with feet of clay

and how we have traveled this night
how we have lived a thousand lifetimes in these  hours\
while they wispered in desperate quiet
we sang and danced and let our hair free
your coming home to me lover
my arms and my heart ache for you

never ever leave again
with you i sail over this world with such freedom
without you my love
i am mortal with feet of clay

pennys on the pound broker the deal
we shall pay the ferryman to take us
back across the river styx
and away from the dark forboding hills

with you my love
i can defeat the world.

i lay down to rest
after the long toils of the day
and as i slipped into slumber
a ray of sunlight did touch me
and within it i did perceive
a great host of marching souls
a vast column of men in ordered lines
and the cost i knew would be wrought upon them
the price of the free
the young and the old
the brave and thouse who's stout heart
the battlefield robbed them of life
looked into their eyes
saw there my brother father friend
saw the strong and the good brave men
marching off to defend hearth and home
and as this great host passed by
with a thundering din
of marching feet
i did stand with my head bowed
and tears streaming for the young who will
be entombed in the ranks of graves of the fallen
and for thouse who came back with their lives but
never to be whole in limb or mind again
for all of us
that such a terrible price must be lain
at the alter of freedom
lest we fall to the hand of tyrants
lest we fall to the hands of the
lesser men who create greater evils
we can only hope and pray that our path
has not lead us astray
that this precious blood was not spilled for naught
that freedom has been defended
from a terrible fate

there are days when the words come
like fevered friends grasping at lapels
urgently telling the tale with gasping breath
other times they come like a sweet river in the sunshine
they flow like bright beauty
the words can ignite you or ******
like a simple phrase sweet to the ear
like her playing her guitar
melody brings the heart such joys
the concept brings such beauty
just a fragment of song
but in it i hear night caravans on high desert road
i hear autumn sunshine laying on soft grass
i see all the creation possible to me
so play a little longer
let me hear another summer day
let me find the words to my next heart's song
let me see the beauty in you

it tatters on  the edge
like a flag
but her shirt
is all black
cept the letters
which shout at you in your face real real loud
'you cant have me
motherf&@ker'
with a happy face knife in the eye

she looks at the pavement
and mumbles somthing
off tone
but my head is ringing and i cant
place her words on the paper of my head
its too soaked with rain
all thoughts a runny
and slide right on out

she grabs my collar and pulls me along
down the isle to the display case
where she points out a bracelet
she wants real real bad is
'aint that *******'
little skulls and guns in pink
like charms
just for a laugh i buy it for her
she gets a complex look on her face
and punches my arm several times
'cant pay you back for that f&#kface till i get paid'
nothing to pay back kiddo
just a chicken wing

thought id share that
for whatever it means to a babysitter
to be around a poet
in the strange world
in a florida state of mind

this tangled thought
this presence behind everything around you
even in her

nestled into the background static of the mind
its interference is on a basic level
like the screaming ringing in your ears
perceived on all levels of consciousness
you cannot escape it
it is you

you rock ion your chair in primal effort
to release
you pace and worry your hands
smoke incessant
but it shadows your every step
as it attacks your reason
as it delivers blows to your peace

it reaches mortal combat
as you toss and turn
wrestle with the blankets of your once safe bed
motion and thought become sickness
that cannot cease of their own accord

it pervades
like the scents
of death
slow and overpowering

she is yours
and yours alone
this terrible night
and alone you will remain

you took your own life
buried at the crossroad
without comfort
without your head
banished by the good graces
and alone in the forever more

forgive me
please forgive me

her pale skin is moonlight breathing
like she has an essence of celestial beauty in
the palm of her hand and
without her the sun will never rise
without her the stars themselves utterly die
like the air itself around her flowing like soft waters
gently drowning all sorrows

she held within her delicate fingers a small canister
'within this is my heart'
made of wood laced with silver threads
it was worn but still retained its strength
it had an illustration of a phoenix
she buried it in the soft soils of her skin
with four nails to keep it in place
each nail carved with fine line drawings from the astral calendar
i ran a volley of kisses quick and soft on her pale skin
hoping to set ablaze
but she passed silent while lingering one hand along my arm
like a grief for our parting

i swim up her presence radiating with careful steps
and i run one finger lovingly along her bottom lip
but cannot contain the river of images that flow there
she photographs my hearts intent with eyes that see my soul
makes still life studies of loves blooming with her gentle wet kiss
and with her soft lip sets smouldering thoughts in my lustful soul

i am the canister she has woven with silver threads
i am the phoenix arising from the ashes
after she has destroyed me with a kiss
i hold her heart gently
for without her
i am a moonless void
empty of stars
i run one finger lovingly along her lower lip
adoring the very scent of her soul on the air
like moonlight breathing

the quick natural boys run fast in the the shadows
powerful to the truths of their age
young with wet cowlick face i ran too
holding a dogeared book
of her gentle phrase
felt like the world could have been mine
gentle breeze stirring the faded leaves
and all thouse bright summer faces
who's names have now gone

so strong she took to wing
flew so high saw the sun unadorned
so beautiful this elegant one
her quick smile had no cracks
her clean eyes were full of loving joys
so like the majesty of night
softly entrance
with such gentle caress
so strong took to wing
soared above the green world
swimming in the summer skies and clouds
bathing sweetly in the heavens
with stars for jewels
with moons for toys
so beautiful elegant one

tight the young hand
on the broken book
where her singsong voice was captured so beautifully
could see the worlds mystery's
with such young clarity
she had a way about her
that explained to my young head
all the fresh young boy things i would need
to be with such a strong beauty
with such an elegant promise fulfilled
so i ran like wind
ran like compassion and lightening
fast as the summer sun
strong as winter whispers
for her
my sweet her
in my heart
while her singsong voice captured me in every way

she deliciously stirs the fire within
with her soft hot eyes
her very breath on the air becomes
an ****** invitation to delve into
the magic of her sensual essence

she slowly walks across the rose petals
to the edge of the bed
letting her clothes slip away with her inhibitions
willing and ready for
tenderness and heat
for passion and delight
ready for play and pursuit

she melts into your embrace
with a soul searching kiss
and the breathtaking beauty of
loves sweetest moments
alive with passions heat
she gives into the exquisite wrestling of your body
gives in to your will with a gasp of pleasure

each unfolding hour
it's your warmth that sustains my heart
its that light in your eyes that rushes through me
fills all my dreamings with the colors of summers day
reach out brush back a wild loose hair from your face you smile
run my lips over the edge of your tender ear
whispering sweet somethings and silly nothings
just to hear your soft giggles....
we build a home in the field
run barefoot in the tall grass
feel the wind on our faces
tread on the moss covered stones
our world is the essence of our love living brave and free
undying flame of desires heart and soul
passion enfolded in your gentle hands
tender words felt from deep within
spoken while we are exploring each other
wrapped in each others arms
******* and play long into sweet night...
find you with waking eyes
morning light upon your soft skin
each unfolding hour to come with the warm day
we will walk hand in hand the dusty trail
to the mountain top
you'll read your french romance novel
and I will drift and dream head in your lap
you sustain me each and every day
run barefooted in the rain
hold you in the pure sunshine
softly run my hands on you
release my soul into your arms
forever loving forever loved

© 2016 mark john junor all rights reserved

Standing at the edge of the lake
morning fog fading into the light wind
the forest alive with every small creature
giving voice to the rise of the sun
with each one putting its own beautiful song
into a symphony of summer...
this moment in my heart
a cool treasure from nature
a journey from sleepy places
to a joyous celebration
of the natural world

the quiet angry man
with all his jack in the box surprises
and his lonely heart songs
what lust consumes his dreams
what solace would end his crisis
his is a tale of two lives
his own and the one others would have him lead
his is a tale of two worlds
his own and the one he perceives
how can he reconcile his angers with
the peaceful world around him
would medications do the trick
would a woman's love
angry old man
striding slowly along the roads edge
balancing on the cusp
of his world and the next

midnight lived in her eye
shadows of which graced her words
with a tale of yearning to be told
one of the heat of her passions self-denied
one of heartfelt awe of the power love could hold
traveling this dark evening with naught but starlight to behold
with naught but the souls secrets to keep you warm
wrapped in the threadbare veil of the lies you tell yourself
fluttering in the ever present cutting wind
with great care unwrap the bandages of hurt you hold to your heart
with great pity unleash your hope for tomorrows dawn
it will begin with the glimmer in her dark
every soul must walk alone with midnight
before they can understand the breaking of daylight
feel its warmth with their soul
know the truth
you need never walk alone

there are monsters out there
see them on tv
people killing people
people doing unspeakable things
and they make entertainment shows
with the stories of human monsters and the terrible things they do
make epic movies about it
maybe there would be less monsters in our world
if we didn't celebrate them
if we didn't have ten shows on television about killing
if there weren't all this glorification of death
maybe we should celebrate saving lives instead of taking them
find a way to celebrate beauty not death

she is alabaster and brine
she is a faster lairs line
unwind her spooled mind
memory a keepsake in hand conquers a trinket lost
eat mandrake to the root but what the cost
unspoiled her thoughts broil in her head
steam from every seam
salty her groin but she declines the offered coin
she will reap the bliss of your salty kiss
as you bite her short hair she will sing a country tune so fair
she is alabaster and brine
a master of wasted time

truths triage could not spare him as he was
trying to look angelic on a boatload of sinners
hes chained to his uttered story despite its flaws
he wrote it with the ink of despairs wisdom
despite knowing despair will lie to you as often as its dark brother fear
he carved his fate in the slippery wet stone of his pasts deeds
and theres no escaping the truth in that mirrors face
three am in a ***** motel room
the greasy light reveals the man within
unleashes the beast
and mourns all that could have been

(((thirty six dutch girls holding hands
walk in the shadows....
thirty six dutch girls
smooth to the makeup perfection on arrival
laughing and giving peck on the cheek hello's
the crowd into the booths at the back
a noisy forest of chatter and purses clutter
thirty six slender dutch girls
powdered and perfumed
come to build a romance of the mind
every single one of them dreams vividly of
real love and wanting something better than this emptiness
this is no way to live)))

bent tens ways to sunday but never really broken
he keeps on keeping on pounding flesh to footpath
hoping to escape reason with muttered excuses
hoping to beat the dawn keep the night alive for
just one more whimsical delight
he writes his fate indelible while lying to no-one
that its just a phase he's going through
****** his chained hands at the obscured waters
but once you start down the trail of tears
only the truth will set your sight free
four am in the motel parking lot
and the birds herald a coming dawn
this is no way to live

you shined once
stirred the waters
made em all stand up and take notice
a romeo dancin in the spotlight
charmed the prettiest of the fast lane
had vanity nailed while you cherished the high-life
but it has a way of sneaking away on you
cause chasing the dream is a full time occupation
a devotion of the addiction to the limelight
and if your not careful it'll get away from you
with a quickness

suddenly you find head in hand
as dawn is creepin in one door
while the last of the fun seekers is strolling out the other
the bill is comin due and your pockets empty
spent it on one last fling but sure it was grand
you did a soft shoe shuffle that they will never forget
funny how the top of the world looks so different when your fallin from it
never know where you day is gonna take you
but it will take you

things change enough and eventually so do you
the top of the world means something new
and from the top of your molehill it don't look too shabby
settle down with another lost soul
and share a love thats real
and as you settle down end of your day with
your girl in your arms you think to yourself
came a long way
to come back to where you started from

a jaybird makes you a nightwatchmen
and you can be the leading role in your own picture show
you can write the script of your own life
peculiar as it may be
long as your happy
long as your happy

perception slowly escapes as I lay
entombed in sheets and pillows
the comforting scent of clean
serves up rememberances of childhood
helps relax into slumber

an overhead fluorescent flickers dim light
strobing the darkened room
like flashes of a summer storm
lingering on the edge of perception
miles distant
before even the rain taste can reach
before the air gets heavy

a dream rides forth
and settles in for the night

a old old man
standing in the desert
the noon sun a hammerstroke
that has no end
he wears a simple robe
leans on a thick wood staff

it is just perception
that seperates us from being a dream within a dream
and when that perception fails
they say its maddness

mumbles into his grey beard
in a long dead language
his back bent by
a heavy western wind

gone are the days the old mans family
held him close to their hearts
gone are the salad days when he was loved

now the desert has claimed him

now the desert is his lover,  friend,  his everything

in the softest sound of a hopeful heart
she awaits you
she mesmerizes with the delicate flower of her smiles
cascading down your nightly path laughing sweetly
you know shes there
and so you whisper a soft song to her
you bring into it every touch of love
every tender intensity of devotion
and caress her soul with your heartfelt desires
you tell her of bright beauty of tomorrow shared
you sing to her of the swift velvet sea where
the two of you will forever be free upon its deep waters
you sing to her of the love your heart feels
for her alone
you know shes there next to you
holding you close
close enough to breathe as one
its not just a dream
its not just the beautiful night kissing your heart
she is there in every thought your heart feels
she is there ‌every song beautiful hearts dream
sing to her now
in just a whisper
she is so close to you
you breathe as one
delicate dance of fingers on each others softest soul
sing to her of futures to be shared
tell her of all the things that you hope for
tell her that your devoted love will last forever
forever just for her
forever just for her

© 2016 mark john junor all of my poems are my exclusive property
and all rights are reserved

the crisp thoughts running
build empires outa the oatmeal of my mindset
give the girl a penny arcade
and watch her shine
give the old man a shining girl
and watch him breath
cause life is what you make it
so make out with living honey
cause it'll love ya back

the grace of night flows
depth sought in the lover's embrace
and found only when that lover has departed
and the bed grown cold
but the night spins on
and the song is unforgiving
but your drawn to it because
her face is in the words
her scent is in the guitars strings
her touch is in the feelings that flow through you
as you lay alone weeping

as the dream turns from fall to winter
snow gathers on the sill
where the girls penny arcade had lain
where her smiles had shone
now there are only footprints into the forest
into the darkness

the old man lay
his tears done
staring off into the stars wheeling thru
their own silent song
speaking their own silent sadness

lover's intwined
and he will never be the same

penny arcades never last a lifetime
and neither do shopping cart laughs

pull the blanket closer
and stare unseeing into the flames dance
hope that shadows pass
hope that just desserts are served up elsewhere
dance with a practiced aire
out the way out the steam train
rollin like thunder
down to the gates of hell
but you got caught up by a celebrating hand
and its the eternity in flames
its the barrows of cold
that your bound

pull the blanket closer
cant find warmth in the words
that fill this page with gallows image
that fill your heart with cruel memory
and you look to the east
but no dawn ever approaches this desolate place
no hope will rescue you
no lover to find you this time
no warm soul to share with
the hours

and its on this
steam train rollin like thunder
to the gates of hell
that i find you sittin
waiting for judgement
dealing out a hand of cards
its aces and eights'
and a blade
that im gonna rob ya of everything you
ever took from me
im your special place in the fiery hell
thats your punishment
to meet me here and be beaten by me

the trials of the free mind in gilded cage
reflected in the ever changing cityscape of this hovel
but even unadorned ramshackle house
has the beauty of heaven in the grace of her presence

she is the
narrow span of spoken emotional poetry
its free verse flows in her auburn dreadlocks
and in the delicate shift of her adorned wrist
its bejewelled hushed metal chatter the sounds of her bracelets
but the true verse of this eloquent breathing walking poem
is the warmth and loves that shine
in her gothic eyes

she is
ethereal and subtle creature laying
uncovered and ****** in my tangled sheets
with the whisper of sleep on her soft painted lips

a snow filled winter wind rushes in my thoughts
but it is in the silence between our spoken words
where my heart caresses each line of her beauty
and swims in the heat of her eyes entwined in mine
where her heart desires mine
where spoken truths are just a
reflection of the deeper fires of our souls
and that ultimate truth expressed in our passionate embrace
becomes the living breathing of our souls

a snow filled winter wind drifts past the window
but like the world itself
seems so distant from us
cradled in my arms
the fabric of her clothes sweetly perfumed
dance tingling across my senses
her soft breath exhaled dizzying to my heart
her words soft warm wet fill my head

a snow filled winter wind
steady against a cloud soaked sky
spills into the very edge of my mind
as the comfort and beauty of our embrace endures
this is the truth i have sought my entire life
this is the promise that i so deeply desired
her eyes capture me and for a moment we sit gazing
we have saved us
we have found us
and the love and heat of our embrace
keeps the winter wind awaya snow filled winter wind rushes in my thoughts
but it is in the silence between our spoken words
where my heart caresses each line of her beauty
and swims in the heat of her eyes entwined in mine
where her heart desires mine
where spoken truths are just a
reflection of the deeper fires of our souls
and that ultimate truth expressed in our passionate embrace
becomes the living breathing of our souls

a snow filled winter wind drifts past the window
but like the world itself
seems so distant from us
cradled in my arms
the fabric of her clothes sweetly perfumed
dance tingling across my senses
her soft breath exhaled dizzying to my heart
her words soft warm wet fill my head

a snow filled winter wind
steady against a cloud soaked sky
spills into the very edge of my mind
as the comfort and beauty of our embrace endures
this is the truth i have sought my entire life
this is the promise that i so deeply desired
her eyes capture me and for a moment we sit gazing
we have saved eachother
we have found eachother
and the love and heat of our embrace
keeps the winter wind away