Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category
The Journey
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, courage, mystery, wisdom, wonder
The Journey
•
beckoned to the final tide
called forth by the ferryman
spirit stirs to the distant voice
that draws you to the journey
caught still in this mortal realm
soul resigned to embarkation
time folding in upon
as slow you approach the vessel
• • •
rob kistner © 2011
• linked at Magpie Tales
____________
image by Mostafa Habibi
Rebel Rebel
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Image, Poetry, Rants & Rambles, art, wisdom
…I republish this piece today in fond memory of John…
“we all shine on, like the moon, and the stars, and the sun”
Rebel Rebel
•
I’ll not listen
not be shackled
not be handled
not be ruled
I’ll not be managed
nor be played
manipulated
or be fooled
you sure as hell
will not tell
me
who
what
where
when
how
or why
what you offer
I’m not taking
your extended hand
I am not shaking
the world [...]
Soul Food
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, art, courage, love, philosophy, wisdom
Something life’s experiences have taught me: seeing the world for what it is makes you smart, envisioning the world for what it can be - makes you wise…
Soul Food
•
there are countless contradictions
in the elements of the work we do
and conflictions as we strive
but bring these not to table
for I am you
and you are me
and we [...]
Tell Me
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Poetry
Tell Me
•
love
the sweet paradox
the great mystery
the heart’s quandary
tell me what you know
about the giving
the receiving
tell me please
what you know
about love
about connection
about the magic >+< of the sync
for together
feels always
feels only
……………………alone
• • •
rob kistner © 2011
Gone
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Image, Poetry, love, memories, regret
…to loved ones missed, now sadly departed…
Gone
•
after the clutter of leaving
after the hurry of goodbye
after sweet anticipation faded away
after no more embraces
after the laughter was memory
after the sadness collected day upon day
after the spaces fell empty
after the familiar grew distant
after our time together had become the past
after the taste of regret
after the loneliness mounted
after sands [...]
Bliss
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Image, Poetry, beauty, dreams, erotic, joy, love, sensuality
Bliss
•
let us dare
sweet lust’s advance
to intertwine
in love’s enhance
I burn to offer
love’s special kiss
to fire your soul
in passion’s bliss
to enfold you deep
in nocturne’s hour
to taste the nectar
of your tender flower
you are the dream
that I adore
my one desire
to love you more
• • •
rob kistner © 2011
• linked at Magpie Tales
The Dimming
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, dark, love, memories, regret, tragedy
The Dimming
•
here is the change
the forgetting
the slipping away
into the haze of memory
the frustration
of no longer being able
and still
the burning longing to…
remember
and you
dimming in this fog
midst the times we have cherished
the places we have loved
fading beyond reach
an ever-mounting loneliness
like so many vacant seats
empty
• • •
rob kistner © 2011
• linked at Magpie Tales
Together True
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Poetry, love, memories
Together True
•
you came to me
deep in my summer
on the wings of spring
filled with hope and wonder
fresh and sweet
as nature’s nectar
you brought my heart to quicken
breathed new life
to fill my soul
awakening forgotten passion
the stir of dreams
the fire of joy
we’ve lived life in celebration
touched mystery
embraced the awe
never ran away from trouble
the good and bad
we faced head on
we’ve [...]
Silent
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, beauty, dark, horror, love, memories, photo, regret, sensuality, tragedy
Silent
•
do you hear the autumn wind
stirring in the branches
do you hear the leaves rustle
do you hear my breath
whispering your name
do you hear my heart beat
do you hear my tears fall
or is it silent
silent as the light-less realm
that hauntingly engulfs my soul
silent as that night
when apples spilled
on the broken stair
where rail eluded
your grasping hand
silent as your [...]
Two Moments
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Poetry, courage, family, gratitude, joy, love, memories, wisdom
These are two poems about two powerful and indelible life-moments I shared with my son Justin.
The first “Night Sky” is about the courageous moment he chose, at age fourteen, to leave his mother’s home to move across our country, to live with me in Oregon — through the years of his high school [...]
Night Sky
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Poetry
Night Sky
•
you arrived in spring
asking why I’d left
I had no good response
but the other shoe had fallen
with a deafening thud
so what was I to do
you looked startled by life
and asked me about sorrow
I had no good response
so I took you in
and watched as you untangled truth
marveling at your balance
for 19 years
together we watched the night [...]
Book of Days
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, family, joy, love, memories, nature, wisdom
Book of Days
•
in the book of days
clearly it is written
your time for moving on
beyond the reach of yesterday
in this book of days
so too is it written
clearly mine grow short
my grasp loosens on tomorrow
our miles apart grow greater
our time together lessens
as you pursue the future
I slip further in the past
and per the book of days
this is [...]
For Naught
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, mystery, photo, regret
For Naught
•
the virgin page taunts me
untouched
the bright white
throbs like a migraine
no burden of remorse
no weight of mystery
does it bear
no sting of anger
no wink of mirth
does it proffer
nothing sensual or sensitive to share
no tale to spin
no plot to thicken
no coin of phrase to turn
just vast blank space
tormenting nothingness
cruel emptiness
to drain my brain
dissonance spills through my open [...]
Wonder
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, beauty, courage, dreams, fantasy, gratitude, humor, joy, love, mystery, philosophy, whimsy, wisdom, wonder
Wonder
•
to grow up
is to chase off
our innocence
our naïve belief
in the world as a beautiful place
to harden against the magic
of our childhood dreams
but if by chance
we can cling to just one
perhaps we can hold on
to our precious sense of wonder
• • •
rob kistner © 2011
• photo: “Alice in Wonderland” by Yuki Valentine
Hope
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, courage, dark, family, horror, photo, regret, suspense, tragedy, wisdom
Hope
•
I lift myself quietly
very quietly
from beneath the sheets
soiled with neglect
soaked with my nightmares
I am again awake
from another dark night
that began with fear
fear I might not survive
and ends in sorrow
realizing I did
I rise
make my way carefully
past the shallow-breathed crumple
that lay milky-eyed
in a heap on the floor
un-moving
save a twitch of the head
a head which now harbors demons
where [...]
