Tag Archives: gravel roads

silent hallelujahs ~

26 Tuesday Jun 2012

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sleep no more
the night away
without the dream awaking
so certain you were there
outside my gate

as once (did I imagine)
I heard my name aloud
stronger every one
for moments passed

eternities within my reach
as midnight dreads the crowing
hours – but a place
to lay my head

while thoughts so often gather
by minutes unprepared
for where I go
whene’er the lights go dim

will somewhere else
my name be held
in silent hallelujahs
no whisper of regret
could speak the same

(hello) above the sigh
of wing’eds in the rafters
or stir as planets pace
familiar skies

what lowly indiscretion
has nightbirds answering
as curs’ed sheets pretend
to love me still

sleep no more
for in the want that wakes me
from my leaving –
windows open wide
to find you come

breath of God ~

26 Tuesday Jun 2012

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sweeter here
the morning air
tis come as truth
the breath of God
how is it I can tarry long
without a place to be

and see it all (made clearer)
light dispersed by breath
broadened blades of love
weaved of silver leaf
vines support a brother
til limbs grow strong again

seasons tumble (softer now)
to capets red and golden
standing ancient swords
are naked (do not care)

love is home to everything that matters
from sycamore to cherry ~
hyacinth to crow
ten thousand trees
and all with light their own

held the truth
years before my coming
swore an oath to fathers
would keep this place for me

how long it’s been
I spoke their names
the shape of clothes they carry
sweet gum ~ oak and cedar
forever proud they stand

against the push
that is the world
more and take
and bury
even now the mountain grieves
for one they cannot save

yesterday grows lonely
in shades of nevergreen
a shadow cast by giving up
another falls behind ~
timbers mourn in silence
the shape of winter dreams

Author’s Note: As friends of the Smoky Mountains know,
an imported old-world insect, the Balsam Wooly Adelgid has decimated
Frazier fir trees throughout Eastern North America. From the highest peaks
you can now look out over millions of ugly skeletons of dead trees.

by heart ~

25 Monday Jun 2012

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a weathered brow
a broken fence
and paths I know by heart
steps above the water
glisten wet beneath the moon
voices rise in echoes
long forsaken

names reduced to memory
rust beyond the barn

shadows fill the spaces
once reserved for briar
was somewhere here
I noticed you were gone
in ways the geese were flying
winter blades to bow
darker stained the ribbons
to the wood

signs of you in everything
signs of life moved on

empty halls
of paper peeling
still the heart remembers
the sound of aching boards
beneath the dance

twilight spilled
through splintered glass
tied my mother’s apron
hand in hand
two steps away and back

the scent of rain
before a storm
lightning stilled the darkness
a moment clear
and all I saw was you

mysteries
as I’ve forgotten
other names and places past
miles have separated me
from love

I wish I knew
the path you took
which way to watch for mercies
lest you come again
remembered me
as home

three days ~

22 Friday Jun 2012

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this is the place
I wished for
something moves upon the wind
and longing
feels no urgency to go
cedar sweats
as knot to knot
grain against the strumming
as white to flash
a covey spills to flight

I am here
within the wonder
the same as shale and story
to fill my blood with love ~
strength that pulls
the pines

let be
this time of loving
let not my words be caught
in harsh regrets
or looking back
to other ways I crossed
to tender paths
I wonder still
what fate awaited there
was given me for choosing
with nothing to compare
let me sit
with this becoming
as destiny unfolds
a brush against
what might have been
a solace to my soul

above a crush
of timber
wings to span the sky
and somewhere close
I hear the river sing
as soft the breeze reminds me
I am home again
this in-between
tho just the same
as hemlock, fir, and myrtle
my roots reach deep
into this place
of love

I know this song
the sound of leaves
whispers still the forest
I close my eyes
and hear the evening tide
a melody remembered
is played again at twilight
once given to the trees
when love befell the dreamer
notes of ash and chestnut
were floated out to sea
I wonder do they miss
the shore
another place they sing

forever spoken ~

21 Thursday Jun 2012

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I am but a stranger,
where promise has come to live.
I have held the hand of heartache,
with the love I swore to give ~
turned the storm
against the current,
tossed the sea of raining blue ~
poured her foam into the heavens,
set the sun
to burn anew.

I am but a sailor,
from my hands, a compass wrought.
A lantern to the stillness,
quiet calm by living bought.
I shall carry you to healing,
by the touch of endless grace ~
bring you flowers from the mountain,
yet to fill your sorrow’s place.

I am but a soldier,
born to fight your bitter ills,
come to find
your beauty hidden
far beyond the rolling hills.
I shall be your sole redemption,
words alone could never say.
I am love forever spoken ~
a lowly prayer
within your pain.

I am but a moment
in all the times you’ve known,
one reason for your seeking –
that which knows the way to home.
When no other will remember,
I alone will speak your name.
When destiny is written,
love shall find the way
we came.

eternal remembrance ~

20 Wednesday Jun 2012

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were seasons past
eternal remembrance –
no sky filled with smoke could erase
the magic of moments
from far far away –
and the coming back home
to embrace

another noonday
of rain to my soul
ashes or leaves –
I’m not sure
but of those were the same
your hand wrapping mine
and a promise
where nothing was heard

but the slow steady drum
of forever receding –
matchless to fate (restless stars)
stings as the echo
of where you were falling
tears (don’t they see
I can’t go)

living comes still by the same
crooked fence
and a stand of pink dogwood
in spring

what did you say
I wonder so often –
even now I go back (in dreams)
to lie just this close
as I can to the parting –
might I linger too long
with a ghost

wanting (for something)
one more everafter –
pieces and places (you know) –
as the drum ceased its beating
and guns met with thunder –

the arms
that forgave me
let go

o daddy ~

17 Sunday Jun 2012

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how long I’ve been
in growing up –
the first of four
(so many)
never thought to this
the dreaming in your eyes

when I hold you near
(o, daddy)
you tremble more and more
and I want to cry
(for these, not I)
tomorrow will remember
hold me close
a moment more –
and beg me not (o, baby)
think to things
beyond my weak control

of days or years
I have not either –
or means to slow their passing
take my hands
let’s wander back this way –
to other places (stories told)
in makings of a memory
you washed my feet
with whispers of your love

I shall stay
the long night through –
and fight with words
each demon
would take of leave
this moment here –
tis mine and mine alone

one day
I know
the call will come
and tears will flow untended
but still within
the presence of a smile –
for treasure keeps a place with me
inheritance (already)

arms to wrap around
they feel the same
to me

more than roses ~

15 Friday Jun 2012

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It’s enough
that I remember
the softness of hello –
A smile was all I needed
to be sure (of what I know)
that nothing is forever
but what we keep within.

As dear the kiss was given
it is left to be again.

It’s enough
that I’ve forgotten
other times we said goodbye –
a blanket of October
o’er a chilly autumn sky.

I don’t need an everafter
to know (what’s in your heart).
Were there words –
we must have found them –
given places left to start.

It’s enough
for each tomorrow,
what today (I know) is real.
I don’t need another promise –
all I need
is what I feel.

If that is all
(enough) to keep me –
keep me well it sure will do.
What I have
is more than roses –
more than life
is loving you.

last time ~

15 Friday Jun 2012

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The last time
I held you –
the train was just leaving.
A pink piece of twilight
was burned soft as coal.
A whistle of promise –
came sweet
down the canyon –
for a moment
forever
was a hand
we could hold.

The last time
I saw you –
was just around morning.
We rolled into Beaumont
and stopped for a bite…
I remember that look –
how distant
how dreamy –
reflecting on something
we’d lost
to the light.

The last time
I kissed you –
was two o’clock Sunday…
bent over choices –
some place
never been.
A dark stretch of highway
and no place for turning –
back to beginning
we wandered
again.

The last time
I called you –
I suffered my longing
how deeply the missing –
a place you once knew.
How tender –
these memories
of roads left to travel –
ere time give me
pardon –

a last time
with you.

a smile unkept ~

14 Thursday Jun 2012

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I was waiting you
to still my racing heart
as lightning
through the clouds
a face I knew
smiled and everything
was as was meant to be
a fool to doubt
of less to ever wonder ~
the coming back
would soon catch up with me

o please
I never needed ask
you knew my words
from memory ~
for years I hid
in places now forgotten
trading trust for recompense
paradise I know
a place to be
as I would need another
more than I ~
a sun beyond my own
was just a flame

reflection pooling in your eyes
where once I hybernated
hours into night
as you could see
beauty (gifted you)
a place in my confessions
lived within my dreams
of coming true ~

so grievous the notion
that skin ashamed in glowing
would retain the silken touch
of breath before
was halted by my passion ~
when truth appeared
(as signs we’d waited on)
freedom really free
as I decide

forever here
(as ever I) before
meant to be an answer –
awaiting this permission
(just to love)