Carl Martin Johnson
Poet,  Author,  Slayer of Dragons

I WONDER
By Carl Martin Johnson

I pause at times and wonder
What exactly I might be.
Am I a cosmic blunder
Spat forth from eternity?

Will this brief moment I’m awake
Be all my conscious knows?
Will there be no joy or ache
When my eyes on this life close?

Is there some meaning to me,
A purpose to my birth?
Did a divine hand that drew me
Think my life had worth?

Or do I float unobserved
In the ocean of all being?
No notice given or deserved,
Nothing in my mind worth seeing?

No, I’ll not be Life’s pawn
Here only at its whim.
I’ll find God before I’m gone,
And make my case with Him.

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I AM ONE OF YOU
By Carl Martin Johnson

I am one of you.
Simple human, nothing more.
I was born and then I grew.
Now I knock on Heaven’s Door.

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IF I SLEEP
By Carl Martin Johnson

If I sleep, will I awake,
Or in my dreams remain?
Is this breath the last I take
‘Til I leave this mortal plane?

Maybe I have passed that line,
Long dead now without knowing.
There was no pain, so that is fine,
One life to next was quite smooth-flowing.

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EACH LIFE HAS A SPECIAL SONG
By Carl Martin Johnson

Each life has a special song,
Which only the soul can hear.
Listen close, it won’t last long,
Its verses are short but clear.

 

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TO THE TERRORIST
From Carl Martin Johnson

I see that you would kill us,
Or make of us your slave.
But watch our anger fill us.
We are tolerant but brave.

True, some of us are weak,
Will meekly wear your chains.
Base survival do they seek,
And will accept the “dhimmi”s pains.

Take them with you straight to Hell!
They are offal, nothing more.
Then listen close for Freedom’s bell.
It signals death for you in store.

Your creed says kill you must,
Or drop us to our knees.
You will know our sharp sword’s thrust
Before your evil we appease.

The day indeed has come
For civilizations’ clash.
We will beat the warrior’s drum
And turn your world to ash.

Begone forever from this earth,
You and your noxious creed.
Curse your mother for your birth.
You’ll be the one to bleed.
 

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CHASE ME IF YOU DARE
By Carl Martin Johnson

Chase me if you dare!
Kill me if you can!
This warning I will share:
I'm no ordinary man!

 

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THE SHADOW
By Carl Martin Johnson

A shadow fell across my way.
My path the dark obscured.
I prayed that it would not stay,
But its presence I endured.

For many years I stumbled blind,
Lost …. I could not see.
A great fog wrapped ‘round my mind
From the shadow’s mystery.

Then one day I faced the sun,
Though its blaze I’d always feared.
To my surprise no harm was done,
And the shadow disappeared.

 

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WE ARE BORN WITH A SEED GOD-SOWN
BY Carl Martin Johnson

We are born with a seed God-sown
That could flower into Great.
Or into thorns be grown
If watered with the blood of hate.
 

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GHENGIS
By Carl Martin Johnson

Do you see what I have done?
The land that I’ve laid waste?
Every battle I have won,
Killed every enemy I have faced.

All men know my name.
They tremble at my nearing.
Flee wildly without shame,
Such is their depth of fearing.

But tonight I saw a star,
A god’s eye burning bright.
High and very far,
Caring nothing for my might.

And I know it will be burning
Long after the day I fall.
In spite of all my yearning,
I am only mortal after all.

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L.A. FREEWAY
By Carl Martin Johnson

Pleasure vibrates through the air,
The top down and reckless speed.
Going fast to who knows where.
The pace fits my mind’s need.

This town is shallow but exciting.
Beauty, yes, but surface only.
Sun-kissed women pose inviting,
Offering love that leaves me lonely.

Yet for a bit L.A. entices,
City of Angeles, so misnamed.
Surrender full to base devices,
But leave before your soul is claimed.

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THE MONSTER IN MY EYES
By Carl Martin Johnson

The monster stared into my eyes.
I saw selfishness and greed.
No sorrow for his unkind lies.
No thought for others’ need.

Then I saw a tear,
And knew he could repent.
The mirror’s image became clear.
Away the monster went.

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I HEAR SPIRITS WHIRRING
By Carl Martin Johnson

I hear spirits whirring,
Restless, breaking free.
The ghosts of newdead stirring,
Birthing into eternity.

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REACH OUT AND TOUCH ME
By Carl Martin Johnson

Reach out and touch me, friend.
Become a part of me,
Then my being will not end
At my own extremity.

I’ll spread to another,
And she’ll take a stranger’s hand.
From there every sister and brother
In love over the land.

Then our souls will intertwine.
All together, but apart,
And unite with the Divine,
In humanity’s new start.

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YOUR BURNING SKIN
By Carl Martin Johnson

My lips touch soft your burning skin.
Your heat ignites my fire.
Lead me, my lover, into sin.
Come with me to desire.

See my body as it responds,
Signals that I want you.
I loose all inhibition's bonds.
I swear I will not taunt you.

Let us our hungry loins unite,
To make our love complete.
We’ll create a bonfire in the night,
Blazing to our passion’s beat.

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A MAN'S VALOR TELLS HIS STORY
By Carl Martin Johnson

A man’s valor tells his story,
How he lived and how he died.
He must have found his glory,
At least he must have tried.

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GREET WARM THE FALLING NIGHT
By Carl Martin Johnson

Greet warm the falling night.
Let sweet darkness overtake you.
Life need not have light.
Sometimes shadow can awake you.

 

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THE FALLEN WARRIOR
By Carl Martin Johnson

Toss dirt on my casket’s wood,
Say prayers over my bones,
Shed a few tears, as you should.
Play taps soft bugle tones.

Lower me into the earth.
I will not find it cold.
This was destined since my birth.
This my fate foretold.

Yet, remember why I’m here.
The act that was my last.
That sacrifice so dear
Redeemed all vices past.

For now and evermore,
I lie a hero in this grave.
Whatever eternity has in store,
This world will call me brave.

I could have lived a life unsung,
With no meaning, and no glory,
No bell of honor would be rung,
But I’ve been blessed with gallant story.

I was just a man
Who loved family and nation.
See my death, then, if you can,
Not with grief, but celebration.

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IF I DIE THAT YOU MAY LIVE
By Carl Martin Johnson

If I die
that you may live,
Death is a gift
I gladly give.

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REACH DEEP
Carl Martin Johnson

Reach deep into your being.
You will find the answers there,
Truths that will need freeing.
Loose them if you dare.

The Secret lies within.
Look not to a star.
It’s in your soul you must begin
To discover who you are.

 

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I LOOKED INSIDE AND SAW GOD THERE
By Carl Martin Johnson

I looked inside and saw God there,
And the Secret He set free.
Now I know He holds me in His care,
Because He is part of me.

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IN THE GLOW OF DAWN
By Carl Martin Johnson

I see you in the glow of dawn,
Smell the perfume of your breath.
Our true love still carries on.
Too strong to end with death.

Wait there for me on a star.
I’ll try not to be long.
My heart is always where you are.
Our souls sing Life’s sweet song.

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IS MAN ALL ALONE?
By Carl Martin Johnson

Is Man all alone?
Is our god a fake one?
It is not surely known,
But if no god, we’ll make one.

 

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MY TIME
By Carl Martin Johnson

Is my time expired?
Is my life here done?
Why do I feel so tired?
Should the next life be begun?

Or is it just a mood
That will pass with a night’s sleep?
Will I feel renewed,
Or this foreboding keep?

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BLESS THE WOMAN, BLESS HER CHILD
By Carl Martin Johnson

Bless the woman, bless her child.
Bless the time that they are winning.
Human grandeur, brave and wild.
Each birth a new beginning.

 

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A CHAT WITH THE DEVIL
By Carl Martin Johnson

I passed the Devil late today
On the dimlit path I walked.
He greeted me and bade me stay,
So, I stopped with him and talked.

He told me he was weary,
Results from his efforts poor.
Indeed he became teary,
Feeling he could not endure.

I shook my head in blame,
“The fault is sure your own.
For your deeds you should have shame.
The penalty you should have known.”

I joked he should change side,
Work for God again
“Don’t be held back by your pride.
After all, that is your sin.”

I said, “I cannot wish you well.
I cannot go that far.
You’d best return to Hell,
And be just what you are.”

He frowned and shoulders sagged,
Although his words were heated:
“I am King of Hell,” he bragged.
I said, “But a king defeated.”

He sighed and nodded brief.
I almost sympathized.
He cried, “Can you not see my grief?
I am by all despised.”

“You say you are a Christian man,”
Into my face he spat.
“You must forgive, so reads God’s plan,
Don’t you believe in that?”

I said, “I do believe, it’s true.
In fact I know the Bible whole.
But for sinners such as you,
I turn away my soul.”

He glared at me for being smug.
I admit I did not care.
I simply gave a dismissive shrug
“Others’ failings I don’t bear.”

The demon growled and moved along,
Trailing sorrow in his wake.
While I know it could be wrong,
I felt bad for Satan’s sake.

Then the demon turned and grinned.
He had won this round.
With my arrogance I had sinned.
A weak soul he had found.

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THE SWEET SMELL OF A SHOOTING STAR
By Carl Martin Johnson

The sweet smell of a shooting star,
The moon’s aroma bright,
Oh, sky, such fragrances you are.
I breathe you in this night.

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LOOK FOR THE SPARK
By Carl Martin Johnson

Step softly through the quiet.
Move, silent, into dark.
Be not frightened by it.
Look rather for the Spark.

Only you can lead the way,
On you mankind depends
To emerge into the day
Before our species ends.

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IF WE KISS, WILL THEN YOU TELL?
By Carl Martin Johnson

If we kiss, will then you tell?
Will whispered words betray me?
While true now you wish me well,
You may later seek to slay me.

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MY EYES WIDE
By Carl Martin Johnson

Late at night when all the world’s asleep
I lie awake with my eyes wide.
Then slowly images creep
From restless slumber deep inside.

Waves of rich thought wash o’er me,
Flowing thick from Eternal Being,
With Divine Energy to restore me
That I might use what I am seeing.

Into knowing seas I sink,
Drowning in insightful waves,
Learning how the angels think,
Feeding my soul what it craves.

To hold the concepts is the key,
To use them for my kind.
To become what I would be
Beyond reach of human mind.

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I PULLED A COMET FROM THE SKY
By Carl Martin Johnson

I pulled a comet from the sky
To taste its golden flame,
Praying such food would tell me why
To this cold world I came.

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