This moment won't last forever
I know it well. I feel it fading.
It rushes through my fingers like grains of sand;
But, I enjoy the sensation.

A beginning cannot be celebrated
without an end, and
A life cannot be cherished,
unless it it lived.

That is why I treasure them.
This moment, and,
all the moments we have together.

I don't think I would love you as much
without the setting of a thousand hours,
hours we spent with one another,
hanging like a starry backdrop,
behind your head.

All this time, has embossed you onto my heart.
Pressed down like a stamp, gradual but essential.
Now, you are part of who I am.

And so is this time, together, right now.

I know this moment won't last forever, but-
That is what makes it special.

your accent is like, cherry-caramel to my ears
my favourite flavour, and it kills
me when you stop talking, to ask if I am
listening; I hear your tones more than your
words, my dear
keep talking

You are azure, like the sky and,
at one point, I thought that I
could fly,
up into the wide expanse
of your embrace,
but alas, my feathers
are not yet grown,
I am a fledgling still
too weak to try, and you,
are unreachable

And all my efforts, all
my attempts, have been in vain.
And many others have caught
your grace, and felt
the shining of your eyes.
While I remain,
grounded here, in youth
and innocence.
Perhaps that is my place.

Down here, I watch you from
afar, broad and beautiful...
and not for me.
Unequal; that is what we are.
And so my strivings cease -
I'll leave some time to grow -
make peace with stunted feathers,
dreams unrealized.
Maybe later, I will find
my wings.

Wizened, like the mountain ridges in the west,
you gazed across the desk at me, rheumy eyes unblinking,
and asked me what I wanted from life

When I answered, the blue opacity of your gaze seemed to sharpen
and pierce my soul
you clasped your hands comfortably, and rolled your ancient shoulders back
- trees rippled in the ridges of your crisply pressed shirt -
and you told me, with your well-worn voice, that you would exert every effort
to give me all the tools I needed to succeed

as you blinked, our conference ended, like the sun had gone down
I was free to leave, but lingered
your short white hair crested your brow like a fresh snowcap, you
had ravines beside your eyes, and smiled like a canyon
so I turned to go

And it occurred to me, as I left the inclines of your presence for
the flat horizons of my daily life, that I
would like to have the same peace that flowed
through your being,
it would be a healthy rain to the desert of my soul.

I longed to have the verdancy that you had - you,
forty years my senior; you put my youth to shame
but soon you would be my teacher, and
you would not let me go to waste

your accent is like cherry-caramel to my ears
my favourite flavour, and it kills
me when you stop talking, to ask if I am
listening; I hear your tones more than your
words, my dear
keep talking

This moment wont last forever
I know it well. I feel it fading.
It rushes through my fingers like grains of sand;
But, I enjoy the sensation.

A beginning cannot be celebrated
without an end, and
A life cannot be cherished,
unless it it lived.

That is why I treasure them.
This moment, and,
all the moments we have together.

I don't think I would love you as much
without the setting of a thousand hours,
hours we spent with one another,
hanging like a starry backdrop,
behind your head.

All this time, has embossed you onto my heart.
Pressed down like a stamp, gradual but essential.
Now, you are part of who I am.

And so is this time, together, right now.

I know this moment wont last forever, but-
That is what makes it special.

Raindrops pool in azure skies
Yellow boots now flying through
Sparkling drops lift off, take flight
To come to rest on emerald leaves
And view the rising of the night
Glowing in the setting sun
Breeze bobbing them like fireflies
They slither down to dot the pane
And at a glance appears like rain
But with dawns first kiss, its trail is clear
First winters frost has now been here
He leaves a snaking snowflake web
Across the cold clear glass

Lying softly,
on the breeze
gentle air, stirring
the trees
and all is waiting
wistful, watchful
through the silent
eveningtide

With a general whirl of fading warmth and sunny breezes, she dons her many colored coat which trails along the ground.

Ephemeral, she passes slowly, and all the trees liken to her form, spreading colored circles on the ground.

She is the herald of her sister, with bright color fading and warm hues falling to the earth, she announced the coming snows and cold weather

'Dance with me' she calls, she clothes herself in leaves and cool breezes and hangs her fiery banners on the trees.

Very hesitant, she tiptoes away again, when her time is done, her sister winter blows through after her and freezes all her leaves.

Asleep, she remains in cold caves and secluded forests, she will return to dance again and again.

Eternal as she is fleeting, she dances ever in my thoughts.

When did we ever say it, that we would always be together
Naïvely thinking, the world was our, taking it at our leisure
The harsh facts, life is ephemeral, fleeting swiftly on hinds feet
We deigned to forget our troubles, and doused ourselves in pleasure

Never thinking, only doing, we now see, oh how wrong we were
The time remaining is short and even now we are unsure
Remaining stunned, but grasping tightly to a future we could see
Only the myriad seconds passing, the time left passing in a blur

How hard I cried, fingertip to fingertip, the oceans of my soul
Dried out their loss upon the rocky shores and barren shoals
Crashing up high waves with deep longing and stronger emotion
Pleading to God, that he not put asunder, but keep us whole

Oh, that the glassy panes and starry skies were weak or untrue
That I would never have cause to forget, among all things, you
And that our days apart, however they be, be numbered
With all this, and more the same, flowing from your soul and heart too

For the long hours of night, and passing slower, dreamt of things
For all the pain, the heartfelt longing, and tears my torn heart brings
And for all fear, as separation dulls past, and the doubting
Let my sodden heart be turned anew, and hope a flow'r in spring

feather light, paper thin,
but deep as the night is dark
your words sinking in, and down
through my skin, beginning in
and coming out, what did I say
was my reply, quite hasty or
did i forget to speak at all
this is your fault, your
silly words, they stop me dead,
and steal my very breath away,
the blame is yours, and never
mine, the weakness here is,
in the mind, or maybe lying deeper,
in the heart, they crept in fast,
and left me quite immobile
so whisper soft, i, like a child,
am dazed and wondering
let my eyes ask everything,
and let my hands, say everything
here in your arms

So then it happened
And I stood there, a tidal wave of questions
Looming over me like a thundercloud
And I felt a sharp breath of air enter my lungs

I couldn’t believe, just couldn’t
After all this time, all those good times
That our friendship would be so altered
Perhaps, as a butterfly emerges from its cocoon

Papery wings brush the air by my ear
But its not a butterfly, floating by
Its coarse black hair, wavy black hair
And my hair is not black but brown

And I sigh and agree
Relief is not my only feeling,
And as the butterflies fly away
I lean into your hug, and

Feeling your hands on my back
Let myself be swung round in circles
Because we are so happy
We never want to break away

But we do and then,
The tidal wave is gone
But the questions remain
Bobbing ‘bout my head

I brush them away
And we walk down the hall
All doubt suspended
With your hand in mine

So then it happened
And I stand here, hugging you
Knowing as my mind sings
That wherever this may go
The future looks bright

They say what we've accomplished now,
is all the fruit of all we've wrought
how beautiful it is, they say
ignoring how one-sided this
this vision that they keep declaring
painting a future bright and clear
but what they overlook is fear
and the stress and strain, its wearing
us down, you think, what did I miss
and all of this? we will soon pay,
so dont forget, though they forgot
that each tomorrow starts with now

Mandarin orange, sunset gleam
Across the slowly painted hills
A fire is dying in the sky
Upon the wire the crows alight
Night is called into existence
Once more the twinkling stars cry out
A thousand screams of piercing light
Frames the moons silent, silver glow
Ancient air, moving silently
The nightingale rustles its wings
The fading blue heralds the dark
Blue jeans dripping from the day sky
White clouds abandoned skyward
Like sandals in the fresh cut grass
Waiting patiently for a wind
Homeward bound, they fade away slow
A thousand years of agony
Erosion in the slowest sense
And for what? They are forgotten
A lost toy, left in the town park
A homework assignment, thrown out
They crumple up and blow away

Dust of the earth, how will you die?
Will the rains wet you with their dew?
Or do you remain, blown by winds?
A thousand tired tales you tell us
The things you have seen, and have lost
You shout your story to the sky!
Until you are naught but a whisper
Spread over the earth, the people know
They know but they can’t remember
Until the last day, they forget
But then the sun sets below them
Bright orange, then they remember
A brilliant tale of earths first birth
How life sprang up from the blackness
At the call of a mighty word
They remember, they hear the call
They lift their heads to the heavens
They fly up into the sunset
Wings of silver, reflected light
The moon becomes their reflection
Dark black outlines against the stars
A spirit dying in the sky
A bright, shimmering moonlit night
The ancient air calls up a song
Now the dawn, Mandarin orange

It is November
And all the leaves face my way
Overlapping tussocks of grass
Like long forgotten hills
Dwelling in the overhang of fall

It is November
Orange ribbons hand in tatters
Patched up yellow cloaks are draped
And whisking in the wind
Then drifting to the earth
And becoming winters pillow

It is November
And there stands a lonely tower
Base adorned with red bushes
Flags no longer flying
Crouched and crippled by the frost

It is November
My feet bear down on acorns
A thousand fold
All left and forgotten
Even to the squirrels
Just a layer ‘neath my feet

It is November
The solitary pines stand solid
Near the ivy covered wall
Their boughs raise and hail the heavens
And their needles fall
As the autumn wind dances a mournful dance

It is November
Bare branches rake the cloudy skies
And scratch out their heartfelt pleas
Against cold glass windows
Seeking what they have lost and will not find

It is November
An old gate stands ajar
Beckoning to no one
Standing solidly open
Despite the cruel fall wind

It is November
Trees make colored circles
A fading gold on fading green
A fireworks display
Now falling to the ground

It is November
Cold air fills my body
Cruel wind tosses my hair
I seek a shelter from autumn
My door is open
Now I am home

The children rush in hasty hordes
Freed from desks and chairs of knowledge
They crowd the gates, and tan paved walkways
Hugging old friends goodbye they race to their busses
Or run down the street, headed to the stores
Or the movie theater, they will haunt the public areas
Long after the teachers have gone, they will run about
Downtown, in the big round mall, by the train station
They walk in pairs, they run in crowds, until
The scuffed up floors are empty now, the lockers clean
The windows shut, the doors all locked, everyone
Is at home, or far away, and still the building sits
Empty and alone, gates locked, deserted
They look at it a laugh
“We shall not return to you again! ” they proudly say
and saunter off, heads held high, in the company of friends
they do not hear the quiet answer, it comes later, when all
the streets are empty, the building answers, a dusty echo
“I will see you in September”
But they don’t look back.

Denial is a hungry feeling
Towering like a tidal wave
Its sharpened claws can send you reeling
Will power is the force to save

It claws your belly like a tiger
It bites you like an angered snake
Your sense of wanting grows e’er higher
You feel its more than you can take

It taunts you with its sickly sweetness
Beguiles you with saccharine dreams
You’re lost within its sweet caress
You find you’re on the losing team

Eventually the hammer falls
And nothing’s left of you at all.

We both caught love at the midnight train
Standing by the stations doors
Looking at the other
Separated only by glass
The seconds passed
Until with a whirring noise, and brisk announcement
The train took me with it, and left us
Staring backwards through the doors
Mouths slightly opened
Bags slipping from our fingers
The sound the wheels made as the roll along the tracks
Matched the palpitating of our hearts
And the clink of the coins through our fingers
As we attempt to calculate
How much it would cost us
To meet again

I thank you for the moon at night
and also for the stars that shine
and basking in it heavenly light
I wish the universe were mine

A midnight breeze
tosses my hair
and blows the leaves
of hidden trees
into fall air

a silver light
shines on the grass
a rabbits flight
then safe at last
at home tonight

a silver silence
speaks its presence
to the world
and in the fading, evening light
the dew drifts down
behold, the night

We see the shadows running past
and in the corners of our minds
we count the summer days till last
and the beginning is falls time
the scarlet leaves are mine

A lying word,
is something somber
Like an ink drop,
in a pool of water.
It poisons all the fishes,
that swum safely below.

The grass flickers, as the
Wind pushes it down, in
A gentle but determined
Motion, sweeping upwards to
Swirl the blue-grey clouds
Around the radio tower, before
Dissipating into the milky
Sky, which at this moment
Is the lightest shade of
Blue, an open innocent shade
Of blue, like an angelic birthday
Cake, the pinker clouds, whose
Graceful tendrils embrace the
Air, and dancing twirl across the
Peaceful summer skyscape

Down below them, the
Emerald stalks of corn stand,
Silent sentinels, awaiting the
Coming of the dawn, they too
Feel the pushing of the wind, but
Brush it off, over their shoulders,
And continue their silent watching
On the sloping sides of the hill, the
Growling pines, resplendent in their
Glimmering needles, reflect the fading
Light, off the clouds, as the sun sinks,
Beneath the horizon, and I watch them
Silently on my bike, the only thing
I can hear, is the swish of the wind,
And the hum and whirring of the
Pedals, as my bike and I, we glide up
The hill, and down the hill, and
Around the posts that are meant
To keep the cars from disturbing, this
Peaceful walking path

A while later, we crest a hill, now
Having past the town, I see the work
Of the persistent wind, the clouds
Now whipped into a curling wave,
Of pink and blue-black, spilling
Over the horizon, behind the red-roofed
Country houses, which are strangely
Reminiscent of those old, red, barns
Which would sit abandoned in
Fields of perpetual wheat, and,
Through the turning of the seasons,
Would rot away into timbers, with
No one left to remember, what
They were, or why they remain

Now we have ridden in a loop, my
Bike clicks as I change gears, to
Crest a hill and coast down, at high
Speed, between the guard rails and
The road, with the wind kicking
Up behind me and whisking an
Upcoming tree in to a fluttery
Flurry of leaves and branches, while
Below a stream cuts a field, and,
Skirting a pen, passes by a pinto
Pony, I think it was, that was just
Standing there, as we rode past,
Onto the cobblestones and around
A bend, the group splits, some going
A different route, but I want to come
Back the way I came, and I ride
Beside the highway, listening to
The chirp of the crickets and the
Hum of the wheels against the
Cold, pavement, while up the hill
The verdant pines bob their bows,
Up and down, waving, waving,
The crashing blue-black wave has
Rolled, on past the tower now, it
Is crashing down over the silent
Sentinels, and I watch quietly as
The wind rolls down the hill, and
Whirls some leaves, making the
Grass flicker in the setting sun.