scarlet ~

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when first you were
as come to me –
a letter someone mailed
and put my name to scarlet
neath the picture of a sail
a stamp of once forgotten
to the refuge of the waves
and ‘cross the tides
delivered me your soul

as ever we were parted
and swore to meet again
to other shores
remembered why we left
with not a thought
to what was passed –
memories no longer
just the gentle shift of time
beneath our wake

hands to reach
across this great divide
of crystal waters –
as sands to form
beneath a quarter moon
silver pails of longing
kept too long
the wait for home
would dreams return us dancing
as sunlight on the foam

dates long passed ~

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thought I not of turning back
to places of my own ~
how many names forgotten
are written now to stone
a night or two
a date long passed
survived by briar and sweat
eternity foreshadowed
by moments of regret
and stood I there
more times than told
to watch as prophets marched
from shiny limousines
with linen collars starched
without a tear between them
didn’t know of plans to live
or truth that went the way
of moss –
another to forgive
the coming home for more than this
than scripture without verse
lights returned the lonely here
as destinies rehearsed
as loving lips were robbed
of voice –
words to fall apart
asleep beneath the timbers
beside a broken heart

Author’s Note: Yes, I know, but there have
been times when I stumble upon old photos, and
wonder what I thought when standing there.

highways ~

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forever was once
we spoke about trying ~
and bought every map
they were selling that day
traced every road ~ purple and broken
back through the night
to the edge of the page

to discover our other
was part of the journey
and whispered direction back home
from the fall ~
echoes to ring
with a music familiar
and moments so tender
we traded them all

for this one to deliver us
whole to begin
bound as a drifter to ways traveled on ~
returning as name to a dream
unrecalled ~
ten thousand miles
to the place we belong

the same as we were
e’en now I confess
of roads worn away
by the passing of time
words without memory
of paths crossed before ~
maps through the darkness
light touching light

last time forget me ~

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of those who would know me
the worst would allow –
and pages I can’t bare remember
the last time forget me –
the first one to stay
past the rise of tomorrow
on the thought of today

when the clothes
needed washing
and rent was come due
were fields needing more
that what planting
would do

I begged
for a savior –
a man among men
would come as a season
to know me again
would wake as the lantern
was burning its last
to relive every moment
of loving
was passed
to the vault that would stay
on a cord ’round my heart

a memory of comfort
wishes and lace –
wrapped in another
surrendered to grace
as we were
to forever –
every promise let go
let the crops burn
and weevils take hold –

more here
than heaven –
a paradise thrives
in moments eternity waits
share me the wonder
of morning reflection –
and a lantern
left long by the gate

southern skies ~

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take me back
the way we wandered
give me pause to turn around
plant my heart in fields of cotton –
e’er blossoms break
the tender ground

hold me close
the vow remembered
hear my words or let me be
the one you knew before as always –
was not for dreams you’d live
to see

nineteen sons
and thirteen daughters
east to west
the north come clean
take my soul but save the babies
of every sorrow passed between

hand in hand
the charge to carry –
burn my bones or let me fail –
ashes rained in sheets of maple
secrets stored beyond
the veil

tearful eyes
the lowly seeker
waits the choice to come again –
living love in autumn colors
golden reds remember when

southern skies
and not much needed
to make of life – a place for love
breath to breath
and time to question
would evermore be long enough

keep me here
as the rest is written
hands the same as yours – I know
will find the way
some other season –
as north to wander south
to home

Charles Codman Cabin in the Woods

interlaced ~

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were this the meeting
of time interlaced –
and stayed I a moment too long
looking back
as a breath to the breeze
no different than raven or wren

sunlight or sorrows
passed through as shadow
were given a reason – come home
needles for nesting
a faraway blessing
no different than now
my purpose to know

stronger the promise was made
of uncertain –
and there stands forever
a place unadorned
by need – might wisdom
give life to a dream –
will I want for another (more time)

to caress
or burn to my soul
the hands of the sun
remembered a sigh
some sweet lullaby –
plays softly when whispers
have come

and struggle is all I have kept
from my slumber –
forgotten the pathway to dawn
shrouded in mystery
questions unanswered –
the mirror knows more than she tells

laced with the past
is every tomorrow –
dusted the raven
with wren in her sails

someone whispered ~

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twisted rope of reds and grey
years defy
the strength of time
lovers lie in sunset hues
a cedar bed
beneath the pines

crickets fiddle
songs I know
shadows rush this empty place
thirteen moons
ten thousand lives ~
wrapped in linen
mortal lace

heard your name
just yesterday
someone whispered ~
lest I hear
more than grace
my will to know
what of love can disappear

eyes remember stories told
hands to reach
are folded still
brittle rain of destinies ~
scarlet leaves
the truth conceal

but somewhere close
they split the night ~
as storm clouds chase the edge of day
twilight leans into the soul
another stone
to roll away

Author’s Note: Alzheimers is a thief without
conscience, robbing its victims of a future warmed
by memory.

before the waking ~

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for reasons I’ve forgotten now
the grass has taken over ~
there’s a place beside the barn
where wisdom grows
a portal in the forest
and a blanket made of moss ~
a solitude I’ve found
where no one goes

the taste of winter berries
when laid beneath the stars
and traced a line
from father back to son ~
a dream before the waking up
and every truth made clear
as lessons for the lover
and grace for everyone

the same as when ~
the sweetest vine
was crushed beneath the garden
and fences raised
to keep the dreamer home ~
tho wondered then
but not aloud ~
of where they hung their sorrows
I cried the night for sins
the worst atoned

stand a guard
beyond the orchard ~
curs’ed headlights down the way
and mark the path with briar
rusty nails ~
tap the lines and drain the creek
but leave the heavens open ~
ask me where I’m going
but pray I never tell

ribbons ~

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in the space of a moment
a lifetime
forever
another becomes
a second (no more)
than as we foretold
with the last we were here
taken the path
beginning to know

of others surrendered
in learning again
the truth
as were ribbons tied to the trees
and weaved to our soul
souvenirs

of all still to find
in seasons of rest
passing as breath to the breeze

settling somewhere
in places we are
eternal
immortal
as one to remain

a flickering light
spills a flame to the dark
shadows
remembered no more

yesterday
tomorrow
beginning again
we are still
as forever
a moment
of now

clearly ~

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left as the morning
was dried from the roses
and last night’s confession
absolved by the sun
drove just as heaven
found dirt in Kentucky
and slowed not the heart
getting on

another night’s rest
much better than last
with nothing much left to extole
would spend not remorse on
choices once made
or the etch of their worth
to my soul

was innocence lost
in my rush to believe
or blinders my color of eyes
a white picket fence
did its best to persuade
of reasons
for staying behind

another day gone
as the truth to set free
sooner or later was lost
the plan to give more
that I had to affirm
of dreams
I can barely recall

the pillow made dark
by yesterday tears ~
mascara I cared not concede
even now as the last glimpse
of night disappears
in the rearview mirror
I see

the highway sings
of whiskey and wishes
a favorite song made right
who I am now
didn’t matter much then
as last night’s confession
absolved by the sun