Rapture

I wait for rapture, as I lie tightly folded in the dark,
guarded by my goddess whose joy is rapid flight.
Pulling me to the fore, her touch sends a spark
into my weave that ends my dull and lifeless night.

For me, there is no being when she holds me apart.
Yet how does she losen magic that's so closely knit?
Is it the song of her breath? The beat of her heart?
The warmth of her blood? The strength of her spirit?

I cloak her essence, my fabric soaking up her fire,
then, we morph, grow beak and feathered wings,
taking off, the rapture of soaring high and higher,
leaving behind intrigues, lies and weak mortal kings.

Back in the dark casket, neatly folded, I lie.
My regret and longing mirrorred in Freya's sigh.

A/N: This is about the cloak belonging to the Norse goddess Freya with which she could turn into a falcon and fly.

Crumbs

Putting down
the rules:

Just for fun
no strings attached,
you say.

Trapped,
caught in the headlights,
I nod.

I'll take
what I can get.


Previously published in: Wilderness House Literary Review http://www.whlreview.com/

Phantom

I have seduced you
a thousand times
in my mind, pulled you
out of your calm.

But how can I hope
to reach you
when you are not here?

I have said
just the right things
time and time again
till you smiled.

But to what avail,
when you are not there
to hear them?

I have dreamed
you into my presence
and carressed you
as is right.

But you are too far
to feel the truth
of my touch.

Downfall

I fell down
the cold, dark well
of your smile -

prepared for
impact.

You fell down
the bottomless pit
of my passion -

totally
unprepared.

In the end
I hit the ground
running -

your crash
was fatal.

Squandered

Sorrow paints a picture
Of grey splashed on grey,
drowning all the reds,
yellows and greens
that scream of blatant hope.

A twinkle of memory,
casts a comforting glow –
a potent, uplifting mirage
that turns into the
leaden weight of penance.

The past flatters me,
the fragrant smell of future
and the silver ring of love.
Back then, euphoria held me,
I floated lightly as a feather.

Up and up I soared,
happily investing hopes,
dreaming of walks in the park
and the sweet smell of roses –
ignoring the grim portents.

No use to plead for time,
time flies despite my wishes
and reality carts my dreams away
in exchange for bitter bile,
mocking my timidity.

Yet, if I must name a culprit,
I can blame no one but myself.
The dreary certainty haunts me
that it was I who foolishly
squandered my opportunities.

Dragon's Choice

When she roars, the world shakes,
the air trembles and the earth breaks.
When she screams, the sky wavers,
the sea foams, fire quavers.
When she glares, the mountains bend,
the storm recoils, time wants to end,
and when she flies beneath the stars,
they start to sing of beauty from afar.

She is power, her grip is death,
her tears are blood, fire her breath,
and when she comes, you cannot go,
you can't break from her red eye's glow.
Gleeming teeth adorn her jaws,
she bares them, grinning at your awe,
wanting to live, you desperatly grope,
for something to hold. It's a forlorn hope.

For what is hope in the face of death?
When you are struck by a dragon's breath?
There is no escape, you cannot run.
The beast has chosen. Ït shall be done.

Framed

The bitter song
of parting
pierces
our smiles.

Might-have-beens
lurk in every corner,
snatching
tears from our eyes.

We fought
our hearts;
a silent struggle
for distance.

We lost -
our forfeit
these precious seconds
slipping

away.

Hazard

Due to past
experience
I expect
the blow:
I can take it.

That doesn't make the hurt in the throat less painful
nor does it keep misery from clawing at my insides.
A broken heart is not beautiful: it is convulsive sobs,
a runny nose and tears charting a crumpled face.

Optimists are
the worst
gamblers
and life is a
one-armed bandit.

Danny Glover

Felicity justifying the intrusion
of your presence,
I settle for a blissful evening
cuddling up to you.
The warmth of your arm
blazing my back,
we munch popcorn to the sight
of Danny Glover
scolding a young Mel Gibson.

I would have watched
Something else
if left to my own devices -
but your intrusion
elicits blissful contenment,
and Danny Glover
is justified by the felicity
of your presence
because my heart beats for you.




A/N: Includes part of a quote by Robert Chapman:
A quotation, like a pun, should come unsought, and then be welcomed only for some propriety of felicity justifying the intrusion.

Siblings

Brother -
never chose you
(nor you me..) but blood is
thick, the rumour tells. - Sometimes it
even shows: Sibling solidarity
breeding short spells of unity.
Neither of us chose this;
Our common ground,
brother.

Liar

It was fine,
we had denied all claims
and this night
- months later -
was just a goodbye.

The long red hair
stuck in the brush
shouldn't have hurt.
Your denial
should not have been welcome.

I know you
did it to shield me
from reality.
I am glad
you told the lie.

Supernova

What was a sun is now
a white dwarf,
all that’s left after the
supernova.

Emptiness surrounds the
dying star,
the vacuum of loneliness
unbreached.

A soul implodes slowly -
unattached
it falls away from the world,
into itself.


Previously published in: Wilderness House Literary Review http://www.whlreview.com/