in our interactions
we inevitably arrive
at a fun question:
cat person or dog?
and for once it's
good to be versatile

"There must be a death for
there to be a resurrection; 
the demise of something
in part or the whole of: 
that portion of one's being.

Only then shall we see
with eyes new as morning's first light.

Only then shall we have
reinvented ourselves: 
allow ourselves to take the first steps
laden with amnesia
of the former, forgotten self.

Come and cease to be
and let today bow to the
kiss of tomorrow's promise.

Tread upon the petals of yesterday
and smell the fragrance that
lingers, that solitary spectre, 
olfactory memory that words cannot outline.

Wound your forgiveness with the scar of remembrance.

Nothing is as sweet to the lips 
than the ashes strewn from the rising phoenix."




Copyright Frederick Kesner

Love is in the horizon, 
it sits upon the sand; 
the whispers in the hallway, 
revealing secrets grand. 

It's dancing in the rain 
and in the blazing sun; 
the mighty flowing river, 
the voice of a long lost son. 

Love is in the desert, 
in the oasis' leafy fronds; 
the racing tiny tadpoles 
in lazy summer ponds. 

It's teary airport farewells 
and walks on a moonlit night; 
the gentle flowing breezes 
that stills the frightened heart.*



●○
°

Oh, if I had a time machine
the backlog of things to do-
& work my way back to you*



●○
°

poetry has
progressively
progressed;
transforming
into an interactive
attempt at dialogue
between poet and reader
between soul and soul

while the night
fraternises with
forbidden horizons

secrets of the universe
tv-snow, static blizzard
teasing but never seen*




●○
•

it has finally arrived
the belly of night
no longer offers
dark mysteries
or mortal dread

and these million
scurrying thoughts
scour through my mind
with a deafening march
that leaves me blind*




●○
°

what I know
I breathe, I speak
no dissuading
no breath-holding
no otherwise

persuade

there upon
a ******* heap
a bloom emerges
its fragrance
perfumes life's stench



○●
°

Hear, here!
to the part of you
that no longer feels

that secret place
where a rainbow peels;
each colour fading out

then glowing in--
a time and place
where time stands still*



●○
°

rock people
marking-pen smiles
open stone-faces

rolled down
the escarpment
onto back garden

afternoons;
we are no longer
alone


●○
°

years and seasons
both, people passing
moving on, outgrowing
all too-fleeting moments
of convergence, perfect
perhaps traversing, along
parallel paths, pilgrims
on a poetic journey, home*



●○
°

years and seasons passing
persons moving on, away
from moments, perfectly
converged; perhaps still
memory sweet in time

parallel courses, across
pioneering spaces, once
again unite, wayfarers
through portals, dusks
and dawns of rebirth*


●○
°

Sunlight looms with promise, on the horizon,
casting a dappled dream upon a digital page;
much for a proverbial cup of brew or leaf,
with cherry orb on top of a dollop of cream;
whipped before an envisioned, adoring public
perhaps, then the Muse would cast its magic--
a deserved attention endowed, for a token fee
for a free flash of light, earnest wait begins;
once between dawn and dusk an opportunity
to those pledged --that it will all be worth it,
--that mere humans do come to a poet's aid.*


●○
•

breathe:

      all else

      is
        do
          wn
            wa
                rd
                     spin*


○●
°

turn your chin
lift your gaze
peer through the haze
nowhere to drop a pin

turn down the din
***** out the blaze
cheer through the craze
everywhere you look is spin



●○
°

time is a vagabond
travels along byways
across life's big pond

its ticker's a bicker--
a nagging that's thicker
than freckles on a face

its tocking reminds you
of armless, moustached pirates
that haven't got a clue



●○
°

toy soldier,
all for her
steadfast,

forever--

except for
one glaring
clerical error:

her tin heart
beats for another
toying; callous

sends him off

to slaughter; a
battler with no
shield or armour.



●○
•

backwater
paddler
none ever
sadd'yer

never seein'
th'mainstream,
hope remains
only in dreams

together,
friends forever:
man and canoe,
downstream on cue



●○
•

brioche mornings
bright, sunny
fluffy moorings

cast away

off sun kissed
horizon, ne'er set
dreams astray



●○
•

simply put:
freudulent
slips of(f) the thong



●○
°

(wedge tailed banality)

nothing
quite as blue
but I haven't
a blinkin' clue

nothing
quite as glum
as depression
on an empty tum



●○
°

bright, loud
braggadocio
bold brougham

barreling down
main street
all until

braggadocious
wheels come off
at the slightest



●○
•

perhaps I hung
around him a
little more than

that made for
awkwardness

called it hero
worship - infantile
idolatry; or just

a deep-seated
longing for the
older brother

that I never had

tall, smiling
confident;
nobody's fool

rescued me when
I released the handbrake
car flew over the pool

his mum's front hedge
was never the same again



●○
•

pre-school reminiscent,
funny how peculiar memories could be...

resuscitate
an ailing soul
bereft of starlight's

superb glimmer
and woollen warmth.  
Mayhap, stellate glow

in the stillness
of tranquil flight,
their counsel, console.

Humbly, we plea--
hymn of the night,
come and tarry awhile.*




_ _ __ ✏
○●
°

arms close in
to entwine, as
two faces fade
one into the other
washing away

all care; on fire
two voices meld
one into the other
valiant crier
all truth rings pure

clear, in the dark
of night's embrace
no longer wrong
no longer right
erases day's fright*




_ _ __ ✏
●○
°

long, top down drives
even shirtless tans
sweet strawberry kisses and
glorious watermelon stains

laughter lifting through the trees
glimpses of sun blest promises
sugar coated whispers
catching in the breeze

fruit bowls, waterholes
and refreshing icy poles
interlacing fingers share
starry nights and lazy days*



_ _ __ ✏
●○
°

as it is with tares 
that freely tower 

shoulder to shoulder 
with golding crop of wheat 
so, lurks wickedness 

seen but unrecognised 

cloaked in brille shimmer 
of genial, ambient light 

amidst our sun-kiss days 
disquieted togetherness;
spoils any utopian dream*




_ _ __ ✒
●○
°

°

sometimes indecisiveness
is just the wrongest decision
for anyone to ever make

sometimes we just have
to dive in and go with our gut
embracing whatever may result;

sometimes, apologies are enough
when things don't go your way
because it's time to do it mine

sometimes, getting first time right
is not what your life has shown
so, it's okay for me to have another go

it's only taken forty years for you
to realise you love me and be proud
perhaps another forty'll make you really care

your boomer ways are so busted
they don't work here and now
perhaps I need to find my own way

it won't break your ego to be supportive
respect is not earned but extended
perhaps you only need to trust & believe;

every time my child's heart breaks
a memory jolts this scathing parody
perhaps this curse can be broken still:

it doesn't take much to make it right




_ _ __ ✒
●○
°

▪



today's a gift, wrapped; 

            yesterday, now peeled open, 

                                tomorrow reveals





_ _ __ ✒
●○
°

when reasons
have changed, 
transformed along

with circumstances 
defined by those we
have allowed into our

             life 

shaping us 
charging us
releasing us

and giving new days
their tints and shades;
now to open up jugular 

and allow hatchets to fall 
or celestial hosts in array,
rouses breath-bound to sing.*




_ _ __ ✒
●○
°

Feet throb through well worn shoes 
after a brisk walk to central station. 
We keep our ears plugged with our beats 
to finally find seated, at furtherest point; 

Backs of heads, napes, and collars 
mushroom away, stare blankly ahead - 
polarised sunnies paint them bright; 
choked only by an assumption of gain.

And all I see is a tiny reflection of me. 
Here in my world another day begins: 
a mourning of suited, tired paramours;
in this cosmos of peopled isolation.*



_ _ __ ✒
●○
°

warmth envelops
dissolving the
bustle and noise
liquid stillness
offers but a momentary
tranquil once upon a time
it is so easy to 
drift off and forget

here the watery balm
soothes celiac rashes
a moment's reprieve
that shuts out reality
provides sombre retreat
cares float away
until unwanted thoughts
stray with blistered report

it is quite possible
through bolted locks 
to lay victim
to home invasion
for someone to play
Corday to one's Marat
a hapless victim stabbed
at home in one's bath*




_ _ __ ✒
○●
°

This is your ultimate admonition
To set perspective in proportion
Of an age old curse, set in motion
It's time to take out the tanning lotion!

Herds
at full gallop
across
verdant rolling plains

Rushing
rivers slither
rampant
to open watered seas

Astride
distant stretches
uproar
of oceans and waves

Plateau
oases stretch on
speckled sable blanket:
stars keep wishes fed*




_ _ __ ✒
●○
°

'

Once, so many years ago,
now a distant place and clime;
moments of thought and life shared,
each moved in perfect time.

Words in unison, hearts pulsed;
so intimate, each gesture,
each expression fears repulsed;
companions of great measure.

Now it seems we're worlds apart;
nothing more in common share.
The last desired thing to start,
fray last threads beyond repair.

Tomorrow bears no sunrise
with correspondent promise;
about oneself realise
quite the monster: surmise.

To let bygones be bygone,
this callow heart has not learnt;
perhaps hope had wily drawn
from past flames this quill has burnt.




_ _ _ ✒
●○
°

'

row upon row
queued up queries
poppering poplars

outstretched limbs

vigilant sentinels
ever watchful of
fickle firmament

Meanwhile

***** bursting
with plaintive
prayers, spy




_ _ __ ✒
●○
°

have ceased stretching
out for your touch
your silhouette ~

fractal scratches
on cheeks seared
by a scathing, east wind

as breath is left
stale, in regret's
sighing breeze*



_ _ __ ✒
●○
°

°

a bardsong soars as waters
soaking
my rooted, versant digits

boundless accoutrement
caressing
each, with tendrilled deftness

liquid crystals frolic
cascading
envelops my vision
                  of your solicitude

we will rise together
and float, forever
descending
into each other

until there is no breath
within music
rising
on spray roused crags



_ _ __ ✒
●○
°

°

coloured sand pours
rainbow~streaked tears
where the rains bleached
this sunburnt heart with
acid talons of your disdain




_ _ __ ✒
●○
°