In the city where I grew up
In the fifties, some Puerto Ricans
Sadly because they were few and different
Some ignorant people hated them
And disrespectfully called them spics
As a teenager I worked with Puerto Ricans
In a greenhouse picking plants
A father and his son about my age then
Good, decent, humble people and fun
I’ll always remember how the son and I
Had a disagreement about the devil
The son called diablo. He said
Okay Bobby, here’s how I can prove it
Go into the woods alone at night
And call diablo, diablo, diablo
And he will come to you
So I called his bluff and went into the
Woods and called diablo all night
I’m kidding. No way did I go into
A scary woods at night and
Try to summon the devil
The son won the disagreement
I was too chicken to try
What he said to do
Because what if
He was right and
Why tempt evil forces
If they indeed exist
It makes me smile
Remembering the son and the fun
I hope he’s alive today and
having a good life

Bob Boyd

My ex girlfriend had heaven-born beauty
Never seen a woman more beautiful
Then I got to know her better
And saw dark traits in her soul
That crawled out when she felt
More comfortable, less guarded
She became selfish and mean
Argumentative and unstable
And she cheated on me with
A sleazy guy with lots of money
Lesson learned. Don’t put too much
Emphasis on outer appearances
And to coin the title of an old song
Take time to know her

Bob Boyd

When my world was young, few things mattered
Unlimited exuberance, hardly a care
Opportunities for love everywhere
Wild unabandoned times, living free
Perfect everlasting health, no medical worries
Party time days and nights, everything great
Old age never a consideration, unimaginable
Living in the sunshine of spring life forever
Till hairs began to gray, skin began to wrinkle
And my body starting falling apart
Like an old rusty failing machine
And the darkness of a winter life descended.

Bob Boyd