I often try someway to find
To tame the rioting in my mind
They’re all gone -those dear to me
None left to listen-none to see

So who’s to know what lies beneath
Unseen where anguished torrents writhe
Born of a choice I made one day
That’s left me alone along my way.

There was a time when I was free
And smiled at whatever I could see
Waiting  for that moment’s call
When deep in love I would fall.

I turned and sudden she was there
The vision that left  me unaware
Of everything and everyone
Radiant as the smiling sun

I lived  each day and each night
Waiting only for her sight
Till the day she took my hand
Said she was going to a distant land

I tried but could not make her stay
She said she had to find her way
It had been nice, the time with me
But now she needed more to see.

Its decades now- but  still I wait
My gaze fixed upon my gate
With a hope that I will see
Her smiling -coming back to me.

I kneel on sultry nights to pray
Lost songs to lead my mind astray  
Reason resides in a distant land
Emotion's realm is close at hand

Sensuous thoughts on their own
In quiet tones the darkened room adorn
Bright sparkling eyes, sudden muted feel
Entrapped, transformed, haunted, still

Tumultuous silence frames a lingering touch
Shy fingers tremulous fleeting brush
Smiling lips sudden are gravely etched
Restraint, by unshackled senses stretched

Perchance a truant spoken word
Repentant flees, unheeded and unheard
The gossamer touch of drifting fingers felt
On naked arms and legs, a straining breast

Unguided, instinctive, their path is marked
Awakened feelings by feeling touch are sparked
Rapturous eternity knows no tide or ebb
Ensnared in a magical passions web  

No music, yet lilting notes entreat
Joy's songs this languorous spell to greet
A distant flute the silence softly graces
An emboldened tongue a lover's lips embraces

And hands that ere could scarce believe
Their power – in caress now relieve
Yester fears – Tomorrow's hopes are born
The heart of its fading memories shorn

No earthly thought dares be so rude
On such sacred moments to intrude
Just Silence in Silence's womb is born
Night's fabric by no morn is torn

I've oft in lonely moment sought
Such nights to hold, and felt distraught
As morn's light the lingering star chases
In sad retreat the unearthly spell erases.

Lazy   mists   o'er   mountain   peaks   are   raised
Nature's   touch   a   rejoicing   world   has   graced
Kissed   by   the   pallid   lips   of   regret
Tomorrow's   dreams   on   yester   grave   are   placed.

Wet   eyes   a   million   lights   reflect
Where   a   few   have   shone- so   does   past   regret
Pain's   moment   to   everlasting   pain   transform
And   joy's   songs   to   dirges   turn   through   neglect.

I   raised   my   eyes   and   the   Heavens   in   crescents   ­shone
Like   Halo'ed   flowers   ******   brides   adorn
Angels   chorused-   my   mortals   ears   had   heard
With   Autumn's   breeze,   my   Spring   blooms    have   blown.

Passing   fancies   by   friendship's   name   are   known
And,   in   passing,   past   ties   disown
Love's   words,   though,   in   soft   memory'll   linger
Come   night   –   each   alone   the  day   shall   mourn.

The raindrop's ******, ever so light,
The dancing moonbeam, playing at night.
The gentle caress, not the tightened hold,
The fleeting glance, not the staring bold.

Not the blinding sun, but the candle's glow,
Not stormy seas, but the river's flow,
Not rushing waters, but the gentle shine,
Of unshed tears, yours and mine.

Not the spoken word but the parted lips,
Not the reaching out, but the elusive slips,
Not heavy perfume, but the fragrant whiff
Not stormy quarrels, but the lover's tiff.

Early Dawns in the hues of East,
They stir me most, that stir me least.

Love's ways are strange, I know not how
But parting's sweet – And the pain is now
That we're together.

And when you are long gone it’s not the days
We were together – But when we parted ways
That I'll remember.

Song's for the asking, Music's dear,
Tattered notes in the discerning ear
Spill'd colours across the canvas spread
Undaunted the artist looks ahead.

Clumsy feeling stumbles across the page
Spidery lines are traced as if in rage
At mocking crowds that anticipate
His failure at the hands of a laughing Fate.

Anger spills from a slashing stroke of red
Anguish from the easel rears its head
In green, the world, his fancies capture
Dull moves the brush, in reluctant rapture.

Hollow songs by struggling fingers born
Orchestrated by a soul that's torn
'Twixt turning in Logic and Reason's dance
Or twirling in a graceful dream filled trance.

His eyes are open, he seems to gaze
Sightless, staring as in a daze
Hearing songs that alone he can hear
Strangers to the mortal ear.

And visions of elfin beauty spring
That to the canvas his brushes bring
Of golden sun, rustling trees and mirth
Frolicking clouds between sky and earth.

Once reluctant fingers dazzling play
Joy's songs to lighten a gloomy day
And those who watched a canvas bare
Now stop in wonder to turn and stare.

“There's magic in that artist's hand”
They say as wonderstruck they stand
Fame's halo rings a bowed head
His dread is gone and in its stead  

Recognition sounds its clamourous gong
Shatter'd peace, and shattered song
Inspiration got lost along the way
Mediocrity now holds its sway.

He longs again for the mocking stare,
The time to stand and not to care
As running colours on the canvas spread
And he, unknown, just looks ahead.

I'm weary now and seek to rest
I need a place to stay
A hand to reach out for
A smile to light my way

A voice to beckon to me
When silences stretch too long
And eyes to hold my tears
Someone to walk along