Summer Requiem

For the end of summer. Fall comes swiftly.

He found a passage

behind the lilies

to a world

so far from ours.

There he sits

and guards the flowers

as summer's lost

and turns to fall.

Of Parting Ways

To the friends we leave and those who leave us. To the people we find and those who find us.

Meeting is the sweetest sorrow,

for what we have we may lose tomorrow.

Humans have such complicated hearts -

our love is fondest when we part.

Still as this parting's drawing near

I ask you that you do not fear.

If quick we grow to be the fastest friends

it will not matter if it ends.

We'll always have the memories -

the anecdotes and stories.

Come, hurry now so we can start

our journey to the day we part.

Short Goodnight Poem IX

Another rhyming one. Reminds me of the ones I used to hear when I was a child. Enjoy and sleep tight.

Lazily gazing down,

the moon, with her crown,

laughs joyfully and free

while she's playing with the sea.

Sighing deep in slumber

the birds don't mind the thunder

just beyond the shore;

they dream of myth and lore.

Buried deep in summer grass

lies a gleaming pearl of glass.

Go to sleep and you will find

that beauty deep within your mind.

Solemn Evening Poem

This poem was inspired by a trip to the Mediterranean I took a few years ago. 'Vincero' comes from the opera song Nessun Dorma. Sometimes I ponder on war and victory, struggle and grace, and that otherwise elusive calm that comes the moments before sleep whisks you away. Goodnight everyone, sweet dreams.

I play opera

when the sun

is about to set outside.

Vincero it sings

and I think

of victory.

The last rays

give in to the night

like a sovereign

bows to another.

Gracefully.

Do we bow with grace

as we fall

from the same?

Are we with grace

as we stand

victors before the fallen?

Are we vindicated

as victors

or did the winning

make a mockery

of all?

My, but the thoughts

do take twisting turns

as darkness falls

and twilight comes

on dancing feet

that trip with gladness,

float with sadness

that invites

to sing the blues.

Short Goodnight Poem IIX

Another rhyming one. Sort of self-comfort really. Been one of those days. Enjoy.

 
The hour is late and waning yet,

the future looks blurry -nothing is set.

The day has passed, in its willful way.

The sun grows uncertain, the shadows stay.

Take comfort in knowing you tried to do good;

things will fall how they should.

Just trust in the light, you can sleep safe and tight.

There is nothing to do here tonight.

Lament of the Wizened Child

A poem on war.

Who will care for the children

when your war, when the fighting -is done?

Who will protect and deliver

when the mothers and fathers are gone?

Who ever cares about the children

when there’s call for blood in the air?

What good god would ever consider

a sacrificed child as a prayer?

Can you say that you care about innocence

while laughing at forgive and forget?

Is there not enough pity in those souls

to neglect the price of old dept?

Is there not enough room here for all of us?

Do we need so much power and space?

If you trust in your faith, let it be -warrior,

for your enemy mirrors your face.

Who will care for the children

when the last loving person is gone?

Then there will be no more children;

even your petty wars will be done.

Short Poem of the Night

Bedtime for weary souls I think. Been a hard day.
Enjoy and goodnight...

Too tired to sleep

and the fire burns.

In days to pass

much will happen, still

I wonder -

will it be worth the while?

My eyes see roads expand

and burn.

Too tired to compute.

this is heaven -

a comfy bed and a cover

for my weariness.

Short Goodnight Poem VII

It's okay to be small-

you'll grow up in a while.

It's all right to be scared,

but you don't have to worry.

I will be here, when shadows close.

I will be here, even if you don't see me.

I will be here, so you can sleep tight.

Nothing will hurt you tonight.

Short Goodnight Poem VI

Simmer down little one,

the heat is fleeting.

Take your bow,

like the sun,

as it shimmers

into night.

Let the puffs

of angels breaths

cool your sweaty brow.

Simmer down and go to sleep,

like the crimson heavens.

Short Goodnight Poem V

Flickering lights of softness,

flushed roses in a bed of down.

Troubles forgotten,

left behind.

Now we go to sleep.

A Short Poem for Graduation

Well, not my graduation obviously, but while I was working the shouts from the trucks full of happy students lured me away from analysis and numbers. Here's a poem on time. Bittersweetness and all.

Time trickles like rain behind the pane.

Bleary eyes measure each gain

and each loss on a rusty scale.

Cheery voices fill the distance

with memories of youth.

Old eyes wither, but first they glitter

with a smile for summer.

Short Goodnight Poem IV

Snuggle deep beneath the cover,

feel the warmth surrounding you.

Soon you will go safe in slumber

to meet fellow journeyers

and have the merriest adventures.

Feel the salt of weary sleep,

like drops of ocean you may keep,

singing lullabies of joy

and whispering of peace.

Short Goodnight Poem III

Seems these goodnight poems are quite popular so I thought I'd publish another one. I know it's quite similar to the latest one, but maybe this will tickle your fancy more, who knows. Either way, enjoy and sleep tight.

Close your eyes and listen

to the silent sounds of night.

Hear the stars twinkle

and the innocent breaths of sleep.

There is only harmony

within the halls of your mind.

There we will dance in moonlight,

you my darling, and I.

Short Goodnight Poem II

Outside, the brazen moon

is dancing limbo with the stars.

Inside it's warm and you and I

will dance with dreams tonight.

All that's good will come to you,

for you are strong and true.

Tonight is all about the sleep,

so rest, the moon will keep

you safe from any harm.

Late Evening Poem

Of grace, love and goodbyes.

Today the sun set beautifully.

Bright colors of pink

and hues of calm purple

painted my world serene.

There isn’t much I can say anymore;

no words left, no need.

The way the light

reflects in my memories

that is all I need to know.

Tells me everything

in its utter simplicity.

You’ve earned your rest,

like the sun earns the night.

Do you see?

You have nothing to prove to me,

no obligations left to the world.

When it’s time to leave,

just leave.

As I said –it’s what you’ve earned.

Gratitude

Just a simply poem about gratitude, being granted respite, perhaps by life itself -deserving or undeserving.

Gratitude

Thank you,

maybe I don't

deserve the kindness,

but I am

ever so grateful.

Respite, again

the cards

didn't lie

and I

know in time

I will reward

your patience.

Short Goodnight Poem

Temper the stardust
floating right by,
measuring time by the swirl
of a magical cane.
Siphon the hope
of dragons you’ve slain.
Spin it to thread
and pull.

Snippet from Heart of Atirien

Just a short something, rough and unedited, but at least it's a piece of that ever elusive fantasy novel I've been banging my head against for years.

Nick went to watch the snow fall. The deep windows of the keep made for convenient resting places and vantage points. The fluffy whites promised a time of calm as they spread over the war ravaged Sevenara plains. He reached out a hand and caught a few small flakes. The icy flowers melted quickly in his hand, but one lasted a bit longer where it lay on his index finger. He brought the delicate crystal to his face and gazed at it solemnly.

"My lord?"
The shout from within the keep had Nick scrambling down from the ledge, the snow forgotten.
"What happened?" he called while striding quickly down the hall. Jaro came into view from a side corridor with a frown on his face. The once quite jovial woodsman had become more and more dour the longer they spent cooped up in the fortress of stone. Nick figured he missed the freedom of running with the wolves in the forest, but there was nothing he could do about that right now. At least the interior gardens provided some greenery if not the space wanted.

Being that as it may, finding nothing else to focus his energy on Jaro had appointed himself Nick's chief adviser and nurse maid. It was good to have someone to fill in the obvious gaps in his education when it came to the cultures and geographies of the land they traversed, but Nick was afraid he would snap one day at Jaro's constant presence by his side. He didn't need a babysitter, he didn't need a bodyguard. Or, well, maybe he did that last. His sword skills were improving, but they were not enough to protect from a sniper or an ambush. Something that had become painfully obvious that day in Evril.

Happy New Year!

I hope it's a good one for you all. I have just returned from this year's New Year's Eve party and am feeling decidedly mellow and content. I thought I'd share a New Year's poem, but I'm not sure if it's any good because I haven't written it yet.

So, here we go. Enjoy, and absolutely do have a good one!

For the longest time,

we thought we were alone.

The moon spent its hours

away from the light.

Then there was hope,

something went right.

We were happy,

as only the oblivious

can truly be.

Between these times,

were the mellows,

the half-struggles,

and the bored-now-routines.

Looking back, was it worth it?

Of course it was.

So, go on now to the future!

With brave steps

make the change

from year to golden year

and life, to charmed existence.