The Way You Used To

You don’t look at me the way you used to
Soft eyes, like you were a bit mystified
By my approach to life
Or maybe it was my life itself
That intrigued you.

You don’t look to me the way you used to
Photographs I remember you in
A bikini I haven’t seen in a long time
And a smile that could drive a mad-man wild
I remember that as we lay.

You don’t need to look the way you used to
We’re milder, softer, settled,
Together comfortably with a purpose
A vision of family and future
That holds us tight as we say goodnight.

You don’t know me the way you used to
Now you hold my hand with intention
Setting rituals of togetherness, wholeness
And connectedness that those photographs
Never held.

You don’t look at me the way you used to
And I love the way you look to me,
Though I don’t remember much about
The young man I used to be,
I know the meaning and purpose of
The man I am to you.

Locus on my Mind

A locus on my mind;
Two dollars and fifty cents
While driving slowly in the right hand lane
Looking for a parking spot
And Grimes on the radio
Flapping wings of technicolour
Written cleanly upon the sidewalk
I am not walking upon.

Heaven yoked my thoughts;
A golden beam of sunshine
Misdirected through bubbling clouds
That cannot share my thoughts
For they speak only in winds
I cannot hear or see
Only feel upon my frowning brow
Searching for and watching
Fleeting moments of sun.

An opening emerges;
Calling with my well-let whistle
I walk alone through a quiet wooded path
Unsure but hoping
For a path to emerge
Amidst low hanging spruce branches
But weakness in my knees
Tell me that I’ve missed my chance
So I must forget the way home
And keep my eyes open wide.

Last Year’s

Birds have returned
Little ones that come and go
Just as last year’s leaves blow.

Little ones with long legs
Wandering through puddles
Picking at worms I can only guess.

Birds swimming as schools of fish would
Landing amidst unmarked field
Seeds from last year’s crop to eat.

Big black crows and ravens
Messengers flying hither and tither
Eggs to find from last year’s abandoned nest.

Weathered Sentinel

I am not a ghost
I am a sentinel
Standing tall, proud
Weathered as I squint
Strong as I brave
Even the strongest gales
That pass before my flock.
My vision is far beyond
As stars, far above
Twinkle in clear moonlight
And I, weathered sentinel
Humbly remind mine ever quest.

Little Strawberry

Little Button
Little Strawberry
So squeely and happy
This joy you do bring
To my every day.

When you’re crawling away
So mischievously
Your panting excitement
All dirty of knees.

And when our sweet day
Starts waning away
Noises of such softness
I wish I could keep
Remind me gentle
Asleep there you lay.

Just Fine My Mind

If I forever lost my mind
I’d be grateful for sweet rest
End day’s long toil
To carry forth my merry
Silver dollar within my pocket
Jingles, jangles along
Through warming morning sun.

In the morrow then
I’d be a different man
A loose spoke in my wheel
A dirt road I hate to say
I’ve been out walking
In my old boots
Roses in my hand
Endlessly grateful
In my mind I’d be just fine.

Wind Swept Growl

Loud depth of wind
Sending a sliver of the moon
Into long blades of grass
Bellowing Autumn’s warm choice of a day

How dare minutes of this season
Fall away so effortlessly
Like the glimpse of a red lit night sky
Following in Sun’s same footsteps

Test not growing darkness’s patience
For caught you shall be if thy tarry lasts
Any longer than a deep breath of sorrow
For soon, that lone Mars shall break the starless trance

Last evening desires fade
As Coyote wakes to prowl
And guarding this fleece lined flock
A great Pyrenees longs his stretch and growls

Lost Sun Wolf

Land is enough
So why do I hold
So close to my being
This building of plans
Future visions
Amounting to more stacks
Of unread books?

To see, to breathe,
To smells deeply
As I stand patiently
Watching grass blow
And clouds roll.

I try to explain
Why wolf culls are horrific,
Why medicating healthy
Is sponsored iotrogenics.

But the scroll keeps
Dragging attention
Through foreign landscapes
And cute puppies,
Into weddings of strangers
And good times
I’ve seen before
In beer commercials.

It’s ok
Because it’s too much
To take in
Especially all at once.

So I stand here,
Void of that voice
Realizing deeply
Just like setting sun
That I will be forgotten soon
And tomorrow
Which will always come
Will be another day
To try.

By Heart

A note of credible
Creative credible
Caught in a crossfire
Rapid fire with no cease fire.

And there she sat
For light poured down
Upon the holy place she did sit
And Gods spoke loudly
For light was blinding.

All around smoke poured down
Glittering against pale memories
A scene too fresh to look back upon
Ringing still tangible.

Then there was movement
Realization of a crescent
Ricochette and limbo
Like cats recently perched
In a window watching prey.

For she ruptured
Directly beneath,
From inside, outwards, upwards
Raging in brilliance
Into a new score
Unwritten by heart.

Silent Darkness

Friggart bore
Into silent darkness
Death to all
Thy left behind
Pride and stripped
Tunneling
Voiceless throats
Remain forevermore

Gathered strength
Clenching teeth
Soot and grime
Machine will grind
Until each burr
Buries itself
Into dried blood
Of all that whore

Let it remain
Of Gods who speak
Leave it forever
Of who shall sink
Whithered and lonely
Threatened and scared
Silent darkness
Unmoving hands