Poems

Laughter like tears echoed

streaming down through canyons

her soul to look upon

rivers, mirrors

wings to fly

home

Her hands bloomed with fragrant caress

soft as summer grass and petals

she touched the world

With gardens and tulips trumpeting songs

in reddish hues, amidst magenta

peony blooms

Apples and roses her face of flowers

ripe in autumn meadows, she held her children close

gathered ever near her love

before the winter’s

dawn

I stood long under stars and trees

clouds transiently swift in winter’s eve

memories of yesterday’s child, a year to play

a dream, a pond to skate away

Now wintery thoughts are aglow

cool drifts the night through open windows

Owls haunt with delight

they seek to prey,

quick before the light

of sleepy days

I slept and fell deep the well

my soul drinking freely

bathed in sweetest darkness

depth of sorrow wakes me soon

my joy alights this

morning moon

Watery suns flood

spilling over

ponds ripple

caressing shores

sands blow over

footprints walking

on water, birds

hover over

smiling back

at me

When white wings, feathery scatter

silent as snowflakes gather

resting on rooftops,

in death, does a soul linger,

does it fly in the vastness

of forever?

Like some birds in clouds

we’ve never seen, though

felt in rain, or wilds.

Swift a rush that chills

and floods the heart unknown,

a gift of truth reveals

that which eyes cannot look upon,

and only hearts

can feel.

with the recent passing of my Father, it’s good to know his presence is felt, at times in unexplainable ways, but also he has appeared in my dreams 3 or 4 times since he passed, with two of the dreams being deeply spiritual and profound to me.

Grey pond so still

amid the smokey layers

winter’s foggy trees concealed

geese slowing in the depths unknown

so scarce a sheltering home

cruel winds of driving cold

too late the sun, void

of summer’s gold

Brittle the dust flew winding it’s way through the hollows

seagulls winging songs for love

Fog horns deep the darkening storm rolls on

splattering waves of day begin

Pebbles running down hill

gathering shells, my cup to fill

hurry home my frozen toes

thawing by the fire

counting shells

and embers

fiddlehead fern rooted in earth

warmth of sunshine gives birth to your unfurling

green forest smiles as you reach toward stars

you are smiling like moonlight

shining back through trees

White the summer fields now covered in snow

lone fence, disappears long beyond the gray

tiny birds perch, soon gone the light of day

whipping winds gather, snowdrifts to lay

forest footsteps distant

this world so scarce a sound

hills and sky listen

snow falling to the

ground

With sudden fury, madness rang through the air

just then a flock of glorious birds

so free in bluest skies, flew by

and we away with them

Now gone from sight

our earthly bodies,

become winged spirits

angels taking flight

The snow it did not fall

only frost, thick as walls

creaking floors, a long hall

leading upward

where stars whispered

calling to the moon

from behind curtains,

branches and clouds

If these words be thy home

salvation for my soul to dwell in

let them be of love

no beginning

no end

Curved, shadows, bones the hollows

hips, skulls, rust red hills

hawk bleeds to kill

desert ghosts roam

echoes calling

no one

home

Words, images, little things that would not let me be

pulled, tugging for awhile

I felt them, knew them too,

spoke of deeper knowing,

stringed music playing violins

words, colors flooded in

The paper, the paint

a page, no thought in mind,

crooked smile unrefined,

thick the brush strokes ever bold

eyes, pooled mirrors of soul –

I dared to look

within

Cool grass

wet rain soaked

fallen leaves bled

dead, decayed

ghostly offerings

wet bark, moss and bones

damp, gray and gone

birth of blue light sun lives one

burning into tomorrow

when yesterday becomes

the past, the dust

of us

Soft

green blanket

stair step moss

climbing to stars

raindrops rolling

falling from

blackened branches

wintery maple

I couldn’t see, but water

reflecting, it danced from stars of sun

Black cormorant dove under stars and pearls of sea

silvery fished his netted beak

A small boat left untied to float, I rowed

weaving cat tail reeds, long through water weeds

Paddles cut my diamond day – sparkling

jewel of soul swayed, prayed to dive me deeper

Sandy shores mollusk strewn

rippled shells covered shimmering blue

Oysters bubbled shallows breathing

seagull smiled watchful scheming

Beach fire to warm the night

and rock the dusky sun to sleep

the coming moon between trees

dark night, the stars to weep

Eyes burn

gritty paper, sand

tears pool

a room puddles

buckets, oceans pour over

dousing flickering flames

drowning

some letting go

dying

others left

wading

In this wild resplendent place

ferns unfurl softly green

below bearded mossy trees

rain falls, birds call echoing

sounds of a deep forest

breathing.

Words by Emily

an everlasting novel

penned amidst the moors

Catherine’s face was just like the landscape — shadows and sunshine flitting over it in rapid succession; but the shadows rested longer, and the sunshine was more transient.

Love lost

such cost drowning in seas

Waves flooding, some wading

tides to recede

Wash over

troubles, waters run free

to float, touch clouds

we hope

Smooth sailing, dead calm

we’ll drift, waves lift

to carry us

home

Water trickling, grooved patterns of bark

darkening drinking up

Bright yellow creeping

maple leaves losing green

fallen or hanging on

A wind gust

little rush of swirls

tiny leaves come to rest –

wakes the nightjar

from her evening nest

Wet wings, flickers fly

stellar jay looks on,

Roses withered, ages gone

petals on the

ground

This morning rain

autumn – cool rain falling into afternoon

hills, layers, fog nestled in

Clouds, mists become one

so far off, never a thought

the sun

Logs, wooded hills, we climbed

to view, our souls, some moments

in panorama we find

we touch our truths

divine

Yesterday

music encircled your soul,

laughter rang, so beautiful

Brilliant bells, colors, mountain meadows

An open book, you fell

in love with everything

Green hills, trees you climbed

above the seas

Stark

vast beauty of you, with worlds long hidden inside

fenced in places, cracks to be filled

your shinning brilliance killed

becoming so invisible

Illuminated

a flower, translucent you bloom

centered, calm within the petal storm

rainwater washing

clean the core

a place, no locks

your heart

an open door

Gray woods, morning mist

hangs upon the trees, leaves decay, sway

falling to the ground

quiet this world, but for the sound of rain

washing wet the berry vines, droplets

falling to the ground

tiny sparrow flits among sheltered branches

a nest to repair, twine and twigs, little sticks

falling to the ground

Moss, softly green as grass

some bare feet to pass

red fox and deer to tread

mossy stepped, quietly the forest led

soon to rest golden heads

bright leaves

falling sleepily

to bed

Sad the hour of denial’s disbelief

a day that never comes when years young of frolicking

Playful sweetest boy, swaying tail pure of joy

fluff ball dog in white, too soon your tired night

Long did run, his field days sung

we say goodbye, so cold yesterday’s

setting sun

Moon winds pretend to know me

clouds steal the sky away

never knowing my name

removing the veil

what game

night stars

play

We have always had tools

how to repair

stitch the tattered, fray of us

such fools

A family, shattered

all the days our

ruins

Can we will

such storms of darkness

now to light our dawn

love’s sacred singing?

We can

lighten our souls

softly winging

The

moth

drowsily

played

wings

of

spotted

eyes,

did

fly

Bright

the

candle

light

now

his

waxy

grave

No

more

the

fiery

flame

Running

do you

feel

the race?

Or meet with

it’s bitter taste?

The

Gold

Crush the painted pestle stained

of berries, purple, black

Liquid crimson geranium blood

red the paper sack

Gathering colors, lushly green

go shades of tan the water weeds

mixed upon a stone

Woodsy calls, her depths of fall

lone a painter’s

home

He was covered in oil that day

crawling undercover he did not play

Tossed out, abandoned to the rains

to join the ranks of strays

Green eyed guy found hiding, crying

shivering alone

Now Mr. Black is fat

in his happy

home

walking

no place today

in mind

thoughts reaching –

no tomorrows

to find

little daydream

a tune to be sung

life spinning

under autumn’s sun

far off

meadow plains,

cool wanes quiet falling sun

golden, reds

still hanging on

A place, nowhere to be,

no one am I

content beneath blue fields

of sky

She was sure of the shore,

much before the crushing storms

buried her at four – shoveled and pale

Sunk her soul

the brutal gales wailed

Tides dragged her off without a name

she lived where seashells lay

No words to speak, the silence keeps

fear’s troubling beasts at bay

Cold watery world, no place for a girl

she sleeps now in a fern’s curl

songbirds sing of forest’s green

the frond gently unfurls

Distant it grew nearer

shaggy, wagging butt

muffled barking mutt

In relation

to stars, planets – the earth

please share here the date of your birth

You needn’t put the year,

unless of course you dare

Now if you don’t mind

please post your

astrological

sign

Bird wings, sing

song’s sweet play,

gone – the rains washing

Hawk glides the sky stalking

talons piercing prey

dark the skies

they fall away

two birds

one dying

hearts unhinge

shutter, shattered

words swiftly bitter

twisted, uprooting love

This evening’s street fair

Twelve card spread, I am dancing

Gaia leads the way

Branches

Father

he spoke soft, willowy winds

protecting

when harsh, the storms blew in

Last night in my dream

Questions – secrets revealed

I wake with answers

The only one

The only one

The only one

I watched

first the thunder

booming, black of storm

All the gathering – flocks, clouds

leaves piled, blew

Windy gray the day deepened

void of birds singing

Breaking branches – cracked the gloom of dawn

all the scurry, dark forest floor so weary

Soon the rain began – a flood

death’s pooled lake of drowning

Ashen skies of furry, tumultuous blowing

ripped awake the day

Washing wet the soiled

stains of blood

my soul

Driving south

only cactus go by

my skin hot, dry

peel of my lips

taste how sweat drips

melt behind this wheel

sink into surreal

this road to Mexico

slow air of black crows

circling death’s bones

Seed soaking

dark soil of days

split apart, shed the self

you’ve planted

touch the earth, so clinging

brush the dirt

your freedom singing

rustic rain

brown- yellow hills

crows circle a carrion kill

I’ve come for resurrection to bleed against the sky,

thirsts like deserts, cool water washing

bones to soak

skulls abandoned, sun bleached white

prayer offerings for an earthly altar

here, where death

is hallowed

To fly as

paper birds

soft breeze to carry me

Wings rise, kiss the clouds

a kite, a dream

above the

Sea

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Drops – reddish rain on skins

slid dripping, pooled the leaves curled

Steps on stems break, gold the dawn awakes

windy wrecks of nests unhinge

needles, twine thru twigs

Ladders leaned

steps for splintered fingers

Blossomy buds plucked thru rungs

gone the breezy days we sung

Apple worms burrow

dig the beaking birds

Bees have flown homeward

In September’s slanted sun

we gather sweetest reds

Crisp the air drifts,

through branches overhead

River, branches grasped

Earth, my world spinning round

Released, I float on

Tears burn melt the flame

Ages fly – die the living

Final sleeps my dream

Maple tree

giant skyward leaning

Dropping leaves

do you dream, long of summer’s greening?

Your sunshine days,

the gray rains sway,

wintery cold

Once long ago

a tiny seedling

planted

So came the days,

long of summer’s winging

sweet the cherry chickadees sang

of June

Grasping leafy ribbons hung,

willowy warm the trees we swung

All the green – the frog soliloquy pond

Fritillaria, frilly forest fronds

grassy mountain meadow paths,

daisy clouds bloomed, swirling past

Wild geese flocked the lake,

dusk too soon alas

August night of seasons end

starry meteors flashed across

velvet black whistling to

a blue moon

Storm clouds gathering

Rain pouring, splashing puddles

Now the sun again

Distant blue field

further, still the dawn

warmth of day, falls away

disappears into a

fragrant piney forest

a path – twine and twigs, mossy laid

soft steps, of hoof prints made

in tunnels wooded, dimly lit

gray lichen amid the moss

raindrops magnified, gazing through

boletus spongy staining blue

fat berries, salal and thimble red

sparrow rakes his nesting bed

when all the light has gone away

night slips silent into another day.

She loved the moon

long awaited its ripeness full

Stood gazing

out the window

Then came a fool

his senses dull

they took their toll

and blinded dark

her radiant world.

Autumn frost of mourning air that’s ever near

roaming roads weaving a way homeward

sudden clouds the cold gray surrounds me

hurried birds madly through trees

winter’s early calling

little footprints sparkle

white snow stars

falling

Orange woke

the sleeping world,

clouds, cumulus, creamy

feathery skies, painted fly

far escapes the night

sings morning pink, red

heavenly glow

ablaze in dawn’s

delight

The dawn, still the quiet embers

linger, wander, falling under

spells to uncover

Hands grasped golden nights

music fiery, blazed the heavens

mingling with starlight

Morning birds on wing,

dawn of sacred blessings

calling lovers home

The heat and scorch

a black singed wound

the blues and bruise

only a gaping hole

salt stung to close

still a heart in order to mend

must not contract

nor defend.