~

I mistook
the sea for
the sky while
it slumbered
mid the garden
where I was
dreaming
*in poetry

~

In ode to all who succumb
through wayward passages
lined of scribble notes
dripping ink’s savagery,
staining cursive patterns
in Sylvia-like depressions

Jarred bells ring
down lost tunnels
around each dark corner…clang
from steeples we chase
and beds we lie
draped in sadness
and shapes of
poetic happenstance

Tear drop vinaigrette
spiced of leftover lifetimes
drizzled on leafy desperation
bids a tired farewell
before time collects
*the deserved rewards

-

Everywhere I look there is garbage,
the streets are littered with it
People are walking around blind,
they can’t see what is right before their faces,
calling to them from the gutters,
pulling at soiled pant legs

And a guy offers kool aid on the corner,
as another yells, “it's sour!”
Yet still the line is around the block,
though there’s nothing special about his drink,
it's not much different in colour or texture, but still they flock,
perhaps out of fear, maybe thirst

Noise is at extreme levels from both
sides of the street, horns blowing, sirens wailing
“Hey, watch where you’re going, idiot”
Babies crying and dogs barking
Screeching tires complain about red lights
only to peel out at the green

I search my pocket, one quarter,
that’s it as far as change, which makes sense
nothing ever changes, ever…
I hold it in my fingers looking up,
heads I stay, tails I leave as I toss it in the air
and it is stolen before it ever hits the ground

I guess I’ll just get in line for the kool aid,
it is free…if you can stomach it

~

Upon a canvas
   blank slate in white
    mind’s eye frontier
  brushstroke whispers
   blended thoughts
    horizon’d dreams
      coating the landscape
   of my every desire
reckless shades
      pushed in place
  dripping from center
       in abstract fountains
   of youthful design
      capturing hand prints
   in wet cement
     dangling from gallery walls
    black on black
        framed visions
   as one more
    masterpiece
collects dust
    in the hallway
          *of my soul

~

Miles of nothing,
beige on beige on beige
The sun is screaming,
blistering my skin,
draining me slowly
as breath is heated
and tastes bitter
Shoulders slung low
I can’t stand straight,
bent over struggling,
nothing is anywhere
and nowhere is here

Leaving footprints
for the wind dancers,
black feather fathers,
winged circlers
High above, watching
sifting time
in weakened increments,
hourglass patterns of
falling granules
sinking deeper

Water is a dream
and this dream, a nightmare
for it is there,
just ahead, I can see it glistening
but it does not exist
nothing exists,
as the oasis in my mind
dries up, leaving
empty indentations
on horizontal planes, flat lands
of arid emotions
drifting in and out
reaching for…
reaching

~

What is it that always brings
my thoughts back to you,
which seems a strange thing to ask
because they never seem to leave
regardless of what I might see
during the many hours
of my day

Open or closed eyes,
heat of the moment
or laid back and relaxed,
it is you that I am always
thinking about

Traffic jams stacked
with blowing horns,
exhaust fumes
and frustrated fist shakes
or slow drives on country roads,
windows down
on a cool spring day
with the radio playing

Long check out lines
at the super market
corralling crying children
(close to the candy)
fighting over the best seat
in the shopping cart
or a quick in and out
at a convenience store
for a cold six pack
and a bag of chips

Work, (need I say more)
which requires a certain
amount of concentration,
attending meetings and
going over spread sheets
or a day off piddling
around the workshop
building or fixing something
that doesn't really need to be
built or fixed

No matter what occupies my day
it is always you who occupies my mind
So, what is it that always brings
my thoughts back to you…
well, I guess my thoughts of you
would have to leave once in a while
for me to figure that one out

· · · – – – · · ·

Stardust drips
in Southern Cross directions
lost at sea
floundering in the nothingness
counting seagulls
and island torches
branding the sky
with delirious connections
traveling beyond the speed,
22 knots to nowhere
and sinking fast

SOS carved
in summer clouds
threatening distractions
floating silently in our heads
as we bail out,
tossing salt water worries
overboard as
barnacle beliefs wait
beneath the surface
of our dreams

A lone timber,
nails protruding,
rotting slowly
is held for dear life
as tridents and trishulas
flail in withered hands
breaking seas,
angry waves bend
dissipating into
misted blankets as
foghorn signals
bellow in needled warnings
like a skipping album
drowning in its
own repetition

~

Summer dawns
just beyond
the screen door,
across the porch
Dew swept lawn,
emerald weave
shimmering moisture
collecting foot prints
strolling towards

An arched entryway
gingerbread trimmed
covered in jasmine
alive with rainbow
flutterings of
butterfly wings
partaking of
nature’s pure nectar  

Beneath it a
flagstone walkway,
abstract stones,
assorted shapes
and patterns
meandering through
lavender and hollyhock,
daisies and tulips

And upon it
you and me,
hand in hand
watching the sunrise
wash the sky
in floral hued quivers
as we welcome the
*morning together…

-

Trying to dance in a sawdust enclosure
Finding the moon disappears on this night
Hearing a song though there’s nobody playing
Asking the stars if they’re wrong or they’re right

Taking a drink from a glass now half empty
Quenching my thirst on a warm summer’s eve
Sharing a glance with a mirrored reflection
Someone I know or at least I believe

When through the door walks a beautiful lady
Dressed all in white with a belt made of gold
Kicks off her shoes as she starts heading towards me
This is a story about to be told

Now in my arms as she moves very graceful
Floating on air is now just how it seems
Lips painted red how I wish I could taste them
I hope I’m awake for this feels like a dream

Spinning around as the world is now watching
Following steps that I easily trace
Slowly we slide ‘cross this dance floor of heaven
Long ago moments so soon to erase

We are like breaths sighed in harmonic whispers
Effortless motions so silent and free
Like wearing wings made of gossamer feathers
Such is the feeling awash over me

Falling in love with this wonderful woman
Something about her just touches me so
Hot coffee hair and her eyes nearly matching
Holding her close as to never let go

When just as quick I now find her departing
Why must she leave on an evening like this
A brush of my cheek with her fingers so gentle
Then with a smile she gives me a kiss

Watching the door as it closes behind her
Feeling my heart now is breaking in two
Then as she soars neath the glow of a halo
Blinking my eyes, can’t believe this is true

A few things I know as I stare out the window
I’m still not lucky at love or romance
That woman in white was all I have prayed for,
And I’ve now paid the devil his due…

to teach me to dance

~

So you think all I can write is romantic poetry,
flowery, affection infused, soft and silky
poems that sing in sensual symphonies,
well that is not the case I can assure you
I can write poetry on many topics and themes
any time I want to…

Sure, I am in love with the most amazing
woman in the world, with hypnotic maple eyes
and a smile that could light up the
dark side of the moon, one who makes my mornings,
like this beautiful Sunday, my reason
to wake happily each day

And yes, I find beauty in everything I see,
from an enchanting honeysuckle sunrise
to a euphoric star draped twilight sky
on a warm spring evening as fireflies
linger in the cool breeze and we sit together
mesmerized by our desires…

And of course I enjoy a whispering ocean,
melodic waves of turquoise and aquamarine
gently lapping upon a satin shore
in harmony with crystal azure skies
as my love and I walk along
leaving footprint mosaics in the sand…

But that doesn’t mean all I can write
is romantic poetry…I can write about other things
anytime I want to…
and I will…pretty soon…maybe tomorrow,
well tomorrow is not a good day for me,
*maybe the next, but you’ll see….

~

Sometimes I don’t say it
as eloquently as I should

Words run from me
disappearing over mountain tops

In the last phrases of my day
when moon light seeps in

Through opaque glass
and curtains of lace promises

I clutch tightly my pillow
wishing it were you

Hoping that tonight’s dream
will give me a hint

Like some painted message
on marshmallow clouds

Drawing lingering lines
in star to star whispers

Chasing firefly flickerings
with a mayonnaise jar

Trying to capture your heart
in a twilight whimsy

Within the verses of a poem
written on a breeze

Floating across
midnight skies of woven stanzas

Eloquently or not…
*of my love for you

-

The skies threatened
but only a single rain drop
fell, landing atop a large mountain

It felt worthless, the darkest skies,
a gloomy forecast,
for it was him…discarded,
tossed away from his home,
spit out by the mother cloud

He trickled down the side
through crevice and cracks,
“What difference does it make,
I’m nothing anyway” he sighed

Around twists and turns,
neath prickly shrubs, dodging thorns,
faster and faster he ran
sure now he was going to die
but who cares….

Unable to control his speed,
fear began to collect
the closer to the ground he got

This was it, the end,
he could see the earth
approaching rapidly,
“goodbye” he thought
“No one will miss me anyway,
I am a failure, good riddance”

But when he reached the bottom,
he splashed into a puddle
that was happy to see him,
for this lone drop of rain
would extend its life,
if only for a few moments more…

~

Sometimes I cry,
yes, I do
when I think about what my life
was like without you

I would watch lovers stroll,
young and old, hand in hand
knowing it was always someone else,
I was somehow always left out

It hurt, I’m not going to lie, it did…
I found myself constantly wondering
what is wrong with me?
Why was I alone…

Seeing days of sunshine for others,
laughter ringing, joy on their faces
love matching their steps, as I sat
on a wooden bench staring out into the bay

Watching a single gull floating
lonely on the water,
following the never ending ripples,
silently conforming to whatever this is

And I would think, that is me,
just floating, vacant, empty, bobbing
waiting the next tide
to bring me back to start again

For so long I was this sea bird,
chasing lunch boxes
on a crowded summer beach only to
end up hungry at the end of the day

Dreaming of a day when I would have someone,
(though I came to doubt it would happen)
to fly with me, soaring our beach,
our shore, making it all worthwhile

A heart to share
these things that I kept locked
deep inside for fear
no one would care

And yes, I still cry
at these thoughts, though
far and few between now
and disappearing more each day

For I no longer fly alone
and the waiting was so well worth it
As my smile returns and I live
the life that had always been waiting for me

And I now know the answer
to what was wrong with me,
to why I was alone…

   *I hadn’t found you yet

~

I dreamt I was a leaf
at the far end of a branch
in this old red apple tree
feeling my grip weaken,
I worried what would happen
if I fell

As the winds blew harder,
twisting and turning me
I felt myself letting go,
and what I had feared, happened...
I began falling, I felt helpless,
caught in the breeze,
floating frantically back and forth
and I was scared

I didn't know what waited below,
what would become of me
now that I had lost the security
of my tree where I had lived
my entire life, I was sure it was
all over for me

Until I landed gracefully,
smooth and gentle,
coming to rest in the grass,
feeling the soft green lawn
caressing me, holding me
and I felt love, like I have
never before felt

I was no longer afraid,
for I knew I was now
where I have always belonged
and as I awaken from my dream,
to find you next to me, I think…
had I known you were the lawn,
I would have fallen for you
*a long time ago

~

The rains falls
not hard, more of a drizzle
this late Sunday night
leaning on the light post
across the street,
watching the light in your window,
glowing slats through mini blinds,
outlines of your silhouette,
damp steel seeping my jacket,
cars pass, wipers waving,
splashing in circular patterns,
glistening tire tracks,
straight lines on the damp asphalt

I stare up dreaming,
wondering if you know,
I am nothing without you,
my life is because of you,
so many years floating,
blurs in lingering dark shadows
curbs to sleep in, yesterday's news,
broken bleachers where others met,
and I watched, fearing never me,
darkness would be my hand to hold,
lunchtime falterings on tuna salad wishes,
a clean plate in line for desert,
they just ran out,
vanilla pudding disappointment,
and it was...

I flick the ashes from my Marlboro light,
as I notice the lamp in your room is out,
when did that happen, where was I,
and the drizzle coats my glasses,
a chill claims me as the street light flickers
and I suppose it's time to go
in these saturated high tops
squishing as I pace this sidewalk
of smeared chalk masterpieces

My heart breaks again, my life, this night,
every night on an avenue to the border,
is truly nothing without you,
an empty hull hauling cargo of the past,
an existence worth the lint in my pocket,
a poem folded and kept,
written for you in dreams pasted
on walls of white,
in a hallway of desire with your name
layered in patterns that mirror my heartbeat
and I wonder if you know...there is no other,
none that can compare,
none that could ever be,
no one will ever touch me, thrill me or
love me like you do and I will not be...
I will not be, I can not be without you

Turning to leave these shadows clinging,
sighing as I want you but the hour is late,
the rains fall harder, a liquid curtain
all but blocking my view, blinding me
when a hand on my arm spins me,  
it is you, drenched, smiling, eyes bright
on this dreary night as you tell me
you know,  you know and it is me
and you mean it, I can tell

We dance in the downpour, who cares,
it is us and we are in love, our song,
they are all our songs, you and me,
kicking puddles and laughing
with wet eye lashes, kissing,
soaked with love,
with devotion and sunny days,
moonlit nights and a lifetime with each other
on a sidwalk, a rainy night, a street light
and forever...you and me