Ravine, art thou real?
You certainly look deep.
Thunder, o'er volcano peal!
Through the boneyard creep!
Hope, just take the night off.
O prisoner, take heed:
First you squat and then you cough.
Golden is such greed.
Emptiness, seep into me!
Flicker, fancy-free.
Time immortal, blessed be?
Sink him in the sea.
O Alliance Black Abyss:
Today I must die.
Yawning chasm, blow a kiss.
Shiver as you sigh.
Back in ancient Carthage?
O state religion, new?
Serenity, O my sage?
O agony, accrue.
Gulf within me, fissure wild.
Robot: reconciled?
Mother, father, clasp thy child.
Floor, monolith, tiled.
Dreams of our tomorrows?
I cannot miss the point.
Endless are such sorrows!
O bitter art, anoint!
Giving up? Why, yes, sir.
I do not have a clue.
Reality, whir a-blur!
Doubt and derring-do...
Here with walls green and bright
My inn with fire’s warmth and light
By a ravine low and steep
An old man came in the night
Hunched, disfigured, neither proud nor tall
With a face shaped much like a wall
Wishing to bridge the sides of the chasm deep
A bridge builder was his call
He asked for a place to stay
Where in the night he could lay
Near the pit where dark things sleep
During the day he will be away
Despite a frail body and limbs uneven
I found he had a big heart even mid the wintry season
Despite the shadowy gloom the ravine does keep
But why he built I had no reason
When asked he said it was for those not yet
For them was his life’s work to be met
So they need not worry about the depths where evil does creep
He felt it was to them that was his debt
For long ago when strong and young
He did things that should not be sung
Until he climbed from the chasm steep
For once down under his soul was wrung
It was gentle enough for a chasm or aperture,
A vast hollow place where peace resonated.
When we finished, the views were saturated.
Its roar ruins us, wiping all sight of the reckoner.
In a serene atmosphere, all noises are muted.
Once again, our voices would be audible.
Some question the level at which it is visible.
We huddled on wooden benches as rooted.
Pals view it from a side as if they were alone.
refusing to shake hands or utter a tender word.
Relish the view of the clouds and jade birds.
The dove partner was positioned prone.
Yielded to the settings but vowed to return.
She seduces herself by gazing at the sky sublime.
She fidgeted with her hair from time to time.
Ignite the candle until it gets murky, and let it burn...
Written: October 21, 2022
Looking down into a deep ravine
The shadows cast dark shapes
That hid the jagged rocks and empty spaces
There were noises of movement from within
And a sense of foreboding overtook him
He decided to climb down using the ledges
Feeling his way as he lowered himself
The apprehension he felt deepened
As the shadows lengthened
Still the movement sounds continued
Suddenly he came face to face with the creature
With an indescribable face
As he drew his revolver he pointed it at creature
And backed away without thinking
What his next move would be
The creature was as startled as him
And it back away into a dark deep cave
He considered what to do for a moment
Until thinking better of the whole thing
He climbed out of the ravine and back to the top.
© Paul Warren Poetry
Prevelli Ravine ( Crete 1992 )
Ghost song
The ancient priest left in the monastery stone
Long before my encounter
Within the walls repeat their long labour
Monument and missionary linger
Hushing a wind into olive groves
Searching for the nameless Minoan
Outside of human mystery recollections
Beyond my makeshift mask of intelligence
The birds awaken
Tropic songsters jungled forests of palm
Star dusted dark a canopy of sleep
Reflections a fall of endless beauty
Rainbow fish in deep water clarity
Leap into freedom
And the jungle voice a hymn of whispers
Follow them
Follow them
The pools sink to deeper ravines
Rivers of sand and turquoise water
Fluent lighted domains of Knossos
Alter the ponderings of palms and cliff
In network ripples tracing starseed patterns
On a Phalanx of fluted clouds
Leaping to freedom
From the clear water crystal laughter
River to the sea
The beach
My tent
And me
Follow
Follow
Follow them