A Walk in the North Woods

One night I thought I'd disappear 

and walk amongst the elk and deer.

I had a load of stress to clear 

as autumn's chill was ever near

I thought about a trail I'd seen

where maples mixed with evergreen, 

from Vanderbilt to Wolverine 

My watch said it was ten fifteen. 

The Army taught a few things right, 

like how to cuss and how to fight, 

and you don't really need a light 

when walking through woods at night. 

I made it to the trail at last, 

extremely high and low on gas,

so caution to the wind I cast. 

I checked my watch as midnight passed. 

I wandered down the trail a ways

enveloped in a creepy haze,

when shafts of light in colored rays

set the path around ablaze.

I'm not a man for tales and lies.

I swear that there before my eyes 

an object spinning in the sky

looked like a tin for cherry pies.

Now every Michigander knows 

they planted pines in even rows,

and even in my panic throes 

I knew exactly where to go.  

I ran between the rows of pine, 

but stopped and turned to look behind, 

and some infernal root or vine

around my ankle did entwine. 

I almost had a heart attack 

I tripped and fell upon my back, 

and landed like a tater sack. 

A flashlight tumbled from my pack

Not much out there frightens me, 

but this one almost made me pee.

When I was finally safe and free 

my watch said it was five till three.

I sat there in bewilderment 

and wondered where three hours went. 

I thought of how that time was spent 

until my mind was warped and bent.

Now people think that I'm a creep.

I live alone and moan and weep,

'cause every time I try to sleep 

                                       I hear a little beep...beep...beep...beep...beep...beep...beep. 

No Retreat

Counting years has become important to us, my love. You continue to flourish and flower in the midst, and I love every new aspect of you. I can never find the words to adequately explain how I see you, but perhaps I can tell it this way....

An angel found a soldier, she walked out of the rain.
His armor had been sundered, he was grimacing in pain.
She knelt there right beside him, and lifted up his chin.
"Your story isn't ending, this is where the fight begins."

He shook his head and stammered, "There's nothing here to see.
The fight in me is finished now, there is no victory.
You'd be wise to run right now, we have no earthly chance,"
but she refused to listen, picking up his broken lance.

"I will not surrender sir, I will not run away.
There's no time left for pity, we've one more beast to slay."
He cried out cold and bitterly, "I don't think I can stand!"
She took his splintered lance and firmly pressed it in his hand.

before them rose a monster, insidious and foul
cloaked in clouds of anguish, with death behind its cowl.
It screamed in songs of mourning, with teeth of sharpened knives.
Behind it stretched a trail of broken hearts and shattered lives.

An angel found a soldier who had lost the means to fight.
She grasped him by his shoulders, and heaved with all her might.
with heaven's help she lifted, and got him to his feet.
There was nowhere to run to, there would be no retreat.

They stood there both together, she held him calm and steady.
The plague of fear subsided, they were resolute and ready.
The creature howled its challenge, intent to lay them low.
She whispered, "I can help, but you must strike the killing blow."


Tony Lollio 2018

Waltz of the Pilgrim

3/4 G

I'm dirty from my head to my toes, I'm dirty from my head to my toes.

     C                                G

I'm battered and bruised and there's holes in my shoes,

        D

I have only a few more miles to go.

It feels like the winter is done, feels like the winter's all done.

When the drifters all awaken from their long hibernation

and head west toward the warm setting sun.

Times when I felt all alone, Times when I felt all alone

Like I fought and I failed, and the other side prevailed 

So I laid down my guns and walked home

But I met a man on the street. I met a man on the street.

He was robbed, he was beaten, no stranger to mistreatment

He had holes in his hands and his feet 

    C                       G

The waltz of a pilgrim, it plays on and on

    C                            Em

To the sounds of my footsteps as they push me along.

    C                            G

The mud stains my pant legs as I dance to the song.

    C        D                G

I'm here for a while, then I'm gone


Tony Lollio 2018