Riches

Seated with casual superb

Before me on an orange throne,

His nobility worn and scarred,

Was one with the riches I sought.

I followed him through depravity,

In equilibrium fell not.

I followed him through violence,

Learned to strike, and to roll it off

As beating rain rolls off a leaf.

I followed him through sorrow's pain,

Broke my heart again and again.

Still I followed, through endless nights,

And through despicable ruin.

He spoke of his freedom attained

In prison; it's trace shining through

The walls and bars he keeps within,

Saw his mortal contradiction.

All that he scattered I gathered

Along the tortuous route.

I was unable to convince him,

He is still there, in argument.

Now I've my riches, my freedom.

Refuge

Remember the hill and forest, when young –

The green, the nightingale, colored perfumes,

Your native sky, your realm, not to be touched.

Come to me, battle-scarred and weary one.

Lay down your weapons, remove your armor,

Let me touch you - a breeze rustles the leaves.

Take my hand, adventure in the perfect

Wilderness of your hill, copse, thicket and

Sun struck clearings, take me to your refuge.

Battle-worn and lonely warrior, closer,

Lay down your arms and take me, take me there.

Breathe the green, the colored perfumes, taste peace

Sweet as spring water, the nightingale sings.

Recovery

Taking the sun like a convalescent

Walk myself along the cliff, high above

The glittering sea, thundering surf.

So calm, so quiet, an eternal smile,

I'm perfectly alright. A broken heart

On the mend, patient and distracted.

I'll enjoy the sunset, admire the moon,

My brave recovery, in agony.

Pressing

Pressing a question against the future
Wondering, as I always do, what will be;
What we will cook tonight,
Then, will you be awake when I get up,
Your eyes lit from the night, in the morning light.
Our days stretch, tumble, disordered, humored.
And I press a question again, again
Silently, in the quiet garnered from
The edges of our time spent together.
Through a long narrow window I look out,
Particularly when there's fading gold.
I am looking for the future to come
In from the withdrawing day.
Tonight you will be awake while I sleep
In bed struggling with the empty side.
Along with our morning coffee I garner
Touches, breathe loving looks over you, let
Desire sigh for one moment, pass over,
To this or that, pass the time, and wonder.
I'm always wondering, you know, silently,
Pressing a question against the future.

Comrade In Arms

Comrade in arms, on the field of defeat

I salute you as we part ways.

One battle lost, another

Defeat to put behind us,

Is not the end, we have eternity to win.

Impressed as I am by you salute

Your resistance, grit and grace, though

The wounds you suffered laid you low.

So seeing in you my own distress

I fought for you as for myself,

My own long and lonely battles,

Saw through you I'm a fighter too.

More my hero than I would admit,

Comrade in arms, I salute you.

Rose and Iris

Would you give me a rose,

Let it be a white rose,

No red roses for me.

A simple white rose,

No American Beauty.

Of gracious bowing branch,

Of tender petals few,

Of truer sweeter scent,

A simple white rose.

I prefer the iris,

Though, over any rose.

Iris leaves are keen blades,

Clasping a proud straight stem,

High held each spear point bud

Unfurling blooms in turn

Of elegant panache,

A flower for a queen;

Thoughts flourish sentiment.

Sailing Troubled Sleep

Sailing the ocean of the night,

Through storms of strange dreams holding course.

My arm clasped about you, drift then

Tack, close haul, reduce sail, pull in

Your back to me, my belly

To your butt, my leg laid over yours,

At stern the caress of a foot.

Your arm thrown back along my side,

Momentary thrust of a hip,

Then you shift, sleeping face to me,

Trim the hull, point of sail to broad,

Arms folded up against your chest.

My hand on the dip of your waist,

Arm draped cross the lull between us.

Thigh upon thigh, knee bent between,

Reaching, trim the sails to the wind,

Your arm around me, bring me in,

Sailing a troubled sea of sleep.