is a win
My credit with my wife is a perfect score
Cash only, in life. From now on less is more.
Written and created by Mark Burkenbine May 23 , 2014
Mark Burkenbine Copyright 2014

Every time I Drive away- Mark Burkenbine

Every time I drive away
reminds me of why I want to stay
I can't wait          I can't wait
to turn around     and come on home

Every time I drive away
reminds me of why I want to stay
with you       I can't wait
to turn around and share our home

Leaving is easy
when you are looking down the road
to new and brighter days

It's always hard
to retrace your trail
when life reminds you of darker stays

It makes you look into the eyes
of the ones you hurt
along your  lonely unguided ways

Turns out staying is easy
when you find out what you want and need

The road ahead now calmly waits
the price to pay- for life this way
is the toll for the road I let leed

and facing the music and making amends
to the family and friends who once believed

Everyone has to pay the toll
for rolling down this road
Turns out staying is easy, when you find what you need

Every time I drive away
reminds me of why I want to stay
I can't wait
to turn around
and come on home

Every time I drive away
reminds me of why I want to stay
with you
I can't wait
to come on home


Owned and written by Mark Burkenbine, Copyright September 7 2013

30 Days of Change

Walked a mile in those shoes
Walked that mile   A thousand times a day
Traffic hits me at the crossroads
always leaves a bruise
So I never crossed it
always turned away

Going to have to do this
someday

Walked a mile in those shoes
Tried to smile through the pain
Can walk blind to that same crossroads
I know what that proves
Never win and never lose
Hell I never play

Same ole shoes walk me here
They walk away

Change a life for better
Change it today
To Change those same ole shoes
You need a month of Sundays

and a new pair of shoes
just for fun and game

30 days of change
could do a cold life some good
On day 30 Ill walk barefoot to that crossroads
Cause my feet know to cross
When my stubborn same ole shoes
never would

30 days to break a chain
30 days of change
Change a life for better
Change it today
Change a life for better
Can you spare any change?
30 days of change
Can I borrow
a cup of change

Change those same ole shoes
before they wear a hole
Change those same ole shoes
It's time to smell new leather
and break in
A new sole

You need a month of Sundays
New Shoes  New fun and games

A month of Sundays
30 days of change

Written and created by Mark Burkenbine, April 17, 2014
Mark Burkenbine  Copyright 2014

Little Victories

Learning to crawl before learning to walk
learning to let them know before you're gonna go
learning don't touch that ,because it is too hot
learning don't touch those, because you were told NOT

The ABC's , and arithmetic and history
boys and girls, religion and family
Jobs and career, fail and succeed
finding out what worked for you,  may not work for me

Little Victories
strung together
may slowly win a war
but don't get so caught up in battle
that you forget , what you are fighting for

Time slips by when you are having fun
It really flies when you find something, or someone
to take your mind off the facts
that this runaway train has lost the tracks

You spend most of your life being taught and told what to do
and part of your life trying to decide what's right and who was wrong
and part of your life realizing it was all true
you don't know what you've got til it is gone

and your kids grow up and move away
find someone to love and a job that may or may not pay
and they decide you are wrong even though
they may not have heard ALL you have to say

and you go to work and do your best
hope you can be there for them when they are put to test
and you wonder where the time has gone
as Time  lays  your parents, family and friends to rest

Learning, Living Loving and Losing
we all have to deal and find "what works for me?"
I remember being taught how to brush my teeth
to ride a bike, to say thank you
I remember the times mom and dad smiled so proudly

Little Victories
Strung together
Will Slowly Win a War
but don't get so caught up in battle
that you forget what you are fighting for



Created, Written and owned by Mark Burkenbine
Copyright 2014  Mark Burkenbine

Dying since the day we are born

Your heart is tattered
and your soul is torn
You want the love
but you can't ride out the storm

It's true,       You've
been dyin' since the day    you were born

I know    its been rough
and there's nowhere you can hide
I won't say you've lost
but    you can't find   your pride
It's time to start living
just so's you can say
you tried

Get a life
find a pet
love your wife
place a bet
change a lightbulb
for someone
who can't

write a book
and crack a joke
paint a picture
and fix what's broke

Your money isn't
any good here    anyway

truth is   your money
isn't good anywhere   they say

Money isn't worth  the price
you here    you'll pay

so let us not shed a tear  

and get our asses in gear  today
and enjoy       our
broken lives       anyway

Been dyin since the day we are born
I met you, now I am living
 like I won a war
It's peaceful    in the eye     of the storm
and i am sorry    for those who don't have      what I have
to fight or let go for

dying since the day we are born

written , owned, created by Mark Burkenbine
Mark Burkenbine copyright 2014

Church of the Ringin Ten

https://soundcloud.com/mark-burkenbine/church

Everybody say Yayessss. Good evening to you, brothers and sisters. We are all gathered here today to roll some thundah.... to pound the pocket....to get that ten out and celebrate a few moments of victory, or defeat , with our friends. Our brothers from another mother. Fellow bowlers. Confess your grief. Tell me all about it. Enjoy a cold one. Clear your head until the next session. .....share with us. How do you knock them all down?    
Wouldn't you all love to own a bowling center?   They say the best way to be a millionaire is to buy a bowling alley for 3 million and hope you have one left when you close....

Careful what you wish for
If you work for it, it could be yours
The good, the bad, and the other
The closing of the doors

Where you spend one or two days of the week of your life
I was behind the counter       morning , noon, and nights
Watching the doctors, factory workers, kids
councilmen, teachers and housewifes

You watch the birthday parties, celebrate babies born,
as other customers pass , gone away from your store
Watch friends   fall in love
and some
would surely marry

you raise money for the sick, and the families in states of loss and suddenly poor
and then   in the end   they closed the door
to your bowling alley

A whole community
once spent a day or two
knocking down pins
rolling a ball
 having a beer
a smoke and a burger, talking with friends
The poor mans country club,
The bowling alley was town hall

You listened to the stories and the gossip
bitched about your boss, who bitched about you
 while bowling league on Monday night
It was a little dark and dated...sometimes there would be a little fight
but we kept score for 35 nights
and teaching someone to pick up a ten pin
somehow, made a lot of little wrongs all right

Careful what you wish for
If you do this right
It could soon be all yours
the good , the bad and the other
and the closing of the doors

I spent so many Sundays of this life
bowling for money, trying to strike
In the Church of the Ringing Ten

and As I look back at the good, great and crappy places I have been
There was never a better place to learn about all walks of life
Not where, Not how, and Never When
It was always the place to be taught a lesson
The Gospel
of the Church of the Ringin Ten

but times have changed, it costs a little more
as a machine keeps your score
Building is nice and bright and seems safer now-not sure what for
and the regulars don't come as often , through those automatic doors

Big box center with all the tricks and
its pretty and clean, at least for a little while
Just doesn't make you want to smile
It's just a business now
Now the old alley , it had Character,  Community  & Style

The alley is gone. Time passed it by
machine keeps score
Big box center just doesn't feel like home
Big box center
with machines keeping score
Losing friends takes its toll
That dark ole bowling alley had character
and those characters gave a game and a building a  SOUL

Written , created, and owned by Mark Burkenbine, December 27, 2013
Copyright  Mark Burkenbine 2013

#famous people

# hashtag #hashtag

do you know the #rules

#hashtag #hashtag

all a bunch of  #fools

#famous people #doing thing

#famous people # buying bling

#famous people #faking sing

#famous people # stealing ring

Doesn't seem to matter what they do

#famous people #still get luv from u

#famous people  #get rehab

when you would go to jail

#famous people  # get let go

and you will say the system fail

#famous people # reality show

#reality?           no! 

#famous people # are famous

#because you said it is so

# hashtag #hashtag

do you have the tools?

#hashtag #hashtag

put down your phone and go back to school

#famous people # wreck their cars

#famous people # drink and drive

#famous people # think they're stars

#famous people# a little closer to God than you and I

# famous people # don't all abuse

#famous people # power that they hold

#famous people # hate the good they lose

#famous people # when the monkeys steal the show

#hashtag #hashtag

no value in paying for a mule

#hashtag #hashtag

shiny and polished, stool is still stool.

Forgive me, famous people. My bitterness is not meant at all of you.  This was written during a time of personal concern for myself and my family, and many friends.  But, famous people, you know which ones I am talking about.  I hope to learn and earn the ability to be one of you , someday. I hope to do much good. I hope that you all would...

written , published, owned by Mark Burkenbine December 3, 2013
copyright 2013 Mark Burkenbine