...

Why, when the world sleeps
do the young starlings fly,
black wings on a moonless night
challenging winds of southern flow,
fighting urges forced by
internal compass points
to land where it is low
and voices creep from behind
misted shuttered windows,
murmuring moans
and tethered breaths,
fingered flesh in candle flame,
longing scraps to fill their bellies
for hunger persists
even in the throes of love,
and they wait on silent branches,
crooked beams of support
wanting merely a taste…just one taste

I can still see the lines
in the dirt
of the long
laces dragging
behind those loose fitting
high tops you wore
when you walked
all over me

.

Here upon this silent wind
a longing it does call
Fated feelings splash the sound
of answers soon to fall

Of what I do imagine
the truth shall somehow be
If after all is said and done
your love remains with me

My arms they fade the emptiness,
a smile I do bare
From each delivered promise
that I intend to share

Come to me my blossom,
a perfect night is due
For this shall be my only need
to spend my life with you

Cradled tightly in this fashion,
swept from on your feet
Candy coated kisses sent
upon your lips to meet

These dreams are for believers,
eyes that peer the sky
Watching so intently,
moon beams soaring high

Casting forth decisions
of wisdom ever true
To offer up my wanting hand
*and say that I love you

~

Passion sings
on blue note pillows,
down filled ecstasy
midst satin linens
stealing midnight
in each others arms
falling satisfied
past lilac dreams
and calla lily shadows
floating above
slumbering affection
of two hearts
made for each other
peacefully awaiting
that first kiss
of the new day
when passion will
*sing once again

-

I heard her
melodic voice
   this morning
as the sun rose
   and my heart
    felt the
dawning of
    *perfect harmony

.

I closed my eyes and
      whispered I love you      
on a wayward wind,
    felt the touch of your heart  
           in dew drop shimmers,
    collected sunrise wishes
                  in my pocket,
       bid farewell to the last star
           of the night,
          blew you a kiss far beyond
       the yawning tree line,
             opened my eyes
    and began my day
        *with a smile

A hummingbird hovers outside my window
admiring itself in the reflection
I see its colors shine in the morning sun,
almost hypnotizing

Staring, I wonder if it sees me
alone behind dusty mini-blinds,
vertical slices of faux wood
narrowly showing the world beyond

Thin lines of what others see,
blooming flowers and green grass
inviting happiness to wander freely
through cool breezes and sunny days

I should smile at this precious scene,
spring is near in signs and actions
Yet I do not, for I despise spring
It is a symbol of life, new life

Life is the darkest thought of my mind’s shadows
That last sip of cold black coffee
Imitating thoughts and dripping moods
Poetic phrases can’t mask

Pleading images claim all empty fault
As crimson blood runs the gutters
Splashing on concrete cracks twisted about my neck
Laughing from a back seat around the next corner

And still that hummingbird lingers, pointing
Tiny wings move in a rapid dance
It’s red throat casting aspersions in my direction
As I reach for my own neck, it is wet, and I am tired

~
I am left with nothing
but a tiny heart
to hold in my mind
Taking small bites
to sustain life
But it won’t last forever
and neither will I

Collections amounted to
merely words
lost in the ether,
shrouded by shadows
What was once full
is now empty,
meanings forgotten

Yes it was difficult,
your feelings surged
peaked, erupted
and then fizzled
in an exhausted flame
And no matter how hard I blew,
the embers still faded

My expectations were too much,
happiness ran elusive
Now memories weep
as tomorrows become
an unwelcome date
and yesterdays
a hollow rain  

It’s funny when you find it,
it touches you, it feels so good,
like nothing you have
ever felt before
And then you lose it, it hurts so bad,
like nothing you have
ever felt before

When all you end up with  
is a tiny heart, one last smile,
one final moment of joy
Till it stops beating
and the nothing you are left with
becomes the nothing that you are,
the nothing you always will be

.

How did this happen,
amidst words, phrases,
stones skipped on poetic ponds
Not looking for or expecting
a touch to the heart, a caress,
yet it came

I fell, head first into a joy,
a blissful feeling
I had not felt before
You said the same,
wishes made on coins tossed
had finally come true

Holding hands without touching,
kissing over counted miles
and borderlines of snow flurries
We sang together, harmonies,
lyrics of love from our hearts,
melodic compositions formed of dreams

Picked flowers, daisies, tulips
from the gardens of pure affection
blooming all around us
It seemed no walls,
barriers could hold us back
as we ran towards each other

Then appeared a river, wide, deep
A chasm of worry and fear
was flowing across our paths
Now a deluge of falling tears
filling, overflowing its banks
making footing uneasy, difficult

And we sit on opposite sides
staring at each other, reaching
for something that seems so far out of reach
Dark clouds roll in, threatening
but we stay, standing on the muddy shores
wondering what will become of us in this flooding

I shout, “I will swim to you!”
But your eyes are too wet
and your heart is a breaking levee
Diving in anyway I am swept away,
pulled under, unable to breathe, choking
watching you fade in the distance

Hope is gone, fears have overshadowed desires
drowning in what is lost,
trapped in the rapids of disappointment
When a hand grabs me, lifts me, saves me…
I open my eyes now on the other side to see,
it is yours

Lonely days,
clouds of wishful thoughts,
cut grass desires linger,
fallen petal emptiness
scattered on damp sidewalks,
bleeding into the cracks
forming of fingers reaching

With pen in hand
I stare off into distant verses,
favored phrases,
seeking words to express
the missing I feel,
vacancies with no room
in a space of nothing,
four walls, open doors
no exits

when she is away
and I wait, wilting
a feather without a wing
for the end of these
lonely days...

dreaming of tomorrow

~

On breezes of nighttime surrender,
  neath apple blossom blooms
Delicate wisps of fragrant sighs
  linger in sunrise wanderings,
   as dawn’s awakening
       breathes supple desires
   upon eyes opened
         to the glowing love
             *of a new found day

When is it ever fair to point a finger at a man with no hands?
Claiming to be an interested party but only shaking what needs to be shaken, proud as a peacock in one of those pieces about sand dunes and afterlife
And you clap, loud applause trying to prove a point…that you can, sneering at those who can’t
But what if they try, is that enough for you, making an attempt to be like you?
Or should they just close that door and draw the blinds
spending their days watching reruns of Ironside, wondering why it is okay for him to wheel around like nothing is wrong while they have to hide as you wave and snicker?

People are people, for the most part. Maybe different, but who isn’t?
Are you like the next guy or gal, the neighbor kid up the street
or the deli owner with the ketchup stained apron? Or are you different? I would hope you are you, with your own plethora of bumps and bruises, shattered egos and happy moments which you too want to share
We are all here, every one of us, if you weren’t you wouldn’t see this
and have the ability to act like you don’t

When is it fair to point a finger at a man with no hands?
I’ll leave that up to you, but don’t expect me to buy your shoes
when you have no feet.

~

The startled crowd his side did rush
As slow upon the ground he fell
Seeping blood, a worried hush
“Your Majesty” a voice did yell

Shoving bodies, pushing through
A sentry wrought of silver chain
“Find the healer” his command
Echoed of this loud exclaim

He helped the king to stand his feet
An arm in offered steady sure
A glance about, he’d not repeat
Uncertain moments to endure

Towards the castle, cobbled pace
Another came, assistance felt
And then appeared the healer’s face
Before his king, he fell and knelt

A weaker state with eyes now glass
Consciousness began to seep
“Bring him to the castle quick,
the wound received near fatal deep”

Once within the lighted glare
Upon a bed of feathered fill
The king was laid, comforted care  
With prayers of strength and endless will

Breath now weak, pulsing slow
The healer plied his knowledge true
Pressure to the wounded flow
Hoping best for what to do

When then of listless tethered word
Through thoughts of love and soft confide
The king he spoke, these words were heard
*"Summons my queen to here my side"

.

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

-

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

☆

She floated down
    on a shimmering
  moonbeam
       and my eyes
    saw starlight
         glowing in her
   cosmic smile
        as perfect love
       orbited my
                heart
          and the
               universe
                     *became ours

_

The roof top, the shingles
the rain as it falls
hypnotic tempos I hear

Here in your arms
safe from the storm
hiding away every fear

Spending this evening
with you by the fire
kissing your lips in the light

Feeling your warmth
the endless desire
all is aglow on this night

Fingertips roam
in blushing excitement
tender the features I trace

Smiles illumine
softly the darkness
quickly my heart it does race

Deeper affection
hotter than summer
movements of rhythmic design
  
Sighs of emotion
echoing sweetly
as perfect love we define

Whispered intentions
fervor ignited
skin upon skin as we breathe

Lost in your passion
neath woolen blankets
*heaven is this I believe

.

Gaze silently towards the heavens
as beams of shimmering gold
beckon to you
with brilliant light of the full moon bright
fond memories you come to hold

Taste the sweet fruit of passion
shining on your perfect face
sending you
dreams of me to always be
the outline of your heart felt place

Walk along the lighted path
amongst the sprawling sycamore
touching you,
reaching far of every blushing star
to send a love of true adore

Breathe the air of midnight moon
scents of windswept atmosphere
caressing you
with aromatic symphonies upon the breeze
calming of your every fear

Feel my affection upon these evening skies
tempting as this nighttime glow
finding you,
your beauty blooms within this fullest moon
as ever I shall love you so

For what we harm,
let peace touch
not us

but cast afoot
deep within scarred
caverns to find

alas it is in
this everlasting hollow
that roots find life

~

If I could I would hold you
If I could, I would
If I could I would show you
If I could, I would

If I could I would touch you
If I could, I would
If I could I would kiss you
If I could, I would

If I could I would please you
If I could, I would
If I could I would free you
If I could, I would

But all I can do is love you
In every way that I can
Oh how I wish you knew
If I could…I would

A collection of poetic tattoos
Permanent upon my heart
Fancy scripted verses
Beneath my chest
Illustrated hope
Penned deep
Artistic ink
Promised
Phrases
Of my
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?

°

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

.

Wandering among the lonely
Searching for the smile I lost
Rain still follows my endeavor
Spending clouds to heed my cost

Flowers bloom though fragile petals
Hide behind the thorned abyss
Reaching in my skin is tattered
Of this one my heart does miss

Tired muscles burn of Mondays
Breathing hard against the wind
Falling stone an endless detour
Still I make my way again

When a light of soft temptations
Glows of warmer summer days
Sending forth a sense of meaning
In the beams it now displays

What is this now towards me runs
Blurry eyes on silhouette
As a voice of angel’s singing
One I shall not soon forget

It is her my one desire
Reaching out to take my hand
Tears recede, my smile returning
Neath the fruits of love I stand

On my knees I fall of weakness
Can this be my dream come true
As she whisper, soft endearing
“Hear these words I say to you”

“Have no fear, I shall not leave”
“Come with me my soul is yours”
“Never more shall love evade us”
“Every step this heart endures”

When on wings of silver satin
I am lifted from the ground
Wrapped within her arms forever
I was lost but now am found

_

You are that special place
where my heart tends to fly
and I can be anything I chose

Where prying eyes don’t matter
as I dance like an idiot
on a street corner downtown

Or pick up a baby sparrow
returning it to its nest
in the midst of a war

I can climb a tree
in the park to get a better view
of yesterday’s sunset

Hail a yellow cab
with my eyes closed
to take us anywhere we’ve never been

Open a door
and pull out your chair
in the middle of a hockey game

Or shout loudly “I adore you”
in the reference section
of the local library

These thoughts may be a little absurd
but I am trying to make a point,
so you know how I feel because…

You are that special place
where I can be me
*and know I will be loved anyway