on eggshells i tread
scared of my shadow
with whisper and dread
skirt unknown meadow

Frightened to step inside
loose self in the flow
fright, in corner hide,
as spirit cries, 'let go '.

'let go of the reins,
forget the world,
laugh at the pains
of getting unfurled.'

'shake off the care
cut loose the cords
rise to the air
beyond human swords.'

Cloak'd in verdant green,
Wrapp'd in royal blue
Finest golden sheen
From crown o' shining hue

Face as burnished prism
Gushing grace aglow
With acts of altruism
Rushing to and fro

Radiating hospitality
Welcome to humanity,
In tender, softness, sympathy
Kindness, good-will 'n charity.

Sweetest music o' rauschpfeife  
Fills a world aswarm
As he sows the seeds of life,
As he breathes sentient form,

Whilst in quietest corner
Soars transparent spirit
Rays o' purple adorn her
Fires of sweetest merit

In a space of nothingness
In centre of sensual emptiness
Yearns for soul of all-thing-ness
Yearns for grace of no-thing-ness

For that hidden Seed of Soul
Who treads unseen in silence
Who is the Whole that fills the hole
The place of spirit subsidence

In the darkness of the night
Far from starkness o' crass light
Wrapped in black, mind aflame,
Takes her leave, takes to flight

So these two opposing sides,
Intransigent as moon divides
Sea from sand in cyclic tides
Each with lords and angel guides

Till He saw that it was good
And so created harmony
Peace between the outer hood
And inner returning fervency.

In the beginning was disarray,
from chaos, Unnamed produced Array,
and then created another day
and Man and Woman came out to play

"My world I entrust unto your charge,
take care to not disturb the order,
Respect all life, little and large,
Aspire upwards, My son and daughter."

"prove your mettle, improve things further,
build my earth with good and virtue,
desist from any type of murther,
then none will have the power to hurt you."

"For I've made a hierarchy with you at the top,
it's up to you to keep the shop,
I trust in you, show Me I'm right,
Fill the world with love and light."

But he and her decide to experiment
in that which lies beyond their ken
and thus they cause a serious impediment
and make swift exit from eternal zen.

This tale I tell is repeated again
and again and again by all women and men,
it's repeated each year from cycle anew,
but it's end can be different: it's up to you.

tongue sharpened
deadly instrument
****** into the heart,

world is darkened
soul laments
the world it falls apart.

but 'neath the hardened
heart of insolence
there's a secret smart,

silent sobbing
a soul that's throbbing
longing for new start

look beyond
the painful jibe
the knifing diatribe

look into
his hurting heart
G-d's true work of art

we're no better
or no worse
at core we're all the same

a holy letter
or hallowed verse
of G-d's unspoken Name.

i saw their edifices, beautiful structures,
and gave a sigh of despair,
i'll never be able to manufacture
monuments of such flair

i felt a tap, tug on my sleeve
looked down on wizened man
said he, asmile, 'please believe
your skill to do what you can.'

'each day a brick you can lay
upon the ****** ground,
with dedication, day-by-day,
you'll have built compound'

'a base to build higher still,
one brick at a time,
until there rises upon the hill
a place you can call heim.'

'an edifice of your making
of which you can be proud
an edifice that's breathtaking,
soul-deep and soul-profound.'

Far away from world's metropolis
a princess ambled through opulent bliss
of father's palace, grounds and orchards,
raised her eyes to see four birds

birds of fairest plume and tail
from vantage scanned the hills and dale
forests green, pools deep blue
her father's estate as they flew through

'beasts of feather, light of wing,
speak to me in tune and sing
of your travels, your flighty wanderings
in yonder world and teach me things.'

'teach me how they churn the butter,
those who live 'yond palace wall,
tell me, set my heart a-flutter,
teach me things, great or small.'

'for i yearn to venture hence,
far from rubies and emeralds,
the smoke of myrrh, of frankincense,
the liveried courtiers, serfs and heralds'

'of father's court, though i cherish,
and love him with my heart and soul,
i long to 'scape from the garish
from the ordinance and rigmarole'.

the birds, they heard her royal cry
and swooped her up into the sky,
sailed with her through the air,
each one wing for regal chair.

away from the kingly palace,
it's velvet drapes and plush red carpet,
silver trinkets and gold gem'd chalice,
onto an edge of a village-market

Placed her gently on brown'd grass,
on scattered remnants of late repast,
paper-waste and broken glass
as two drawn peasants hurried past

Midst the noise and revelry
o' drunken soldiers and cavalry
shouting out in raucous tune
strewn on steps o' stones ill-hewn

'oh take me back to father's place'
cried the princess, tears on face
staining delicate skin and features
as she sought the feathered creatures

but they had gone and wouldn't return
for twoscore months and more,
the princess was to stay and learn
to live with longing at her core

for her father, so far from her,
for that rare 'n subtle existence
vestige of love to sustain her
as she mourned the time 'n distance

as she counted days and weeks
when once again she'd reunite
with mother's kiss on her cheeks
with father's love, her own birthright,

would berate her on her lateness,
would embrace her in their arms,
tell her of her untold greatness,
tell her of their love, her charm

tell her that no matter where,
in deepest darkness or noise of fair,
in truth her father was sovereign supreme
though unseen, he's with you there.

i heard it whispered by the wind
weeping o'er seas and land
i heard it sighed by the child
building castles in the sand

i heard it spluttered as he killed
as they fell as one unmanned
amongst the corpses as they piled
death at home in devil's land

i heard it muttered midst the trees
shivering naked in the breeze
i heard it buzzed between the bees
among the blackbirds from overseas

they'd seen him with his scythe in hand
they'd seen him threshing to and fro
they'd seen him travelling 'cross the land
with swing and strike and swipe and blow

how the mighty fell before him
weak and meek 'uns too
how their life was torn from limb
as they struggled to pull through

as they struggled 'gainst the *******
jaws of gaping hell
as they wrestled 'gainst his plucking
cord of bell and knell

as they fell into the clutches
of the scion of diablo
defenceless they 'gainst his touches
'gainst his charge on Death Row

they whispered secrets in my ear
chilling message ringing clear
better the rampage of G-d's courier
than predator of war-nuclear

better to fall into the hand of the L-rd
then the hand of man*
who kills 'n plunders with raving sword
without G-d's merciful plan

but my blindness saw as futile
the death of those five million
their suffering meaningless 'n brutal,
the adults, babes and children

but who am i to stand and judge
from my vantage here on earth
mine is but to drudge 'n trudge
till I'm too pulled to berth

there, beyond the death corporeal,
there beyond the silent sleep
beyond the clutch of snake primordial
the swing of soundless reap

i'll join the wisdom, joy supernal
beyond all peeve and pique
within the light of One Eternal,
Whose Name I dare not speak

i spied Time a long way off
bent and stooped on wooden staff
his beard too long for me to see
a figure on skyline boundary

i shouted to him at top o' my voice
but never dreamt he'd hear
it seemed i really had no choice
but travel through the years

the years they took their toll on me
the pain, the hurt, the misery,
but when i bent my head to bear
i felt no injury

at times like that i felt the joy
unspoilt timeless eternity
in that moment to enjoy
lack of personal enmity

as time stood still, beyond this world,
a taste of time to come,
then i'd forget that old man knurled
over staff o' mourning hum

but recently he seems much closer
not so nearly stooped or bent
could it be i'm getting older
approaching that wondrous event?

he winks to me and smiles assent
his beard flowing in the winds
patiently, he waits advent
o' when he'll grant me my wings.

he doffs his cap and waves to me
allowing me to see
the path i've trod, the misery
was all so necessary

Autumn brushed her golden hair
curling locks of auburn-red
as she shed the gold 'n fair
as she donned her white to wed

she swirled around for me to see
the colours cascade, as waves of sea,
her rain of auric crimson leaves
over hay and golden sheaves

and round about, upon the ground,
a scattered patchwork of earth's finest
clothes of copper, bronze 'n browns,
as befit her regnant highness

weathered skin of palest alabaster
with hints o' coral hue,
glistening dew on whitest plaster,
as cream of marbled statue

as she shed her harvest raiment
stark beauty in the sky
heady jasmine and cider scent
betray her unclad thigh

and he waited, bided time,
with snow and crystal'd silver
bedecking ice-king in his prime
still and patient Winter

wrapped himself in single sheet
of luminous, crystalline ice,
as he laid his ivory feet
on mount of edelweiss

for Autumn, she had melted
'fore his numinous gelidity
invisible she lay pelted
'neath his averous cupidity

he tapped his toe in single tone
in beat of coldest shiver
as in the moonlight, there alone
shot arrows from his quiver

darts of hail and blustering wind
his army of projectiles
hid benevolence as he grin'd
a warm, pulsating smile

for now sweet earth, beneath her blanket
of whitest, softest snow,
giveth forth roots for sumptuous banquet
sun shines on afterglow

hi there, folks
it's me here,
if i might u coax
to lend an ear

'specially those of you
who have been so kind
read my poetry through
with presence of mind

i'm on my way
for more than a day
don't know when
i'll be back again

[no, not planning
on emigrating,
i'll just be away
how long, i can't say]

can i ask you a favour
if you have the time
again to savour
my lines of rhyme

let me know
in the space below
which poems are best
stand out from the rest

and i'll thank you again
from the bottom of my heart
for being such a friend
though physically apart

My eyes have seen the gore, aye, the coming of the sword
As it ***** the village women where the grapes of wrath are stored
For they unloosed fateful lightning of Taliban's abhorred
As the West keep watching on

Tens of thousands bodies lie a-mouldering in their graves
Thousands Afghan bodies lie a-mouldering in their graves
Tens of thousands bodies lie a-mouldering in their graves
As the West keep watching on

I've seen them from the watch-towers as the babies' heads they *****
As they sacrifice on their altars old 'n helpless in their ramp
As they shout their ritiosity by their dim and flaring lamps
That their truth is marching on

Gory, Gory halleluhja
Gory, Gory halleluhja
Gory, Gory halleluhja
Their truth is marching on

I have heard the sighed-on writ of paper sophistry
That deal with his condemners by twisting history
As the demons, born of women, make ****** tapestry
As the truth is marching out

Glory, Glory halleluhja
Gory, Gory halleluhja
Glory, Glory halleluhja
As the truth is marching out

He has sounded from the pulpit that he'll ne'er regret retreat
He is giving out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat
Oh, be swift, my soul to answer, to condemn the man's conceit
For the youth are marching on

Gory, Gory halleluhja
Gory, Gory halleluhja
Gory, Gory halleluhja
For the youth are marching on

From the ***** of the armies of NATO's strategy
To train the Afghan soldiers and equip their military
The Taliban laugh loudly as others die to make men free
As the truth keeps marching on

Gory, Gory halleluhja
Gory, Gory halleluhja
Gory, Gory halleluhja
As the truth is marching on

My eyes have seen the gore, aye, the coming of the sword
As it ***** the village women where the grapes of wrath are stored
For they unloosed fateful lightning of the Taliban's swift sword
As the West keep watching on

a s sweet innocence stares
g host of blackened sin
h aunts the universe
a ttacks the soul within
s oft, gentle tiptoe
t urns to shout and blow

a nd no-one bats an eyelid
g oes to save the kid
h elps the untouched soul
a gainst the gaping hole
s ucking in the piety
t o satiate society

a ghast divinity shivers
g asps for inner light
h ungers for Caregiver
a midst the ghouls of night
s inking in black river
t he tears of human blight

"daddy's dying",
what did he mean?
daddies don't die!
don't be obscene

i looked at my father
so thin and so drawn
but he smiled with laughter
eyes like the dawn

but the dawn never came
for those smiling eyes
as G-d came to claim
his soul for the skies

we seldom appreciate
what we have or we own
until it's too late
and we're left all alone

red, the colour of crimson blood
blue, the carrying veins,
green, as colour of unripe spud
the bile of human remains

above all lies the crystal-clear
elixir o' emotions swirled,
the pearl-like diamond of heartfelt tear
that's bigger than this world

soar sweet soul
as never before
let go of sorrow
of time and morrow

soar sweet spirit
soar higher still
and stay your visit
on heaven's hill

soar divine one
you've hardly begun
you are G-d's son
G-d's only one

that's you and I
we're made of sky
so embrace what's nigh
you'll never die

who am I?
i'm the maiden in the sky,
I'm the elder with glass-eye,
i'm the young lad's alibi,
i'm the sum of all that's nigh

all these things combine
defy human's define
these lovely things are mine
and, verily, art thine.

monochrome photos
scattered haphazard
records and stereos
quests unanswered

whirlpools ****** into
fantasies that ne'er were
chambers of worldview
combine in whirr 'n blur

liminal space
'twixt fact 'n delusion
twist experience
from fact to illusion

painful emotion
adds to confusion
as concept 'n vision
unite in fusion

a cacophony of noise
projects its poise
on memory montage
on life-collage

and whisper and cozen
with devil collude
for soul's erosion
all goodness elude

Oh ** ** ** ** ** **. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
that's all they ever say,
** ** ** ** ** ** **. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
every ---*- day!

It's enough to make the snail retreat
curl up in his shell
Wishes he'd taken another street
devoid of laughs of hell

Oh ** ** ** ** ** **. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
he hears it every day
** ** ** ** ** ** **. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
chokes his life away

the pointing and the snigger
the staring and contempt
the pulling of the trigger
that starts the spirit's ascent

Oh ** ** ** ** ** **. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
** ** ** ** ** ** **. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Oh ** ** ** ** ** **. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
** ** ** ** ** ** **. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

but when you start to figure
the emptiness that's there
beneath the little snigger
beneath the look and stare

the absence of all lucid thought
or vestige of intelligence
as alcoholics of red port
lolling with belligerence

might gasconade or fulminate
devoid o' logical thinking
in egregious display of hate
of self in wanton drinking

then you start to wonder
who's the bigger fool
it's you for going under
from taunt or ridicule

so next when you encounter
the sniding, sneering crack
don't let it be a downer
just straighten up your back

there's nothing there to mind
save the empty air
that fills the deaf and blind
to soul divine and rare

so throw back your head and laugh
at the silliness in the scare
and watch the devil flee like chaff
like deer in headlight glare

Oh ** ** ** ** ** **. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
** ** ** ** ** ** **. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Oh ** ** ** ** ** **. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
** ** ** ** ** ** **. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

sliding down the gutter
sparkling pearl of rain
faster than camera shutter
its flowing down the drain

lost forever drop of blood
once as pure as snow
now intermingles with the mud
with iridescent glow

hermit, stranger, hides his face
in his mother's apron,
spirit, soul, of nameless grace
other-worldly patron

boots composed deriding eyes
trample overhead
and inner spirit withers, dies,
and now is lying dead

defenestration of all that's good
by world blacker than pitch
tainted saint of boyhood
lies defenceless in the ditch

it's no fun to hear my bones creak
feel my back give way
here and there a twinge and squeak
as i climb stairway

chorus:
pass the WD-40 spray
lubricate my joints
if you take my aches away
you'll earn some extra points

there's a rainstorm in the air
grandmother used to say
as she'd sink into her chair
her legs giving way

chorus:
pass the WD-40 spray
lubricate my joints
if you take my aches away
you'll earn some extra points

no denying, i feel it coming
Sir Age is knock a-knocking
impatiently his fingers strumming
on me under-stocking

chorus:
pass the WD-40 spray
lubricate my joints
if you take my aches away
you'll earn some extra points

there's little fun in getting weak
but we can't turn back the clock
so instead turn other cheek
and hope my jaw won't lock

chorus:
pass the WD-40 spray
lubricate my joints
if you take my aches away
you'll earn some extra points.

he leant down and tousled the hair
of young son, unaware
of father towering high above
showering him with love, with love

preoccupied, boy didn't react
to paternal act of love
so father's hand made fresh contact,
and gave said son a loving shove

till finally, he lifted his eyes,
and looking up he saw the skies
there he recognised the wondrous wise
sparkling tenderness of father's eyes

there he found his father's smile
sweeter than angelic beguile
father saying, 'its been a while,
let's sit together and reconcile'.

dissect the flower, analyse its beauty
listen for heartbeat of soul,
they quash the essence through academic duty
and say they've reached their goal

spirit's illusion, it cannot be,
it shows not up on graph or tree
beauty, a fantasy, ape-evolution,
guilt and merit, states of confusion

and so they educate their world-leaders
their politicians and news-readers
their children and their teachers
church-goers and their preachers

the world's an accident, matter of opinion,
as is the lollygagging of cryptic religion,
then they're surprised, feign outrage
as world fills with killing, **** 'n rampage

raucous music fills the air
loud images shout
jarring sounds of "i don't care"
fill the streets about

bromide for the masses
dulls enfeebled senses
as the Jews in gases
abandoning defences

breathing **** and lewd for food
***** for the multitude
constant noise blocks out dispute
till you're lying destitute

he watched the tea in rapture
as the milk in swirling spiral
as the curling column'd vapour
fought in vain for its survival

wraiths numinous dissipate
could not would not participate
in wretched game o' nature's abuse
placing world in hanging-noose

so he downed the tea
spirit long gone
as Zyklon-B
couldn't hang on

now nothing's left
of brown micturition
passed through gill-cleft
in natural tradition

-                               your goal                 your hereafter                       
                depends on intent                    'neath heaven's rafter
        of your soul                                           is made by your actions
    the ascent                                                         and sweet reactions
                                      your love and smiles     
                                    to life's kisses and trials

the tender heart was open
sensitive to the touch
now in blood it's chokin'
can only take so much

the predator stands at point of vantage,
back to the wall to its advantage
eyes sweeping the world its stage
anxious to take its next hostage

perhaps as child they were bitten and hurt
kicked in the dust, trod in the dirt,
so they learnt to **** before they're hurt
rather than softly self assert

can they be blamed for being the wolf
when inside they're terrified of being stepped on
of being putted as a ball in golf
into dark hole, where they're dead and gone

so they kvell to see their victim fall
as they stand alert, with back to the wall,
it's their ******, their cortisol,
'cos inside is bitter, poisonous gall.

i rattle the bars of my cage
prowl back 'n forth with inner rage

but the metal is mirage
mind construct, subconscious montage

imprisoned by my vision
hear echoes of derision

a ****** of indecision
failing in life's mission

who is the mighty one?
he who conquers his impulse
his passion to overrun
with aversive repulse

the nimrods who hunt
with affront to confront
us lesser runts
with sneering grunts

have no real strength
or inner gold
only comes at length
of rejoinder withhold

"stand up straight!" she said,
"do not slump!" she cried,
i couldn't less have cared
for all she tried and tried

but now i understand
those well-meant words of wisdom
for if you stand up grand
you'll feel a king - not victim

this world will throw you curveballs,
and people are not angels,
so stand as if you've strong walls
within those gentle facials

your meekness keep within
before your own Creator
and smile at friend and kin
be not fazed by your hater

this world's no ballet arena
for a prima ballerina
it's a place of spiritual warfare
so stand strong and don't despair

to win the inner battle
you have got to be strong
a smile and seeming chuckle
will ease the way along

so while you're working on inner calibre,
don't forget that outer pose,
it'll help unsheathe your inner excalibur
if you garnish your self-repose

its girth was wide five hundred years
its arms stretched up to the skies
beneath its branches a world appears
with beasts and fish and flies

it brought succour for millions,
the strangers and civilians,
beneath its shade green grass blades
'twixt bluebells in the glade

its succulence gave cornucopia
luxurious utopia
full fruits of every variety
all bursting with vitality

fresh water flowed beneath its boughs
pure and sweet and clear
it quenched the thirst of young and old,
the far-flung and the near

and in its trunk lay secret gold,
a sawdust to be prized,
it housed the life of worlds untold,
within its bark disguised

one day with saw black hooded man
made one nick, a small 'un,
and from the midst of golden wood
flowed nectar bright and good

and man begot a friend
till nick became a chasm,
as they carried on the trend
with cold enthusiasm

from round about came small voice
telling them to quit
while they still had the choice
but they couldn't care a whit

it's only a small mark
we're making in the bark,
this tree will stand forever
no need to stop endeavour

and each year they sawed deeper
into the depths of tree
until one day they saw the reaper
rubbing hands with glee

with horror they did jump away
away from living tree
but now the trunk did wave and sway
it teetered dangerously

we'll do no more, we'll stop the cut,
they cried out in effusion,
but the case was closed, closed and shut
with no other conclusion

the tree came crashing down,
its leaves and boughs and branches,
no more did it wear its crown
no more its fruits advances

and darkness spread over the land
desolation for five hundred years,
abject misery fanned by hand
of those who cry no tears

in penetralia of my heart
lies forbidden lust
that as i grow becomes a part
a victim, naked, trussed,

from time to time i hear it cry
its needs to be heard
but i must flee and let it die
lest my mind be blurred

lest i be ****** into its whirlpool
lest i drown within its nectar,
for at its centre sits laughing ghoul,
soul-collecting spectre

his right hand me beckons near
in left a single spear
with nimrodian face sneers 'n leers
with sly wink, snuffs out fear

yet at its root is strongest yearning
a thirst for immaterial
no doubt the ghoul'll keep returning
'til i embrace ethereal

the sky was azure
blue and pure,
the air was light,
untouched.

at break of day
when angels sing
when pixie, fay,
still fearless swing

amongst the harebells and the snowdrops
beneath the moss-lined wall
in liminal state, when world has stopped
when silence is its shawl

i ventured out onto the moor,
towards the river bank,
there I saw great beasts in tour
heads hidden as they drank

a host of ancient dinosaurs
sauropods fifty grouped
gigantic reptiles, herbivores,
their long necks steeply stooped

betwixt the sand and pebbles,
framed by trees of yore,
i saw that gathered 'ssemble
on edge of hallowed shore

but when i neared the mise en scène
behold a change took place
for in their place by field green
Canadian Geese took chase

And, as one mind, with charm and grace,
they fled those banks of water,
as they set sail from place with haste
away from scare of slaughter

and now, each time i spy a goose
i think of that occasion
when in their place i saw let loose
an antediluvian invasion

a child in the cupboard wails,
locked inside his wardrobe,
cries the tears of unknown gales,
hides from human probe.

that same child is still crying,
tears of empty yearning,
that same child's slowly dying
as the world keeps on turning.

long fingers from the shadow
grasp at him from behind,
tentacles, voices, eyes that grow,
haunt his day and mind

he walked along cracked, parched earth,
stick in hand, bent over,
gone were the dreams of youth and birth,
gone was resilience and fervour.

life had ****** out all vitality
no tears could be wrung from his heart
all was dry, all banality,
how he longed now for fresh start.

too long he'd walked along perfection,
not stepping on someone's toes,
too long ignored his own connection,
had fallen on his nose

he had laid himself wide open
to pink and pinch and ***** and punch,
now he saw the path a-slopin'
heading for final crunch.

he saw a rope, a saving line,
but had no strength to reach it,
so slid he down steep incline
his life and blood long-leeched

and now, at end, at finish-line,
he walks a crooked walk,
he cares no more for life's decline
nor those of crooked talk

there's a veil flappin' beckonin',
he knows now he must go,
he knows there'll be a reckonin'
for his play in the show

but he's had enough of fakery,
the double-talk and sham,
he welcomes break from apery
the falsehood and the scam

and as he neared his last few days,
his step 'came spry 'n sprightly,
for he could hear the songs of praise,
the sun that shone so brightly

for from the mist came love and truth,
a smile he used to dream of,
so he skipped to that new-found youth
and left the world that seemed of

Light, unending beauty,
soundless music shattering ears,
your chords, soul of rainbow strings,
play golden melody of moving spheres,

in beatitude, let me bow
pronounce in happiest tears
a benediction, blest art Thou
O Creator of Light and Years

sun shines bright
in sky within
unending height
surrounded by skin
earth and leaves
of heart's desires
rustle in breeze
of spirit's fires
and dreamer dreams
life without screams
when all proclaim
G-d's inner name
when misery dissolves
in His absolve
in abject admission
of world condition.

ding, ****!
I'm here
lub-dub,
the sound of fear

lubbedy-dubbedy
aint it queer
you're frightened of nobody
nobody's here

they can do
nothing to you,
lub-dub,
give 'em a snub

you can put
foot after foot
walk your path
without fear of wrath

lub-dub,
aint it sweet
to hear the club
of my heartbeat

i stand before You
lift my eyes
and you tie my head
unto the skies

but men who hide
their eyes from you
have no guide
inkling or clue

of why they're above
the beast on four
why you might love
your world evermore