All is burning, cinders and ash
flakes float in black rain,
falling on a ground
of clinkers and flinders.
The hand of ruin traces sigils
of chaos and strife
on broken city walls,
within which rats awaken
They are the true rulers of destruction,
living cloaked with shadows,
in any crevice or crack,
hunting bones and burnt flesh.
Their rivals, jet-black birds,
massing on heights above
in their murders
and raucous unkindness'.
After Ragnarök, the still silence
is broken by the raspy flutter
of a million wings,
echoed chittering of uncountable hordes.
What life is left
does not weep.
Perpetual pain palliated by loving hands
ever lingering under bandaged wounds;
fetted rot tucked under perfumed blanket.
Covered is the massing doubt, ever growing,
Smothered; thoughts transient as dreams.
To hide quaking mask of broken memory.
Running. Inevitable is the spreading.
Infectious and living pain.
Soothing notes of warmer days erupt,
cursed by twisted mouth, death belied.
Of the body, it’s bones and sinews,
it’s blackened organs and sunken eyes.
But of the soul, of the hidden things.
Of promised dreams and unspoken hopes,
corrupted and lost forever.
Massing waves drummed offshore
Above them a partnered wind blew
Together they prepared to war
Against what I once knew
The dark and cold green vastness
Carried forward my waterloo
Upon the rocks it did press
Against what I once knew
Then a gray shadowed the land
Coloring my thought of you
And as the waves broke across the sand
They removed all I once knew
Massing waves drummed offshore
Above them a partnered wind blew
Together they prepared to war
Against what I once knew
This dark and cold wet vastness
Brought forth my waterloo
Who the hell is Gordon Bennett
Some think there’s insanity
In the fact we call his name
As though it were profanity
Not so famous nowadays
As once he used to be
But still I call his name out
When a doorframe whacks my knee
I put my hammer to one side
To take a tiny break
And then cry Gordon Bennett
Where’s it gone for goodness sake
Did poor George Armstrong Custer
At the massing injun nations
Cry out Gordon Bennett
We’ve made underestimations
Or is our Mr Bennett
Just a UK kinda guy
Who’s name is shouted loud
As one more bus goes speeding by
Well, frankly I don’t care
That English language travels on
Gordon Bennett is world famous
Back where I come from
This unknown hero all my life
My unpretentious tenet
Is by my side in times of strife
His name is Gordon Bennett
Massing waves drummed offshore
Above them a partnered wind blew
Together they prepared to war
Against what I once knew
The dark and cold green vastness
Carried forward my waterloo
Upon the rocks it did press
Against what I once knew
So when the gray shadowed the land
It darkened my final view
Soon the waves crossed the sand
And took all that I once knew
PSALM of Lost Words***
,My soul weeps
As the words are lost —
Like the decaying leaves of autumn,
Laying heavy from the frequent
Spring rains and —
after months of winds blown —
Massing along fence bases, waiting
To be shred and swept over new
growing grass —
Merely words, joined from running
Thoughts, which also seem quietly
Massed these days when there has
Been little more than sleep...
Forgive me, my sweet soul!
Do not weep...As I breathe
I yet exalt our redeeming king.
May I send to you
Again soft songs from my heart.
The joy of the poetry between us
Will rise to echo onwards;
To gather even from the dust
Some pastel particles to paint
New visions
In new light:
The living poetry
That dances in our souls.
Holy! Holy!
Selah.
————————————————————————-
(c) sally young Eslinger 5/21
Thanks be to God
Massing waves drummed offshore
Above them a partnered wind blew
Together they prepared to war
Against what I once knew
The dark and cold green vastness
Carried forward my waterloo
Upon the rocks it did press
Against what I once knew
Then the gray shadowed the land
Coloring my final thought of you
And as the waves broke across the sand
You stood as I once knew
Massing waves drummed offshore
Above them a partnered wind blew
Together they prepared to war
Against what I once knew
The dark and cold green vastness
Carried forward my waterloo
Upon the rocks it did press
Against what I once knew
Then a gray shadowed the land
Coloring my thought of you
And as the waves broke across the sand
They removed all I once knew
Humanity Hell bound
'Humanity!' O, 'Yes humanity!'
You warned me about your insanity
somewhat louder than the Christianity
you warned me about the inhumanity
My wrong choices
My determined hard core voices
That evil hopelessness – our evil that’s in our hearts
I have dreamed of the people
and the ignorance never populating
Genocides,
Killing off souls trying to hide
I crave the barbarous, barbaric bigotry
through which came lacking, lacking, lacking
Biting, hitting, kicking, licking
Me?
Deep into that darkness massing
Is it HELL?
Will all humanity dwell?
And the patients never imparting
Those desires of the hearts lost in…
ill humanitarian hither hospitalizing
Back into my memories bisecting
Dissecting spirits and dreams
Demons ridicule and laughing
much I marveled the magnanimous, what flocking
Death shall bring occupants
While I pondered, Malachite and mocking?
12/23/19
Written by James Edward Lee Sr.©2019
People gaze across the plains,
hoping and praying for the rains.
The ground is dry and cracked,
as for too long the rains have lacked.
The heads of cattle are lowing,
as daily their thirst is growing.
It’s been so long since they ate,
that they’re in a pathetic state.
The sheep bleat shamelessly,
as they wander aimlessly.
There’s nothing for them to eat or drink.
as deeper into apathy they sink.
The goats forage fruitlessly,
and chew on everything eagerly.
They soon lose their bouncy saunter,
as they become even gaunter.
In the distance clouds are massing,
and all the creatures pray for their blessing.
Feet Pounding
Metal Door-Knobs
Slip away
Piling at the corridor's end.
Over and over doors sweep open
And faces blossom like tulips opening
Everything closes.
The gas chamber is
Mobile again
And makes Good speed –
God speed.
The yawning awning
Collapses sideways
On the massing crowds
Balance is the sixth sense.
Like a dreamer's dictionary,
The planter interprets the times and the seasons:
How to till the soil.
How to plant and how to reap.
How to repay the overdue debt
There are margins in the field
Which reapers leave for gleaners.
An everyday cup
Allows water to pass from hand to hand,
To quench the thirst.
Then the day breaks over the field.
The gong is struck.
Massing a little courage the waiting mate
Surges forth with vigor.
All passivity is erased.
Primordial fears are put to task.
Outrageous things are spoken;
Diplomacy is diluted.
Dreams are spun out of air.
Even the slothful are impatient.
Finally the bucket is full
With shards of excitement.
It is carried away
And stored in a cave.
Everyone waits for a turn.
alone I made camp
in an old post-war lean-to
so close to the river
mist covers me like dew
next to my rough camp
I found rougher white stones
faded names, faded lives
graves hiding old bones
in the moon's creeping light
I now make out a field
spread out past night's shade
where sad mourners once kneeled
beside these low markers
rusted cannon keep vigils
of breastworks and trenchline
jagged metal pierced sigils
low in the dark, down in the fog line
lines of shadows form massing
with silvered bayonets gleaming
ghastly fell nightly passing
I lay huddled in peril for
my sanity, my soul
as rank upon rank
passes by my dreary dank knoll
charging like black wind
further up on the hill
faded gray met with old blue
and Old Scratch gets the bill
it was too much to take
this hellish night on that knob
flown away, bellowed oaths
lord save me from that damned mob
morning comes on the old pike
I'm roughly shaken awake
caretaker's rough warning
he's got his rounds now to make
as I plod down that road
I risk looking over my shoulder
in night's last shadows I see grinning
fading crimson eyed soldiers...
It’s the gentleness of words passing
Joined hearts in tune, enjoyment massing
Keepers of a bond that’s heaven made
Love growing deeper in soul mates shade
Magic mirrors need not be given tokens
Nor flattering words forever be spoken
Oaths given freely from two lovers lips
Passion igniting wings that don’t slip
Quickening pulses from glances steeping
Romance growing in hourglass’s keeping
Selfishness sets aside its foolish glare
Two hearts joined with love to spare
~~Debra Squyres:2013~~
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