STALKER

An old lover's returned

One morning dark

A lover abandoned

Or so I thought

For my part.

An old lover's returned

To rekindle a spark

Of what I don't know

For she never had my heart

An old lover's returned

To her allotted time

Those wee morning minutes

Between sleep and full wake

An old lover's returned

Bearing gifts that I loathe

Brambles and absinthe

Nightshade and thorns

For the moments not right

To bring me the rose

An old lover's returned

And whispers to ear

Preying on despair

My loneliness, my fears

An old lover's returned

To take up her post

Hoping that one day

I'll stay in repose

An old lover's returned

And I must take up my guard

And hold onto hope

I've spurned her before

And shall continue…

I hope

WALL OF THORNS (REDUX)....

.. ..

I stand in a crowd....

But I am all alone....

Trapped behind this wall....

This wall of my own creation....

I know how I built it....

But lack the ability to tear it down....

For years it was all that stood ....

Between me and the world....

Between myself and the pain....

That life can inflict....

Now that pain is abated....

Emotions pass through ....

Where once they were stalled....

But still remains this impenetrable wall....

I scream through the silence....

Trapped in the noise all around me....

Will someone reach through....

And rescue me....

The wall is dense....

It's meant to keep the world out....

And I know that only  I can reach through....

To the world without....

The cruelty of this prison ....

That I have locked myself in....

Is I am the jailor....

And I hold the key....

All I need is to reach out my hand....

Break through this wall....

To reach beyond myself....

And bring people in....

So simple it seems....

So simple the plan....

But the execution I fail....

Time and time again....

SERENDIPITY

What a surprise

To open your eyes

And find something

Unexpected to see

A pleasant reaction

To find an attraction

Where before there was

Casual acquaintacy

What starts as simple

Salutations and friends

With knowledge and talk

Ignites a small spark

That lightens up life

And brightens the dark

That leads to much more

That comes in the end

But starts oh so simply

With something called

Serendipity

WHAT LIFE IS

Why is the question

That too often comes to my lips

But it is not from my mouth it slips

It is hard to make sense of this world where we live

And even harder to make sense of lives that we lead

We wallow and wail to no avail

The inadequacies and unfairness

The realities and unjustness

And we stumble along trying to find meaning

Hoping that somewhere there is an answer

But there is no true answer for that’s not what life is

Life is a series of questions

The answer we find day after day

Not in things but in ourselves

For the one try thing that there is…

…life is meant to be

In all its beauty

In all its unfairness

It has no reason

It has no rhyme

All life is the passing of time

What we make of it

That’s the true test

Because life has no purpose…

…life is meant to be

The things that we have

The don’t matter a bit

The things that we do

That’s what makes life

The people we touch

The lives that we share

The moments we have

That’s the success that we live

For money and status

Are one grand illusion

But what we leave behind

That’s what history grant us

Life is that opportunity

To make the world better

To love a bit more

To ease pain’s discomfort

Life is not easy

And will never be

Life is not meant

To amass selfish gain

Life is shared by all in this place

Regardless of ethnicity,

Religion or race

We can’t give it back

Once it is given

So I must remember

When I am down

And want to cede…

…life is what I was given

What I do with it is up to me

THE RAIN

            The trip so far is peaceful.  I initially wanted to do something slightly more exciting, but the stresses of your life demanded two weeks to merely catch your breath.  Fortunately we were able to find this lovely farmhouse in southern Ireland.  For a week we have enjoyed each other’s company and the idyllic setting.  With the occasional jaunt a field so I can satisfy my photography addiction.

            I wake up to the sound of rain spattering on the roof.  That magical percussion that makes me smiles.  What would a trip to Ireland be without rain?  I figure 3 days without was long enough.  I manage to get out of bed without waking you.  You look so peaceful at the moment it is a shame to disturb you. 

            A short distance from the house the grass has grown thick and I enjoy the feel of my feet in the damp carpet of nature’s providing.  Listening to the sounds of the rain hitting the house and the leaves of the solitary tree in the yard, branches outspread making as if inviting the gods of Eire to send more.  I love how rain itself can sound so loud; yet muffle other sounds so the falling water is all I hear.  Caught up in the sound it takes you several tries to get my attention.  I look around once I realize it is your voice breaking my reverie.

            You walk out to join me.  The rain plasters your white nightgown to your body accentuating all your soft curves.  Apparently the rain gods have seen fit to grant me another gift.  I meet you half way and wrap my arms around you.

            "It was raining; I felt a need to commune with nature."

            "Naked?"

            Somehow, the thought of getting dressed never occurred to me. 

            "It seemed appropriate."

            You let out a slight girlish laugh and I join in caught up in the moment with you.  So overwhelmed I reach my hand to the side of your face and draw it to mine for a lingering kiss. 

We stay this way for that moment that always seems measureless, we only part slightly as your knees tremble slightly and you break away to breath heavily. 

            "I have an incredible urge to drag you back to bed," I say mischievously.

            The mischief in my voice is matched by the mischief in your eyes, "Why go back in the house, you’re naked all ready?"

            "The ground is wet."

            You move closer to me and lean in for what I think is another kiss and then pull me off balance and we topple to the ground, "that’s okay," you whisper in my ear, "so am I."

For My Muse

Men stand up when she enters a room

And stop and stare as she leaves

That porcelain beauty

Hides the steel beneath

But it is the strength inside

That is most beautiful to me

Her emotions are open for all to see

But she hides her true self carefully

Simple and complicated

Passionate but distant

A bundle of contradictions

As different from me

 As a soulmate could be

She welcomed me with open arms

And held my hand through so many traumas

She caught me when I fell

And guided me back from hell

She is my light in dark places

She fills my empty spaces

But mostly she’s the reason

I’ve found myself at peace