Tuesday, December 27, 2011

When I am Gone


When I am Gone

When I am gone, my life bereft,
lying eternal in the ground,
will my bones be all that's left,
beneath the stone and earthen mound?

Lying eternal in the ground,
at last, to shed my human skin,
beneath the stone and earthen mound,
I dwell the forest, deep within.

At last, to shed my human skin,
covered by the scattered leaves,
I dwell the forest, deep within
the arms of grand and mighty trees.

Covered by the scattered leaves,
my eyes, now glimpse your pallid face,
in the arms of grand and mighty trees,
entwined, my love, in your embrace.

My eyes, now glimpse your pallid face,
will my bones be all that's left?
Entwined, my love, in your embrace,
when I am gone, my life bereft.

(trying my hand at another pantoum for dversepoets.com open link night)

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Luxury of Morning


Luxury of Morning

Savoring
rich luxury of morning,
no scheduled place of arrival-
Lingering
over a hot cup of tea
and some poetry books,
these moments richer than gold-
Sacred
like church on Sunday,
without it's dogmatic droning,
what is truly spiritual?
Appreciation
of the present moment,
keenly aware
it too shall pass,
as afternoon, again,
becomes evening.

(Posted for dversepoets.com poetry prompt "contrast")

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

She Woke up Naked by the Sea


She Woke up Naked by the Sea

She woke up naked by the sea,
to cast her shadow in the water,
gathered small shells for memories,
dreams that led her to the slaughter.

To cast her shadow in the water,
lured by the distant piercing call,
dreams that led her to the slaughter,
lulled by sorrow, drown them all.

Lured by the distant piercing call,
a distant storm, dark clouds descend,
lulled by sorrow, drown them all,
the breath in which her life depends.

A distant storm, dark clouds descend,
oblivion holds no clemency,
the breath in which her life depends,
foreshadowed sense of urgency.

Oblivion holds no clemency,
gathered small shells for memories,
foreshadowed sense of urgency,
she woke up naked by the sea.

(Trying my hand at another Pantoum for dversepoets.com open link night)

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Emergence


Emergence

Does the butterfly remember the caterpillar,
at the moment of emergence from the chrysalis?
Spreading brilliant wings-
I walk around this house, still and cold,
a museum for the dead.
Framed photographs of a young couple,
smiling for the camera, preserved,
I don't recognize her face, my face,
looking like me, frozen in time,
surrounded by souvenirs, mementos,
objects collected on shelves,
collecting dust, my personal effects.
All wrapped in spun, silken thread,
awaiting metamorphosis.
Apparitions stir in the odd corners
as I try to remember the caterpillar.
My wings unfold, test their strength,
the chrysalis discarded,
the sky calls me home,
flapping against the panes of glass.
Now, how do I tell him?
How do I tell him I am leaving?

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

'round and 'round


'round and 'round

'round and 'round the tumbled page,
all broken glass and subtle rage,
in throughout the night begins,
the plot unfolds, my thickened skin,

the peace I seek, in dark of night,
endless woods with moonlit bright,
I dreamt a path I could not go,
I woke to find the answers though,

most things you find behind the veil,
the sins and monsters hiding there,
leave the brightest cheek turned pale,
a ghost to haunt the shadowed trail.