Let us die empty Let’s take nothing to the grave E’en what we most crave Our time and talent All of our worldly treasures

The brave dies today The coward dies tomorrow In shame and sorrow He survives another day His cowardice on display

I look at the green leaves filled… For when they die they turn to red… And fill our world with marvelous… Brightening forests before winter… Autumn leaves in psychedelic frenz…

Pumpkin spice and bales of hay Marshmallows and cinnamon Caramel and iced latté Golden leaves and harvest moon All the signs October’s here

center In a deserted Long Beach inn Next to the marina; They bid their farewells While gazing at Catalina;

The last star fades out She’s the golden light of dawn The breath of heaven Soon she’ll colorize the skies With a brush that never lies

The Eagle and the Dove Within each man, two natures fight The eagle fierce, the dove at ease One claims the sky, one offers pea… Together bound in shared birthrigh…

center Once, a child I was A long, long time ago But mem’ries fading fast As grey cells slowly go

Plucked from a tree branch Shoved into a witch’s hand; I had big dreams, man! Not to be some cursed death snack My fate is truly out of whack

An emotion, ephemeral and fugitive Swept him when he saw her last nig… Bitter rage, childish and primitiv… But then he realized, he has no ri… Yes, the feeling drifted away quic…

Today, it appears my world is blac… Yin and yang; utter darkness, bril… No shades of gray, either bliss or… The sadness I will keep; the joy… © F Aparici 05-11-2016

Face of an angel Her looks melt his lovesick heart Throbbing just for her Roses are ashamed to bloom When around her crimson lips

Oh well, I thought I could write Something funny before night This crazy day, to make light And your smile, to make bright! Sadly, I have writer’s block

Balcony, he sat in early morning The waves on the starboard he’s be… The gray ocean, choppy, looks forb… And the next few hours may be daun… For nimbus clouds towards the ship…

center yes, cherries have pits, and doughnuts have holes life can be a bed of roses, or of red-hot coals!