a single moment stays
another builds a solid maze
every tick of the clock displays
rising iron walls with slates to gaze
the tick of a tock is the groove to insane
caught on a string, can’t swing away
twisting in the turning fate
the push of a hand
tips the flow of sand
the other hand pulls the weight
forever sharpening the keys
iron mask or the height of a crown
darkness moves on frightening ground
a shared space in the wait
etching forever the sound it makes
a scrap and rattle in a tick for a tock
make doors for walls complete with locks
held open no more, all eyes to the floor
faces keep pace for the evermore
the minds design linked by a chain
a constant companion remains
ticking a song and hammering sublime
safe in a pocket of time


Terry D’Arcy-Ryan

freewill seduces the hand of our action
one eye amused by the world in a spin
another keeps time in a rival trend
dishonorable power feeds a beggars need
moving pieces and pawns for ruthless destruction  
the king's pleasure caters misery’s reception
creation a cascading opus of small scraps
the descent of humanity in disarray
we cling to the rule of thumb
the blind will lead the dumb
a hunt astute with catch and release
hope has never worked so hard for the foolish
the sport of chance completes the wish for peace
stalking tyranny to her infinite sleep  
the bigger picture keeps us guessing shapes in the sky  
holding tight the hand of freedom as we weep


Terry D’Arcy-Ryan

shuffling feet recede with the sinking heat
shadow chanters possess the street
sidewalk dancers work their song
the mind a clenched fist
pounding a one beat drum
a hustle in lunacy
chasing crank and doom

sound surrounds a fool
that is what you hear
the constant humm lost in the ear
exhales as a kindle, leads a rumble
the bellow of a beast howling thunder
the sound so pleasing
crawls under the skin
begins to breath
becomes the wind

jacked up
spread thin
spinning shards of speed
believing all the joy in greed
sabotage of self redeem
a play to crash and fiend
infringes the sound of terror
louder than an ocean roars
misery always begs more

hand on a knife
steady work in a glisten
fury breathes bending twisted
thrashing fragile decline
slashing sublime
carving within the lines
seeking a hollow spine
nothing seen to intervene

struck hard to a mad core
falling through every door
landing in the sleep of dreams
face in a pillow
held to the floor
nothing left to bargain
suffocation frees a demon
leaves a human being


Terry D’Arcy-Ryan

stars slowly diminish
darkness completes
still we feel the suffers of heat
the fever suspends in the thick
a velvet’s texture mix
clinging to skin as if drowned
dawn flexes, stretches and surrounds
as the last of struggling stars obscound
sunlight strikes without a sound
grabbing and stabbing clusters
loyal fray guarding reaches of dark
the sun rises content and goes to work

dawn's temper dares and flares
leading mobs to the extreme
a simple day can claim 120 degrees
misery keeps no company here
lust begins with fear
and the hunt for shade
any hue of obscurity a rare breed
creatures scurry free stalking unseen
gila monsters are a venoms lounge
despite the screams to leave

this forsaken oasis
sits ringside to hazards door
bright by right a rising star
a blazing sunmade world
rendering addicts galore
jonesing for a breeze or more
bent backs slave to the hustle and flo
fiends circling to numb a mad core
the hole dug deeper
wind indeed She seldom has a show

a quandry rolls in  
a circling wall of dust a curtain of rain
she comes riding in
on a Kicked up Beast of sand
a lasso in hand
wrangling hounds
and the force of nature
hitting the ground
blow to blow these animals
defend her round after round
the elements are primed
coming out in breakaway swing    
a punch and a weave
dust of demons bend a knee

this is the end of the line
hell is just past the next sign
devils play here long into limbo’s curfew
escape by any means regrettable
here the heat plays for keeps
the dead man’s hand
the sun aims again
with both barrels
the sound comes undone
another round just for fun
the sun reaches down
closes the man's eyes and crosses his arms
embrace the heat or R I P


Terry  D'Arcy-Ryan

I know love
it is never that sure of a ring
forever sparkles just underneath
leftover remnants for the winds bending
a battered laundry list
tired wishes flow oh so effortlessly
leaving the believe to the lie
deep Inside every happy ending
boldly aiming over the rainbow
for any galaxy far, far away
looking wide for a recognized set place
daydreams cranked straight through the easy bake
hit and missed the upcoming inception
striking a blindfolded target
disarmed in a charming
play by play

I know love
the endeavored sweet
rinse and repeat, to what end
write on the box happily ever after “not included”
the colors of the rainbow
the brightest star from afar
blinded in their own beauty
a shine almost gold for the rival
emptied trophies still heavy in truth
guarding first base
instead of making cherry cake
another day plays it closer to safe
everything is a new surrender

I know love
it wraps me in need of grace
it watches with eyes, that are mine
it reaches places I can never climb
it is the tiny hands
the sea of branches stretched to me, the sun
gripping these palms to no means
always holding tight that ticket
to alive


Terry D’Arcy-Ryan