A blanket, wrapped, did fall
from over wicker cage—
a basket or a golden carry-all—
and with it flew an ebon rage
upon the doves of heaven.
They pirouetted, by and by
yet though we cried for thoughts to leaven
they flew on until the sun between them sighed,
us standing pinioned beneath
daggers flown beyond their sheath.
Loss
Shadows Drifting
under a fleeing moon
whispers of a friend’s shadow
drifting across the clouded lake
even the birds lost
for the words
for the colors
in a storm
–
Flesh
–
the only barrier
to crossing
that divide
Psalms She Sang
She stands with the leaves
gathered about her knees like piling waves
receding back to the rocky side of the driveway,
fingers tinted the same sacred blue as the sky.
Trees have bared themselves for her
and she stops her labor to watch
September’s cold flicker on their boughs,
palms open to the sky.
Spires tinged amethyst, reaching
for the puckered kiss which taunts
the picture of an impatient smile
black flies harrow.
I remember stepping off the porch
slim light trails in the rainbow mess of symbols
which sought to scream her precarious footfalls on fresh earth,
She and I, and the setting sun.
Memories
Grease has seeped through
her paper skin, its blue veins
dripping with the storms
wisdom left behind.
The petalled umbrella opened
uselessly above her grey hair
a dream of the memories
leaking from the dam.
Absence #Haiku
Silent morning springs
the rain’s gentle kiss nothing
to the loss of you.
What is He?
Twinkle, twinkle
In the eye
Revelation of a child’s sigh
Everywhere and all around
Nowhere, nothing, never was
This being of infection
Diseased nation of minds
Infecting and polluting
It is as much to kill as die
The beyond, always something lies
Beyond, and that is the reach
And nothing, they say
Has cured everything
If no one dies and no one thinks
It must be gone, it must be gone
But everywhere the dead and the dying
This being, non-complacent
To met out life, but death—
Child, what is God?
In your eyes and in your smile
A touch, held without duress,
Sweet child, that is all
The God I’ll ever need.
Arctic Road
Downtrodden disaster
Dragging destitute through dirty drives,
The ice has broken through
And the hole is widening
As the whole is dividing
This trek, all too familiar
Along this arctic road
Is better left to
Colder men than I.
It’s breaking—
Broken, gone
Everything is cracking
At the seams—
Deep diving through the murk.
Heavy breaths hang
A crystallized admission
But no matter the passing
These burdens never lighten.
My latest contribution to the wonderful One Shot Poetry Wednesdays! Once you’ve had a look, check out some of the other One Shot Poets as well– they’re a skilled bunch of poets, looking to form a community and support one another. Enjoy!
Bliss Amiss
What bitter bliss,
this thought amiss–
dreams as simple as a kiss–
but if I gave my heart to you
I’d have to know that you’d be true–
could not ever bear to woo
the heartbreak and the pain
I’ve in this madness before lain,
hoping without gain.
I could not be like him,
cannot make trust a whim–
if I know love, than it must brim.
And if you cannot see
the simple creature that is me
I beg of you to simply let me be.
Restless Nightmares Break…
A significantly darker piece than what most of my recent work has been, just in time for the first One Shot Poetry Wednesday. Once you’ve had a look, check out One Shot Poetry, too–a bunch of great poets, looking to form a community and support one another. Enjoy!
Restless nightmares break,
From wretched slumber do I wake
To a world of endless night—
Thunderous choirs make me crouch in fright.
High above us wraiths now soar,
Men clasp their ears to deafen their roar.
Over hills and shattered streets,
The bands come marching to woeful beats.
A hundred thousand voices cry,
Then all the singers die.
The Waking Den 