Rick's Poetry: Tell Tale Eyes

Tell Tale Eyes
(c) 2001

It's the eyes that speak the silent words
and help us see the fear
that lies unside eachother's hearts
and mixes with the tears

They blend together many things
like bitter sweet sorrow
and the eyes they speak more truthfully
than any words we sow

Our eyes they tell the secrets
and they never ever fail
to show just what's within
the things that we don't tell

They can't disguise the pain inside
nor hide a little doubt
they won't let you shy away
when you want to pout

Our happiness cannot be drowned
nor sadness as you know
it's right there in your eyes, you see
They're everywhere you go

The eyes can show such happiness
and joy for all to see
so please don't try to hide your love
no one's fooled - not me

by Ricky D. McKean

Rick McKean (1962-2011)

Rick McKean graduated a track star from Capital High School in Boise, Idaho. After serving in the U.S. Navy with the construction batallion and operating heavy machinery, and time in abroad in Guam, Rick was honorably discharged and took residence in Oxnard, California, near the naval base.

After working several years in various trades, including light aircraft maintenance, locksmith and auto repair, Rick worked for a paper pulp recycling plant in Oxnard until the late 90s. Expressing his love for the ocean, and despite physical limitations, he took up scuba diving and enjoyed good times with friends exploring the Channel Islands off the Ventura coastline. Rick suffered from depression and alcoholism.

The poetry on this site was written in 2001-2002 while an inmate at California Correctional Facility, Salinas, California. After parole, Rick again took residence in Oxnard, purchased a boat, and lived on the water in Channel Islands Harbor. Continuing his appreciation of nature and the environment, Rick worked in harbor maintenance, patrolling the harbor and collecting/dislodging debris that had washed in from sea.

Rick continued to live on his boat and attend AA meetings and treatment programs, and eventually was issued a driver's license and bought a car. In 2010, he drove his car to his home state of Idaho and visited his family whom he had not seen in many years. Despite numerous physicial limitations, Rick continued to live his life to the fullest extent, including handling nearly all of the maintnenance of his boat/home.

In late 2010, Rick bought a new computer, with the intention to publish these poems online. In January of 2011, Rick suffered an untimely death where he sustained a head injury repairing his boat, lost balance, and fell into the water, and succombed to the cold temperatures.

This blog contains Rick's Poetry.

(c) Ricky Dale McKean 2001, 2001

Rick's Poetry

Tell Tale Eyes - 2001

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