Graspless
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, dark, photo, tragedy

•
moonlight keeps dark at bay
pressing in
as night winds stir
mocking final breath of life
lost to the lightless realm
beyond the chill encircling me
no emotion here
save grief
failed digits of a graspless hand
on a broken stair
where ankle bent
and held oranges spilled
no voice came to the futile cry
those lips will not know again
sweet fruit
nor love…
• • •
rob kistner © 2010
The Elephant
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, dark, love, sensuality, tragedy
…this piece evolved from both a visual prompt (see below) on Magpie Tales, as well as a “hinge” prompt on Read Write Poem…

•
so many times
I return home from a business trip
swing onto our concrete carport
pause – and key the engine off
all is silent – save the tick and popping
as the engine cools
my favorite moment
just before I open the door
to step out
to approach the house — approach you
this moment of anticipation
knowing you are waiting
bathed and fragrant
warm and soft
dressed in something that will whisper
welcome home my love – I’ve missed you
to take you in my arms
fall into your loving eyes
pull your willing body close
to wrap ‘round you
drink you in – intoxicated
these moments melt into sweet love making
that continues until exhaustion
we both love when I return
but tonight
I do not key the engine off
I do not reach for the handle
do not open the door
I simply sit
my warm hand encircling
the coolness of the ivory fob
you gifted me with
on our African honeymoon
you are no longer waiting
not in quite sometime
not since you lost your battle brave
not since I held you, that final time
your body still soft and warm
warm as my trembling hand
• • •
rob kistner © 2010
…and check out what’s hinging at ReadWritePoem…
Unyeilding
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, art, collage, humor noir, photorendering, rhyme

•
my muse is hard to capture
though I do try each day
just goes so fast
I turn around
it’s past me in a blur
leaving little inspiration
each day becomes each night
here I sit in the wee hours
while the sane sleep
steeped in contradiction
thoughts vague
filled with doubt
words tossed about the unyielding page
I start then stop
I write then not
caught mercilessly unclear
in terminal hesitation
in quiet rage
fickle muse – please…
a spark to light this dark
that grips me like a cage
• • •
rob kistner © 2010
_______________________________
Duet
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, art, gratitude, music, mystery, photo

•
rounding a bend
brushing through waist-high fern
I crest a knoll and stop
mesmerized
awash in the warm brushstrokes of evening
filtered through this woodland realm
as the waning sun paints the world golden
below me
a pristine ribbon of silver-blue water
marbled saffron
with the bending rays of sunlight
that bow into this magnificent canyon
cut by time and current in the great rock of the earth
transfixed
I marvel at the power
the beauty
at the determination of this mighty river
that sculpts this majestic work
it tumbles in timeless clarity
over boulder and falls
ever onward
in lyric voice
it beckons me to its banks
I come
entranced
stand immersed in its energy
captivated by its duet with the wind
that plays the boughs of the towering pines
singing down the lofty climbs
to gently brush my face
toss my hair
and dance past me round a bend
in perfect harmony
serenaded in this evensong
sunset has melted into moonrise
the waters ripple sterling in soft applause
as the moon sets aglow this splendid concert
my soul aches to join accapela
to be fluent in this song of nature
though I dare not spoil the accord
so I but listen with my heart
spellbound
• • •
rob kistner © 2010
_____________________
• photographs taken near my home in the Cascade Mountain foothills
top photo entitled: “Sunlight on the Clackamas”
bottom photo entitled: “Moon over the Santiam”
_____________________
Entrapped
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Poetry, dark, horror, mystery, tragedy
•
unfurling in linear spiral
time escapes into the future
tethered to the past
ever captive in the now
over and over
repeating in my head
these same strange words
the same chilling voice
over and over
unfurling in linear spiral
time escapes into the future
tethered to the past
ever captive in the now
always the same fevered dream
the fear
the guilt
the regret
I am fallen
paralyzed
unable to lift my head
it’s then I see him
see him coming
slowly out of the mist
coming
always coming
his sour smile
menacing
condemning
I want to rise up
run at him
scream at him
strike at him
run from him
run
but I cannot
I cannot
again that haunting voice
unfurling in linear spiral
time escapes into the future
tethered to the past
ever captive in the now
but what
what does it mean
I’m going
going — I think
going mad
mad
what does it mean
why — charles
it means nothing
and everything
and yes — charles
you are going mad
who
who are you
how do you know my name
why won’t you leave
leave me alone
what do you want!
want?
why – you, charles
tethered to your past
ever captive in this now
• • •
rob kistner © 2010















