~

It is within this rock I sit

Encased in regret

Solidified by guilt's mortality

Hurt friend’s pain and sadness etched

Dead for all sense and purpose

Shifting on ancient sand’s sorrow

Blistered by dire gale forces breathing

Stoic between cracks in the facade

Weathering at rapid paces of mistaken footsteps

A mausoleum of loneliness

Branded with hot iron’d weepings

Deafened of heartbreak earthquake tremors

Hammer and chiseled contaminates

Crushed bits of worthless rubble

Scattered in sincerity's anguished apologies

****** by stupidity…



                                        …dust on the wind

Within
A realm of fantasy
My mind it takes control
Painting pictures
Photographs
Prepared within the soul

Imagination
Plays its hand
Cautions cast the style
What I see
Is what I am
And will be for a while

Perception
Leads a blinded eye
To where the path begins
For the moment
I shall wait
Right here so deep within

Morning glows
upon wishing eyes
across dew drop horizons
and tree line kisses,
warming my heart
as my dawning thoughts
turn towards the beauty...

Another day begins
with smiles, with love,
with you...

~


Unravel the night as it nods off
to become a wall of darkness
until the sun looks into your eyes
once again
and you feel the light of truth

Then tell me what is real
among the promises we have made
and why the blood running through our veins
speaks of us, and only us
as our hearts are seduced

Shall we continue to live on the edge
where each breath we take
challenges our bodies to become
harmoniously in control
and one with each other

For as our hearts do speak
of the need to see each other's face
and how love's flame burns
within our eyes, we dream of destiny’s
touch upon our soul

Reaching for the light, truly shining
on our hearts and of our faces
to open the eyes of those who do not
see or know,
exposing our love for what it is

So take me unto this light with you
to play as children in the snow
to love as adults within the driving passion
taking us deeper into the realm
of love unhidden, exposed

~

I can hear the birds singing,
but I can’t see them
Calling for the sun to rise
from dark branches scraping the sky
Full of life they sound
perched high above the speckled lawn
Clinging to sticks, crooked and bare,
formed of countless years trying
and mistletoe nightmares

Melodies bridge the breeze,
lonely corn fields of narrow rows
and a garden of sleeping blooms...
life waiting to be reborn
to paint the landscape with color
Bringing happiness to the birds
singing anyway on the cusp of new,
the edge of beauty near
as northern horizons wake

Grey skies still cling the heavens
I listen, quietly to this music
as if their harmonies will lift
the loneliness from my heart
Chambered worries of what will come,
pulsating rivers in free flowing vistas
counting minutes until spring arrives
and I whisper a sad good bye
but I will return…I will return

+

Canterbury crimson
On the plot that stands the rim
Beckoning the lonely souls
Oh please do come on in

Find a feast that’s waiting
Drink until your fill
Kick those shoes across the floor
Spit along the spill

Everyone is happy
Can’t you see their smiles
Torches burn the shadows through
Some have come from miles

Dance among the ruins
Yes, your life is there
Fall into the dark abyss
We’ve so much more to share

Crawl the crooked hallway
Feel the pain increase
Blistered skin and fractured bone
Oh well, to say the least

Chains are always ready
Locks are rusted tight
Forget about the sunrise spell
Just make it through the night

There’s no use in crying
It’s music to our ears
Melodies of freakish song
Lyrics penned in fears

Find the darkest corner
Make yourself at home
Hell accepts most anyone (even poets)
You’ll never be alone

Feathered mist does gather at my waiting
Melodies, now dance about my brain
Found of times the hours are negating
Dreaming of your beauty once again

Feel your touch, my skin it does remember
Softer still, the moonlight in your eyes
Days before, in shadows of December
Breathing comes as lonely filtered sighs

In my dreams, I see we are together
Running free, the wind upon your hair
Soaring high like two birds of a feather
Heavenly, I pray I find you there

Standing here, my eyes they search the meadow
Of the snow now flowing in the view
Silhouettes, my heart it tends to follow
Here I cry, it seems I always do

~

Sluggish, my eyes barely focus,
headlights seem faint
through this cracked windshield
in heavy traffic, bending lanes
with detour signs collecting travelers
like gas station snow globes,
displayed in between blurred white lines

Monstrous *** holes shake me awake
from the thoughts crawling
deep within a weary mind,
a casualty of a night to forget
which will not soon be forgotten
as digital numbers, glaring red
catch my eye and I see…5:38

Darkness engulfs the cab of this truck,
dash lights cringe and flash hypnotically,
out of round tires draw skid marks
on a lonely winding pavement
As my feet fall through the floor boards,
scraping on glass shard encrusted asphalt
bleeding beyond the speed limit

White knuckles grip the wheel
while doors become giant guillotines,
slashing at faux leather seats, exposing rancid foam leaking
battery acid on the engine’s severed heads
Everything begins to spin, losing control,
a bright flash and I shift to see…5:39
and the sun comes out presenting a beautiful day

~


Painting a picture of porcupines playing
Pincushions out in the field
Purple and pink for this playful perception
Plans of their purpose revealed

Painful endeavors of pacified pranksters
Presenting a pie at their place
Pecan or pumpkin, pickle, pineapple
Pieces are smeared on their face

Putting the paint on some powder puff paper
Pleasure in each stroke is plied
Pausing to peer at the porcupines playing
Prancing in pansies they hide

Puzzling problems with pretzels and peanuts
Posturing people to prove
Pistachio perfume in prime presentation
Preaches that peaches will move

Polishing pastels on pre-printed pages
Prized the possessions we seek
Paisley the plumes of a peacocks posterior
Portraits now come take a peek

Pampering piccolos play the piano
Pure as a pelican’s prayer
Picking a parcel of plum flavored pudding
Poetic prose fills the air

Pleats in my pants shout in proud proclamation
Puddle my pores they perspire
Poodles on playgrounds prevent prosecution
Plotting my hearts pure desire

Passion precedes every past tense of parting
Piled with a presence so true
Painting a picture while purposely dreaming
Promising my love to you

Chauncey was a gardener
At least that’s what was said
His roses were his masterpiece
A perfect shade of red
Petals always perfect
Satin was their feel
Appearing artificial
Though every one was real
Every day he tended
The weeds he’d bend and pick
His plants they stood so straight and tall
Aided by a stick
Bound with fabric wire
Green about the stem
He would gaze for hours
He was so proud of them
Surrounded by such beauty
Still something was amiss
He loved his precious flowers
On a wondrous day like this
But in his heart was lacking
The affection he required
He was a lonely gardener
Now growing in desire
Until the fateful morning
When up his path she walked
Captured by her smile
He could hardly talk
A very special woman
Had come into his life
He was very certain
He’d make this girl his wife
His heart was filled with happiness
Beneath the skies above
For Chauncey was a gardener
And Chauncey was in love
Her beauty was so precious
From her head down to her toes
When he looked into her eyes
He saw the perfect rose
Every day was special
In all that they would do
She told him that she loved him
He said, “I love you too.”
His heart was steady beating
His smile grew so wide
As if a wondrous garden
Was blooming deep inside
The fragrance overwhelming
The colors bright and new
He found it hard believing
That all of this was true
There was one little problem
They lived so far apart
The missing, it was growing
Tearing at her heart
She promised she would love him
Until her dying day
But it was getting harder
He lived so far away
Then he received a letter
From the one he did adore
She told him she was sorry
But she needed so much more
He pleaded “reconsider”
He loved her oh so much
She said that she believed him
But missed his loving touch
Dark clouds started forming
So black upon the sky
He found that he was all alone
His garden it had died
He looked on wilted blossoms
Fading quick to brown
Nothing much was beautiful
Growing from the ground
Weeds as tall as buildings
Thorns to rip his skin
He locked up tight the garden gate
He’d never tend again
He sat beneath an oak tree
For months it seemed to be
When sprouting from the soil
A spot of green to see
He watched as it was growing
It seemed to call his name
It wrapped around his ankles
Out in the pouring rain
When a shadow formed behind him
The sun began to glow
A figure was approaching
Someone he did know
Closer it was moving
There before his eyes
The plant that wrapped around him
He suddenly realized
She had come to find him
Her heart broken in two
She told him that she loved him
He said, “I love you too”
She said that she was sorry
But she was just afraid
Fear of getting hurt again
The decisions she had made
He promised he would love her
Forever and a day
She did not need to worry
He would not go away
He wants to only love her
And make her life complete
Her love was oh so perfect
His lonely heart did meet
And then just like a miracle
Because his love she’d chose
Out there in his garden
Bloomed a perfect rose
Sparrows started singing
The skies a lovely blue
He told her that he loved her
She said, “I love you too”

~

Within the raindrops calling,
to believe this message true
Now drenching from the skies above,
my every dream of you

To carry me along my way,
wherever I may go
Clouds may gather overhead,
still I love you so

The sun has gone to hiding,
I stand here unafraid
For love shall paint this dreary view
and bring it back today

No matter what the weather
I dance among the rain
As hours turn to minutes,
to hold you close again

I splash amongst the puddles
which form along the street
I swim in the affection of
this love you send to me

Now shouting to the heavens
between the drops above
Bring upon me what you will
for I have found her love

Lightning bolts nor thunder
shall my heart deter
Living for each moment
I now spend with her

So bring your scattered showers,
your wind so laced with chill
For her love lives within my heart
and it forever will

~

Here in my arms I hold you, soothe you
Tightly, to never let go
Warmth to comfort sorrow
Safety for I shall not let anything hurt you

“All that I am I give in hopes of your smile”

As tears fall on wrinkled sleeves
Weeping eyes dried if only temporary
Close to me, within my grasp
Rest my love, soundly between minutes passing

“As times disappears, my love for you is steadfast”

By your side I will remain
No matter the moments of fear, worry, emptiness
I will be your strength, lean on me
For nothing will challenge my stance

“Weakness will not deter this affection I have for you”

Broken hearts, shattered pieces mingle with sad memories
If I could change places with the one you lost, I would
Freely fall to dark places, leave the sun behind
So that your happiness may return

*“For my life is nothing, without your joy”

~

Darkness now my only friend
As I sit here and dream again
That everything somehow will turn out fine

I fought the feeling all night long
My hopes and dreams would all be wrong
When come tomorrow morning I would find

My world it would come crashing down
As silence is the only sound
And loneliness does stare me in the face

Where happiness itself once stood
I find that it is gone for good
As blindness takes my visions to erase

The future once was shining bright
Albeit by a candle’s light
The flame would flicker swiftly in the air

But now that flame has gone away
To burn for someone else’s day
Its loving light another now can share

For now I look into the past
Of memories my mind does cast
And think about the good times that we had

A smile forms where it was not
of these good time I had forgot
to realize that they weren't oh so bad

I thought for sure this love was real
At least inside my heart did feel
That anything it soon would overcome

So what, the miles in between
You are the answer to my dream
In darkness you would be my rising sun

Alas my words were not enough
And when the going got too rough
The love I guess was not so very true

For true love it can conquer all
If it is real it shall not fall
This love will never end I have for you

So now I have to sit and wait
This day I can’t communicate
Through some all seeing power up above

And if this day you wake and shout
To find that you can’t live without
Forever here you’ll find my waiting love

~

Beneath a glowing chrysanthemum moon
I ponder the future intense
Counting each star that my eyes they do see
A’ shine in this nighttime suspense

Drawing on visions alive in my heart
Counting my blessings so true
Outlining shadows that dance on the ground
Forming a thought from a clue

Here on the grass of a neatly trimmed field
The world moves a bit as I stare
Memories found that we not yet have met
Days soon to come we will share

These are the dreams of your amorous poet
Out as the night wind does flow
Promising truth high above all this wisdom
Off in the distance to show

Praying that you shall reflect off this moonbeam
Touched by the light of my love
Sent from the heart of a desperate endeavor
Rains from the night sky above

Loneliness brings with it determination
Fight till I no longer breathe
Clapping my hands hoping magic will happen
Some things I tend to believe

Soon in the year of decisions decided
Until the end of all time
I shan’t let go when I find you are waiting
*Locked in my arms ever mine

~

Awash in the shadows
Unknown disbelief
Her smiled reminders
No sign of relief

The message she's holding
Clutched tight in her hand
Escapes from the nightmare
She can't understand

Where love hides the promise
Now kept all alone
With tears slowly forming
If only she'd known

The stains on the mirror
Paint lines on her face
Replaced by the sorrow
Her heart now does trace

Her dreams of forever
Now long to be kissed
The feel of the razor
Held tight to her wrist

The pain burns a' fire
Her life, what the cost
With nothing remaining
Of what she has lost

She stares to the heavens
And pleads for a sign
Her heart it has broken
The very last time

Does she or doesn't she
Only she knows
With darkness engulfing
A long shadow grows

~


Here beyond the sandstone crease
Long beneath this fractured fault
I take my bow as tears do cease
Collected in a cardboard vault

Dreamt of moments spent like this
Where the sky does touch the ground
Lost in the horizon’s mist
Following a whispered sound

Walking long of nights and days
Breathing in the feathered air
Changing course in mad display
Seeking but a simple care

When your hand appears the light
Shining down of softened beam
Cast aside and to the right
Read my thoughts of which I dream

Take me from this cautioned place
Show me bright un-faded land
Lead me for I long to trace
Every line upon your hand

As I feel my heart does beat
Now that you have led me strong
With a love I must repeat
Hold me close and hold me long

This may be my dying part
But my life is now fulfilled
Your have breathed into my heart
*And my every fear is stilled

Her pain…
My knees are blistered
Hands clenched, white knuckles
My thoughts echo in my head
Over and over
Can’t you hear me…pleading

Her pain…
I’ve carved initials in imaginary trees
Wrote poems in fresh blood
Cried for no reason…yes reasons
My breath is heavy on my chest
I stare up…up…up

Her pain…
I am weaker, yet still strong
Singing promises in off tempo phrases
Drowning in sanded fears
Clutching my heartstrings
Dreaming nightmare blemishes

Her pain…
I have done the best I can
Smiled when I couldn’t
Laughed as I frowned
Collapsed against my well wishes
Screaming to the heavens

Her pain…put it all on me, all on me, all on me, all on me

~

A heart so fine in charcoal skies
of breath my mind does see
This captured feeling locked inside,
alone as to believe

For what shall come of morning tides,
along the wish filled shore
In seashell decorated time
to want your love once more

What sent this ship of harbor dreams
to sail a course so lost
As currents bide my every whim,
now simplified the cost

When once the sunrise happiness
did take a weathered turn
For but a few words offered up
in lessons I have learned

My sails, the moon’s reflective light,
does glow an empty grin
Atop the wave’s deserted flight
to want you here again

For this shall be my journey true
in aimless rambled roam
If I have not the love of you
I sail these seas alone

Of courses kept in lock and key,
an island beach does call
Upon this deck on bended knee
Amidst the darkened squall

As life will raise its mighty hand
of you that I do seek
Collapsing firm upon this man
in testaments of weak

Come set these chains that hold me tight,
my body craves the pain
As on these seas of bright moon light
I cry within the rain

When time does dance and hours pass,
I plead these charcoal skies
Explain to me how this can be
in scenes before my eyes

“Take me home,” my heart does call
begin this journey new
For I now live a nightmare’s creed
without the love of you

~

Parched and dry, this barren field stretches,
I wander…head hung low,
staring at the emptiness eclipsing my thoughts
Brittle blades of grass disappear beneath
my worn out Chuck Taylors,
black and white crushing beige
in slow fashioned footprints ~ blistered dust

“My sanity for some cool water”

When upon my shoulders, reddened by solar intensity,
wet from exerted energy, comes a breeze
as if Autumn has come to claim her colors,
to gather her brown and sepia landscape,
pull the lifeless trees, with little leaf
from the chalk textured ground
taking it where it would suit another ~ for this is my luck

“Take my shade, I beg not, for it is merely a branch”

Like fingers of a silken web’s reach,
a soft caress of skin is not understood, though very pleasant
nature finds me a shiver, a small comfort in this arid place
once crawling with snakes of assorted length, now
green as if lush has just been defined
with sweet air and pomegranate skies
featuring a glow, pristine shades of which I’ve never seen ~ heavenly

“To whom might I thank for such a gift?”

When before me stands, my eyes saturated and lost
slowly focus on beauty, winged loveliness now smiling within my own
personal oasis, which quickly forms in my heart
An angel, a goddess, extends a hand…to me?
My cracked and weathered palm touches, smooth, gentle
her hand as she lifts me, I am weightless, floating
to her, my breath leaves me as I wonder ~ is this my end

“If this beauty shall be my final curtain, let it drop slowly”

A voice of velvet speaks, as I fade in and out of reality
and steadied by her touch, in the sweet scent of lavender and lime,
“I have come to you as a verse, for poetry is thy keeper,
thy words have been heard,” lyrical this voice sings
melodic and harmonious, rhythm’d to the beat of my heart
the race of my pulse, the love of my life ~ my angel

*“Eternal to you I shall write, for your beauty fuels my pen”

~

O’ blustered winds - of coarseness flow
Upon these lips atone
Yon murmured fields of slowly strolled
To quest as if unknown
Lest I call these visions deemed
A’ crying o’er the heart
Breadth o’ mine own eyes hath seen
Nor fancied o’ thy part

It hath been of sorrowed sleep
O’ cast of humbled dreams
That I, for one ~ hath felt the thrill
A’ wash of what it seems
For as with all ~ who’ve angels smiled
And to the long of mind
Within my heart thy taste is real
Of you that I now find

For thee, I say ~ I now must weep
Thy joy engulfs my soul
To breathe is lost from what I see
This heart o’ my control
Happiness doth shed these tears
‘Tis moisture meant to show
O’er all that I hath known this past
My heart doth love thee so

I pray that I shall not awake
Yon beauty calls my sleep
For if mine eyes should find the sun
I fear that I shan’t keep
This love angelic I hath found
So forged this slumbered dream
As is each day ~ of years to come
Your love doth come to me

To the poets on HP,

I wanted to use this space to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone on HP. Whether you celebrate the holiday or not, we all have many things to be thankful for if we just take the time to look. I personally am thankful for each and every one of you who share your poetry with me and read and enjoy my work.  I am very thankful for all of the kindness I have been shown on this site. I appreciate it so very much.

I hope your day is filled with family, friends, happiness and many things to be thankful for.

Jack

~

I cast my eyes towards the sun,
beyond the darkened fence, the fielded midnight thoughts,
watching, through clouded images, knowing eventually
I will witness the birth of a new day

I reach with my smile in a curved line
seeking a destiny still unknown but written
in verses of future phrases,
which will come to pass…in multi-colored inks of affection

I send my heart on waves of scented mist,
collected from the corners of my world,
flowing free from silent words and favored gestures
of desire’s endless intentions

I hand my love to nature, freely, willingly…
so that it may be delivered amidst
blooming jasmine and truer promises…to you,
before another dawn’s light finds your beauty and you awake

I cast my eyes towards the sun…yet I seek not its light,
nor its warmth…for all I seek is you

~


Lying here between the folds of an uncaring sheet
A wind chime blustery morning calls me from slumber
Tracing shadows on dark walls through desperate eyes
Counting minutes on a clock’s reflective markings

Rain drips from altered eaves steadily, slowly falling
In syncopated patterns on damp grass clippings
Teasing my mind in the endless possibilities
Of what my desires, even at this hour plead

Your image finds me, still and silent
Questions come in long sentences
Breaking down dreams of distant church bells
Wondering if we truly could be, together

Will you ever find love again, could you
In the arms of one who imagines your beauty
Tastes your lips in midnight thoughts
Feels your skin on chilly twilight sighs

Of this I write, not because it is who I am
But because it is what I was meant to be
Poetically entwined, metaphorically wrapped
Draped upon your heart in phrases of collected verse

Read aloud as a smiling sun approaches
Whispering your name over the horizon’s wonder
Echoing of this affection that drains my soul
And longs to breathe you for the very first time

From my pen flows desperate ink
In lace-like frilly fonts of an italicized nature
Curling around these words penned in the dark
*Hoping you see, hoping you read, hoping…………