Author Archives

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Helpless

I saw a photo of you today
and delighted in your smile
until I looked carefully

I recognized this pleasant appearance
was not endorsed by you entirely
there was a sadness in your eyes

The white flag of surrender
was being flown
under the pretext of a happy expression
By looking closely
one could see
the unmistakable masquerade
of your melancholy

What has driven authenticity away
what troubles lay on your path

I wish I could cross
the barrier of the image
to help ease your sorrow

by

Ransom

Restless feeling
aims at my mind
demanding attention
Ransom
for negligence
and lack of care

Indistinct emotions
buzz and crackle
like static on a two way radio
Message lost
in a reverberation of charged particles
scattering in all directions

A fuzzy, vague disquiet
disturbs the peace
a robber stealing
ability to placate a
stealthy infiltrator

This meddler must be
arrested
before more damage
can be done

Regain Balance
Restore Equilibrium

by

Shadows

sept-2013-the-crone

(photo credit: rogueverbumancer.com)

The shadow of the Crone
tainted my day
Her cloak trailed
reluctantly behind her
as she slowly crossed my path,
full of compassion
for those the shadow would touch

Messages of death
collided
in their haste to be announced first

I eyed the hag warily
ugly messenger delivering ugly messages
but she continued on her way
unfazed
oblivious
to the turmoil
her news brought to my life

We enter the world knowing
we must leave one day
but somehow in our pursuit of life
this knowledge is lost
we approach return passage
with trepidation
or fear

One of the calls
announced the departure
of my Godmother
not a fairy like Cinderella’s
but a beautiful woman who
wove magic
into memories
especially from my childhood

“Tonnie” was another graceful soul
in my life for the briefest moment
a treasured friend and cousin
of my mother in law
When we met
it was as though I belonged no where else

I feel fortunate to have known them
for this brief time

Their sudden entry and exit from my world
leaves me reeling
wondering about the ways of the netherworld
what deals have been made
and are exacted when we least expect
Crone recalling what was once hers
hag doing her dirty work

Life is truly
“the blink of an eye”

by

Sidewalk Hustle

sarasvati

(picture credit: sitarsencat.com)

Alive street
brimming with people
Ants on anthill
Flurry of activity
sunshine and warm temperatures
lure people out of their homes

Half naked children
cavort in fountain
water arcs jumping hole to hole
slip effortlessly through grasping hands
to squeals of delight

Androgynous orator
long purple hair
tie dyed skirt
slender body
spews rapid fire rap verses
with deep male voice
crossed legged listeners
seated on soft green grass
rapt

Jugglers toss balls
dangle
dangerous looking knives
contortionists
squeeze
through string less tennis racquet
vie for attention of passersby
vie for opportunity to separate
observer and contents of their wallet

Festive atmosphere
brisk business
ice cream and gelato sales flourish
chocolate and vanilla stained faces of children
witness treats eaten

Above hustle and bustle
floats
ethereal sitar music
haunting melodies
images of orient
exotic far away regions

As the notes rise and fall
calmness is felt
in the heart
of the street side activity

by

Divine Teatime

Angel-Wings-Desktop-Wallpaper

 
I met with an angel
tea and cookies in a simple kitchen
made divine by her glorious light
With gratitude my heart sang
soaring octaves in this blessed atmosphere

I chattered and babbled
spilling all that had been held inside
as one would who has been injected with a truth serum

This heavenly being listened
nodded and smiled her celestial smile

I was filled with peace and tranquility
enthusiasm and energy to last a long time

Thank you dear soul messenger
for sharing tea with me

by

Rhythm

Dawn stretches her colors gracefully
behind an accumulation of grey cloud
rendering a rhythm
to start a new day

Breath of my sleeping husband
joins the diurnal pulse
his chest rising and falling
like gentle waves cresting

Percolating coffee
pfft, pfft, pffts
as it tries to contain
energy within the beans
struggling to maintain tempo
to find a perfect blend

Rain patters on the window
knocking for entry
to escape its own wetness
adding to pattern flow
already set in motion

Windshield wipers wiping
kind of like singing off key
their meter gasping disappointment
at the incessant downpour

The day’s cadence quickens
acquiring a staccato feel
stop and go cars
interrupting honks

The surge in percussion
throbs in my temples
requiring an end of the day sip of wine
a sunset beat slowing things down
to match dawn’s graceful rhythm

by

In a Funk

Today is a melancholy day
Last night ‘lack of confidence’ arrived
along with her companion ‘cynicism’
followed closely by ‘sadness’ and ‘depression’
It’s a crowd
my soul balks at their presence

Rose colored glasses were trampled in haste
as these visitors clambered to enter my day
before my eyes were fully awake

An opaque shroud of blurred vision
with a fearful tinge of imagined obstacles
was left behind
the ‘Bogey man’ under the bed
who rode in on the coattails of these intruders

Misty grey skies
echo my somber mood

I have invited rest
to keep me company
as I hope sleep will escort
these uninvited callers elsewhere
while my eyes are closed