Poem: Dark Secret #napowrimo2021

Dark Secret

When midnight tolled the ancient bell

upon the earth great darkness fell

those awake with ears to hear

found their hearts all froze with fear

night birds stopped their heavenly song

which in this night did not belong

what secret slipped between the trees?

whose prayer cried out upon their knees?

from midnight moon to rising sun

when morning greets the hidden one

these secrets shall not be revealed

for witches' lips are ever sealed

© 7 April 2021

Haiku: Memories of a Time Before

 Memories of a Time Before

Recalling magick
Sipping sherry and writing
Ripped out emotions

The children sleeping
Night birds sing eerie fortunes
Prophecies in wine

Beneath the full moon
They danced innocent, thankful
A life of promise

A chalice lifted
Honoring their ancestors
Honey bread and mead

In darkness I prayed
Begging for inspiration
No more loneliness

Where the offerings
Poured out upon hallowed ground
Thirst of the gods, quenched

Poem: Unsaid

 I sit with the phone and think

I know there's a poem in here,

Somewhere;

If not a poem, then

Some profound observation,

Some secret knowledge

For me to impart.

I sit thoughtlessly scrolling,

Feeling the words, the thought,

The feeling at the edge

Of my awareness:

Alas, it's not to be

No wisdom, only

Vapid emptiness

And the sense that there

Is something important

Left unsaid.

(c) 12.8.2020

Poem: Second Class

Found among my memories on Facebook:

Second Class

If poetry were words that fell
together in comprehensible
patterns and rhythmic
 expectation; if shadows
 cast upon the mottled
walls were simply
shattered sunlight; daresay
 I could count myself among
the whispered few; in wonder
I shall find my words, written,
spoken only second class;
and raise, when asked for
 tender phrases, a glass of
 ancient waters...
or is it only wine?

 (c) 12 March 2015

Poem: Sunshine

Sunshine

Give me twenty minutes in the sun
Face raised to the heat;
Eyes closed, a vision:
Porous red, arbitrary
Barrier between invisible me
And All That Is, one shattered
Crystal of Being scattered
among the Glorious Others
Sitting in the sunshine
Basking in an unspoken
Memory of Being One.
I remember once, in a
Meditation, I saw myself
Drive my car over the edge
Of a cliff. Flying through
The black sky, the car
Dissolved into Nothing, and
I became golden Dust
Dancing on the breeze, and
Falling gently to Earth,
Welcomed like a prodigal
Returning Home

©15 February 2020

Poem: New Year's Eve

Photo found at https://www.goodfreephotos.com

I go quietly into this good night
sunset tuned to drums of fire
resonance of others' hope in
bombed out dreams of yesteryear
I yearn for silence in the fading light
await the dawn and wish
upon a rising star, the sun
a source of unwavering faith
champagne breakfast toasts
this glorious, unexpected year

©31 December 2019

Poem: August 25

thinking about how
I want to write a poem
yet words resist,
wrapping around thoughts,
ribbons binding bundles,
of love letters to my soul
beginning "Dear John,"
and ending  "I want to
remain friends, you know
how much I care for you"
these unloving words tumble,
jumble, hide in my attic
forgotten, refusing to reveal
cohesive messages, there
is nothing left of wisdom.
lacking sleep, I recall the
meaning of the date
past midnight, this new day
brings memories of a wedding
long ago, forty two years, in fact
since I stood beside
torment and torture
vowing twelve hateful little
words that bound me
eight years and a lifetime
of self immolation
"for better or for worse
until death do us part"
that life dead long ago,
ever a thorn caught between
then and a future of happiness
the only memories
that bring the hint of smile
are days of dying lilacs
and Queen Anne's Lace
pressed between pages
of ancient scripture
lost in the annals of time

©25 August 2019