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Tag Archives: love
In Forests #02
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Sun
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Tricks
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I lie
With the perfect girl l lie
she’s beside me under the bluest blue sky
it’s for her favour I vie
tall tales I anxiously try
through me she spies
she denies and defies my lies
inside I die
she says if you want me don’t lie
on you I want to rely
be truthful or good bye
with joy I cry
I never wanted to lie
I was so scared she wouldn’t even try
to let me be her guy
I’m high
When you cry (about living with a loved one who lives with depression)
Even if I sometimes manage to help to ease the pain
anytime you might start again
with rivers of tears like acid rain
eating at everything good again
I love you and I don’t know what you’re going through
but my love remains true
you can still see it,
can’t you?
when you cry fouled rivers run
the darkest shadows cross the sun
cyclone clouds further blacken the day
the very rainbows turn themselves to grey
the sun finally puts it’s light away
for you the whole world turns to bleak anxiety and fear
empty of hope and cheerless
the sadness is so deep and so near
so profound it breaks my heavy weather beaten heart
as icy words you shoot at me
feel needle like poisoned darts
this melancholy is so wretched it puts our life on hold
I don’t know what to do
how to bring you in from the cold
but I will keep trying and in my safe warm wings
you I will still enfold
In_Forests_#01
Juliet and Romeo (revised)
Juliet
is all slick and wet
her long hair in her eyes
she has been hit by an idiot
drunk driving by ……………. bye bye
Romeo
roams idly past
he sees the girl on the ground
he looks at her - quizzically
then he realises what he has found
Juliet
breathes in gasps
as blood pools under her back
she looks up, sees Romeo
last look, last love
as her limbs go slack
Romeo’s
not much you know
but this time things are different
He wipes the hair from her glazed eyes
and wonders where her life went
Juliet
rises above the scene
she watches Romeo
He cradles her head
gently in his lap
he whimpers out a moan
Romeo
struck by love’s full fist
his only love has gone
he whines, he weeps at his loss
death into his soul is born
Juliet
bears final witness to
Romeo’s last testament
“Did my heart truly love till now?”
he whispers
------------------------------------------
For the first time
he knows of true love and grace
“Good night, good night”
“Thus with a kiss I too die”
He declares to her still and pallid face
Romeo
bends his head down
and tenderly brushes her cold blue lips with his own
he softly places her head on the ground
a final look to the only love he has known
he lies quietly beside her
he takes her right hand in his left
Romeo
retrieves a switchblade knife
from his trouser ‘s pocket
meant for rivals never his life
and yet, he eases the blade into his chest
dividing his ribs apart
the sharp-edged steel slides smoothly
it finds his broken heart
As blood pools under his back
he has nothing more to say
onto the cold hard tarmac
his life also leaks away
Juliet
utters one last cry of grief
before she disappears forever
or was that one last plea for relief
in hope somewhere they will reappear together
for never was there a story that reeks of more woe
than this tragic tale of Juliet and her Romeo
If only …..
If only you had stayed, I would have learnt to love black days like bright ones with you. Why wouldn’t you? We could have learnt together. Such contrasts are about opportunities, about understanding different perspectives, about understanding each other and how to live and love together. All sorts of days come and go. All types of moods. There are enough days for everything we could imagine sharing - good days and bad. If only you’d waited to see how bright the future could be. If only you had taken the time to see through the clouds to the clear air beyond, to project us into that space of hope and optimism. Instead you allowed us to falter at the first hurdle without even thinking to explore how we could make the dark days bright again. You succumbed to the transient storm as if it would last forever.
This week Kim’s dVerse Prosery Prompt comes from Walcott’s Dark August , “I would have learnt to love black days like bright ones with you.” The task was to write up to 144 words of prose incorporating this line. I chose to write a flash fiction about the disappointment of a short love affair quickly lost to stormy weather – in 144 words.
Waiting for the 2.42
Waiting for the 2.42
nothing much else to do
so we cuddle and kiss
oblivious
to the sensibilities of the other pair
sitting there
Love signs
Each kiss a little longer
hands running through my hair
a massage of my shoulder
a whisper in my ear
hugs are that much tighter
gifts come with thoughtful care
the lifts are so much higher
the intimate things we share
welcome touches when we lie
lingering snuggles tight in bed
brushing tears when we cry
loving words never left unsaid
closing off the world around us
the opening of our own
full of love and trust
a permanent inner glow
holding hands whenever walking
some teasing and much fun
lost in each others eyes when talking
there’s no doubt about true love signs none
Of lovers and madness
Love is oft mad
at least it is common
for those who are in love
to behave madly most often
whether love at first sight
or as an earned right
love’s haze can refuse
the darkest of midnights
to acknowledge or confuse
bright beauteous light
thus driving one to action
bound later for redaction
for as Shakespeare said
in lines wise writ and read
“Things bad and vile, holding no quantity
love can transpose to form and dignity.”
Ref: A Midsummer Night’s Dream II 232-233
Brother, I still grieve
I watched him as we sat upon the deck of the sinking ship
the stern about to dip
our chairs starting to slip
our hands white in their grip
he wondered where we would be tomorrow
he stood as fires erupted upon the tilting deck
walked around the wreck
sought every way to check
for escape that he did seek
only to find himself on the rails of sorrow
the water now was rushing over both our cold wet feet
with no sign of relief
in sadness and in grief
life’s surging wild thief
he told me he wished well for his wife and children
I looked at him I took him into embracing arms
no protection here from harm
just wishing to disarm
anxiety and alarm
one last moment of loving calm
when going under the waves was the only given
we held each other standing there on the edge of fading hope
to the horizon we did look
to the water of our grave
cold and churning were the waves
then into each others eyes
resigned to our good byes
we held hands before stepping forward
the last things I remember are treading water in my doubt
the water in my mouth
the imminent blackout
wishing I’d never roamed
my loved ones left at home
wishing I’d never sailed
slipping under as strength failed
his tired smile as we fell
that I forgot to tell him how much I loved him
then came the wings of rescue they winched me up into the sun
I the chosen one
the sky it turned to gold
but I had lost my hold
on my brother and my friend
who supported me to the end
all I could think was how much I’m going to miss him
it’s been ten watery years passing underneath my bridge
I’m wasted and I’m damaged
with nothing left to salvage
I relive our time together
the fractured brother tether
brothers ever a pair
ever together everywhere
and here I am still left with no way of knowing
how I can go on without my brothers song
days are dark and long
I think it’s time I must be going
underneath the waves
my lonely soft parade
in hope that I will find
my brother left behind
always on my mind
I want to join him on death’s seas a rowing
together across the waves
nothing in it brave
just our watery grave
and our time together saved
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not want AI to use my work.
In Forests #01
In forests we go walking to find the time for talking
to take us away from the city hustle ever stalking
I meet you on love’s wings at the perimeter of meadows
and I love you all the more as we enter soft green forest shadows
we take the paths less trodden to open new forest doors
we find our way to high places to meres and rugged moors
the ferns they point our way with glistening fronds a waving
guiding us through the timeless forest we find ourselves a weaving
hand in hand we travel each a lovestruck wandering Gypsy
this time this place alone together precious magical and carefree
sun rays light the glades with golden shafts of wonder
we look aloft, laugh and dance beneath the forest grandeur
we lie down on forest beds and let our fingers do some walking
our hands our lips our tongue tips put a silence to the talking
again the language of forest love begins and with it our renewal
I’ll always be your forest love you my cherished forest jewel
when the forest loving is done and we must find our way back home
we’ll look forward to more forest talking and forest loving yet to come
My Valentine
Dearest Wife,
Ah, that is not exactly what I mean, how I meant to start. I mean you are my dearest Wife, but not the dearest of Wives amongst many other Wives that I have clamouring for my attention. No, no, there are no other Wives clamouring for my attention. I was just trying to make the point there could be dozens, even hundreds of Wives banging at my door but you would be the only one I would be looking for.
You are the only woman for me. Ah, I don't mean exclusively. Yes, there are other women in my life. Our daughter, my sisters for instance. Oh and your sisters of course. And then there is your mother and my stepmother and we have mutual womanly friends and ..... oooooh dear, what I am trying to say is that you are the only woman with whom I want to be associated intimately.
That is stating it fair and square, hits the nail on the head so to speak, glad I got there and have stated it unequivocally.
Oh dear, yes I mean you dear. My dear, my dearest. I dearly want to tell you, to explain, to you, to say absolutely and without doubt you are the one I was always looking for.
And I found you. Hmmm, possibly, it would be more accurate to say we found each other. Well, really, it was just a happy coincidence. Me finding you, you finding me. What does it matter? Not that I am saying it doesn't matter! All I am saying is who found whom is not important.
What is important is that we found each other and didn't leave it at that. We made it happen that we met again to become lovers, partners, friends and 45 years later we are still together. 45 years of loving happy days, of a life well lived in each other's company, of trust and confidence in each other, of a deep knowing that we will be together until the end.
I still delight in time spent with you.
Together or apart you are always in my heart.
Your dearest husband, of course by that I mean....., oh shit, pause, reset, rethink, be mindful, take a moment, keep it simple.
I have always loved you, I love you still and always will.
Happy Valentine's Day.
Sanaa provided this week’s dVerse poetics prompts. I selected No. 2 Love Letters Through Time: Write a poem in the form of a love letter. It can be addressed to yourself, to someone special and/or in memory of a person who has passed. I chose to write from the perspective of an incompetent romantic.
Rust: an ode to climate change
Mine robe is rust
it’s purpose refuge
oxidised shell around me
protector of my heart
a flutter
barrier to the world
a clutter
betwixt my rusty robe and me
lies a sea
of tranquility
where mind and soul
are at rest
where love beats strong
in swelling breast
I dwell in rust
on rusty bed
my pillow brown
for rusty head
there find me
with pledge to you
amongst helter skelter
rust piles askew
through water deep
I will walk with you
with you beside
your rusty guide
to rusty haven
secure engraven
come stay with me
we're safe inside
in rusty fortress
under rusty sky
this place to be
abide with me
a rusty mantle
tough rust retreat
that malign forces
will not defeat
my trusty eye
my rusty robe
deflects the fierce
threats of the globe
the purveyors of hate
the snide deprived
the walking hopeless
the full divide
to whom protective rust
has been denied
I trust in rust
as I trust in you
together we’ll forge
our rusty due
the crust of rust
our rusty glue
Poetry days #41.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Young Lovers
Secretly
we meet as separate, boy and girl
but take each other’s hand for company
and together in our own world
forget
their world which has split us, violently
we tarry a while, for our regret
is felt both deeply and silently
to give up our child before our prime
when all we wanted was decency
all we needed was more time
to be a family and only
to be with each other as three together
instead of separate and lonely
Poetry days #34.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Bessie
bessie is a bear
loved by our son
tucked under his chin
when he was young
now bessie is a bear
loved by his daughter
the love in bessie bear
has well and truly caught her
Photography days #17.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Alone
I never loved another
no other ever loved me
then how is it that I know love
and what it is that love should be
love is always on my mind
a want of love so kind
yet when I see others in love
it only serves to remind
me of my days alone
such a feeling of unease
should I ever bring love home
I’ll ever strive to please
Poetry days #14.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want Ai to use my work.
My velvet declaration of love – the kiss
Poetry days #17.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Autumn at Alfred Nick
There is a garden in the Dandenong Ranges
I call it Alfred Nick
after its long departed owner
who bequeathed it to our state
There are many gardens in the Ranges
but this one is the pick
of autumnal Ranges' splendour
vivid colour above
below lying thick
I drive the winding roads most every autumn
with camera in my hand
at the gates I pause
deeply breathe crisp mountain air
in anticipation of trees so grand
there is a lake in the Ranges
in the garden I call Alfred Nick
in autumn leaves make artful arrangements
on the surface
ephemeral so be quick
in this magical place full of growth and life
the photography is opportunistic
where human design and nature's creations
blend native, exotic and mystic
where ethereal mists linger and clear
for ambient blur and clarity rarely seen
in one place at one time
without ever repeating
every visit is unique
every visit is a joy
every vista a delight
reigniting the spark in
every nature loving
man, woman, girl and boy
For this week’s dVerse prompt Punam has asked we poets to write of autumn. My favourite season. The prompt speaks of love, so I present one of my autumn loves – Alfred Nicholas Gardens in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges.
All work is my own and subject to copyright. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
Belief
She doesn’t have faith like Jesus
But she does believe in love
she doesn’t have faith like Jesus
but she does celebrate life
she doesn’t have faith like Jesus
but she always tries to be kind
she doesn’t have faith like Jesus
but she leads a generous life
she doesn’t have faith like Jesus
but she worships nature and its gifts
she doesn’t have faith like Jesus
but she volunteers and gives a bit
she doesn’t have faith like Jesus
but she does believe in peace
she doesn’t have faith like Jesus
but she can turn the other cheek
she doesn’t have faith like Jesus
but she believes in equality for humankind
she doesn’t have faith like Jesus
but believes in freedom of speech and mind
she doesn’t have faith like Jesus
but believes in growing knowledge and skills
she doesn’t have faith like Jesus
but believes people should not kill
she doesn’t have faith like Jesus
but believes in doing good and always will
she doesn’t have faith like Jesus
but she should be honoured still
Written for the dVerse challenge from Andrew. When we take up poetic arms in any cause, we are trusting that “the pen is mightier than the sword!”
Fragile
Fragile like a bubble floating gentle on a breeze
uncertain airy eddies dropping it and raising it with ease
a dip toward a branch and a child waits for it to pop
breath held eyes wide standing still mid hop
then it spirals up just before the moment
a random push to nowhere special
rescued by chance
bound only by circumstance
the brittle coloured shiny shell wafer thin and precious
we await another chance buffeting the waiting is delicious
to influence things the child waves hands and blows with her small mouth
she hopes to help it survive the ground disaster beckons from the south
her little puffs send fragile bubble in unintended directions
she watches amazed the effect she has on the subject of her affection
her will her thought her decision to act on the outcome she desires
embolden her to further acts beyond bubbles she aspires
eventually the bubble pops its streaky rainbow skin
we both sigh in satisfaction at its inevitable oily end
as it bursts in prism lit spray asunder
the fragile bubble also releases wonder
the child and I are compelled to create more of these globular gems
to see what control we can exercise what we can contrive with them
such is human life
Lovers
lovers
a contradiction
the joyful anticipation of time spent together is heightened by the inevitability of separation
whether one waits for the other to arrive or the timing is perfect
buoyant hearts rush to the coming
the anticipation of separation casts a shadow over time spent together
time to dread and then watch the leaving
heavy hearts drag at the going
both will love and hate the preoccupying delirium of the in between
lovers
linger and pine long
River #02
The river of love that runs through my heart
is a river that flows straight to you sweetheart
and when it comes time for me to depart
my spirits will be high as I impart
my gladness at receiving love’s joyful dart
from you
to pierce my once armoured heart
poetography.ink 