ALL MY DREAMS

Of all my dreams of you
I think about which one
I would have come true

Not the one,
Where we had a moment alone
As I shared my love for you

Not the one,
I praised you with riches and gold
As I gave you all that I own

Of all my dreams of you
I dream of which one
I would have come true

Not the one,
I took you on a trip far away
As we see the sun and sky of another place

Not the one,
You took me in you arms
As you made me feel so warm

Of all my dreams of you
The one I would wish to come true

That every time you smiled
I would know that smile was just for me

CHANGE ON

Stepped out to make a change
Which way do I go?
Turning point meets my soul
Do what I’m told or fallow my soul?
Paths with no tracks just take a chance
Living is nothing but chances

Change on, change on
There is a time to go on
There is a time to settle down

Change on, change on
Find my mountain and clime
My spirit is on high

Stepping down to get out
What am I about?
Do the thing I don’t what to
Just to do what I want too
Fallow the fools
Who talk like they know what to do?

Change on, change on
If the way is clear go on
You could be strong

Change on, change on
The times will get heard
But you will never starve

Stepping is the first thing
Moving on is the second thing
Strength is the third thing
There still believe in the thing unseen
Then you know you’ll be free
Let me be free to be free

Change on, change on
Hear on lesson to what you want
Therese a message in every part

Change on, change on

WARM SAND

Warm sand
Walking only if I can stand it
Take my hand
Walk with me
In the warm sand
Imagine the bliss
The warmth of the sand
Like the warmth of your kiss
Walking in warm sand
If it's to much
Step in the water to cool off
Warm sand
I want to know you
To know the people of your land
Warm sand
Let me feel it between my toes
Sifting in my hands
Warm sands
Let me feel it while I can

©2011 Thomas Dooley

HERO

The heroes of today are not the heroes of yesterday
The heroes of yesterday had a purpose
They had a goal had a loud voice

The heroes of today have only agents
Telling them where to go what to say
What is popular is their way of life

The heroes of yesterday
Stood up when other sat down
They told the truth
As others believed the lies

The heroes of today
Live for the popular movement
Become heroes off others tragedy
While they ware fashionable ribbon on their lapel

Comparing heroes of then and now
Are like comparing apples to oranges
The real heroes are not seen
They’re not really loud

A hero gives of them selves
A hero gives of their lives
Givers of truth, but given so little
In the front lines of life
Truth is their life



©2011 Thomas Dooley

FEELING THE PEACE

I feel I have lost the fight.
Don’t know if I’m wrong or right.
I just want to feel the joy of life.
My whole day is like being lost in the night.

What to go where I haven’t gone
Find the joy of a glories song.
An inspiring friend for life long
Just want to feel strong.

Where did I go? Where have I been
I don’t like where I’m at
I don’t want to live in the past.
Don’t want to live life fast.

Just want to take it slow.
Sitting on a mountain top.
Looking up to the Lord
With a prayer to feel whole


©2011 Thomas Dooley

AUGUST RAINS

August rains are falling People are calling your name Through the sadness and the pain A glimmer of hope shines through the rain.  A young boy down and out Nowhere to go but down He listens for the sound That will bring out the power in him Someone, everyone searching for a better way Got to keep on working, no time to play Should I go, should I stay? When will it be my day? So can’t you hear the August rains? Listen to the people say your name.  August Rains are not a storm. They are gentle and warm.  © Copyright 2011 Thomas Dooley

DEAR MARIA / BABY IN SUMMER

Maria Z. Woods
June. 17 - Dec. 2, 1991
Dear Maria
Something special came into my life.
A baby so soft, so kind
Dear Maria, you touched my heart
Dear Maria, you will always be a part of my memories
Such a pretty little girl
A miracle to this world
With a smile on your face
it would be a happy day
Without a worry, life was okay
Dear Maria, there are tears in my eyes for you.
Dear Maria, I will always miss you
Pictures of you in my head
Wishing you would come back again
Some day I will see you again
Knowing my heart will soon mend
Dear Maria, I will miss you.
Dear Maria, may God bless you
________________________________________
BABY IN THE SUMMER
She was brought into this world with a smile
She took me by surprise
When she took my glasses and poked me in the eye
She was much too young to make me cry
Baby in the summer
You came when the sun was warmer
But you left me when it got colder
Baby in the summer
Six months was all that you could stay
Even though I prayed that you would stay
I didn’t know anything I liked more
Then baby love
You didn’t know how to lie
Never to make my heart sore
Love like that is hard to find
There is no other love I will ever know
Baby in the summer
You came when the sun was high
But you left when the moon was low
Baby in the summer
Not enough time to test your life
But just enough to change mine
Baby in the summer
Was there another mother you had to find?
Baby in the summer
Was there another family you had to find?
If I had no more tears in my eyes
Will you still be a part of my life?
You will always be my
Baby in the summer
________________________________________

Mariah was an extraordinary baby; she was always happy. Mariah was the daughter of a friend of mine. We had a falling out, and when I got back in touch with her, she was pregnant with Mariah. Then when we meet again and put the past behind us, Mariah came. When I would go home after work, on my way, I would stop to see Mariah. This poem means a lot to me; it was a time of change in my life. Every time I read it and the tears would swell in my eyes. It always makes me think of all the times I held her. There is nothing to describe the feeling of how special she was.

December 2000
Ten years later, I still think of her and what she would be like today. I remember the day that her mom called me; I don’t remember crying so hard. Years later, I would go out to an elderly home to read my poems. I would read poems that I thought the people would like, and one of them I chose was DEAR MARIAH. When I started reading the poem, I just started crying like it happened yesterday. I think about those days, and it leaves warmness in my heart.


©2010 Thomas Dooley

ONCE AGAIN

In the begging
There were peaceful things.
As time went on
The man has made walls.
Tall and strong
Holding in, keeping out

Someone seeing
The justice being denied.
Need protection
Not from evil things
Not from greed
(but from you and me)
Stores of the past
Of our past
Denied, hidden in time
Time and education will release
The stores from their prisons

Stores of Denmark
Stores of Nat
They had solutions
Like many other solutions to fallow
A solution to be heard

Why should I question my friends?
They show me no contempt.
Only if I'm not true to my words
My friends are the words.

A child with old eyes
Grandmother's eyes
With a warm soul
A warm heart
"I'm your friend," she said
(I would smile)
What will this child be like
When she sees the anger and fright
When she proclaims who she is
And who her father is

When I'm told of other people's sins
I feel I should commit even worse sins.
To feel worthy to forgive
Something to confess

History is too scary to forget.
To truthful to remember
It is repeating its self-today
Ignorant mistakes won't change it.
It is the same thing today.

Will we return to segregation
When some say that is the only solution
Restricted from my brothers and sisters
Because we are different
Not to learn from each other.

As a child
The little boy
Would wave the flag
During the parade
Now he argues and complains.
Because he can't burn that flag today
Once again, we look to find
Our ancestor's graves
Across, a rock, a mound of dirt.
Without any words
Not many clues, for some to know
Where they came from

We look to the sky
Once again

HOLIDAY

Take me on a holiday
Take all my sorrows away
Play me a happy tune
Sing away all my blues

Take me on a holiday
Take me were it is sunny all day
I want to feel the warm breeze
You and I can take a walk on the beach

Take me on a holiday
In my dreams we will play
All our fantasy games
We will smile
Just like when you were a child

Take me on a holiday
Wash my sorrows away
Let you sound just shower on down
Let the music be the rain

Take me on a holiday
What dream we will make
Sing a song to take the blues away
Take me ho a holiday

I WAS THERE

It was a time for us to come together All the world would be there To make a memory that will last forever I was there The triumphs and tragedies Brought us together That was the victory I was there A moment of historical glory To achieve an outstanding goal Strive to the highest point of accomplishment I was there It was perfect; it was positive. The only loss was those who couldn't see it all.  They are the losers in these games. I was there to see it all.  The cheers could be heard for miles around A smile was on everyone face, not one frown It was too short to make a world hole I was there; I felt it in my soul

BEGIN AGAIN

It is like some one died
Some one who supports the foundation
Of who you are
Now they're gone, you must go on

Another year older
Starting all over
Must I go through the pain again?

It's like a lost child
Could only imagine
What is going through the mother's mind?
The pain of not knowing

You want to go out and search, you want to look
You've done all you could, but it dose no good
You trace you steps
But you for get were you last been

How do you begin again

ALL I WANT FOR YOU

Have I searched to long?
Have I searched too far?
Now I'm too far to find you

Can the heart stay strong?
If it has no one to love
Even if that love is for you

Is their time for friends?
To become lovers
Dose friendship fade
Or will it become stronger

Have I done enough with my life?
Or is it just not the right time
To do some thing with these dreams

I want you to feel happy
I want to make you happy
I want you to feel happy

But I can't
Because you can't
Because the pain has its clam on you
I wish I knew what to do

ALL FROM WITH IN

Is there a place? Was the question asked? A place for all the pain All the tears and suffering A place for the difficult She found it in a poem. Within the ground, in nature She found it With in the banks of a river In a river long gone by As she steps in to bathe This river wasn't the same She wasn't the same This was her time of self-discovery. She found the answer to all her questions. She found it within herself.  The joy has been found. The word still survives in the heart Our mother's gardens still bloom We have survived the difficult She found it all from within

THE HURT

Just keep tarring
No one cares for me
Giving all I got
Then I got shot

They look at me
Without knowing me
They talk about what I'm not
I haven't done any thing to anybody
Isn't life funny

They say I don't know
What it is like to be hurt
I've had my share of hurt
Life is just all about hurt

I try to find peace of mind
As I cry, don't understand why
Is it a crime?
To be who I am (a nice guy)

Why the hurt
Why do they turn their back?
Why the hurt
What do I lack?
When I give all I have

POETRY BLUES

What color does poetry claim
What music does it make?
What feeling does it hide?

If poetry was an emotion
Would we feel pain?
Would we feel the joy?
Would we feel a different way?

Poetry blues
Down as far as I can go
A high we will never know.
Out of the soul, it grows.

If poetry was a person
Who would it be?
Would it be me?
Or someone who doesn't know.
What poetry means?

If poetry was a drug
Would anyone want some?
I got enough to give away.

Poetry blues
Is there any other word to use?
If poetry wasn't true

©Copyright Thomas Dooley 1993 - 2018

2,000 WINGS

There is singing in the air
Every one is free
Who is going to be there?
No one got any needs just feeling of peace

2,000 wings take to the sky
Try and fly give it a try
Others left in 1999
They're still alive

No one cares
If you don't wake up
No one will be there
No one to trust

2,000 wings fill the sky
If you can't fly
Don't try to lie
You wasted all your time

Who will take flight?
Who will even try?
No more time

2,000 wings will go high
Is it just in your mind?
You fear you'll be left behind
Is there something inside?
To let you fly tonight

©Copyright Thomas Dooley 1993 - 2018

YEAR TO GROW

It took me a year to grow
Another year has come and gone
I must grow some more

I heard I learned
I told but didn't know
I'm not as old as I thought

Year to grow
More to see more to be
What is out there for me?

Worked hard
Now I work long
Will I go on?
Still, want to be strong

Year to grow
Another look at me the soul
Look inside and take hold

This year I will grow more

©Copyright Thomas Dooley 1993 - 2018

EVERYTHING HAPPY OR SAD

If there were no sad words
There would be no happy words.

If there were no sad songs
There would be no happy songs.

If there were no sad thoughts
There would be no happy thoughts.

If we didn’t have problems
We wouldn’t have any solutions.

If we had more wisdom
There would be no ignorance.

If we didn’t have, disharmony
We would have a lot of peace...

 That is something we need

If we didn’t have, courage
We wouldn’t have freedom.

If we didn’t have emotions
We wouldn’t have love…

 We all need some

So if we didn’t have things that are sad.
We wouldn’t have things that are happy.
So give me everything that are happy.

©Copyright Thomas Dooley 1993 - 2018

STANDING ALONE

Standing alone
Waiting for the connection of souls
Brotherhood is worth more than gold

Standing alone
With a lot to give
Was it something I did?
To be standing alone

Sometimes people pass me by
Walk in and out my life
Without a word good-bye

Standing alone
No where to go
Soon I will grow old
Still alone

©Copyright 2016 Thomas Dooley

LABEL MY BROTHER

Why do people label things black or white?

You talk white
You talk black

Why is it labeled like that?

You walk like a black man.
No, I don’t; my foot just hurts.

You look like a white man.
Because I am

Some black men
Call a successful black man a “sellout.”
Because he has a lot

Why do you associate with the white man?
He’ll make a fool of you.
Don’t go near a black man.
He’ll rob and kill you.

Do you tan to be black

Do you want to be white?
Is that why you always fight

Do you want a white man for a brother?
Do you want a black man for a brother?

It should be both or the other.
The other is to always hate each other.

©Copyright 2016 Thomas Dooley

LABEL MY BROTHER

Why do people label things black or white?

You talk white
You talk black

Why is it labeled like that?

You walk like a black man
No, I don’t my foot just hurts

You look like a white man
Because I am

Some black men
Call a successful black man a “sellout”
Because he has a lot

Why do you associate with the white man?
He’ll make a fool of you
Don’t go near a black man
He’ll rob and kill you

Do you tan to be black

Do you want to be white?
Is that why you always fight

Do you want a white man for a brother?
Do you want a black man for a brother?

It should be both or the other
The other is to always hate each other

©Copyright 2016 Thomas Dooley

COME AS ONE

There is hate is in my race
My race tries to choose my fate
Telling me how to live
Choosing my friends

Disturbing the community
When others are working to succeed

Why do we think we’re better than others are?
When we’re just making more problems

Race should be the way we live
Not the hate we give

Enjoying a true culture
With brotherhood and friendship
Come as one

That is what’s right
When a man has a dream
We should all believe
Put away our troubles and greed
Look for what we really need

©Copyright 2016 Thomas Dooley

MEMORY OF SAM

To most, he is a little man

To all, he is tall and strong

With a song in his heart

And a joke on his lips

Where ever he is

He is living like a king

Keeping a class and style

Just so everyone can see him smile

Changing ways

That is still felt today

Even though he is gone

His memory remains strong

MAGICAL MAN

There is a magical storm
It is cool it is warm
Its winds blow hard
But doesn’t cause harm
But it does make people scream
And set off alarms

It touches the souls
It shines and glows
If you let it grow
It will take control

Don’t judge a man
For his style or way of life
Or the way he has changed
From a child to a man

Don’t blame him for that
Don’t blame him for his past
Don’t blame him for his future
Don’t even blame him today
He chose his own way
God has made him with feelings
So believe him
When he says the words are hurting

Don’t say what he is thinking
Or make reasons
For what he does
His life is for him to live
So don’t judge him
For the way, he sings

Don’t deny him his rights
Don’t abuse those behind him
They are only searching for some energy
That radiates from his hands
And from his feet

He feels the pain of the needy
Because he feels the pain of the lonely
He cries
Praying for a change
In the mind of the world today

LOOK WITHIN

Look within before you look at the skin.
Hear the truth before fooled by a lie
Use your own mind

Look at the children before you do that again.
They will go further than you have gone.
Finding new ways to do what you have done

Look at the dream before you look for blame.
You want to make the decision but don't want to move.
That is what everyone wants to do.

Look within before you look at the skin.
There is more to a man than his skin.
So much you can't see, because you're not free.

Look at the sky before you run and hide.
Your fear takes you nowhere; you just stand there.
Without it, you can go past the sky

Look at the words before you assume the truth.
Those who live in anger and rage feel so much pain.
Why they live this way, looking for an angry way

Look within before you look at the skin.
Look at the soul before you say what you don't know.
Look within before you look at the skin.
Giving is a friend, and love is the soul.
Forgiveness that is unknown


© Copyright 2011 Thomas Dooley

MEMORIAL TREE

Were they thinking of me?
Or just of those who passed before me.
What is the symbol of this?
Is it just a gift to nature?

Memorial tree, plant it deep.
So it may grow strong for all.
So a memory my hold on

Who is it that we remember?
When we see nature bloom
A silent life-giving memory
Growing, breathing, feeling

Memorial tree, plant it deep.
So that our children may see
And this won't be just a lost memory.

Who was it that proclaimed hope?
Now, this memorial stands alone.
Remember what once was
Remember what is now and forever.
Who gave themselves to others?
That is why we stand beneath this tree.

Memorial tree, plant it deep.
So that it may take root in the soil of memory
To see what we are and to remember what we are not.

We plant this tree
In remembrance of everybody


© Copyright 2011 Thomas Dooley

I WAS THERE

It was a time for us to come together
All the world would be there
To make memory that will last forever
I was there

The triumphs and tragedies
Brought us together
That was the victory
I was there

A moment of historical glory
To achieve an outstanding goal
Strive to the highest point of accomplishment
I was there

It was perfect it was positive
The only lost was those who couldn't see it all
They are the losers in these games
I was there to see it all

The cheers could be heard for miles around
A smile was on everyone face, not one frown
It was too short to make a world hole
I was there; I felt it in my soul

© Copyright 2011 Thomas Dooley

BEING YOU

If the sun would stop shining
I wouldn't worry
Your beauty would take the place of the sun

If the seasons would stop changing
We would only need one
Because you already took the place of the sun

If the stars didn't come out at night
We would have your eyes
They would also twinkle at night

If the world became frozen
There would be the thought of you
To keep use warm

If there wasn't you
There would be no reason for anything
If I couldn't see you
There would be no reason to see

See all you do just being you

© Copyright 2011 Thomas Dooley

THE MOOD IS YOU

Your mood is a reflection of all you do
Your mood is you

Your mood is anger
Because you don’t controls what you don’t own
Your mood is hate
Because you’re confused or you don’t get your way

The mood is you
Reflected in all you do
You make the mood

Your mood is peace
You understand you can see
Your mood is friendship
You open your ears and lesson

The mood is you
Telling everything about you
Read in the way you relate

Your mood is love
Just to feel what it does
Your mood is joy
You feel calmer in your soul

Your mood is you
Telling everyone whom you is
Everyone sees your business
Just from the way you’re acting
This mood is you
Looks at yourself, what mood are you?

© Copyright 2011 Thomas Dooley

WORDS I HOLD

Words to short
Words to long
Still there meaning is strong

Words that are bold
Words that are cold
They shape what a person knows

Words that are insulting
Word that our offending
That name isn’t worth going insane

Words shape minds
Words hold the future
Words give pain
Words give peace

Words that our hopeful
Words that our positive
This goal can really live

Words that are cheerful
Words that are peaceful
These words hold it all

Words of history and time
Words mold to all that we say
Words make statements and claims
I hope people think of the word they say

© Copyright 2011 Thomas Dooley

FRIENDSHIP GLUE

What is the glue that binds a friendship?
Where can I get some
Is it locally made
Or is it made in Japan?
Does it come in a bottle?
or a can

Is it like Elmer
or is it an epoxy
Is it strong is it lasting
Will it holdfast
To the toughest kinds of friendships

Where can I get some
or do I have some
Because my fingers are sticky
Are yours?
Let us touch hands to see what happens.
Will it stick and hold
or dry up and let go

I would like to purchase a bottle.
of friendship glue

© Copyright 2011 Thomas Dooley

VISION NOT DIVISION

The vision of life
Has been folded in time
Wadded up and filed away
Who said what our destination is

A man at war said,
"Divide and conquer."
That is the way
We use it on ourselves today

The division is world destruction.
As the world gets smaller
You're favorite place to walk.
It is now bordered off.

We see the worst
When the best
Is never first

We divided ourselves
Into races
Into social groups
You and me

Look to a true vision.
Break down the walls
Of division

© Copyright 2011 Thomas Dooley

A CHILD’S EYES

In a child’s eyes
There is an innocent
Towards the world, they don’t know
There is a hope
That this will be the person
That will change the world we live in

In a child’s eyes
There is a joy
Every time is playtime
Using anything as a toy
Fun is for today
These will be the memories
For the next day

In a child’s eyes
There is always a person they look up to
It may be me, it maybe you
Because the way you act right now
Will determine
The way the world will be years from now

Children’s eyes are all around us
They see what you are doing
Soon they will do the same as you
Maybe even worse


© Copyright 2011 Thomas Dooley

THE YEAR FOR ME

Another year pass by
Now is the time
Now is the day
To take what I’ve had all along

No more time to try
Now is the time to do
Dreams are just dreams
They have grown
Soon to be reality

Another year has come
This year I want some
Some of life's treasures
And take hold of GOD’s blessings

No more thinking
The time is for doing
This time I’m not losing
The winner of all my goals
No is the time to reach out and take hold

© Copyright 2011 Thomas Dooley

DREAM A DREAMER

Dream with your eyes open
Dream with your mind closed

Where will you go
Without a dream

You can’t feel or think
Without a dream

Look at me
I live my dream
Every day, every night
When I wake up
When I go to sleep

I dream of the world
All that it reveals around me
That is only if I dream

I dream while I’m awake
Keeping in touch with reality
Don’t wait to make a mistake

I dream while asleep
My dreams are deep
Too much for me to repeat

So I’ll dream
I’m a dreamer of dreams
Here is a dream for you

© Copyright 2011 Thomas Dooley

BROTHERHOOD

Those who control the meek
They are the ones who are weak

With the pain they inflict
Suffering they will not admit

Prejudice is their passion
There is a race to be run
A race to be won
The human race is the only one

My brother is white we will always fight
My brother is black we walk in different tracks

Friction of the times is only of the mind
This time we should open our eyes
Don’t take different sides

Let wrong be overpowered by the right
Come together as one peace shall overcome

Hate does not discriminate
Hate is on ever-ones face

Why should there be so many different faces
Why can’t we be brothers and sisters?
With many different faces

©2011 Thomas Dooley

WHERE DID THE POETRY GO

Where did the poetry go?
Last time I had it, it was in my soul
It was a river of words
With all the emotional twist and turns
The waters ran deep
From time to time, I would wade at the shores
And feel the gentle flow

As time went by, my life has changed
Didn't have time
To go to the river to wade
But one day when I have the chance
I'll go back to wade

The river has changed
The same as I have changed
The waters of those days long gone by
Now I must find where those waters have gone
Just like the poetry flowing from my soul

©2011 Thomas Dooley

SACRED MOON

I look to the night sky
To find my sacred moon
It's gray-blue glow
Brings life to the night sky

In a cool fall night
I lay in the grass and dry leafs
And look to the moon
Enjoying the relaxing light

Sacred moon
At night we walk together
You above the trees
Me on the path home

I took your name
Called it my own
Searching for love
It's your glow I continue to follow

The many symbols you hold
As many emotions, that man can't control
They say you hold the mysterious
Of man's emotions

Do you have a link to my mind?
As you move the tides
Sacred moon I'm as you

©2011 Thomas Dooley

THRIVE TO WRITE

I thrive to live a writer's life
Pouring out my soul in words
Craving needing inspiration
So I can write

So many writers come and go
In a poem, they left their song
Soon they became insane
I pray I don't go that same way

Fearing the sight of my own blood
I use black ink instead
Putting my pain into words
Will it ever do me any good?

A poetic child I am
Falling in love with my teacher
She is the writer I would like to be
Teaching me how a poem is made

I thrive to live a writer's life
Not the kind who looks for something to write
But the kind who find it in nature
Who finds something to write about themselves?

©2011 Thomas Dooley