It begins with a gasp,
like the first time you see
a jeweled Indigo Bunting bathing
in the sun.
Brilliance.

It sings amid Parnassian hues,
fluttering about the garden,
absorbing the moments, the seconds
passing in time -

a fallen tear,
a dusty vase,
the shallow light in an empty room.

And there it scatters itself
like warm, welcoming effervescence,
its words falling onto waiting pages,

its poetic gems shining deeper,
then rising like wings into the bluest sky.

Just a day at the beach,
he wrote home to his girl...
"We'll roll up in floating barges
give the locals such a thrill."

He's deaf, he hears not a sound
but the sun is shining bright,
the sky is blue, the sea, it sparkles,
yet, something isn't right.

There's no sounds around him,
but plops and sprays of salty foam.
He jumps into the bloody water,
a steel pot upon his dome.

Ashen complexion, reflection
looking back through the crack,
shards of glass embedded in her wrists.
Today was supposed to be the happiest day.

A single tear, graced once rosey cheeks,
mascara smeared in devastated streaks.
Blood stained across betrayed lips,
waiting for the kiss that binds.

He chose her once upon a time,
but once was all it would ever be.
There was someone else
that would always be far greater than she.

I stood and watched the ocean's swell
When on my arm a hand it fell;
I turned, a stranger stood quite still
Wide staring eyes that brought a chill.

He commanded: "Look around" barked he:
"Tell me what it is you see".
Said I: "Rolling waves that billow white
That play on sands with orchestral might":

"No, look again from within your soul,
Let your eyes be a window for all that is whole;
See the dust of ages blow 'cross the strand
Sweeping in from a desolate land".

Words like knife blades,
shred the soul to ribbons,
soaked in invisible blood.
Have you ever really loved?

Drenched in your own sin,
covered with lies, broken promises
shatter like shards of glass.
Have you ever really hurt?

Toxic lover, steeped with hate.
Bite the apple, choke it down
Poison drips from your bitter lips
Have you ever looked at death?

Restless soul, abandoned body.
No one came, no one at all.
You burnt your bridge.
Now rot in hell.

And I thank you for Billy Collins,
George Carlin, and the Archie Bunkers of the world.
The laughter of our inner-most children
making snide jokes without rancor.

Too long have we been sleeping,
and not yet awoken
to the truth of loud and hilarious laughter,
hidden behind hands of protest.

What freedom, to imagine the joke on us,
letting no one in or out,
holding the rest of the world hostage,
with words of wisdom and grins.

I should be working now and yet,
My mind goes back to nights of yore;
My fingers freeze against the keys
For all I see or think is her.

She captivates me with her charms,
Seduces me with sensuous moves.
Entices, teases draws me in,
A spider in her web of sin.

And though my heart belongs to her.
And though my soul is not my own
I know,deep deep within that I
Must use strange powers to bring her near.

So many years since I have done
That which I plan now.

Drowning in blood soaked regrets,
Razor's edge, cuts deep.
intrusive thoughts begin to seep,
soaking bed sheets as I weep.

Neverending torture, how I tried
to break the invisible chains that bind.
Stumbling, falling, nearly blind.
Was it so hard for you to be kind?

Time is a thief, for the things we love,
yet stood still while I burned at the stake.
How do you sleep under all that fake,
there is no give, only what you take.

I'm footsore and weary,
upon the road again
Through blazing heat and dust
drenched with cold and frozen rain

Many miles I've traveled,
up mountains and over hills
always keep on moving
I am looking for new thrills

What is on the other side,
around the next blind bend?
I wonder; keep on walking
is there ever any end?

Blue skies are never promised
but I keep looking for,
whatever treasures hidden
because I've always wanted more

She lurks in the darkness, waiting, waiting,
Patient as gold orb in her web;
I know she waits but dare not open
The door to the fate where I shall be led.

I close my eyes;
I close my mind;
But in the silence there I find
No solace from her piercing eyes
That stab the impenatrable with her lies.

I hear her speak soft to my soul
Command me clear her lust to feed,
Ope' the door, let desire take wing
My mistress sets my soul to sing.