Blue

I’m a sinking ship,
Set adrift upon a sea.
A sea of blue…
Blue as a faded tattoo
Of a long forgotten love.
Blue as a lost soul,
Or a fresh broken heart.
Blue as a distant mountain
Bereft of detail,
It’s only purpose to block the view
Of the path’s destination.
Blue as the ice,
That sits within my heart
Since the wind took you –
An ill wind that blew me no good.

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Wind

It is said; if you wear an ugly face

When the wind changes –

Your face will stay that way.

If the wind changes

While my heart is broken –

Will it stay that way too?

 

From the west it came

Carrying dust and sandflies.

My skin dried and grit filled my eyes.

I felt I’d never be the same.

 

This ill wind had blown no good.

To my despair was added discomfort.

Hopes for peace had come up short –

I let myself fall.

Raven

(Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem ‘The Raven’)

Nevermore!
Shall my lips again be parted
And from my depths that name
Restated.
Since she left me tired and broken
With a mind that’s weak and darken’d
And beyond the will to utter.
Yet, as visions begin to stutter
From my lips it slips –
Helena!

Evermore!
Silence is the sound I’m seeking
From a mind that always thinking,
And a heart that stays a flutter.
Yet as my soul descends I mutter,
While myself I keep berating
Impossibly my voice keeps grating
Just one word, my love-
Helena!

Peace No More!
To see a bright and vivid sunset
without my thoughts again beset –
Of the times together shared
When I often thought and dared
To join our lives – to be as one,
But then happiness became undone, and
Pointless life persists, without –
Helena!

Departure!
Let this life that’s lone and saddened
Terminate the grief that’s maddened.
By drawing breath and just once more
Screaming at the heavens, I’ll implore –
Banish breath from this ashen heart
And have for me a brand new life to start.
A chance to whisper once again –
Helena.

Zen Garden (micro-tale)

Removing his slippers

He stepped barefooted onto the smooth pebbles.

Moving slowly, he stooped occasionally,

Careful to collect every fallen, red maple leaf –

Then, using the bamboo rake

He carefully made the patterns she’d loved.

Sitting on a low wooden bench

He now drank his tea and remembered.

Senryu (Darkness)

.

.

sleep ensnares my thoughts
like hoar frosts steals early dew
her mem’ry maims dreams

Please leave…

The thought has often occurred in my mind –

Why not just chop the tree down this time

Leave no branch to show me a leaf

And desist with the flowers

Beauty is beyond me

I’ll no longer grasp

At the last twig

Or your hand

You’ve gone –

Bye! …

what’s this…

you’re still here

whatever for

there is no shelter

these branches have no strength

starved of sunlight and respect

they have lost their ability

no longer can they protect you

This new autumn will be terminal

I’ll mulch the leaves and hope for new life soon.

………………….

a double Etheree.

Recovery

My heart is left aching

From the thing that you did.

My soul is still reeling

From the things that you said.

You’re the fly in my ointment

When you should be the glue.

Its just salt in the wound

When I see you with him,

But the pain it will drive me

And soon I’ll be whole.

Then you’ll see me all vibrant

And glowing its true.

So like a breeze that is freshening

I’ll sweep you aside.

You’ll be nought but a mem’ry,

A pothole in my path.

That I filled with my spirit

My strength and my heart.

Like that light in the tunnel

I see my spring clearly.

I’ll wish you good health

But nothing too cheery.

🙂

An Almost True Story

I met a man today

He had no right ear.

I had to ask –

Can you still hear?

 

He smiled and said;

I took the ear myself

And gave it to my lover –

He left me that day.

 

I thought I was to die

From loss of blood

And loss of love.

Then my lord spoke –

 

Maybe you loved

Just a little too hard –

Maybe your passion was hiding

Your deepest fear?

 

Love both you and me –

Together we will be happy…

I’ve been happy since,

He said with a wave.

 

From the window

Of his tired old car

He smiled –

He’s all I need to hear.

Hope

 

As promising as a waving hand.

As possible as a forgiving look.

As suggestive of a half smile.

As rewarding as a backward glance.

These subtle gestures,

Sometimes misread –

Give hope then steal the soul.

Belle

His scarred finger
Gingerly drags the lace.
A blunt nail raises a pink line
On her perfect breast,
Pointing, to her dark nipple -
Where his gaze now lingers.

His weathered, chapped lips
Gently press the warm bud.
Tired eyes half close -
A lonely mind remembers
Moments savoured,
During years of marital bliss.

He remains this way -
Breathing and remembering,
Caressing the memories.
Holding every precious moment
Of time spent, before she'd died -
While the escorts' slender hand
Reaches for the money,
On the bedside table.