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Artwork / Poetry / Tommy Lynn Sells (TX)

Art and Poetry by Tommy Lynn Sells

Country Mourning
Thinking about you
Mind has been drifting
Being here does get mighty lonely
Decided to give you a holler
Saying hello that special way only you can
Trying to find my voice, taking it all in
First words come out like a song
Is that grease of bacon I’m hearing?
Are you standing in the kitchen?
Frying eggs, pulling biscuits
Stirring gravy
Do you have fried tatters? Coffee ready yet?
Really wanting to be home
Won’t be long now
Warden and them will carry my coffin to the gate
Thinking of you driving my old truck
Carrying me away
Promise me you’ll stop at my favourite old bar
And have a cold one
Saying our farewells facing up to what’s about to be done
Asking you to tell Mama, the boys and friends bye for now
Will see y’all soon
As the line goes dead with you on the other end
Trying to find my voice taking it all in
My words come out like a song to the warden and them
Heard grease of bacon, she was standing in the kitchen
Frying eggs, pulling biscuits
Stirring gravy
Had fried tatters and coffee.
Walking this last mile not alone, having you with me
Seeing you, there’s tears rolling down our cheeks
Just facing up to what’s about to be done
Wanting to hear you say hello that special way only you can
Warden and them bringing my coffin to the gate soon
Thinking of you driving my old truck
Carrying me away
Stop off at the old bar
Having a cold one
Ready to be free at last
Being here does get mighty lonely
Mama, the boys and friends thinking it was something
Trying to find my voice
Hearing grease of bacon, standing in the kitchen
Frying eggs, pulling biscuits
Stirring gravy
Fried tatters, coffee ready yet.

©Tommy Lynn Sells
.
Ride in Time
Dawn peaks with the
Sun of a new day
Slicing through my cage’s small window
Hitting on a bag of jelly beans
Sitting on the shelf
Reflecting a beautiful rainbow
Brings me to a time
Where we will walk on a beach
Seagulls flying over
Just after a storm
That brings us hand in hand
No more bars of concrete or steel
To the church with stained glass
As we ride wings of butterflies
Bursting with colour, not knowing where we’re bound
Just into the setting sun
With the night sky
Stars overhead
Moonlight simply for us
Seeking a world only till now was not
Bitter as cheap wine with
Time we lost and time we have
Running with the hearts of kids
Growing closer together
All the magic of soul mates
Laying our heads on a cloud of dreams
In each other’s’ hearts
Holding tight to the
Rays of light
Hitting the jelly bean
Seeing the rainbow
That lights up this cage
Or you in the surf
Hand out, waiting for me
Know that you’re in my dreams
Keeping life of us
For a day soon will come.

©Tommy Lynn Sells
.
Memphis
There was a murder at Graceland
The Kings life was taken
No one went to jail
That’s one killing that don’t set well
Within the South
Heaven welcomed him home
God tapping his foot, Jesus getting his shake on
Mama clapping her hands
As all the angels join in
Pits of hell miss out, that’s for sure
Satan slapping his mafia around
As they dance in the Lake of Fire
Because the King is singing
Glory Glory Hallalujah, his truth is marching on
To a new group of fans
Heaven welcomed him home
God tapping his foot, Jesus getting his shake on
Mama clapping her hands
As all the angels join in
Murder in the South
Justice was denied
Bet if Buford was around
He’d do some walking tall
On that Doctor’s behind
With that stick of his
Heaven welcomed him home
God tapping his foot, Jesus getting his shake on
Mama clapping her hands
As all the angels join in
Years after the killing of our King
Las Vegas still loves him
His music’s heard coast to coast and world wide
Southern bells ring glory to our King
Elvis has left the building
Thank you, thank you very much
Heaven welcomed him home
God tapping his foot, Jesus getting his shake on
Mama clapping her hands
As all the angels join in.

©Tommy Lynn Sells
.
Brush Fire
Fading photographs
Getting older, feeling down
About the pain
Thinking about them times
One door closes, another one opens
Knowing if a heart is broken
The shock and hurt is too much
Tears come later
Only rage you feel now
Long, endless black night
Awaking, sweating with fears
Locust and the pale horse of death
All has sorrows
Frightening vision
Are they just your nightmare?
Screams out rage
Thoughts not getting turned off
Emotional
There’s no control
Dead, spiritual abuse
Always comes back as
Long, endless black night
Awaking, sweating with fear
Locust and the pale horse of death,
River of blood
Feeling strength, letting a past go
Gloomy morning
Sun on the rise
If there is such a thing as a soul
Could it be as two coming together?
Scars don’t go away
Old wounds heal
Never forget where you have been
Long, endless black night
Awaking sweating with fears
Locust and the pale horse of death

By M and Tommy ©Tommy Lynn Sells
.
Set Free
Bottle of wine
Hard memory to live with
Bitter of them both
Messing up our mind
Ripping us apart
Not worried about tomorrow
Laying on a cloud
of wasted dreams
Things come to a stop
As she rustled through
The peppery pages
That was once
Filled with life
They now feel
Dry as old bones and dust
What is ours
Will always be ours
As she strikes
The wooden matchstick
Turns her eyes
To the Northern skies
Where the colours
Dance and sing
She smiles

©M and Tommy Lynn Sells
.
The Convict in The Next Cage
They killed Birdman
No, not the one from the Rock
I’m talking about the one from Dallas
As in Texas, home of the Cowgirls
Fucking bastards sent Douglas Feldman to Death Row of the Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas
Birdman was not just an offender or fuck up inmate
This cat was a hard, mofo, badass convict
That took no shit from the scum or these so called offenders and inmates
Did not throw nothing on the run
He flushed everything
Spent hours a day whistling
Talk about getting on one’s nerves
He go hours with one tune
Till the next day
Then come up with something else
Yeah he could carry a tune
Others tried to use Birdman
He was a true rebel
That’s for sure
The man got on my nerves at times but because he was such a stand up convict
Shit one down in a heartbeat
Flood the run
Break everything they gave him
Destroy anything of the State he could
I’ll give him a Missouri boy and Canada good bye.
Fuck a cowboy, fuck a spur
And fuck a Texan
Much respect Birdman of Polunsky

©Tommy Lynn Sells
.
Fading Away
Look in the mirror
Don’t see eyes
Don’t see
Gone
Faded away
Looking in the mirror, seeing no more
Time is a wasting
Time is gone
Giving up the ghost
Shaking
Looking in the mirror seeing no more
Share my mind
Share my words
Think most dangerous
Solitary confinement
Can’t move
Can’t get around
No more
Faded away
Cant’ see no more I have…..
Faded away.

 ©Tommy Lynn Sells
.
Heartache
Sat and listened to a man cry
He was saying his good-byes
To family and friend
About to walk the last mile
Eat one more meal
Tonight Texas will kill him
For his crimes.
It’s upsetting to hear
This man cry
To holler out for mercy
To spare him
Was he wrong? Are you right?
Why, why cry now
There’s no going back
They don’t hear you say: sorry
Won’t do it again
No more than Satan can
With quivering lips, tears falling
Hands that are shaking
Heart pounding with his fear
Thinking where it all went wrong
Do they blame it on Mom?
Was there a daddy?
Something more go wrong
That not been seen
Is his head just cold
Sat and listened to a man cry today
He was saying his good-byes.
About to walk his last mile
Guess he’s as ready to die as one can be
Think maybe you need to save
All your tears and go
Out with a smile.

©Tommy Lynn Sells
.
Magic Happens
Can you see the land of promise?
Leads me to believe
One day we grab a rainbow
Hold each end
As we jump, holding hands
Then run and climbing on
Sliding down, taking a ride
Feeling so good
With your back to my chest
Feeling so good
There’s nothing about you that I’m not able to
Close my eyes and dream
©Tommy Lynn Sells
.

Religion

Religion…Christianity
Trying to get a hold
Bible Thumping hypocrites
Don’t do as
Just what that one wants
Holly-roller – Holier than
What killed Jesus
Always wants to
Take someone’s rights
As their life
In God we trust
Wanting to sell
The fear of
Don’t see it
Just listen, hear
Asking myself, for what
Give money
Speak your tongues
Stepping into
Their hereafter
Praying to
Hoping for
Something anything
Believing told about
All your life
Not because it is
Just because
Psychological warfare
I’m just not
imagining enough
Heard the story
My God, My God
Why have you forsaken me?
©Tommy Lynn Sells
.
Swine
Words roll from your lips as of a hypocrite
Proclaiming my pain is why you see none.
The neglected heart you carry
Tries to pry into my soul
I’ll always sin
I’m not a dog or a god
Licking my wounds.
Words roll from your lips as of a hypocrite
Chisel won’t chip away at a lifetime of callous
These eyes see my spirit now
What an empty shell you’ve become
Sell out to society
Lowest trash of your kind
My advice is to run
 Words roll from your lips as of a hypocrite
Drive you crazy knowing
I’m your pain
Look in the mirror to see your own frustration
Of solitary confinement
You’re of the world
I’m of freedom, unconditional love
Words roll from your lips as of a hypocrite
Jealous, emotion, pain, delusional
Having panic attack
Loyal you will never be
Gossip is your bureaucratic nonsense
I’m your physical pain
Karma is biting you in the ass
Words roll from your lips as of a hypocrite.

©Tommy Lynn Sells
.
Wasted Time
Trapped in a world covered in pain
Closed up in space and time
Hearing those old songs
Soul and spirits making each line
The grave’s rocking as the old train is passing by.
Will there be a hereafter or is this the only hell
Not able to wash this blood away
Torn from pain and rage
Rips my heart like old cloth
Cannot keep from crying
Feeling the tears that Jesus wept
Time grows short as each night passes.
Losses been great, gains been few
Friend or foe – live or die
Hate being driven by you past
Callous lies, behind your smile
The grave’s rocking as the old train is passing by
Do we stay where we are or
Follow it into the darkness
For save only death, what’s in between
Driven by a madness greater than mine
Cannot keep from crying
Feeling the tears that Jesus wept
Time grows short as each night passes by.
My need’s not much of a want
Most of mind been wasted
Only a dull, gray smoke remains
Looking for the other side
The grave’s rocking as the old train is passing by
They think Manson was my childhood hero
Having to live before you die
What really matters, welcome me home
Everything left for us to figure out
Cannot keep from crying
Feeling tears Jesus wept
Time grows short as each night passes
The grave’s rocking as the old train is passing by.
  
©Tommy Lynn Sells
.
What I’m Seeing 
Look out my window
Saw the top of a dark cloud
Light up with the shape
Of the pearly gates
Made me stop and think
Stories of old
Who died, who’s getting ready to go
Or is this the Lord trying
To tell this hard headed child
Get your life right’n
Stop playing “let’s make a deal”
Know that tomorrow is not promised
Get on your knees say a prayer
Shout for mercy
Sing for his glory
Look out my window
Saw the top of a dark cloud
Light up with the shape
Of the pearly gates
Made me stop and think
Stop letting the old Devil
Play out his tricky
An idle mind being
Satan’s playground
Would God really forgive me?
Will there be rain in the
Autumn and spring to grow
The seeds that were planted
With great care, each as a parent
Would love their own child
The Holy Spirit guiding his way
Look out my window
Saw the top of a dark cloud
Light up with the shape
Of the pearly gate
Made me stop and think.

©Tommy Lynn Sells
.
Duration of Time
Don’t feel like tomorrow
Will ever get here
Wake up in the morning
We will be together
We are unbreakable
They gave it their best shot
Yet here we are together
I’m here with you.
Home at last
Nothing can keep us apart
Love we never had
Made us one
No more sleeping alone
Always going to be hanging around
All your warmth
There’s no keeping us apart
We’ll be riding together
Hanging out
Holler at me
Anytime you want
Cry, I’ll be right here with you
Hanging around your neck
In a charm, on a chain
Inside a locket
That says my babe and me
Is unbreakable
Ashes to dust
Carry me in death
They are not going to separate us
They gave it their best shot
Yet here we are together
I’m here with you
Home at last
Hanging around your neck
In a charm, on a chain
In a locket
That says my babe and me
Is unbreakable

©Tommy Lynn Sells
.
Bittersweet
Knock a yellow jacket nest down
Knowing you are going to get stung
Doing it just for the fun
Ripped between
What to do
Or do nothing at all
It’s about to drive me insane
When someone fooling with you
Are you fooling yourself?
Ignorance don’t usually see itself
It just thinks it’s right
If I did not think that was hilarious
I’d be pissed
Your train jumped that rail years ago
Life carving you out
Like that old sea on the rocky shore
It’s you who sees the darkness, light and colour
All wrapped up in one
Not able to walk a mile in their shoes
But dammit you can’t walk in mine
I’ve lived with it
Not killed me yet
We’ll be too late to worry if it does
We knew this was not going to be sugar
Guess it’s salt

©Tommy Lynn Sells
.
Hoofbeats
Crazy
With the thumbprint of God
On his woman’s horse
Walking the same lonely road
Bent by the wind
Deep in the darkened hollow
Close your eyes, see the mist
Just a touch away
Your phantom lies in wait
Knowing we are only safe together
Holding each in our hearts
Living in a razors edge
Life has done its thing mentally
Both are harsh from the past
Trying to maintain
That would cause insanity
To a sane person
In their insane asylum
Stabled they are
Taken down the walls from being crossed out and void
Feeling fear, facing death
So used to running
Resent that power
Scream in a blind panic
So treacherous
Driving each other out of our minds
Living in different worlds but
Sharing at the same time.
Flashing red and blue
Has taken a part
Hold on tight
Till the reaper come to call
Told them if you play with fire
You get burnt
That heat keeping us warm

©Tommy Lynn Sells
.
Untitled
Why? Why cry now?
There’s no going back
They won’t hear you say sorry
Won’t do it again
No more than Satan can
With quivering lips, tears falling
Hands that are shaking
Heart pounding with his fear
Thinking where it all went wrong
Do they blame it on Mom?
Was there a Daddy?
Something more went wrong
That’s just not been seen
Is his heart just cold?
Sat and listened to a man cry today
He was saying his goodbyes
About to walk his last mile
Guess he’s as ready to die as one can be
Think maybe you need to save
All your tears
And go out with a smile

©Tommy Lynn Sells

Bad Ass
Beloved Canada
Brush Fire
Country Mourning
Crazy
Dreaming
February Love
Fred G. Sanford
Hand of the Man
January Winter
Keep It That Way.  Untouched By Society
Long Ride
Look Out Mofo
Mount Thor Munavet
November Rain
Really Tommy “but” Margaret
Remembering The Blues
Tommy’s Girls
Tommy Lynn Sells was executed by the State of Texas on April 3, 2014

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