REFLECTIONS OF A TREE

Reflections of a giant Willow Tree

In my back yard a beautiful sight to see.

At the foot of the tree was a pine bench.

And all around it a white picket fence

On summer nights under her outstretched arms.

Two lovers would sit embraced in loving arms.

So we named her the Enchanting Willow Tree.

Many romances were kindled under that tree.

Unfortunately my willow tree is now history.

No longer standing tall and proud for all to see.

You see unlike yours she was destined to die.

Cut down by a disgruntled renter and that's no lie.

There is a moral in this poetry you see

If you are mad at the landlord

don't take it out on the tree

I went to lunch today
To have Chinese gourmet
Were no reflections in my tea.
My fate was in my fortune cookie.
I order sweet and sour pork.
Used chopsticks and not a fork.
I flipped chow mien across the room
It would have been best to use a spoon.
Next time I'll lunch at China Lee
And try not to make a fool of me.

BIG DADDY CASH

 

Hey, I'm looking back to see if you are looking back to see what I am looking back to see. You are looking at Big Daddy in person. Isn't he a handsome devil? Just kidding! I wanted you to meet me, so that you could see that I'm just ordinary. Really, I'm 76 and full of tricks. My desires are much the same as yours, I don't want to be rich, just noticed. I found out late in life (but it's never to late) that you can be anything, do anything, and have everything. The only requirement is that you have to be willing to try. I've reached my goal when I can help others to reach theirs, what ever it my be (There are no limits). Presently, I am happy, successful, and free and I want to write a literary masterpiece that will last through life and eternity.
Pen Name: Big Daddy Cash



What you will find in my written material has not been edited to correct grammatical, functional and occasional spelling mistakes. I label my magical content My Way because that is exactly what it is; My Way. My signature, personality, thoughts and ideas, are presented in the only way I know and I refuse to change it because it comes from my heart not from an English book, dictionary or thesaurus. It’s hard for me to let a publisher edit my books because they all want to do them their way and I readily admit that their way may be right but my way is me and that is the way I want it to be. What I have written in my books I have written just for YOU my reader, so please don’t judge me by my use or misuse of grammar and words, judge my books by the intent and the content. I have two great passions that I like to portray with my written word, Happiness and the Rewards Life has to offer. Therefore read what I have written Your Way but keep in mind it is written My Way.

You have heard me talk about the writer in me well there is also a reader and a critic in me. The reader/critic is one person and the writer is another both having different personalities. I’m what is called a student of the hard knocks university. I write poems and short stories and I do them my way. The division between the two personalities causes emotional adversity, what can one say to the other or what can they do or not do? Thank God the workings of the inner mind can work out the differences. In the outer world the division can be hostile, the critic rejoices in the death of a writer and likes nothing better than scattering the writer’s bones. Well that’s one of the reasons they call me the maverick of poetic endeavors

Remember me when you write your amazing poetry, I’m the one who lives for its beauty and chemistry. There is a light shining down through the darkest sky. The beacon sent to guide me to that garden on high.

Remember me when the warmest breeze kisses your ear, With your words of mercy and your kind words that cheer. For where the bird flies and the bell tolls my shadow lies. It will fall upon you and you’ll see me through divine eyes.

Remember me I’m the mystery that dwells in your heart, The compelling thoughts and fertile seed of thy poetic art. For when the robin sings and the little white cloud cries, The music and the teardrops capture the hope it implies.

Remember me I’m the cool water that refreshes your soul, The moisture of baptismal waters giving youth to behold. For convictions are subtle in the whirlpool of tranquility. Letting peace and happiness enter the world of reality.

Remember me I’m the foundation of all of humanity, The body and soul of human nature existing in vanity. For my heart joins the very fibers of true existence. Letting you bask in the glory of your own persistence.

SEA WITCH

Proud she stood upon the sands
Her poetic thoughts of distant lands.
She must pick her words with care.
Bitter her inner thoughts of dispair.

Cascading tears of bittersweet memories
Tormented from the depth of her anxieties.
Black anquish the depressed agonies of her defeat.
She stands upon the sands shedding tears of relief'

Her emotions wrapped up in the tapestry of misery.
Her darkest dreams are the witches of her mystery.
Casting shadows across the raging seas
It's only empathy that she sees.

DREAMER

Beautiful dreamer invade my slumbering night
Creations of beauty enhancing my mind sight
Lovers of many years past envisioned in my memory
Broken hearts restored in the mind set of clemency

Moments of loveliness compete with adversity
Tracing the illusion of peace and tranquility,
Doves fly in harmony with Scavengers of the night.
Beautiful dreams in harmony with purest delight.

Beautiful dreamer envision life in blue rhapsodies
On the beaches where sand castles are a daily activities
Dreaming each moment of everlasting proclivity
Steadfastness defaulting any memories of Hostility.

Beautiful dreams keeping me from losing my sanity,
In a world of confusion, delusion and catastrophe.
Beautiful dreamer keep all my tears and fears at bay.
And when I awake tomorrow it will be a better day.

KING MY FELINE FRIEND

**K I N G**

This is a story about a furry four legged friend of mine. He seems to be the leader of all the stray cats in my neighborhood. For years he’s avoided the dog and cat catchers that patrol our streets looking for strays. I call this boy King primarily because he rounds up and watches over all the homeless cats that have chosen to run free. King is a black and white Tom who always looks like he just stepped out of a meat grinder.

I first met king several years ago when I found him half dead along side the road. His front legs were broken, his body was tattered and torn and his left eye was torn right out of its socket. Most any animal in the shape that he was would have wanted to die. King was different and had a strong will to survive. I honestly feel that if I hadn’t nursed him back to health he would have done it on his own.

King won my affection right from the start, this little four legged creature crawled right into my heart. There was a bond between us even though he’d always run free. When ever he needed help he’d always come back to me. I’m the only human that he’ll come to for love and I find it an honor that he excepts and trusts me.

Yes, King is the leader of a whole kingdom of strays. He teaches them to survive in a good many ways. He shows them the best places to dine in his neck of the woods and I know he believes the best place is mine, Cashes Short Order House. Every day he brings new ones and everyday he loses a few but I know they’re all thankful for the things he’s willing to do. King is one of a kind and being a free hobo was his destiny. That’s the way it was, it is and will always be. If animals could write books the King would go down as a giant in their history.

King has his idiocies but that’s part of what makes him stand all alone. He won’t eat from the same dish that the other cats eat from and when the other cats eat he sits not far away to watch and protect them. He won’t let another human being come near or touch him ( except for me). As tough as he is, king craves love and attention and as far as I know I’m the only one he lets give it to him. He loves his ears scratched and his belly tickled and when I do this he purrs like a baby kitten.

King has good reason not to trust us two legged creatures. Because of his rough, tough, and dirty appearance the kids throw sticks and stones at him and sometimes squirt him with the hose. It’s no wonder he's always leery and afraid to make friends with them. Some of my lovely neighbors would set traps for cats or put out food that was poisoned or had ground glass in it. I sometimes find it hard to care for some of these two legged creatures it’s hard enough just to tolerate them.

Since the first time that I patched King up he knows where to come when he needs fixen. Besides having one eye he’s lost half of one ear and his right front leg is only a stub, but he’s still the most beautiful cat that I know.

Regardless of the shape that he’s in if he could speak he’d tell you he was the doing just fine for the shape he was in. He carries is wounds like metals of honor and always holds his head high. What a guy!

It isn’t unusual for king to disappear for a day or two or even a week or two. Even though I worry, somehow I know he’ll come back and he always does. This time he’s been gone for several weeks but I haven’t given up hope someday soon I’ll find him or hear him scratching at my back door. Then I’ll scratch his ears and his belly and listen to the music of his kitten like purr r r r r r................!

That’s all I have to say about my four legged stray. Except I know he'll be back someday.

THE LANDLORD LIVES IN THE BASEMENT

Being a land lord can make anyone turn old and gray. I've been a landlord for just a few years and I think I've aged twenty-five years or more. I've got to be God, the Judge and the jury; I've got to be the father, grandfather, the bishop the pastor and the priest. I've got bottoms to wipe, teardrops to blot, fights to referee, the whole life of a landlord is a menagerie. When the lives of all my renters have been mended my days not through, it's just begun. Now I have the holes in the walls to repair, doors to fix, toilets, phones, and TV's too. Hold on that's not it yet, I still have the lawns to mow, trees to prune, fences to repair and last but not least weeds to pull. Now after all this I'm dam lucky if I can collect the rent.

When you own your own building, excuse me, when the building owns you. . .you've got to be all things, . . at all times. . .to all of your renters.

It's a sin for you to get sick or be tired and if you run out of steam you can't be fired. Being a landlord is really a bitch. Don't get me wrong it has it's rewards it's just that I haven't had time to find out what they are.

All I know is that when things go wrong they all say go see the landlord he lives in the basement. Why is it when I have a problem I have to go see me?

I've got to love them, understand them, reprimand them, and command them. I'll do all of these things if you call me in my apartment downstairs. You see, I'm the master of my domain and being a master means I do all the work. Go see the master he'll know what to do the tenants are fighting in forty two twenty two. Hey landlord the drains are backing up in forty two sixteen. My husband came home drunk and beat me up in forty two eighteen. There's a fire in the kitchen in forty two twenty...Hey, that's where I live, I even have my own problems to fix.

When I first started land lording in the year nineteen ninety nine I thought this will be great most the rent I collect will be mine. If I buy only fourplexes I can live in one free and I'll make all my tenants part of my family. "WOW". . Was I ever mistaken! What I bought was hard work, disappointment and misery and a tenant family that would redirect my destiny.

I can tell you stories that you wouldn't believe about being the owner and manager of rental property. There are times when your tenants are out of work and you have to create jobs so they can survive. Then there's the time when you get woke up at two, police cars all over the place, your renter's son has just robbed the corner convenient store. You get a call early in the morning from your tenant next door telling you that her baby is do and nobody in her house knows what to do. Then there are the calls you get from your neighbors telling you that your renters are partying too late and to loud. Oh, there's the call that comes from Tim Buck Two my cars broken down and I need you. I can go on and on it never ends whether I take it with a grain or lose my mind that depends.

Go see the landlord he lives in the basement right down the stairs. He's the nicest landlord and he'll fix anything because he really cares.

Now let me tell you about the Bimbo's you inherit when you buy property. I had a couple that was really misfits to our society. There was the Don Dean situation that really was a joke. He was my first eviction and you can believe me it was far from being sweet. I asked this man to get out and you could really feel the heat. He said he'd stay for as long as he pleased and there was nothing I could do. The law protects the renter and the landlord can go to hell. So I had the board of health close down his unit and I moved his shit out in the street. He swore that he'd make my life miserable and that I'd be sorry we ever met. That was three years ago and the man is still a threat.

The next one was a lady and I won't mention her name but she was a real conniver and knew how to play the game. She had lived in her unit for the past six months free and figured she could get another six by pulling the con on me. I told her right up front she had to bring her rent up to date and if she refused she'd have to vacate. She just laughed at me and as I walked out the door, and I heard her say, "Old man, I'll live here as long as I want, you can't get rid of me just try and you'll see." That night she had a party, I guess to celebrate her victory. I had her place raided at three o'clock that morning and now she's got a new home and I guess you could say it's rent free.

Now there's a moral to this story and if you want to find out more, the landlord lives in the basement so just knock on his door.

What's the fools' name? Why it's Big Daddy Cash!