Days were like honey, even sweeter than golden suns
you were laughing in rainbows - colorfully ever undone
dancing in meadows, and mornings
to bloom again

Your eyes of silver spun light, did shine
flashes of soul, glowing pieces of amber nights
Voices of angels sang you to sleep in peace

Remembering all the places you've ever felt love
with letters in boxes you've looked upon

Days are just pages, they burn into ashes that blow in the wind
all of these days, where do they
begin and end?

Cool December rains
sticky desert chaparral
fragrant mistletoe

My wintery windows, glow in many colored lights,
icy fog, distorts yellows, reds and blues
holly boughs and berries, pines of greenest hues
It is early, much too early
for morning birds still sleeping
snow will fall in swirling winds
from heavy branches weeping
Silver moon, too I see you fade
when foggy clouds go creeping
stars will follow and fade away
when comes the sun over
frosty rooftops peeking

In this wild resplendent place
ferns unfurl softly green
below bearded mossy trees
rain falls, birds call, echoing
sound of deep forest
breathing

There was an ancient gully
there were skeletons,
ocotillos strewn across the sand
holy places creatures crawled out from
cactus brittle, drying, lying dead

Mirages leapt - spectrally
ghost dancers, drunkards falling down again
bloodshot eyes searching,
shipwrecks, lost waters, the sea
cool river floating past the trees, you drift
crash and wake alone
cow skulls haunt you
death's sun bleached
bones

Ashen grey, weathered wood
splintered, white bone
hollowed by the desert sun
skull and backbones
laid to rest, wind blown
sunk in sifting sands, exposed
by wet washing squalls
drinking water into steam
interwoven, dead with weeds
iridescent beetles and scorpions
glints of pyrite, diamond stones
the haunting wind, that moans
wild through hollows and holes.

Along this pilgrimage made
with candles lit by the sun, a holy desert communion
seeking connection to the one, here in this fiery church
I have found lost souls, sun bleached bones
they drink the moon and sun
saguaros wander to and fro
all are parched none are full
cactus leaning, I am kneeling
here at this earthly altar
awaiting resurrection
I have come to pray
watching nights and days
these veils burn away.

On days like this
cool, with little winds
desert birds forage for sticks
they build nests perched in cactus
some build green in palo verde trees
always I think of baby birds in spring
hatchlings, the fledglings that fly
I travel far beyond the noise of towns
watch the movement of cooling clouds
the roundness of rain upon the ground
the grey banked scurrilous skies
of hurried birds, their silhouettes before a storm
daisies that close, cold amid the stones
beneath where snakes and lizards go
slither and crawl in this landscape of saguaros
and I, ever tethered can only dream to fly.

On days like this
cool, with little winds
desert birds forage for sticks
they build nests perched in cactus
some build green in palo verde trees
always I think of baby birds in spring
hatchlings, the fledglings that fly
I travel far beyond the noise of towns
watch the movement of cooling clouds
the roundness of rain upon the ground
the grey banked scurrilous skies
of hurried birds, their silhouettes before a storm
daisies that close, cold amid the stones
beneath where snakes and lizards go
slither and crawl in this landscape of saguaros
and I, ever tethered can only dream to fly.

Gathering chaparral, just after rain
sticky leaved, miniscule, green
tiny bundles, scented woody
now one, with earthen hands
under a winter moon, garland star stitched
pitch of juniper, pinion fire
only a dalliance this
fragrant desert
pyre

I think of mountains
the way they climb for the sky
losing their way through clouds.
Looking up I never know if they reach the top
or if they see me way down here?
Some kind of ant, I dig for rocks
a pocket full of turquoise blue
a miner for Apache jewels
exposed by red dust winds
as the day chips away
and carves a night
into black obsidian.

Soon the desolate sun peeked above table mesa road
mourning dove awoke the nomadic dawn
cloudless day,  blue in all directions
lizards, little flashes emerged from earth in green iridescence
horned beetles crawled in blue shimmering suns
orange petals, monarch wings warmed
with tiny birds, did flit before
the red desert dawn.

Here in this redolent rain droplets saturate the ground
I watch the clouds move on, then once more the sun to come
this sparkling desert is strewn with tiny diamond stones
the air hangs in petrichor, thick with chaparral
birds drink from puddles in the broad agave leaves
rainwater trickles with steam in the sun of the singing trees
songs of doves coo cooing in the desert mesquite
spiny lizards stop for rest and warmth upon the rocks
they are ancient with tiny rounded teeth
for eating flashing bugs and beetles
here beneath the spindly ocotillo
beneath the pale flowered saguaro, that blooms
amid this ocean of sandy seas
of cool nights and hot breathed days
the way the desert breathes.

Sonoran desert
sacred, hot breathed
scorch of footsteps, blood red sands
sun bleached bones and skulls
this wash a hallowed holy ghost
an unnerving place of hiss and fire
molten sun to dry the water
a drowning fever of prickly sweat
last night the Yaqui man you met
undulating in a purification ceremony
lashing energy cords cut
he is laughing like coyote, wild eyed
green the velvet desert peyote
awakened you have come to understand
a universe within a fleck of sand.

I have left the desert
to live in forests, under green trees
ruminate, drinking rose petal tea
my sipping cup of salal leaves
always I am watching the beauty
of birds, the wonder of skies
I dream into the disappearing
imagining beyond any ordinary heaven
with wings gathering gentlest winds
soft amid fog and cumulus clouds
coming, going, disappearing
how brief this precious flight.

Pablo Neruda
(1904 - 1973)


Don't go far off, not even for a day, because --
because -- I don't know how to say it: a day is long
and I will be waiting for you, as in an empty station
when the trains are parked off somewhere else, asleep.

Don't leave me, even for an hour, because
then the little drops of anguish will all run together,
the smoke that roams looking for a home will drift
into me, choking my lost heart.

Oh, may your silhouette never dissolve on the beach;
may your eyelids never flutter into the empty distance.
Don't leave me for a second, my dearest,

because in that moment you'll have gone so far
I'll wander mazily over all the earth, asking,
Will you come back? Will you leave me here, dying?


http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/don-t-go-far-off/
(very good reader)

When I drive that road
past sun bleached stones
of minerals and bones
take the turn off at Dragoon
fly past cattle guards and farms
the road that leads
to your house
my view askew
a parallax
I rue
desolate
the cold
moon-blue
of you

This morning, upon my wall
with lilies, lilies tall
sun shadows
the beauty
of it
all

Colors
and flowers
birds of dawn
in the singing trees
has only ever been a dream

She left
memories of smiles and hearts tucked into a letter box
for you to open, days when you forget
who and what you truly are in this world
nights when dark starless skies
reign heavy upon you

She left
a message "know you are never alone"
stars and beams of radiant light
will fill your head and heart
streaming soothing music of violins
someone singing songs of love
feels the same, in any foreign language

Is it you, deep in lucid lands?
you've lost your heart and cannot  find
but for wandering fully awake
in realms of dream time

When evening comes, the end of day
drink sweet the honey roses
and toast we two, day's farewell
the sun to slip away
Til' night appears fast before
a pearly blackened sea
Shells will sing
of warming winds
whistling through the hollows
A song of stars sparkling loud
humming skies of
ocean

Dusky blue the twilight hushed, dimming daylight's edge
cherry tree, green leaves grow - gathering black of night
so quiet, my sleepy garden bows
still warm the sun drunk petaled heads
August moon lingers
only a crescent slicing low
silver birds silhouetted
in shadows flying home
evening deepens, dark the day
silence, the world so far away

So early in the morning, bluest skies of birdsong
they sang like laughter, singing for summer, the dawn
flying to heaven, making their way toward home
Awakened from dreaming, wings unfolding, reach out for love
early in the morning with the sun.
Waiting, gazing into a silent green lily pond
no words, no secrets, only seeking reflection deep within
early in the morning with the sun.

In the sweet of early morning
and only for a few precious moments
I thought of nothing at all
I stared blank at the dim lit walls
in a state between awake and dreaming
only until the startle of the first bird singing.

I saw the sun clinging to roofs and trees
light traipsing through the garden lilies
I heard the chirp and groan of frogs
newly green, all the unfurling fronds
and from the broad leaves
the dew fell sparkling in rivulets
and drank the carpet moss
softly green and splendorous.

Buoyant snowflakes sideways crashed
dripping down grey window glass,
stinging winds blew harsh - the lash
of winter.

High in pines, do they shiver,
nesting birds deeply hidden?
or
do they warmly slumber,
with downy feathers, nestled under,
night's darkest cold, before
the light of dawn?

To earth.....
we fell
still and always
our footfalls together
mingle, entwined
our steps walk
the vastness of
time

To sea.....
sinking we swim
drowsily dream, lulling under
salty sea air breathes our lungs
Water weaves of dreams - bright distant sails
calmly blues, red rains
of willawaw gales

To air.....
deep the breaths
beat our hearts - to deepen
Expanding empty spaces - fully lunged our love
contracting smothered, small - undone

To fire.....
passion seeks it's flame,
billows the burning blue
We seek ever close, not to touch
lest we are consumed
by love

love me
elemental as
wind, water, fire
wild in billowing fields
drenched watery wet in sweat
of all other things make me forget
igniting dreams of lightening steam
all the ordinary world evaporating

Eyes burn
gritty paper, sand
tears pool
a room puddles
buckets, oceans pour over
dousing flickering flames
drowning
some letting go
dying
others left
wading

Your eyes of clear water oceans, endless as stars
and seas I've crossed - a perfect tide gathered me whole
healing waters washed our days, birds of fluted music played

Breathing in
the rhythm of wind
we float, suspended as the stars
surrendering to the hypnotic glow of moon

We who lay
our troubled hours
soft on maiden ferns
never a lesson, but
for love's sake
shall we ever need
to learn

Love silent falls
lofty floats, touches invisibly soft
unseen through the scope of eyes
comes brushing by or comes in a down pouring
wet washing the soul, unwavering, wordless it unfolds
travels most rugged terrain, then smooths the way
there is no season for its efflorescence
it sits a silent bud any moment to flower
always we've known it's fragrance
it is the way, the path
a flitting ethereal flower
deeply felt, though in hand
never grasped.

Love silent, falls
it touches soft, invisibly floats
unseen by the scope of eyes
comes brushing by, or comes in a down pouring,
wet washing the soul, unwavering, wordless it unfolds
travels most rugged terrain, smooths the way
there is no season for its efflorescence
it sits, a silent bud, any moment to flower
always we know it's fragrance
it is the way, the path
a flitting, ethereal flower
one, that we can never grasp

Black, hollow world of sky - starless
alone in this darkened room
dreaming of the star showers that fell
last night from your lips
quivering.

Orange woke
the sleeping world,
clouds, cumulus, creamy
feathery skies, painted fly
far escapes the night
sings morning pink, red
heavenly glow
ablaze in dawn's
delight

Never call me, on nights fierce with storm
blowing wild with lightening, thunder
no never, and though fretful, I tremble
through raging rains
I go alone

Please don't come over
leaving little notes, so clever
hot and cold, was our weather
farewell my lover
alas it is finally over

I felt like wind, void of soul
transient, moving thing
all the blowing around
with waves and shores
under moons and silent,
awaiting certain suns.

Only a sound outside the window
chimes and bells, nothing to grasp
though felt, a warm wind,
a chill splitting cold.

She walked upon the forest floor

with feathered faerie feet

so still beneath a cedar tree

where ferns safely sleep

and from unfurling curls

water droplets seep

little dewy pearls

for tiny birds

to drink.

How I loved your mouth
the way your words belled forth
rang in soothing song
your lips and all the rest
days of coming home
in meadows or prairie suns
by love's fiery field
how we were
consumed

Autumn frost of mourning air, ever near
roaming roads, weaving my way homeward
sudden clouds, cold gray surrounds me
hurry birds, madly through the trees
feet like wings fly, winter's early calling
little footprints sparkle
white snow stars
falling

The bridge, well worn, with slipping wood, crossing over
with secrets hidden, nearly fully under,
rainy days so long.

Her head - a flutter of lily moths, emerging, searching for air,
from a stifling room she fled, dark the forest bled
whispers, wings of white clouds through trees
swirl, drifting amidst dancing fields
on this day, learning
to be free.

When I come from dark of forests
toward gold of light, lose my shadow self
where I am found, unfettered, unbound
a sudden turn, a bird of changing season
Oh, the updrafts that spin me sailing
back toward traps of sinking dark dismay
blessed are love's illuminated moments
when I do not touch down in blackened storms
but rather, fly toward home

She loved the moon
long awaited ripeness full
Stood gazing
out the window

Then came a fool
to close the shades
his senses dull
blinded dark
her world

Strange glowing orb
mystical magnetic oracle
points us aimlessly
in and out of love
pushes and pulls
the tide, spellbound
sea wrecked, sandbarred
left high and dry
deep in the night
foolish we, two
fools of moon

Distant blue field
further, still the dawn
warmth of day, falls away
disappears into a
fragrant piney forest
a path - twine and twigs, mossy laid
soft steps, of hoof prints made
in tunnels wooded, dimly lit
gray lichen amid the moss
raindrops magnified, gazing through
boletus spongy staining blue
fat berries, salal and thimble red
sparrow rakes his nesting bed
when all the light has gone away
night slips silent into another day.

Moss, softly green as grass
some bare feet to pass
red fox and deer to tread
mossy stepped, quietly the forest led
soon to rest golden heads
bright leaves
falling sleepily
to bed

Wild geraniums collected
in pocket, red painted petal stains
my feet squish, squash in this forest
the earthy mud a mossy sponge
with fern and lichen the trees are hung
upon the ground greening with maidenhair fern
my satchel filled with dainty floral sprigs
in spring the sparrows gathering vine and twig
June's an efflorescent carpeting, soft with lady slippers
in summer the wildflowers and grasses wed
when celebrates all the flying things
wooded bees and butterflies in the sun
sparkling with faceted, glistening wings.

Where sleeps the crescent moon
and drifts bright stars away
to bring a song of light
glowing from a thicket there
where tawny birds take flight
or dappled in the wooded trees
foggy breathed the morning light
with rousing sounds of faeries there
drowsy in their dreaming cares
they bid farewell unto the night,
to stars that sail swift into the evanescent light.

Now springs another day from this woodland place
soft with mossy grays or starry lichen lace
green the leafy ferns will wake
with scented rains, wet upon the bark
incense cedars drift and swirl
sweet, the air of smoke
until alas the sun, so brilliant comes
from behind a clouded cloak
and disappears once more
the dawn that softly spoke.

Where sleeps the crescent moon
and drifts bright stars away
to bring a song of light
glowing from a thicket there
where tawny birds take flight
or dappled in the wooded trees
foggy breathes the morning light
with rousing sounds of faeries there
drowsy in their dreaming cares
they bid farewell unto the night
and to stars that sail swift into
the evanescent light.

Now springs another day from this woodland place
soft with mossy grays or starry lichen lace
green the leafy ferns will wake
with scented rains wet upon the bark
incense cedars drift and swirl
sweet, the air of smoke
until alas the sun so brilliant comes
from behind a clouded cloak
and disappears once more
the dawn that softly spoke.

The goldenrod now half exploded, on the edge
flowers cut across the path leading to the bracken woods
from the long grass, three young deer emerge
from the mist, into the forest they disappear
to shelter under fir and cedar boughs
just days old, they rest on mossy loam
I trace their perfect footprints
I want to follow them home.