Free Verse
October
Saturday, August 9th, 2008October approaches over the horizon, when we will enter our autumn season here in the Pacific Northwest. The cycle of renewal will begin in western Oregon, where I live. The summer’s dry period will end, and agricultural irrigation will cease.
Harvesting explodes in October, including the grape harvest in our many vineyards. A period of renewal [...]
What If
Saturday, July 26th, 2008
What If
•
I’d held you close
enough to feel your heart
beat one with mine
wrapped you in
a healing warmth
kissed away your loss
whispered my soul
into your empty spirit
took your fear
in loving hands
to hurl it far
into yesterday
stirred the dieing embers
of trust
to reignite a flame of faith
embraced your spark of life
nurtured it
in safe shelter
’til vital yet again
so you would not
extinguish [...]
Midnight July
Thursday, July 17th, 2008
Midnight July
•
relentless din
of crawling
prowling
night
pours steaming
through my window
midnight intrudes
damp
and searing
insistent
scalded air
too hot and thick
to breathe
a heat to suffocate
coarse whirr
drones overhead
promising relief
in vain
sweltered darkness
lays heavy
upon me
unbearable
I toss
in labored
half-sleep
gasping
for
cool relief
haltingly
I deep inhale
to fill my lunges
only to bake them
in cruel
sustaining breath
this oven to endure
salted droplets
trace my spine
baste my neck
pool
in the hollow
of my fevered chest
bloom and seep
from beneath the [...]
The Light
Monday, July 7th, 2008
The Light
•
even the smallest light
of wisdom
burning in the pitch black
of ignorance
casts its glow far-reaching
• • •
__________________________
•
the pitch black
of ignorance
succumbs
to the simplest
light of wisdom
• • •
__________________________
•
(haiku)
one can penetrate
the pitch black of ignorance
wisdom is the light
• • •
__________________________
•
(haiku)
lightless ignorance
cannot vanquish absolute
seek the light of truth
• • •
__________________________
•
(haiku)
lightless ignorance
does not rise impregnable
wisdom’s light will pierce
• • •
rob [...]
Melody
Sunday, June 22nd, 2008…here are two reflections on the concept of melody…
Off Key
•
nature is a song
a melody transcendent
sung in harmony
but this chorus is threatened
humankind grows discordant
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
__________________
Love’s Lilt
•
sometimes
in the clatter
of a thoughtless moment
I forget to listen
fail to hear
the tender lilt
of our heartsong
but
when I am quiet
and we are close
our melody of love
is all I [...]
Shattered
Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
Shattered
•
I come upon a man
standing by the road
looking sad
heavy box
in his arms
held close
he stares
expressionless
into my eyes
his gaze stops me
fixes me in place
his face is tired
and drawn
etched in worry
when at last I move
I draw near
close enough to see
this sullen man
is me
he extends his arms
that clutch the heavy box
he beckons me retrieve
this container he protects
filled with apprehension
I [...]
Dark Self
Saturday, June 14th, 2008
Dark Self
•
hidden from the light of day
another me resides
though keeping to the shadows
a saving grace abides
a darkling essence
scarred and damaged
begotten in another life
another place and time
it is an anger manifest
righteous and so long suppressed
that could not find effective voice
to save my ruined innocence
silent when I had no name
for what I did not comprehend
the woeful time [...]
Morning Gold
Tuesday, June 10th, 2008
Morning Gold
•
across the meadow
last night’s dew clings
fondly to the old-growth
wrapped in crystalline embrace
it adorns the stately cedars
as if diamonds
that sparkle in the morning sun
a splendor befitting their beauty
this day begins bright and crisp
bird songs lilt
carried on a breeze
I see you afar
approaching on the path
backlit by sunrise
your hair golden in dawn’s glow
lover beholding beloved
I sit
warmed in [...]
Remembered
Thursday, May 29th, 2008
Remembered
•
leaning comfortably
into the curves
wind whipping
through our long hair
we wind our way
into the mountains
into the evening
alive
with 2-wheeled freedom
on the open road
not counting days
not keeping track
just being - free
we glide
feet up
knees tucked
captivated
by the thrill
of the throttle
we rocket
dive from light to shadow
to resurface once more
in the light
again and again
as the sun reveals itself
from time to time
warming us
from between [...]
The Legend
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
he never quit on his dream, or his humanity
The Legend
•
permit me to share the legend
of the man who rocked the world
luminous — larger than life
his banner of fame unfurled
with confidence he took each stage
flashed his skills with pride and power
his celebrity rocketed skyward
enormous talent, in his finest hour
a humble tempering childhood
helped him hone his mythic [...]
The Vow
Friday, May 9th, 2008
The Vow
•
I pledged I’d never leave your side
and whole my vow remains
as the passion of our love spilled forth
we drank deeply in our youth
the fire of our joined bliss
flowed molten from our core
as we made our fervent bond
its blaze grew ever brighter
it kindled dreams that carried us
to family and good fortune
its heat has warmed us [...]
Identity
Saturday, May 3rd, 2008Identity
•
I came upon a stranger
she asked me
“who are you?”
I pondered
then replied
I am son
born
to a mother unknown
a father
unseen
I am father
three times blessed
with life’s miracle
I am joy
having beheld
each child’s coming
I am betrothed
touched by
a lover’s heart
I am sorrow
having lost
my eldest son
I am wonder
marveling
at the gift of life
the beauty
of this natural realm
I am song
fortuned with
a lyric voice
I am art
bestowed [...]
Truth
Friday, May 2nd, 2008Truth
•
prowling
the nocturnal neon zoo
groin deep in humankind
suckling life’s sweet underbelly
swilling full
the luscious flesh festival
seduced
by the siren song
of sacred craving
I am a night being
stalking
dangerous
I am a sentient being
disillusioned
seeking
my fingers burn
from dancing
with the fire-whores of
angst
and indignation
I come
in a rolling demon’s fire
fast and hard
tough as hell
cresting
and crashing in
howling mad
scorching the night
dancing
with every devil I can find
ranting
raving
blazing
a combusting carnal [...]
Outrageous
Saturday, April 26th, 2008Outrageous
•
watch them
see them
in their cavernous dwellings
shrines to excess
to waste
testaments to foolish disregard
for our precious planet
observe them hoist themselves
to command positions
in gluttonous drive-time dinosaurs
dreaded treaded behemoths
that bully across the face
of our crippled planet
devouring resources
like a herd
of metallic mastodons
a relentless forage
of fragile fossil fuel
to suck dry
the paleozoic nectar
300 million years
in the making
a fraction of that
in the plunder
and [...]
To Remain
Friday, April 18th, 2008To Remain
•
moonlight
keeps dark at bay
pressing in
as night wind stirs
like mocking breath
of life now lost
to light-less realm
beyond the chill
encircling me
empty
to remain
no emotion
save grief
apples spilled
on broken stair
where rail eluded
grasping hand
no voice came
to futile cry
those lips
will not know again
sweet fruit
nor love
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
Swept Away
Thursday, April 17th, 2008A bluesman’s life and soul. Music gives me goose-bumps, especially when created by genuine human spirit
NOTE: I invite you to listen to the recorded “spoken word” version of this poem you’ll find at the bottom of this post. I’ve mixed in a little ‘atmosphere’ to heighten the immersion.
Swept Away
•
memphis red
no longer is
gray [...]
Nocturne
Monday, October 29th, 2007To hear poem read by author, click here
Freefalling
Thursday, April 19th, 2007Author’s note: I was an orphan. This piece speaks to a feeling I have never been able to outdistance, even after later being adopted.