Solace

I brought this on myself I know…

I begged the shadow from its depths, I held my ground to stand there, yet you crushed the heart I brought to show – you dragged me through your hatred, slow to speak, no talk, just blame, then compromise!? complicity!? Your ire carried simplicity as it fueled and fanned your angry flame, ashing out the torrid same – and again “I broke your heart”, you said. Yet how could I? For you I bled, yet you my love refused in kind! I’m blind!

I don’t know, but I brought this on myself…

So slow, this time away I walked, the city blackened itself to grey across its stoic cold. I hid my pain behind my hair, I cried for rain, a chance to bear the heavy weight upon my chest. My heart in pounding life, seemed death!

… then I heard the thunder, my anguish torn asunder, as loving rain my teardrops fed.

Upon the curb, collapsed in heap, my sobbing breath in gasps did weep, and there I stayed what seemed eternal. My ache and shutter denied this vernal granting gift of rain – yet slowly quelled my pain…

For as all life does push us on, I sat till every teardrop gone, oblivious to the world around, but close to soul and close to ground, I came to know I’d be all right. For this wasn’t love… and to the pending night
I turned.

I brought this on myself, I’ve learned.

photography by Leanne Cole

http://leannecolephotography.com

Summer’s Slow Reprise

Enraptured in this summer’s slow
I walk the neighborhood’s quiet streets,
as all the subtle sights I know
stand poised where sun and dusk do meet.

The work day’s done, yet daylight clings,
but denies a shadow with dusk in sight,
holds time in quiet gratitude
and grants the gift of a summer’s night.

The air is still, the streets lay quiet,
my footsteps slow and measured,
sweet scent of lawns just cut and trimmed
enhance this moment’s treasure.

Children in the park fulfill
their dreams through baseball’s pastime,
while sprinklers on the schoolyard grounds
set the rhythm of this rhyme.

A dog’s bark echoes through this mix
of summer’s fullest ether,
as all these moments conspire to this,
a summer’s slow still sweeter.

As I walk the sidewalk cracks,
my memory carries me to summers past,
where at this moment Mom would call
and I’d run home to plead a last
few minutes time to run and play,
to feel the summer’s dusk roll in,
to laugh with friends until the night
had called us all to home again.

I recall my Uncle’s ancient house
on ancient narrow streets,
where it seemed all time stood still
at this summer’s slow stretched through the heat
and through the call of katydids
on streets named Maple, Elm and Oak –
with Dad and him on the steps I’d sit
while they drew it in through cigar smoke.

This summer’s slow brings gratitude
for days and years and life gone by,
and blesses quiet solitude
in a simple walk and opened eye –
…
so grants me gifts I can’t deny,
in a magic I give thanks for.

Summer’s Slow

Quiet hush at edge of dusk
grants this peace at summer’s start,
where every moment caught is kind,
and every player does his part.

They call out from the willow trees
in chirps and clicks of many songs,
or whistle sweet a kind refrain
between the poles of silence long.

Squirrels pick through morning’s seeds,
the cat along the creek bank prowls,
the dog stretched long in sweetest grass
sniffs and rolls and growls.

Two ducks in quiet jabber
peruse the stream’s girth and grass,
seems all about the town’s at rest
so peacefully let the moments pass.

I sit and let it go,
pleased to draw this kindness in,
commit to let this summer’s “slow”
roll me in its arms again.

On Angel’s Wing

Suspended in a dream adrift,
tensioned gossamer wings have I,
in cloud and sunburst flux I shift,
held above beholding eye.

Roaring motive power drones
to silent whisper’s sweetest kiss,
hushed in mansion’s morning sum,
aloft the clouds in drunken bliss.

Seraphim, the farrier
by which my steed is shod,
for here there is no barrier
to joyous grin and thankful nod.

In roll and dive – “alive”
becomes a paltry exclamation,
when screaming “free!” is what I feel,
so fuels that acclamation!

In bending will, I balance here
twixt heaven and earth in flight,
solely bound to duty,
yet soar as angel amidst the fight.

Through golden glint and rays of hope,
my wings and I aloft partake
defense of homeland’s truth and honor,
balanced here for freedom’s sake.

Wings I’ve earned from warrior’s test
to take my battles to the sky,
proudly pinned upon my chest
as courage badged to fight and fly!

My love of hearth and home holds dear,
for each moment’s test is blessed in love,
that good shall conquer tyranny,
and free men shall rise above!

On Angel’s wings I fight it here!

(in honor and memory of all those that have served)

Dare

Dare to stand between the lines
of metered meaning rhyme,
that space between the pen and page,
in infinitesimal time
where image conjured draws a slow
distortion through the space to think,
and forms another angled truth
before the page is wet with ink.

Dare to chance the rhythm’d flash
that grows in instant, yet’s quickly passed
to roll beyond the comma’s stay,
there bend the meaning of every lay.

Dare to let subconscious reign
when guided by a sweet refrain,
leave the moment fading fast
where each pen stroke might change the cast
of what you really want to say,
of what you thought so purposed,
so spent in dancing pen at play
brings only soul to surface.

Dare to watch the pen ignite
its personality won,
you think you writer, but that’s not quite
what happens when the pen stroke’s done.

Dare to set emotion free
through meditative spirit,
guide what’s written but let it be,
that as it’s written, heart it!

Dare to synch your worldly thoughts
with living ink and pen,
don’t think, don’t count or hesitate
just let the ether in.

Dare to open window frames
and push your head beyond,
listen in the whispers there
and let the page take such ink on.

Dare to write what comes to you,
what flows through ink to page –
find immutable spirit there,
and free it from its cage!

The Palisades – Napa Valley, California

On the eastern side of Napa Valley, is an odd area of volcanic rock. The hike through Robert Louis Stevenson State Park is quite beautiful, and a bit challenging, but well worth the effort. Many interesting sights along the way, including an area of magical rock mazes and intrigue.

Castello di Amorosa – Napa Valley, California

The incredible castle of Castello di Amorosa Winery and Vineyard in Napa Valley – all of the materials were hand hewn and assembled. Quite a castle indeed!!