Puppeteer

An ornate time piece on a wrist
jeweled
shiny, elegant chrome chronograph
or matte finish
functional
practical, purposeful chronometer

A puppeteer’s handcuff
controlling movement subtly
directing thoughts subliminally
a marionette to be pushed, pulled, directed

Steady tick, tick, tick
hypnotizes
activity done mindlessly
going through motions without attention
glazed eyes
striving to make it from one
paycheque to the next
without breaking the strings of the masterminder
oblivious to the pull
of the masterminder

Second hand sweeps
behind the minute
behind the hour
striving to move ahead
but wired into place
hour leads
minute follows
second lapses
wired into place
pulled along by the others
gears and cogs manipulating movement
invisible strings manipulating movement
time manipulating movement

World focused on clocks and calendars
great energy expended keeping up to the time keepers

Obsession with timepieces
and calendars is restricting
what is this competition that has been thrust upon wrists,
on walls, on clock towers in time squares
town squares

Shirk wrist pieces, cell phones
anything that strives to own your being
Pay no attention to these measurements
these pushes and pulls
prods to direct you

Allow no thoughts of time to settle upon you
consume you
control you
and watch your mind settle
rest
and give birth to new ideas

Take Time

Take time to listen
messages are there
what is it you have asked for
requested through prayer

If you don’t listen
how will you know the reply
rushing along through your days
won’t provide answers; tell you why

Rustle of leaves
breezy applause
nature acknowledging
she approves your cause

Geese honking
vee formation across sky
possibly directing
what you ought to try

Sighting playful squirrels
scampering, on the run
when was the last time
you let go, just had fun

Rippling water
continuous flow
changing patterns remind us
we too move rapidly but also need to move slow

Take time for silence
a gentle part of your day
take time to listen
answers are coming your way

Lost

I have already lost them
it happened a long time ago
one day a decision was made
there was no turning back
Reality is harsh
denial a trap
the sooner I find acceptance
healing can begin

Little boy optimism
little girl hugs
drifting away ephemerally
like the puff of a dandelion
blowing in the wind

Dreams die hard
I do not want to let go
this is not how it is supposed to be

I want a fairy tale
a castle in the sky
I want promises of happily ever after

When did it happen
my world falling in upon itself
when did the yellow brick road
become a bed of hot coals

Every phone ringing
brings a fear of the worst
every siren
a racing heart

A pasted on smile
a mask for the world to see
so difficult to accept
you are lost to me

When did I lose myself
how can I get her back

If I don’t have hope
what is left

Speechless

seconds
less than a minute
time it takes to cross threshold
from one room to another
life changes

voice stolen
gone
unexpected words
spoken in anger
have power to stop any motion
power to steal any utterance
vocalization
a thing of the past
articulation arrested
stunted
swallowed in disbelief

frantic heartbeat
racing thoughts
no sound escapes lips
seared together
saliva fled along with speech

flaming cheeks
follow flash of insight
no rebuttal will be justly heard
knowledge of necessary decision
crystal clear
in order to save
authentic self

We Sing

How easily we fall
into thinking we are different
special
We are wonderfully individual!

But when different
equals alone
we are wrong

Alone we lose our strength
alone we fall prey to
our own false thoughts and misunderstanding
Alone we become victims of inner fears
Deep seated desires and urges
plague our thoughts
cloud our eyes
run through our veins

We are unique
We are not different
We each share a story that winds
its thread through all willing to listen
Each beating heart
recognizes the call of another
The beat stretches from the beginning
of time
and touches us all

It’s a beautiful song
we are meant to share
and sing joyously together

Amethyst Whirlwind

A brief meeting
left me sad
a wistful cloud
following a flurry of activity

She arrived unexpectedly
colorful
purple
vibrant
and chatted rapidly
fidgeting
unable to stand still
not a moment of silence
Her arms moved like a captured bird
fluttering
floundering
feathers ruffled

She had grown beautiful
since our last encounter
I wanted to speak
soundless words
left my lips
stampeded by her staccato speech
trampled

As quickly as she arrived
she disappeared
a rush of good byes
no meeting of the eyes
out the door
an amethyst whirlwind departure

I wanted to laugh
to cry
to retain some of the dynamic energy
but the moment passed
I remained
deflated
the buoyancy of the encounter
drifting away
with the closing of the door

Time

time

(internet photo)

 

rushing
rushing
escaping time

wind whistles through air
siren song accompaniment
for racing heart
chasing balance
high heels and oxfords
march swiftly
through their appointments
and agendas
trying not to step on toes
or become scuffed

time escaping
slipping by
quick sip of bitter coffee
gone cold
waiting
ignored
warmth evaporated

time slipping by without thought or care
for what we do
toys tossed carelessly in a corner
building blocks in disarray
aging parents
ignored
waiting
for a visitor

time passes no matter what
pop tarts and cinnamon buns
robust wine
talcum powder
time witnesses our fickle tastes and desires
what’s new becomes old
becomes new
becomes old again
cycle continues with each generation

we try to grasp it
save it
hoard it
yet it remains elusive
here but not here

watches and calendars
timex and rolex
bring order to our day
connect the dots
compartments
squares
little boxes to fill in
with soft leaded pencil
so changes can be erased
more time filled
no permanent marks left behind

continually chased
continually used
measured time
surrendered time
nap time
down time
it’s all about time

yours until the end of time

High Alert

voodoo-doll
(image credit: Jorshma)

High Alert sixth sense
quantum physics
theory of relativity
incomprehensible
I’m not a scientist
but I know you need me

different province
different time zone
I feel your hurt
feel your pain

Birth cord not severed upon delivery
blood bleeds red
pulse skips
touches both
voodoo doll empathy
I’m walking along and suddenly I hurt
I think of you and know
there is pain
I do not know why
but I feel it just the same

We’re on this journey together
whether you know it or not
defying scientific principle
we remain connected