~

“Upon this moss of emerald haze, into this lilac beauty gaze”

In fern leaf wishes of songlike verse, shadows drift as banners flowing
‘pon pinecone promises of starlit dreams, where lavender voices echo melodic harmonies above foot print mosaics laced of soft green grasses. Enchantment comes in silhouettes of euphoric dreams on a periwinkle canvas… as brush strokes of nature gather in this twilight solitude, where your love is forever my tranquility

◇

I read a poem today...
it was based on a wonderful dream,
two people were madly in love,
holding each other tenderly as
a lemon sherbet sun rose
beyond a blooming hibiscus
being visited by a hummingbird,
bringing a soft apricot glow
through the white lace curtains
flowing on cool morning breezes
as they kiss passionately,
greeting the new day

It was an extremely beautiful poem,
one that I wish I had written, but...
more than that, I found myself
wishing that the dream
that inspired it...
had been about me

°

My eyes open
as a tangerine haze
paints the silent walls
through mini blind slats
allowing morning to enter
in its most cheerful pose

I gaze upon you, next to me,
clutching satin sheets
tight to your chin, peaceful,
dreaming perhaps of me, of us
I smile at the thought as the bedroom
now glows in an effervescent beauty

As if you sense my stare,
your beautiful eyes open to see me
watching you as you slept
You smile at me whispering,
"I love you" and once again
I understand the meaning
of the phrase...Good Morning

-

Tear drops fall as I reach,
let me hold those for you
my hands need the moisture
and your cheeks are beautiful already

Love your dress, but your sadness
contrasts with the color
can I borrow your sorrow for a while,
you can keep the dress, it looks good on you

Outside is a sidewalk with a smile on it
well, it depends on which direction you are walking
walk this way, the other way you will see a frown
like yours, this way waits a smile, like mine

There’s a heart repair shop on the corner as well,
what do you say? I’ve collected the pieces of yours,
want to give it a shot? I hear they are pretty good,
they have one day service…

Not working huh? Then just take my hand,
the one with the pen in it and I will write you a poem
on a tissue you can use to dry those tears
when I succeed in getting your smile to reappear

*because I will

-

Strolling down the naked street,
I follow brick facades and paint chipped doorways,
listening to music from open windows above,
static to the sleeping trios
with silenced violins in cases of quarters

Whiskey bottle wind chimes
****** on the curb in high pitched sonatas
floating on waters from washed dogs and cars,
denting front lawns in tread mark stupidity
as the city pulls out the stops

Sirens join in the festivities,
out of tune with hopes for happiness,
but running red lights just the same
as envious teenagers fall from death metal
logo’d skateboards, tearing already torn jeans

While wondering why no one smiles anymore,
a yellow cab stops, the window rolls down
“Need a lift buddy?” and before I can answer,
the back window rolls down and I see her,
she pats the seat and motions me in

As the car pulls away I ask, “Where we headed?”
“To the sunset, I hear it’s beautiful this time of day” she giggles
then leaning over, she kisses me
“How was your day handsome?” she asks like a song
“Perfect now, I just love happy endings”

~

Off in a cabin set deep in the woods
Next to a lake where the fishing does thrive
The opposite shore is another the same
Someone is there, there’s a car in the drive

I hope they are quiet and keep to themselves
I really needed this time for so long
There is some movement, the door opens up
Wow, she is gorgeous, maybe I am wrong  

Off in a cabin set deep in the woods
Where the deer and the squirrels do roam
Across a small lake, a cabin like mine
It appears there is somebody home

A man stands ashore with his hand to his eyes
Squinting, the sun is so bright
He's looking my way, so I give him a wave
I'm glad I won't be alone here tonight

I think she is waving, yes, I’m sure she is
A nice fishing pole in her hand
I start waving back with a smile on my face
This was not part of my plan

That is a problem, I have to admit
I planned this alone, that is true
But here in the woods with a beautiful girl
And it seems that she likes fishing too

Smiling real big, he hops in his boat
Making his way to my side
"Hi there" he says, "he's so handsome" I think
"I'm going fishing, would you like a ride?"

I’d love to of course but I’ve just now arrived
“Would you like to come in for a while?
I just need to unpack and have a quick bite”
“Let me help you” he offers with a smile

I gather her bag from out of the car
And set it just inside the door
The fishing can wait, we’ve plenty of time
There’s something else now to explore

She’s wearing shorts and a light emerald T
And green Converse All-Stars that match
I never thought as I drove up today
Something this perfect I’d catch

I think he looks a bit familiar,
Is it possible that he might be
The same boy I kissed that summer
When I turned seventeen

I turn to unpack my groceries
Not over thinking things much
When the tap on my shoulder startles me
I jump in his arms, and our lips gently touch  

I really didn’t mean to frighten her
But it was so cute to hear her yelp
And her lips, I think I have felt them before
“Just wondering if I can help?”

She hasn’t let go and neither have I
I stare in her gorgeous brown eyes
And then I remember that time long ago
It’s her, I just realized

He recognizes me now, what does he think
I can feel my face start to blush
I hold onto him still, it feels good in his arms
I could leave but there's no need to rush

The chemistry is there, after all these years
I want to be alone with him here so much
He's grown tall and handsome, into a man
Now I'm dreaming of kisses and such

I never imagined I’d see her again
And definitely not in this way
But now that I have her right here in my arms
I’m thinking right here I will stay

I kiss her again and she doesn’t pull back
It’s much more than I could be wishing
It lasts for a while and that’s okay with me
Who cares if we ever go fishing?

~

Cast among the downpour,
gates beneath dark clouds left open
The creek is rising, drowning underbrush
darkening tree trunks
moving swiftly the discarded
Collected at the walls of this home
stone and mortar slowly crumble

From a desperate vantage point
overlooking nature’s angry powers
I see a shape, a silhouetted aura,
eyelet gown of gold stitch, woven ribbon dreams
Mahogany hair flowing, eyes captivating,
floating atop muddied raging waters,
directing the flow with blown kiss persuasion

Swept away, barely a breath remains,
swallowing life in murderous gulps
Flailing intoxicated waves, undertow’s grasp…
when a hand reaches, fingers interlock
Glazing blue skies whisper in sunlit reflections,
ocean breezes soothe washed out tides,
as a sand dollar wishes on a seashell

Upon this beach I am now safe within her heartbeat,
tasting her Pina Colada lips, warm and sweet
I drink in her flavour neath palm tree shadows,
cool in the heat, but hot of her skin, salty, wet
and my heart hears the glistening, tingling my senses
drenching me in desire’s hard to contain,
as I endlessly drown in her perfect love

.

Drying in the sun
   on a beaten path
bruised and stained
   by faded  blooms
crushed beneath
   the falling night
of a desperate moon
   hiding within
the memories of
   those lost

-

As I count crows
sitting on the drooping clothesline,
I see a shape in the distance
that I do not recognize
I move a little closer
but the maples sling a sad shade
and the lawn flashes its blades,
cutting directly to the heart
in syncopated beatings
like chopping wood in the heat of August
when the last saw
is locked away in the shed

Still I look,
peering beyond a fractured arbor
of beer bottle skeletons situated at the far corner
of nowhere’s homestead,
over off-white pickets and a rusted gate
now overgrown and oversown
in rows of corn field miseries,
shucked and burned in a steel barrel
down where the Mud Creek Minstrels
play cracked violas with stretched strings
in bent tuba concertos

When I realize it is you...coming home to me,
walking through brilliant sunflowers,
an effervescent blue sky background glows,
roses bloom in dazzling pinks and yellows,
robins tend to their young beneath a rainbow of blessings
in assorted hues and feathers,
butterflies now dance upon sweet fragrance simmerings
and what was once a dream that had slowly disintegrated
into a wasteland littered of heartache and despair
vanishies before my tearing eyes
as I run towards you in the bright sunshine
that has returned…once again

~

She hid in the shadows with tears in her eyes
The locket she wore, she had come to despise
In dangling silver the shape of a heart
What once was a gift now ripped her apart

Alone with her feelings, she crept through the night
Embracing the darkness, fearing the light
Gripping the chain that was cold on her skin
Telling herself that she’d never again

Open the locket for what was inside
Memories that she was now forced to hide
Happier times when her hair was so dark
Running and playing those days in the park

Falling in love at the very first kiss
Ice cream on Sundays, those days she would miss
Merry go rounds and that big Ferris wheel
Moments of joy that she now must conceal

For age had come calling, it stood in her way
Her once lustrous hair, was a light shade of grey
And wrinkles appeared where her beauty once shined
Each look in the locket, just served to remind

As it held a picture of her in her youth
When she was quite young, it presented the proof
A gift from her parents who passed long ago
She thought to discard it but always said no

While lost in these thoughts, a voice she did hear
It seemed that a man had just stepped very near
He reached for her arm and she let out a scream
Then he called her by name, not as bad as it seemed

What are you doing out here in the night?
You know it’s not safe, come here where it’s light
I haven’t seen you for many a year,
but now that I do I can see it is clear

You’re just as beautiful as so long before
When I held the secret that you I adore
I kept this photo each day close to me
He took out the photograph so she could see

It was the picture now locked in the charm
The look on her face showed of fear and alarm
But then she smiled for she had no choice
A comfort had come at the sound of his voice

You look no different, I truly must say
You’re just as cute as that first high school day
When I saw you walk in and decided to wait
But here we are now and it’s never too late

She knew she was blushing a bright shade of red
For all of the wonderful things he had said
Now enjoying the light that shone bright from above
She felt very strange, she was falling in love

That’s a beautiful locket you wear on a chain
He reached out and pointed, he didn’t refrain
It must be quite special, he said with a touch
She said, it is special, I love it so much

He then took her hand and off they did go
The future was waiting with good things to show
She looked at the locket, then up to the sky
And whispered a thank you with a tear in her eye

.

When you’re not here
nothing seems real
I’m lost and alone
this is how I feel

Broken and twisted
like barbed wire candy
Pinched like the pliers
I used to keep handy

Scratched on the surface
with sandpaper swinging
Cursing a hornet
my arms it is stinging

Caught in a nightmare
with someone named Freddy
Dreaming of Turtles,
of Flo and of Eddie

Stuck in the past,
well maybe tomorrow
Calling a neighbor
in hopes I can borrow

Something of value
they’re no longer needing
Maybe a band aid
to help with this bleeding

Unable to rock
to a song by Van Halen
Hot for (the) teacher
and spellin I’m failen

Hung out to dry
with a shirt on the line
Writing a poem
I just cannot rhyme

But so soon I know
Everything will be right
When you return home
later tonight

Then we will dance
neath the moon up above
Happy together,   (Imagine me and you and you and me)
forever in love

■

The day ends
and with it my smile,
where unanswered thoughts
cling to heavy eyelids,
becoming drowsy,
falling closed,
still not knowing,
what waits for me
tomorrow
and I will not ask......

.

Lush surroundings of
emerald nightscape valleys
upon moonrise silhouettes,
play my imagination
in f-sharp compositions
and bar chord desires
as I slip off into
the soft acoustic melodies of
another mesmerizing evening
*lost within the concerto of our love

-

If I bleed alone,
is it really blood
or is it just words,
droplets of phrases,
splattered feelings
of this love coursing
through my veins for you,
coagulating into meanings
on pale parchment skin
leaving behind
heart shaped scars
that no one
will ever see?

-

I'm sitting here in my office
watching steam rise in cursive swirls
from the black coffee in front of me
on this stormy Friday morning

Staring at nothing in particular,
I allow my thoughts to linger,
becoming completely lost in another
beautiful daydream of you and me

      we walk along a secluded beach,
         palm tree shadows sway,
     sand between our toes,
        a sunrise surf lulls hypnotically
          in rhythmic tempo whispers as I peer
       deeply into your maple syrup eyes,
    falling deeper in love with you
          with each longing glance
      We kiss and my heart melts
        at the feel of your sweet lips
      pressed tightly against mine…

A loud clap of thunder wakes me
as I once again realize where I am,
sitting behind a desk covered in paperwork
and another now cold cup of coffee, but…

There are many more daydreams where
that one came from that will always include
you because… they all originate in my heart
and there’s still hot coffee in the ***

~~~

Quivering horizons


A palette of picturesque love
stipples weary seascapes
in amethyst ribbons,
pink carnation reflections
blush upon lip glossed beaches
caressing blue skies' gaze
and flip flop yearnings,
quivering horizons
of bougainvillea blooms
drench our hearts,
so we pause silently  
as a poetic sunset
paints a masterpiece
in twilight brushstrokes
inspired by our
*euphoric daydreams