Harvest

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I carried a scarlet cross for her

Dark as His blood

I held it high for the sake of my

Own dearest love

I heard the men I’d never marry

Judge with words in haste

Waiting for His tender mercy

As tears melt on my face

The witness of a cowering woman

Weighs nothing in this prose

The blood of the martyrs

Feeds the field as it grows

Untamed

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First, a quiet friend, dark glossy coat

hanging around me, peacefully

Grows wilder, lays by me rested

Gazing we lie in mournful wake

I stroke its dark and bristly hair

It grows under my care

Follows me everywhere

A loyal friend.

Soon overlooked by daily haste

Untamed, unkempt, rejected

It grows fierce and growls

Paces the floor, I lie awake

Our hearts race

The growing shadow of hairy beast

Takes a swipe, deflected

It claws and prowls, surrounds my all

Steals prized possessions

Forces me back, there’s worse in stall

Let it end – save it takes my all

Grief untended.

For Karen

Posted on June 13, 2015 by aperture

You with your hands

held high in the air

Blank stare on your face

Your words said with flair

Still, we both pray for Karen.

You with your bells

and your smells in the air

With robes and peak caps

And ceremonial fare

Still, we both pray for Karen.

You with your book

and your words fill the air

Nods all around

Words just and fair

Still, we both pray for Karen.

Me with my morning

and evening, night air

Hands closed to my head

Soul emptied of cares

Lying still, we all pray for Karen.

Them with their sun

and full moon on the rise

Empty words in the air

Suspicions of lies

Still, we all care for Karen.

Sweet Bye and Bye

Posted on June 13, 2015 by aperture

Every time I say hello

I also say goodbye

Just in case it’s the last time

I see you alive

I used to fret about

being the first

or being left behind

but now I don’t mind

It’s the sweet bye and bye

Every time I say hello

I also say goodbye.

The day the war began

Posted on June 8, 2015 by aperture

The day the war began

Seasons framed in reflection

Of my bedroom window view

In the mirror

I see me in all my bedding

Hair awry, face unkempt

Illuminated by the backdrop

Of the cherry tree

Telling me how long

I’ve been sitting here

Since the day the war began

Lying wounded and shell-shocked

Months ago on my pillow

Craning my neck hesitantly

To peer out at the cherry picking

Birds up high buried in leaves

Listening to little voices squeal

Mouths filled with red juices

Delighting eating low hanging fruit.

More recently sitting strong, erect

Arms opening wide the curtains

To feast my eyes

On the kaleidoscope

Of fiery leaves still attached

And glowing in the light

As the sun hurriedly sets.

The coolness of the window

View icy grey branches

Dew upon the buds

That wait in vain for the frozen

Months to pass.

Teased endlessly by a

Weak winter sun bare lee

Shining on their old

And twisted frame

I feel much the same.

Old inside but

Growing wise to not

Allow the inevitable

Changing seasons to

Dominate my own

Mind’s window view

Instead, I rely upon You.

To fight my battles with the

Endless foes apply the balm

to shrapnel woes

Batten down the mind’s

Battle cry and send the

Warning salvo’s high.

Relent, relent, face me till

All life is spent.

Fallout Shelter

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Caught a glimpse of your soul

And crawled inside

A safe place to hide

Kept fed, warm and dry

Loved and faithful abide

Picked up out of the rain

Time and again

Cocooned from outside

Another lost one to find

Where comforts are few

Instead, I’d always find you.

Inside I heard your heart beating

The words repeating

Both begging that old ways

Be dead and gone

We felt nothing wrong.

Pieced together

Posted on June 6, 2015 by aperture

It was as if a happier place existed

Geographically removed

From the seaborne blues

That swept our lives

And loved ones away

There is no respite from events

They carried on living and breathing

In our minds reenacted, even resolved

In our dreams..

Words such as ‘trigger’ held

Different meanings here

In this broken state they became one

But individually, completely undone

It is a necessary drawl to share

Whatever their minds have prepared

In the week since they last met

Whether triumph or despair

Friendships quickly tarnish

Like a silver teapot from the burden

Of incessant hospitality –

They could no longer see themselves

In the shine of each other’s eyes.

The warmth of the tea turns bitter cold

On their lips after a long-winded session

Of one-upmanship.

Hear

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Here I am saying these words to you in case I die soon

Here I am saying these words to you

Here I am saying

Here I am

Hear

I Am

Here I am / not knowing / who / I would be / without him

Without him / I would be / who? / Not knowing, / am I here?

Room for Friends

Posted on June 6, 2015 by aperture

It just occurred to me
When I resurrected
The dead talk topic
You said ok..
I have no clue
What to say.

We both know this –
All the days past
Are covered in grace.
But if you had
Something to say
I would hear you
To your face

I’ve only had a handful
Of friendships last for years
Few of these are true brothers
The handful are held
In an open hand
In case they wanted to leave.

But I’ll set about trying
To kick every elephant
Out of here.
Because there’s no more
Room for friends.

I AM..

Posted on May 22, 2015 by aperture

I AM Silent

But always listening in

waiting for any words

whether or not they rhyme..

I AM Walking

It’s the most I can do

lying in gentle wait

for You, we walk in two’s

I AM Patient

not knowing what to ask

for Fear it won’t be granted

Because the first will be the last

Count the stars of heaven

Our stories are more than the sand on the shore

Category Archives: Poetry Blog

Harvest

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Untamed

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For Karen

Sweet Bye and Bye

The day the war began

Fallout Shelter

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Pieced together

Hear

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Room for Friends

I AM..