Life of a Poet (lengthy)

My Brother's Keeper


I see you

standing
on the corner,

head bowed
in the Rain

that
falls
too hard
on your Heart ~

I approach you
with a smile
of silent Solace,

only wanting
to pass on
some of the warm Sun
I have known ~

I remember
too well

how Thunder & Lightning
feel
to the Fallen ~

If I can,
I will
help you
Rise
again...


A Prayer for the Day

I open mine eyes
unto Morning's
ethereal gleaming

& drop to my knees
in thankful display ~

This is a day
Thou hast made
for those
with Hearts
to see...

I offer Gratitude
& Awe
for what
Thou hast given

freely ~

I thank Thee
mightily
for the Music
in my Soul...

I Am Not Wealthy, But I am Rich

I would bring you
roses & sapphires
if I could...

I'd write sonnets & odes
by the score,
were it within my range...

I'd compose symphonies
or dance a tango
if I were able...

I'd bring the finest
vintage wine

& a silver candleholder
to catch the liquid wax
as it melts
under your gaze...

Sigh...

I cannot,

so I can only give
what I have to give...

All I have is my
Self
& these words I paint
with my amateur's brush ~

these Landscapes
in my Mind
that wish to be revealed...

I don't have much,
but I give it all ~

Heart, Mind, Body & Soul...

In the Hallowed Halls of AP

There is Pain
here on these pages,
lurking in Shadows,

waiting to pounce upon
One whose Heart
has opened wide
from the weeping...

There is Joy
dancing between
the lines,
listening to Music
you cannot hear,

you can only see
when the Light
reflects
in your glistening eyes...

So much emotion
& glorious Rhapsody
fills these spaces
in between us ~

There are Poets
out there somewhere
now,
singing in Darkness ~
crying at Dawn...

Dance in Darkness

 
Perhaps
it's Time
to move on...

there is too much
holding me here,
inert ~

too many Dreams
demanding Light
to echo in the Shadows
of my Soul...

I cannot go ~
I cannot stay...

Under this Night sky,
I linger,
Lost & forlorn ~

Unknowing of the Path
I must take
to find my way
Home...

It is too much
the Realm of Sorrow,

too soon
to grasp
the rising Sun

& fly from this space ~
flee from this Heart ~

We choose our demise
in much the same way
as we chose to live...

Only Miles

Your Soul shines,
a distant Beacon
to guide me
towards Home ~

you touch me
with gentle reflection,

crashing waves
of Wondrous Tides...

I sing softly
as the Moon rises,

knowing...
just knowing...

There are Sacred stories
we tell each other
in silent Dreams ~

in slumber,
I see your eyes
& reach out,

a silken embrace
to caress your sleep...

do you feel me there,
beside you now?

Ah, such Splendour...

We are Lights
on the Horizon,

searching...
searching...

Rhyme for Goin' Under

I'm spread too thin
I cannot sleep
I'm in a spin
too tired to weep

Life moves on
I'm left behind
to face the Dawn
alone in kind

There's far too much
to handle alone
I ache for touch
I am not a stone

Alone at night
my eyes are teary
There's little Light
I'm getting weary

Words open veins
& I bleed verse
each time it rains
my Soul aches worse...

To My Friends ~ & Those I Have Yet to Meet

Funny
how things happen...

Life has its plans
& you have yours ~

sometimes, they brush by,
with barely a whisper
between...

Occasionally,
they collide,
head~on...

Then,
there are Rare Moments
of Enlightenment

when all the pieces
seem to fit
into place

& the Picture
is suddenly clear
to previously unseeing eyes...

There are no accidents
or coincidences ~

only undiscovered Destiny...

I believe God
puts those in our Path
that we need,
when we need them ~

It's been proven to me,
Time & again ~

We are all
connected ~

Even when we feel
most Alone,

we never really are...

I See...

 
I'll dance in your eyes,
reflecting Light
with great intent ~

there is warmth
that flows
between

two Souls
that are
Seekers
of the Dream...

There is Power
shared
with the Gift
of Spirit ~

we must acknowledge
the lightning
in the Night sky
as it strikes

& clouds veil
the face
of the Moon...

There is
a magnetic pull
that demands
the attention
of the Heart

& we know
what these
intense images
mean...

Grieving

I weep bitter tears
this Night...

Another loss
has left me
in stunned Silence,

embraced only
by confusion & despair ~

I do not understand
the demise
of Beauty...

You cannot
offer me
Solace

Now;
please

do not even try...

I will mourn this Death
as I must ~

I will feel this Absence
as I should ~

I have lost so many,
I cannot be consoled ~

I will not be rescued
from this Ocean
of Sorrow...

I cannot grasp
the enormity
of this
Yet ~

If I sleep,
I will not
Dream ~

When
I awaken,

it will be
with a terrible aching
in this Heart ~

an acute awareness
of the tearing
of this Soul...

I cannot know

how deep
is this wound ~

these tears
will not let me see...

Understanding Life

There could not be
a loss
if there had not been
a gain ~

we do not grieve
from lack of Love...

This Heart aches
only because
it feels
so deeply...

I have known
the struggle
with Despair ~

I was rescued
by Hope ~

Life is so much more
than the Pain we bear
or the Joy we have
experienced...

When we fall,
we must learn

to rise again
& greet the day,

for the Dawn
will not be
Infinite
to our eyes ~

there are no guarantees
of Time;

we must cherish
what we have
been given...

Proclamation of Intent

I'm here
to write poetry,

not to join
the cast
of 'Peyton Place'
or 'House on Haunted Hill'...

I come here
to forget
the trivia of the day
& to enjoy
my Time,

not to get caught up
in Intrigue
or be part of a rumor mill...

I'm here to make Friends,
not find romance
on a machine ~

I require proximity
& a pair of eyes
to
fall
into Love
with ~

I like to be able
to touch
the One I Love

with more
than mere words,

no matter
how powerful
those words might be...

We are all
seeking a Dream,

yet,
I live in Reality ~

If you're only here
to try to play

with my Heart
or my Mind,

then count me out...

I take my Life
seriously

& my Time

is far too precious
to waste...

Extreme Weather

I got swept away
by a Hurricane

& was left adrift
on a raging current ~

I nearly drowned...

I gasped for breath
& swam as hard
as I could ~

now, I lay here
on this rocky shoreline,

exhausted & nearing Despair...

how
could this have happened?

I wasn't seeking
an Ocean...

I am only
a lonely River,

curling through
this barren Landscape,
trying to survive...

I was taken
by surprise,
then taken for a ride ~

I don't know
how
I made landfall...

the Storm
nearly subdued me ~

I shall have to rest
& recover
my Strength,

for the Tempest
has passed ~

the Memory
is all
I have left now...

Departing in Silence

 
Fare thee well,
my Learned Friend ~

May you find
what you seek

& Dream
what you need...

We shall remember
your Presence
in these Hallowed Halls,

O Scribe
of the Soul ~

We shall sigh
in the Memory
of the Beauty

you brought to bear
upon our Hearts...

I cannot know
why you chose
to leave ~

I wish, somehow,
you would stay...

Know this
as Truth ~

You will be missed ~
you already are...

I weep
for the loss
of my Friend...

Mooring

There are Horizons
scattered between
these Dreams

we breathe
so deeply ~

starlit skies
that reveal

where Hearts
may sing freely...

There is Time
dancing
across the Universe

& landing softly
in your eyes ~

where are you now?

We have shared
the finest hours

& known moments
that embraced
Eternity...

Do you smile, there,
in the Distance?

Do you sigh
& weep
for what's been lost?

Do not shed any tears
for this parting ~

Souls
cannot be severed
from the harbors
they have found...

Still Here

The Wind
caresses your name
in my Heart

& I feel
the magnitude
of your absence ~

you are not
with me now,

but you are
never really gone,
either...

How is it
that you are still

so Present
in my Mind?

Love is an echo
in a deep canyon

& you are
on the other side...

Someday,

the Horizon
will no longer
separate Dream
from Reality ~

One day,

I will touch
your Soul
& know Home
once more...

Ponderings

I am more
than a bit
pensive
these days, it seems ~

there is much
on my Mind
& even more
within my Heart ~

I paint my pages
equally
with tears & flowers...

I am just living my Life
as it comes to me;

aglow with Light
or cast in Shadows...

Time keeps moving

& I feel its passing
more acutely
than I once did ~

there are reasons for this
far deeper
than I know ~

I can only rise & breathe
& sing & whisper & weep
as it arrives...

then leaves...

I am always embraced
by Hope & Contentment ~
that will not change ~

Yet, there are moments
when I feel the Darkness
is trying to win the Day
& it becomes a battle,

which I usually win,
with Honour...

There is always
a sense
of Survival
that remains
strong
within my Spirit...

Balance

The flight of birds
is usually enough
to cause
my Soul to sigh
in Solace...

A butterfly
flitting across the faces
of flowers
can sometimes
make me weep
with admiration...

The sound ~ & feel ~
of the Wind
whispering among the leaves
can make me pause
in Thanks
for the Grandeur...

If I hear
the Rain dancing,
I may even sing...

There is such Harmony
in our World,
if we'll only
look & listen ~

sometimes
the business of Survival
can make us forget
the Beauty of Life ~

I remember...

A Gift for Poetry ~ Upon My 1,000th Posting at AP

(March 29, 2005)

The Passion
of a Poet
is a fiery, fiercesome
thing to Behold ~

We weep
at words of Wonder
& wail at whispers
too beautiful
to be Bold ~

There is Truth
pounding
in our Creation,
Hope
dancing
in our Design...

We are more
than merely mortal ~

We are the Wind
breathing
across the Prairie,

Lightning
darting
across the Sky...

We fall to our knees
in triumphant Splendour

& at times,
in dark Despair...

We laugh
with the Dawn,

for we are
Here,
Now ~

We must be who
& what we are ~

We have no choice
but to choose
the Light

we Know...

Calling All Poets: Behind These Castle Walls

 
Ah, you Poets
of Grand Ideas
& Painted Visions,
take hold of your shields & swords
& prepare to do battle
with the Shadows of the Night!

Do not let them
breech this Fortress
& lay claim
to any more wounded Souls...

Take heed, I say
& we'll live to write ~
& fight ~
another day!

Slay these Beasts
that would lay Spirits to waste ~

do not allow them
past these gates of Honour!

We must protect
the Meek among us
who are preyed upon
by Darkness
& are susceptible to Sorrow ~

we cannot let
Evil
flourish
in this Land!

Make haste, I say...
The New Day
is dawning...

Unselfishly

Beauty
not shared
is diminished ~

we must pass on
the loveliness
we have seen
so it will continue
to grow,
unfettered...

We must leave
a few flowers
unplucked

so that many
may find
the Garden
we admire...

We embrace
our Vision
with fervorous glances,
mindful of the Gifts
we have been
freely given ~

it is up to us
to bring others
into the Fold...

Coda: Alliteration

Shadows
may seduce
the Senses
if we are not Strong
in withstanding

the Temptation
to tremble
in the grasping Touch
of Terror...

Eyes embrace
any enlightening

Illumination
of Imagining Tide
as it ebbs & flows,

Wild winds
whispering
across the waves
in Wonder...

We must choose
the Chance
to Change
the Chaos...

Concept

You will recognize

the Spirits
of those
that Love you

by the warm Light
of their embrace ~

you will feel
Truth

for the Bonding
of Souls...

If your Heart
is receptive

to the Gifting
of Self,

you will find
Infinity's
reward...

Keep Kindness
in front
of Thought

& Peace
will seek
your Dreams...

Bountiful

I am Here,

remembering
to breathe deeply

of Hope's
Eternal perfume ~

Life
must be tinged
with sparks of
Beauty

& Wings
to find our way
across the Sky...

There is Light
lingering

past the edge
of Shadow

& Dreams await
your Discovery
of Truth

& the Epiphany
it brings,
a bouquet...

Sorrow
will not keep
its distance ~

You must remain
a Sentinel
of Faith...

Real Estate

Today,
they sold the house

where you
skinned your knees
& dug for worms,

looking for your
childhood Dreams
to come to fruition...

This place,
this Sacred place,
where you grew
to be the Man
I loved...

I can no longer
go back there

& look at the spot

where we had
our last dance ~
our last kiss ~

our last moments of Life
before you left
this World
for Good...

We'd sit on the front porch
while we smoked
& talked about
everything ~
or nothing...

We'd sit in the backyard
& you'd tell me
how you sat
under the apple tree
with your Grandfather
while he sang to you...

You cannot
put a pricetag
on a Heart full
of Memories...

Nature's Fearsome Glory 

The Wind
blows fiercely
across the face
of Fate,

chiseling its features
with Survival's
destined Path...

We can only do
what we can do
& it must be enough ~

we should not
punish our Selves
with Improbability...

The Rain
is constant
& occasionally cruel,

yet it unleashes
Hope for Growth

& the silken Touch
of Beauty...

In Harmony

 
If you Sing
to me,

let it be
softly

so my Heart
can hear it ~

allow it
the gentleness
it craves...

There is more
power
to Touch
in a Whisper ~

Hope
lifts its face
to the Light
of Day...

Open your eyes
to Dream

& Nightmares
will recede
into Shadow ~

Choose the Path
you walk
in Kindness...

Dancers in the Moonlight

 
We stroll under
starlit skies,

singing to the stars
in Silence ~

we watch the Light
penetrate deep space
& we rage
for Life...

We hold the edges of
our World
in a tight grip,

trying not
to rein in
the Wildness
too fast...

We see the glow
in a distant
Dream

& seek
to move
closer
to the Solace
of Night

& away
from the
grasp
of Darkness...

Homage

I reach toward you
with hands open

in supplication
& Awe ~

what have I
to offer
such Grandeur?

I kneel
in Praise

with the Passion
it both demands
& deserves ~

I  dance
in the Light

reflected
in your
all~too knowing eyes

& spin wildly
into Dream...