~

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

~~~

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

I'll wait for you forever
till stars forget to shine,
and oceans become puddles,
words no longer rhyme

Till deserts turn to gardens
where flowers go to bloom,
the grass is red, the skies are green,
the dawn brings out the moon

Till rain is something very dry
and butterflies drive trucks,
when every pond is chocolate sauce
with candy coated ducks

Till basements have a penthouse view
with windows three floors high
and stairways are a place to swim
no matter how you fly

Till mountains are a level path
that you will go to walk
and silence now becomes a way
for every one to talk

Till everything we've ever known
is gone and disappeared
The world does end, there's nothing more
just like we always feared

Till broken hearts are happy,
tears a welcome site
Night comes at the break of day
and daytime looks like night

I'll wait for you forever
until the end of time
It matters not how long it takes
if I can call you mine

-

Why can’t I see past the buildings,
skylines obstructing my view,
collecting on the curb
with doorways and steps
inviting to someone else I suppose

Still I push past,
hugging the shoulder
of a rush hour highway
Staring into windows
as they pass, staring back

Exits signs point at me
but I can’t listen
Their warnings make no difference
in cloverleaf grumblings
and exhaust fume skywriting

One foot in front of the other,
worn converse high tops
gray, the greens are lost
with the sunset that breathes down my neck
reaching for one more moon rise

No rest, still creeping alongside
sleeping 18 wheelers purring
on their asphalt mattresses,
straddling yellow lines
leading to the bathrooms…not a chance

27 miles the sign reads
in reflective lettering calling out to me
It seems like nothing,
compared to what is behind me now…
My life or what it was

But that is no longer my concern,
my future is now 22 miles away
Where your arms are waiting,
holding my future…open, warm
and I begin running faster

Another 10 to go, down main streets
with coffee shops and beauty parlours,
one traffic light and a train station
a kid on a bike delivering newspapers offers me a ride
No need, it’s just around this corner…

On the lawn is a flamingo,
plastic and pink behind a white picket fence
with a gate that creaks and a porch light comes on…
illuminating my dream…as I see you,
it has finally come true

You, with words of beauty,
speak in softer tones
where volume is not required
because vibrations
bring to light the meaning

Even if remaining quiet
calms the fears
drifting along your heart

Feelings still shout
in actions shown,
leaving only words unsaid
to speak the true meaning
of the silence

.

I want to write
    beautiful poetry
upon your blushing skin
       using my finger,
  gently tracing
    each verse

Allowing
     the unspoken love
I have in my heart
   to surrender you  
with each word
   *written

~

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

~

A pale orange glow
slips past the darkness
in soft patterns
of a waking dawn

I hold you close,
nestled to my chest
watching as you sleep,
enchanted by your beauty

Slow tempo’d breathing
lulls me sweetly as
your eyelids flutter,
gradually opening

You see me and smile,
that beautiful smile
I look forward to each day,
I return the gesture

I kiss you tenderly,
feeling my lips melt
into yours as my heart
once again skips a beat

“Good morning beautiful”
I whisper as I kiss you again
then sigh, gazing upon you,
knowing I am a fortunate man

And I just lie there
wide awake and in love
at the start of another
*wonderful day

~

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

_

That **** alarm again,
I roll out of bed
not wanting to wake you
it was a late night,
you need the rest

I shower and get
dressed for work
then make my way
through the dark
into the kitchen

As quietly as I can
I pour the flakes
into a bowl
add milk and sugar,
yep, breakfast

I turn and am startled
you are smiling at me,
then kiss me with so much passion
It would burn my toast,
had been making some

Then you whisper in my ear
so soft and sensual,
“Couldn’t you be a little late today?”
I smile and follow you back to bed
No alarm needed now….

~

“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 saw your eyes among the stars
     a twinkling midnight dream
even the full moon could not outshine,
       and drifting on a comet’s tail
  I chased them across the universe
           *hoping for just one more glimpse

I suggested leaning but they chose to jump. Never once looking to see what waited for them at the bottom. Still I called in a voice of heroic fashion, though slightly chapped from the lack of judgment shown. I stood listening for an echo or anything resembling a voice from the depths, but heard only waves, crashing against the rocks lining this coast of last chances. Gulls swooped and sang midnight songs while the moon snickered in its own lunar way. I found the darkness to be threatening as I peered over the edge, seeking but a plaid shirt, a pair of jeans or a chrome button dangling from an exposed root to no avail.  It had happened and poetry was the thief. Stolen in our prime, wading in shallow waters, watching ripples of time count minutes as our thoughts began to swim. It was no use, it beckoned and only one remained to answer the never ending call. So I dove head first into the phrases and verses that would spell my doom, sentenced for life, writing graphic details of those things my heart had held and my eyes had witnessed, knowing this was it, the end of my life as I knew it, lost forever in the abyss, the drowning point of creativity, poetic imprisonment and me without a swimsuit.

~

*Why is it every thought
I have is of you?

Waking this morning
you were there
lying next to me,
your smile starting my day,
when I was the only one there.

My first cup of coffee
I shared with you,
on the patio as
bird song filled the air,
and I was alone.

The sunrise, beautiful
pastel ribbons painting
the northern horizon
I pointed out to you,
but you were a thousand
miles away.

And even now as
I write this poem,
I do so because like
every other moment
of my life, you are with me
even though you are not.

Why is it every thought
I have is of you?

Because I love you

.

I sought the opinion
of a sharp dressed guy
selling sunbeams
by the side of the road

He told me
if I wanted to succeed
I should sell sunglasses
across the street

I took his advice
and as soon as I opened
he held a huge sale
on clouds

Looking over at me
he winked, pointed up
and the rains came…
I hate salesman