Synthetic Marmalade
Poems,Lyrics
And Spells
by Mike Luoma
The characters, incidents, and dialogue in the songs, spells and poems in this book are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No, really. This book also contains poems and songs that are opinion pieces and non-fiction, and the characters in those are real… I couldn’t make them up. I think you’ll be able to tell which are which.
These works were created at different times, for different reasons between 1988 and 2006.
“Synthetic Marmalade: Poems, Lyrics & Spells by Mike Luoma”
Copyright 2006 by Michael Luoma.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express written consent of Michael Luoma except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address Michael Luoma at glowinthedarkradio@gmail.com
ISBN: 978-1-84728-962-9
SMASHWORDS EDITION
Contents
Neverwhen
Green Mountain Magic
The Alchemist
The Visitor
How to Suck Seed
Nickels And Inches
Mad Captain
Don’t Look For The Sun
Sonny’s Got a Gun (with Jim Prakelt)
Grandma Betty’s Goodtime Smoking Weed
Away
Cars and Girls #342 (For The Boss)
Soar
Let It Fly
Mercury Girl
Gimme
Thins Unsaid
And You?
Always, And Again
Naomi Alaska
Glow-in-the-Dark
The Wizard
Book of Spells
Casting A Spell
Autumnal Equinox Ceremony of Light And Dark
The Disturbance and the aftermath:
"Necromancer – Now – The Dance Begins –
Change – Another Dance – A Nightmare –
The Enchanter’s Song"
Dolcelino
The Ice Storm
Rhyme and {Punishment
Laundromat from Hell
We are Gray
Kenneth Can’t Catch Feeblebrums
Synthetic Marmalade
To The Flying One
Rumbles
Do The Think Back Thing
The Idiad
Oliver North
Mantrap
The Monkton Road
Dedicated to my muse…
Neverwhen
Neverwhen,
We never were,
We'll never cease to be.
Neverwhen,
She's never sure
She's never meant for me.
Neverwhen,
From neverwhere,
And never, never after.
She never yells,
She never cries,
I'll never hear her laughter.
Neverwhen,
It never is,
And never too late to try!
Neverwhen,
You never know…
You never really die.
Green Mountain Magic
Some talk in whispers
Of magic in the mountains,
Speaking of enchantments
On the rolling Vermont hills.
Some say the spirits
Dance in mountain shadows.
You can feel them dancing
If you keep completely still…
Green Mountain magic,
Low rolling hills.
Another world alive
As ours lies still.
Green Mountain magic,
Clear starry sky!
Moonlit spirit dancers flash
In the corners of your eyes.
Walk along the ridgeline,
Feel the spirits dancing,
See them in the flashes
On the edges of your sight.
Listen to the rustling –
The wind among the branches.
Tune into its rhythms,
The music of the night.
Green Mountain magic,
Low rolling hills,
Another world alive
As ours lies still.
Green Mountain magic,
Clear starry sky!
Moonlit spirit dancers flash
In the corners of your eyes.
The Alchemist
I am the alchemist.
I bring you healing.
I disappear walls.
I float away ceilings.
I'll worship your mind.
I’ll love your true soul.
I am the alchemist,
Turn lead to gold,
Lapis Lazuli,
My Visions unfold.
I'll worship your mind.
I’ll love your true soul.
I am the alchemist.
I cast my spell.
I see that you're working
Some magic as well!
I worship your mind.
I love your true soul.
I want to turn you into gold,
Want to save your mortal soul!
I want to carry you away,
Want to live another day!
I want to dream within your dreams,
Want to see beyond what seems!
In the fire two are one,
And the burning has begun.
In the fire two are one,
And our burning has begun.
I worship your mind.
I love your true soul.
I am the alchemist.
Our transmutation!
We turn to gold
In shining elation!
I am the alchemist,
But you are revealing
Through visions and words
It's me you are healing!
I worship your mind.
I love your true soul.
In the fire two are one,
And the burning has begun.
In the fire two are one,
And our burning has begun.
The Visitor
The devil came to the door last night,
Out looking for souls.
He said, “You’ve gotta let me in!
It’s already been foretold!
You know, it’s already been foretold!”
Brushing past, he walked right in
And sat down on his throne.
“I had it sent ahead for me!”
It was a shining thing of gold…
Some kind of shining thing of gold.
He didn’t look like demon-spawn.
But more like Tommy Cruise!
A playful look in deep blue eyes,
And skin so shiny smooth…
(His skin was shiny smooth).
A smirk curled round his ruby mouth,
A sigh hissed through his teeth.
He smiled - fangs gleamed, sharp as knives!
He was a monster underneath…
Some kind of monster underneath!
“Doing well, I see,” I said,
But he just shook his head.
The smile dropped, his shoulders fell,
And he looked tired, instead.
(He looked tired, instead).
“I’m too damn busy! Too damn much!
I’m too far spread around!
With Satanists and Preacher Men,
I’m covering too much ground!
They got me covering too much ground!”
“Well, mister, I’m no Satanist,
Don’t know why you came here…
I really don’t believe in you!”
I spit out past my fear,
Somehow spit out past my fear.
His laughter echoed off the walls,
The sound of hollow thunder.
He coughed a cloud of car exhaust,
Glared, and said, “I wonder…”
He glared and said, “I wonder!”
The Devil smiled at me evilly,
Said, “Keep your disbelief!
It helps me with relaxing,
And I need some relief…
Hell even I need some relief!”
The Devil sat on his golden throne,
Yawned, and closed his eyes.
His figure faded, seemed to swim.
He was a tired King of Lies.
Somehow a tired King of Lies.
The Devil came to the door last night.
He spent a while napping.
So busy in our world of lies
He’s pretty close to snapping…
You know he’s pretty close to snapping!
How to Suck Seed
Keep it simple for the masses,
Keep it safe so they can't tell
You’re giving them the old soft sell.
Keep it easy for the people,
Keep it dangling out of reach,
That golden egg, that silver peach.
If you want to make a million,
If you don't have foolish pride,
If you've got what it takes,
If you've got the right drive,
All you need's a message
And a word, yes, to the wise: Advertise!
Keep on selling satisfaction,
Keep it Fresh! and New! and Now!
With Ultra-Extra-Added Wow!
Get a figure to endorse it.
Get some pro-star with appeal
To tell the folks it's really real!
There are ways to make a million,
If you've got the will inside,
If you've got what it takes,
If you've got the right drive!
Get yourself a message
And take the thing worldwide: Advertise!
Keep on selling to the masses,
Keep on telling them they need
The latest, greatest, best indeed!
Keep it ever - new, improving.
Keep the secret… It's new Zing!
Is only in its packaging...
If you want to make a million,
If you don't have any pride,
If you've got what it takes,
If greed's your only drive,
All you need's the message,
Just my word, yes, to the wise: Advertise!
There will be days, you’ll see, it's true,
You will ask yourself, "But is this right to do?"
Someone else would, don't worry your head.
We’re lucky to have you, instead!
There are ways to make a million,
If you've got the will inside.
Do you have what it takes?
Have you got the right drive?
Do you have the right message?
Then spread your word worldwide: Advertise!
Keep adapting to the masses,
Follow all the latest trends,
Chart their lives and how they spend.
If your numbers start a - falling,
Just put a model in,
And have her show a little skin!
When you finally make your million,
Full of well deserved pride,
When you've got what it takes,
When you've got the right drive,
The world's indeed your oyster!
And you'll see that you were wise
To Advertise!
Nickels and Inches
Vinegar tears and a crocodile smile…
Tell me a joke and I'll give you a mile.
An inch needs a nickel... not going away.
Give me your coat if you're going to stay.
Should it mean a little more?
Should it feel a little stronger than before?
Does it hide behind your closing door?
I'm not sure, anymore.
Cigarette kiss and your cocaine breath…
Multiple lines of that rail-thin death,
An inch for a nickel... you're going away,
Speaking in circles with nothing to say.
Does it mean a little less?
Does it fade a little faster than I'd guessed?
Does it ease my mind
We left no mess? I guess…
Liquefied lava lamp eyes, like a train…
Kiss me goodbye on a walk in the rain.
An inch or a nickel, I'll take what you give,
Wake up my dead side, help me to live.
I've got no compass,
But I make my way.
I follow the stars
And I make my way.
Don't know where I'm going,
But I make my way.
Don't have a compass,
Still, I make my way.
And it feels a little slow.
And it seems a little strange to you, I know.
If you could feel the warmth,
If you'd share the glow,
I don't know, y’know?
Mad Captain
Oh my god, the man’s insane!
Tryin’ to take us all to Hell!
Watch it all go down the drain
While he says we’re doing well.
So you say we’re doing well…
Hard to see the other shore…
So you say you know the course?
Maybe so, but I can’t tell!
Oh my god, the man’s insane!
Has us lost, without a doubt!
Took our trust and played us all… again!
Time has come to cast him out!
Do you think we’ll get him out?
I can’t take it anymore!
Tried to keep him from the helm,
But he took the wheel as well.
Oh my god, the man’s insane!
Squandered all we had to sell.
Now it’s all gone down the drain,
Don’t you hear the funeral bell?
Holy men ring out their bells,
Stir up hatreds by the score!
So you say you know the source?
Holy men make holy hells!
Oh my god, the man’s insane!
Mad Captain yet in charge.
Watch us all float down the drain
While his friends are livin’ large!
Don’t Look For The Sun
Don’t look for the sun
‘Cause it’s not shining.
Don’t look through the clouds
For a silver lining.
It’s raining down again,
And you ain’t got no friends,
Just people who need what you’re providing.
Don’t call out my name,
I won’t come running.
Don’t wait for an answer,
‘Cause one’s not coming!
I’m sick of getting used,
And you’re so fuckin’ screwed,
You hurt the ones you’re loving!
Don’t switch off this song,
‘Cause it’s about you.
Don’t tell me I’m wrong,
You know it’s all true!
Fuck so many men,
But you won’t fuck with me again!
‘Cause I know by now you just need to…
Don’t look for the sun
‘Cause it’s not shining.
Don’t look through the clouds
For a silver lining.
It’s raining down again,
And you ain’t got no friends,
Just people who need what you’re providing.
Sonny’s Got A Gun
(Written with Jim Prakelt)
Sonny’s got a gun!
Keeps it in his truck.
Says he’s gonna use it!
Says he doesn’t give a fuck!
Sonny’s got a gun,
A loaded forty-four.
Says he’s gonna use it
To kill Dave down at the store!
So Sonny does a line,
And tells his story too many times,
But I’m not telling mine.
So here is his,
For what it is.
Sonny’s got a gun!
Keeps it in his truck.
Says he’s gonna use it!
Says he doesn’t give a fuck!
Sonny’s got a gun,
And a truck he can’t afford.
But he drives it like he owns it,
Calls it his own fuckin’ ford.
So Sonny talks his talk,
He does his job, he walks his walk.
Punches in to watch the clock.
To get what’s his,
That’s all there is.
Sonny’s got a gun!
Keeps it in his truck.
Says he’s gonna use it!
Says he doesn’t give a fuck!
Sonny’s got a gun,
Told me so at work.
Says Dave raped his woman,
Says he’ll kill that fuckin’ jerk!
And Sonny takes a drink,
Tells himself, “ah, the others all stink!”
Got too much time to think.
He thinks all night
‘Bout how he’s right.
Sonny’s got a gun!
Keeps it in his truck.
Says he’s gonna use it!
Says he doesn’t give a fuck!
Sonny’s got a gun…
(based on a true story…)
Grandma Betty’s Goodtime Smoking Weed
Grandma Betty’s goodtime smokin’ weed
The finest bud, no stem, no seed!
Harvest green or extra fine,
Half an ounce just ninety nine!
Moist and sticky,
Brilliant green,
Meanest skunk you ever seen!
Skunk and Wagnalls,
Fireweed!
Fire it up!
Wah-wah what you need! (Need my…)
Grandma Betty’s goodtime smokin’ weed
The finest bud, no stem, no seed!
Harvest green or extra fine,
Half an ounce just ninety nine!
Burn it fancy,
Burn it fine.
Burn it down like vintage wine.
Tastes like candy!
Gotta give it to me!
Got a sweet tooth, baby,
Need my ecstasy! (Need my…)
Grandma Betty’s goodtime smokin’ weed
The finest bud, no stem, no seed!
Harvest green or extra fine,
Half an ounce just ninety nine!
Went to the corner, scored a bag
From some old crunchy hippie hag.
She called me over, asked my name,
Told me I’d be glad I came.
She showed me, in this pouch she had,
Bud that glowed and gleamed a tad.
Crusty crystals, reddish hair,
Its pungent fragrance filled the air.
I had to have it! She could tell.
Now way left to bargain well.
I paid her price, I took it home,
And rolled myself a big fat bone (of)
Grandma Betty’s goodtime smokin’ weed
The finest bud, no stem, no seed!
Harvest green or extra fine,
Half an ounce just ninety nine!
Call it Ganga,
Call it grass,
Hope the law stays off my ass!
Legalize it!
Set us free!
And fuck all this Hypocrisy!
Call it reefer,
Call it pot.
(Call me if you get a lot!)
Git your bowl out!
Find your bong!
It’s time for me to end this song! (and smoke some)
Grandma Betty’s goodtime smokin’ weed
The finest bud, no stem, no seed!
Harvest green or extra fine,
Half an ounce just ninety nine!
Away
Look around, try to see
What this world’s telling me,
What I’m supposed to be
Singing ‘bout today.
Some simple melody,
A few rhymes and harmony.
Sing about feeling free,
Nothing in our way!
Do you feel it like I do?
Can you let it lift you, too?
Just step outside, don’t try to hide!
Let it strip you open wide!
Don’t think about it… Just let go!
Nothing left to say.
Just let it fly, jump in the sky!
Open up your arms and try!
You can’t feel it ‘til you let it
Carry you away!
Away!
Now, don’t you try to be
What people think they see.
Be what you want to be,
Not what they say!
Sing what’s inside of you.
Just let your soul shine through!
Sing a song and let it take your
Troubles all away…
You can feel it like I do!
You can let it lift you, too!
Just step outside, don’t try to hide!
Let it strip you open wide!
Don’t think about it… Just let go!
Nothing left to say.
Just let it fly, jump in the sky!
Open up your arms and try!
You can’t feel it ‘til you let it
Carry you away!
Away!
Cars and Girls #342 (for The Boss)
I’m burning like hell
And I’m hell on wheels.
My engine is revving,
You know how that feels!
Revving in neutral,
Waitin’ to drag!
Gonna race for you, girl,
Grab your checkered flag!
And I’m praying to heaven,
To the stars above,,,
I’m gonna take that flag!
I’m gonna win your love!
I’m gonna take that flag!
I’m gonna win your love!
See, sometimes I feel
Like a beat up old ford.
My finish is rusty,
And I can’t lock my doors.
But sometimes I shine,
Like a sleek Cadillac!
Gonna burn up the road
And there’s no looking back!
And I’m praying to heaven,
To the stars above,,,
I’m gonna take that flag!
I’m gonna win your love!
I’m gonna take that flag!
I’m gonna win your love!
See the cars flash by…
Watch the driven men.
See ‘em flash on by and
Flash on back again.
Now you see me cry,
See, girl, I’m one of them!
Pop my clutch and fly
And I’m gone again.
I’m gonna cross your finish line!
Yeah, babe, when I cross your finish line…
I gotta tell you, girl,
I’m burnin’ up inside!
You know I’m turbo charged,
C’mon and join my ride!
I gotta find you, girl!
Don’t wanna waste my time!
Grab your checkered flag,
Cross your finish line!
And I’m praying to heaven,
To the stars above,,,
I’m gonna take that flag!
I’m gonna win your love!
I’m gonna take that flag!
I’m gonna win your love!
Soar
Soar among circling clouds of uncertainty,
Kept aloft by fate and chance.
Moving on and seeking… something:
Truth, happiness, or one to join the dance?
Gliding vapor trails of promises,
Float aloft on trust in words and deeds,
Never really sure of any steady purchase,
Especially when wants turn into needs.
Saturation flight
Into the depth of night.
Shine your inner light
And try to get it right.
Trusting inner vision,
Finding true religion,
Freedom from your prison!
Fly with Inner Sight!
Desperation follies leave us spinning in the air,
Broken wings all tangling in our hair.
Fallen angels all, we’re only trying to recapture
Trust in something more than simple prayer.
All of us are flying, fragile fragments
Riding on the currents in the sky.
All of us are looking for the answers.
All of us are always asking, “why?”
Saturation flight
Into the depth of night.
Shine your inner light
And try to get it right.
Trusting inner vision,
Finding true religion,
Freedom from your prison!
Fly with Inner Sight!
Toss along the truth if you should chance to catch some.
Shout it out loud so we’ll all hear!
So hard to see the light, find someone “out there.”
Hard to even try to care.
Load up your mind with sense saturation,
Blow it away… so many trips.
So what will you build on the ruins of your psyche
When your reality’s been stripped?
Saturation flight
Into the depth of night.
Shine your inner light
And try to get it right.
Trusting inner vision,
Finding true religion,
Freedom from your prison!
Fly with Inner Sight!
Let It Fly
Sitting here in limbo, spinning my wheels.
Feeling like a blank white, cloudy sky.
My face is calm but my chest’s in a knot.
Seem so peaceful ‘til you look in my eyes.
Wish I could fly away,
Raise my wings,
Disappear in the sky!
I will be free!
You won’t find me,
As I soar above,
As I let it fly…
Trying hard to find just a little release.
Wonder why the hell I should even try.
Feel tension build, wonder, “will I explode?”
When it all comes out it’ll be a surprise!
Wish I could fly away,
Raise my wings,
Disappear in the sky!
I will be free!
You won’t find me,
As I soar above,
As I let it fly…
Mercury Girl
Mercury Girl lives day to day,
Quick through my fingers like silver sand.
Hey there, Silicon, stop slipping away!
Let me in, let me understand.
Where’s your sense of wonder?
Lose your cosmic pride!
Open up that hidden door
And let out what’s inside!
Come on, tell me, will you?
What is on your mind?
I can see there’s so much more,
But truth is hard to find.
Mercury Girl lives day to day,
Quick through my fingers like silver sand.
Hey there, Silicon, stop slipping away!
Let me in, let me understand.
You keep me making guesses,
I might be all wrong!
Don’t infer your meaning
From some infernal song!
Just tell me what you’re thinking,
I won’t be your judge.
I just want an opening,
Some room so I can budge you!
Mercury Girl lives day to day,
Quick through my fingers like silver sand.
Hey there, Silicon, stop slipping away!
Let me in, let me understand.
My imagination
Leaves me feeling cold.
I can’t see what you won’t say.
I can’t read your soul.
Maybe just a hint,
So I won’t go to far
Off in some direction,
When I don’t know where you are
We stand, so cold, in the thin air of Mars.
It’s easier to see the stars.
You stare off blank, say nothing’s wrong,
But shake when you hear that same old song.
I want to help, say something strong…
But we lost touch for way too long.
Let it out! Let out inside!
Let out inside of you!
Let it in, let in outside,
And let yourself shine through!
Mercury Girl lives day to day,
Quick through my fingers like silver sand.
Hey there, Silicon, stop slipping away!
Let me in, let me understand.
Your communication
Lacks a sense of you!
You seem to be a locked tight door,
A room without a view.
So you say you love me…
Teach me how to trust.
I need deep sand to anchor in,
Not this blowing dust!
Mercury Girl lives day to day,
Quick through my fingers like silver sand.
Hey there, Silicon, stop slipping away!
Let me in, let me understand.
Let it out! Let out inside!
Let out inside of you!
Let it in, let in outside,
And let yourself shine through!
Gimme
Read it in my e-mail!
Saw it on TV!
Found it in a Catalog!
It was made for me!
The Man on TV said so.
I saw it in the store.
And once I had it one time…
I had to have some more!
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme -
What I want I think I need.
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme -
What I Want!
It's only Greed...
If I couldn't have it
It would make me mad.
I think about it all the time.
I really want it bad!
All you other fuckers,
You're no concern of mine!
But if you'll give it to me,
some use for you I'll find.
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme -
What I want I think I need.
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme -
What I Want!
It's only Greed...
No, no, no... Nothing's in my way!
No, no, no... don't care what you say!
No, no, no... don't gimme right from wrong!
No, no, no... don't give me shit about my song!
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme -
What I want I think I need.
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme -
What I Want!
It's only Greed...
I need it every minute,
Every hour, every day.
I'll take it through an I.V. drip,
If that's the fastest way.
Gimme direct download,
Right into my brain!
Make it instantaneous…
I'll never need again!
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme -
What I want I think I need.
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme -
What I Want!
It's only Greed...
Things Unsaid
She sits with her Lovecraft,
Her red leather book.
Glances, then gives you
Her serious look.
Things dart unsaid
In the path between eyes.
She sighs and looks down,
Sobs back a cry.
She shifts on the sofa.
Her eyes want to talk.
Ask why you went for
A five hour walk.
You look up behind at
The hands on the clock.
She turns away coldly,
Her skin turns to rock.
“Hi,” mumbles out,
What more could you say?
There’s ice in her eyes
When she squints them that way.
One simple word,
All the effort it took!
The hand that you raised,
You trembled and shook!
She looks down at Lovecraft.
She reads you away.
Can you find something inside
Left to say?
Keep it inside?
Maybe one day explode?
Or cut loose from the conflict
And just hit the road?
And You?
When did you get here?
Where have you gone?
You know I’ve been waiting
And singing my song.
Will you be ready?
There’s dinner at eight.
The curtain’s at nine,
Wouldn’t do to be late.
Do you think that I’m joking?
Do you feel that I’m wrong?
Do you think that I shouldn’t be singing this song?
I can’t hold this back!
(You can’t hold back fate).
So, we’ll be together!
So that’s why I wait.