Light and life and rose petals and a frost upon the glass
see what you make me think of when you grace me with your smile
don’t you think it’s worth it
even these moments that fall short of art?
I don’t consider it any less a celebration just because it’s quiet
and certainly I don’t mind it when it’s just me and you
if anything my heart is sad knowing you’re hurting
so don’t apologize my love don’t say you’re sorry
just know that you here and now is all i want
someday we’ll go for walks again together
someday we’ll celebrate down at my favourite patio bar
but for now let’s just relish being home together
i’ll light the candle and you curl up on your chair
soon enough my love soon enough you’ll be better
but for now it’s enough knowing you’re there
Tag: poetry
In Between
approach the lower doorway and
ask if all is as it seems
i find it slightly peculiar
how the light turns green now
just when i’m ready to sleep
do you also ascend in half steps
do you feel the sea breeze too?
feel my heart thrum thrum thrum
eyes open wider
the corridor stretches
is it almost time to dream?
Snapshot
she darts a gaze my way
that woman leaning against
the little yellow car
profound in its solidity
she slumps in her transience
and meets my eyes
small smile plays about her lips
even as the cigarette touches
i walk past the stranger and don’t look back
oh now i smell the smoke
Thanksgiving
the bread broken and the wine poured
up to the table i walk once again
still it feels as the first time
the wonder and the love that somehow
this feast before me is rightfully mine
but why when my feet are dirty and my eyes dry?
the wrong assumption of course
it is not my eyes that looked with love as they spat upon him
it is not my feet that were pierced through with heavy iron
so i do not claim anything of mine own as merit sufficient
if i did that would not be a rightful claim
only pride
instead i clutch a ticket stub that has stamped upon it
paid in full
by that divine one Jesus Christ
with whom one day I shall dine as we break bread
and he looks me in the eye
and we toast each other and each take a sip of wine
someday soon i pray but for now
i cling to his feet and sing once more
the song that is forever mine
he loves me yes i know
Westering
she knows it won’t be long before again
the sun shall slip below
the horizon
but before that moment
a gasp of beauty
a slash of light
once more sings my heart this night
the glory of the stars most visible
when it is darkest after all
even as we peer up from the bottom of the well
do your eyes fill up as mine do?
someday we shall ascend the ladder too
What Is Necessary
she crosses the front room and comes to where i sit
kneeling at the table she takes my hand and
lifts it to her lips
and then i tremble silently
letting the book fall into my lap
she says not a word but lets her eyes do
the talking
and that is all and that is enough
and i drop down beside her
and together we bow our heads
Prophecy
raindrops on roses and
you know the rest she laughs aloud
i do but i like hearing you sing it
your harmony sounding out
it brings a richness that contrasts greatly
with the mundanity that so often abounds
she rolls her eyes of course
but then i see them sparkle
and once again her sweet voice sounds
as we sit on the old back porch
and let our fingers touch again
Barabbas
sometimes i wish i had another calling
far too often these days of late as the sun slides closer to horizon’s embrace
my heart has sprung up with a yearning my mind does not know how to answer
do you hear the music too?
or is it all just in my head
keeping time with the footsteps that continually sound from above
i see you sighing and in a moment perhaps i’ll slide down to your end of the couch
for now i let my fingers wrap around this mug and i breathe deep and wonder
for the thousandth time why me
this prisoner exchange that i ponder, that he might die so that i might go free
it’s too much really for such a poor one as i
and as i tilt my head and think on it i can’t help but begin to cry
you notice but pretend not to politely or so it seems to me
your head burrowed a little deeper into your kindle
my head bowed over this cup of strong black tea
New Year’s Eve
she steps over to me and in that way she does
tilts up her head to me and smiles
how can i respond but with a
darling?
i am at your service – what is thy desire?
and she says oh nothing i just wanted
to stand next to you
what can i do but gather her into my arms
even with the many witnesses gathered
around the living room
and not heeding their eyes upon us
i say i know the feeling
oh my darling i truly do
and in my arms her eyes sparkle up at me
and she says wordlessly please kiss me
and in that moment as the clock strikes midnight
i respond appropriately
and a life time later i say the words
i love you too
Potter
grey clouds float across early velvet sky masking
the curious eyes who peer down from heaven
and at the kiln site she sits and works
apart from all her peers who sleep even now
the jar lies at her feet and she bites her lip
seeing every flaw again as if for the first time
yet the memories well up in harmony
and she again strips back its layers
peels the skin and gouging deep
will she hit flesh this time? perhaps
but the armor is not superficial
and her target is deep within
again and again she in anguish runs her hands
across the unfinished work
what next she says what next
I am the pot and the pot is me
and her hands show the blisters of fervent effort
somehow still not enough
she drops her hands and her shoulders shake
this jar will never be a masterpiece
if she has anything to say about it
and she drinks a swallow of the contents
of the thermos at her feet
help is on the way she hears in the voice
that floats on the wind
Something Weird 