When

When your eyes go blurry, 

Follow the white lines
When your words are slurred,

You know it’s time.

We're a breath away

From the shadow
Starting every day

In a hole.

Seems to be no limit

To the pain
Or joy from the pulpit,

Just disdain

If we lock her up,

Well who’s next?
If they shut him up

At what risk?

We so much long

For gentle touch
We need a new song

So very much

Until we do find 

Such respite

Let's take the time

To comfort

...
One another 

by Dave Schipper (c) 2018 Rose Riversongs

Verse in a Song

Years they go by 

Adding up memories 

Was it a disco night or a Mo Udal rally

Either and both didn’t last long

Only verses in a song

Why can I paint 

And see my first kiss

Behind the garage near the park

Right off of Waldo Boulevard

What was her name now just a pawn

And just a verse in a song

I’m not an early riser

But my heart would pound for her

As I waited for the bus; 
A bouncy packet of the energy

Dark eyes, brown hair so long

What's left is this verse in a song

Chaotic as can be 

A little nympho was she

She became a friend who I left in he end 

I still wonder if we stayed around

Yet now only a verse in a song.

Prayers are answered 

And of course its her

We went from teasing to pleasing

Warm nights, cold butts, and years long

We are more than a verse in a song

Now platonic love 

Does fit like a glove 

Safely I’m old and allowed to hug

Many fine spirits and oh so young 

They live my last verse in song

By Dave Schipper (c) 2018 Rose Riversongs

note some write an autobiographical memoir, some write a song.  I've done the later.

Him

He was alone in the room
alone in his mind
Invisible to everyone
Seen a few times

Dealers knew him as strange
Or stranger than most
The odd mix of pills and chills
This side of danger

The air filled with Friday

Music and laughter

He brooded in silence

Pure evil they say

Did anyone saw him leave?

Did anyone care?

He left carnage behind

Everyone would see

by Dave Schipper (c) 2018 Rose Riversongs

Take back

Take back the words

Take back the money

Take back all that I’m worth

You showed once

That it’ll be twice

Third time call me a dunce

Ginger was fine, but Maryann’s mine

7 hour cruise with her would be kind

See you noon, bring your bassoon

Strange the better at the light of the moon

Chorus

Booze cruise time, Pamela’s mine

Michael should’ve pushed Jim overboard

She’d win my Dundie, or see my undies

I’ll sit on a roof with her anytime

Chorus

Insanity is just a state of mind

Yes, I’m closer to lousy than fine

Hawk knew those hips belonged to Hot Lips

They would please Frank all the time.

Every day

Every day I ask, will it be my last

Will it end in a mistake or with a heartbreak

Run down by a truck or just ran out of luck

Maybe hit by a brick, oh let it be quick.

I live on the defensive and border on offensive

Well I have a shy side, but keep it inside

It comes out with the pen leaving me dangerously open

So I’ll pack it in and smile; blend in for a while

Here’s to the start of the day, look ahead and pray

Yes find the time to be kind

Go walk around in small towns

Then say good night complete; to wake up & repeat

by Dave Schipper (c) 2018 Rose Riversongs

Old World WI

It was 1963, a trip to the country

Dirt floors in the kitchen, a smell of piss in the air

German was spoken, Grandpa was smokin’

This five year old would remember it until today

Old world WI, far cry from their land

Weathered & wrinkled these immigrant hands

The pope had just died, JFK had lied

There was nothing much to say, I just stared

You betcha we will, blood sausage swill

This five year old knew, nothing good for today.

Zeman and Euchre, a jug of beer

They were still family, rural white trash farmers

Ma moved to town, got a room her own

Worked in a butcher shop, a job she knew well

Old world WI, far cry from their land

Weathered & wrinkled these immigrant hands

It was 1963, before there was a dream

It was a family of six, and not a lot of smiles

Packers were alright, TV was black & white 

This five year old would remember it until today

This five year old would remember it until today

by Dave Schipper (c) 2018 Rose Riversongs

Enjoy the first demo...