Hands of Time


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Hands of Time” by: rob kistner © 2/19/24
 

There is a needing
there is a caring

there is a receiving
and a giving

a gratitude

make genuine
your heart
as you reach
to gently touch
such knowing hands

blessed by time

enwrap them in love

understanding their fate
may be your deliverance

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 

The Cruel Sun

The evil glare of Trump’s cruel sun scorches decency…
he must never be allowed to rise again.


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Cruel Sun” by: rob kistner © 2/15/24
 

Vivid

in this waking dream
this nightmare
I see shapes of faces
scabbed unsmiling lips

their void curve
denounce this time

they’re escaping the scald
fleeing the cruel sun
as fate is dancin’
broken in the moonlight

the victimized
yet unseen
blackened and charred
by the agenda
of this abomination
this cruel sun

they bemoan
their soul’s duality

realizing
the divergent reality
through which
their truth
stumbles blind

to move in the world
rough as a rope
taut as every false promise made

frayed as feigned wisdom
leaned in
whispered from behind
obscured by the backhand

I reach
to grab at time
like dropped money

ever more precious

doing so
I feel the shiver
the sad imbalance

it’s a confliction
in the omnisoul
in my soul

so
I’ll practice non-attachment
because I can

knowing
I must
in this time

and observe
the lonely lost
who’ve trapped their truth
in dreams
locked in a wired cage


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Caged Dreams”
by: rob kistner © 2/15/24

wholly removed
indifferent

but still
pieces of me
of my sorrow
stick to them

to whomever
gets too close

you may have seen me
sobbing

silhouetted against the sky
that coldest night in November
cowering
under the frozen moon

then that moon and I
sought to escape
running down corridors of time

from genuine memory
through illusion
hiding from the devious
cruel sun

the whole world
close enough to touch

yet distant
distracted

past false truth
past illusion
past hypocrisy
past monomaniacal delusion

heaped and layered
thick and deep

oh please
peel back
these poisoned layers

peel them away
to clear the way
for a clean
quivering soul

uncertain
but imbued with
curiosity for possibility

I’ve the 35mm mind
imprinted indelibly

it captures everything
developing emotions

I beg mercy


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “35mm Mind”
by: rob kistner © 2/15/24

these stale thoughts
infect my thoughts
making them too pressing
too heavy to hold

or chew
or swallow
or lug
in this massive bag
of regret

my thoughts
my madness

spawned in the bone-white lies
of morality plays
immorality plays
mortality plays

I will play a dirge
sing a bittersweet song
as we come together
as we join
to peel back
all these noxious layers

these caustic
thought
layers

held fast and firm
by this oppressive
cruel sun

whose faux smile sours
in the brittle moonlight
that rises
through the fog
in these dark nights

a brandished
weaponized smile

his radar eyes
scan the forgotten creases
and clandestine getaways
in our minds

squelching our truth

standing over
he looks down
icy eye’d

he sees my scabbed lips
cracked and dry
“cruel sun gotcha”
he smirks
with lethal contempt

let us all cry out
“no more”

let us rip away
this venom
this lethal virus
this heartless evil
so that a new dawn
a new sun will rise
spread its light
and warm our hearts
with the radiance of rebirth

let enlightenment rain
let love pour down
drown this cruel sun
and rekindle the flame of hope


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Flame of Hope”
by: rob kistner © 2/15/24

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: dVerse

 


Mom’s Mars Holiday


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Mom’s Mars Holiday” by: rob kistner © 2/8/24
 

I think I’m going to Mars today
it’s been on my mind for quite some time
a break from the norm is long overdue
no finer distraction — that isn’t taboo
my daily tasks will just have to wait

boredom has been pestering me lately
what to do, who to call, what to read
nothing on tv of much interest tonight
lazin’ ‘round doin’ nuthin’ — yeah right!
I think I’m going to Mars today

travel always seems to be exciting
new things to see when on a trip
new things to learn new places to be
such stimulation is calling to me
it’s been on my mind for quite some time

always the same short trips to be made
dropping the squabbling kids off at school
odds and ends from the same old market
checking on mom to see she’s on target
a break from the norm is long overdue

the rocket ride alone sounds amazing
the martian surface up close — mindblowing
the big red sand dunes seem surreal somehow
the Medusae Fossae Formation — just WOW!
no finer distraction — that isn’t taboo

though leaving does have its concerns
who will take fido for his morning walk
who will make beds, pack lunches, fix dinner
sorry family — mom just don’t have it in her
my daily tasks will just have to wait


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Mom On Mars”
by: rob kistner © 2/8/24

 

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse
 



Unmoored


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Run Aground” by: rob kistner © 2/6/24
 

Memories of you

ripples on a dark lake
rise and roll away
into the sunset
toward that forever night

they carry my heavy heart
on their crest
and catch the tears
bittersweet tears
I cry at times

run aground
since you went away

times like now
your brother’s 46th birthday
my thoughts fall to you

would that my boat were here
my special boat
to ferry me
across this ocean of time

over that horizon of death

ferry me this day
to you

to see your face
once again

to hear your beautiful voice
rise in sweet song

would that I could hold you
this day
and tell you son

tell you the 10,000 things
I said far too seldom
when you were still here
in our lives

in my life

*

Unmoored shipwrecked soul
thunderstruck — weathered with grief
broken on the rocks
see there my ship approaches
soon now I will come aboard

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse
 

The Perfect Pair


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Sweet Dreams” by: rob kistner © 2/5/24
 

Imagine
a perfect pair
a luscious fantasy

round and delicate
firmly soft
visions of ecstasy

resistance gone
they’ll be mine
enjoyed with delight

I open my eyes
heartbeat’s quickening
dreamed of these all night

desire’s piqued
hunger’s tweaked
yes! …two poached eggs for breakfast


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “A Perfect Pair”
by: rob kistner © 2/5/24

 

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse
 

Grand Jeté


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “To Fly” by: rob kistner © 1/30/24
 

She need not be frightened
she knows the moves
sees the steps
clearly in her mind

she knows the stride
the position of her body
just before elevation

she understands the speed
the run up
the lead foot
the plant angle
the knee bend
the thrust

she has done this
literally thousands of repetitions
no need for trepidation

she knows the energy of the moment
of the crowd
as they anticipate
as she anticipates
the lift off
the rise

the glorious weightlessness
the thrill of flying

she knows

how to offset the momentum
the feel of returning to earth
to her feet

actually

to her toes

to snap to a graceful stop
at point
straight and strong
arms raised and extended

the applause
that exhilaration

she knows this all
to her bones

she can do this
in her sleep

she has this mastered
she is a master dancer

but

that flash of doubt

there is always one leap
hat gives her a brief moment
of contemplative pause

the leap
back through time
to her eager youth
to all her dance training
her well-honed muscle memory
her invincibility

to her glory

but they do not feel it
that instantaneous flash
of mortal uncertainty
they do not feel it

nor do they feel the surge
of determination
of confidence
of courage
that roars to flame
in her soul

that fires her limbs
frees her mind
unleashes absolute inner silence
peace

they do not feel it
but they will see it

now

her Grand Jeté
human mastery
dance perfection

snd so
she leaps

beautifully

she will always
leap


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Quiet After Curtain”
by: rob kistner © 1/30/24

 

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 



Fool’s Parade

In recent months I have been in the very capable care of the Evergreen Neurosciences Institute, waging battle against the challenges of failing memory. I do not plan to go quietly into that empty darkness. I am raging against the fading of my identity. As the challenges increase, so does my determination. I wrote this poem as a response to my situation. It is also a promise to myself that I will never put down the fight.


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Fate’s Fickle Festival” by: rob kistner © 1/27/24
 

Feel at times I’m wandering mindlessly
through fate’s frantic fickle festival
clinging to the worn trappings
of what was once some grand illusion

marching to the staggered cadence
of some fading fool’s parade
concerned I might be slipping
into a dangerous delusion

the matter of the white matter
sees my social skills degrade
still I plan to hold to center
maintaining dignity where I may

at times it seems unclear
if it’s futile to sustain
in those moments of the “empty”
when I lose focus on the way


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Dreams of Frail Wonderland”
by: rob kistner © 1/27/24

 

drifting in shifting dreams
as in a frail wonderland
not always understanding
though inside I know I must

ignoring growing evidence
that more memories have gone
untangling threads of life
carefully brushing away the dust

still I look into the future
and every new day I try
to bring joy and to move forward
as will I do until I die

marching onward to that cadence
‘cause it’s my sweet fool’s parade
I will continue building memories
even as those memories fade


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Fool’s Parade”
by: rob kistner © 1/27/24

when that final sundown comes my love
I’ll not be lost in darkness, nor be alone
you’ve made life brighter that the sun
you are my light — you are my home

*

rob kistner © 2024
 

Poetry at: dVerse

 



~ click the logo below to learn more about the Dementia Society of America:


Cards Trick

Texas Hold’em is a type of poker in which players can make their best 5-card hand out of 7 available cards. In Texas Hold-em, players receive two facedown cards as their personal hand (blind hole-cards), after which there is a round of betting. Then three board cards are turned face up simultaneously (called the flop) and another round of betting occurs. The next two board cards are dealt face up to the table, one at a time. The first is called the “turn”. The next card is the last. It’s called the “river”. There is a round of betting after each of these last two cards. A player can “fold” (drop out) at any time.

“In Texas Hold’em, the meek don’t inherit the Earth.”David Hayano


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “All Bets Down” by: rob kistner © 1/25/24

 

As poker games go, Texas hold-em’s best
beats all the rest, the bet makes it so

first two cards come blind, then three face up flop
betting don’t stop, if your cards are kind

fourth face up turns, one more ups the river
don’t blink or shiver, ‘cause weakness burns


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Sharks”
by: rob kistner © 1/25/24

first bet the flop, then two to the river
if you deliver, thrills never stop

your blind cards are key, dictating the bet
never forget, each bet costs money

right here I won’t share more about this game
should you play if you’re tame… my thoughts — don’t!


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “One Hand Too Many”
by: rob kistner © 1/25/24

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 


Alice’s Produce

~ Alice of Wonderland’s unknown origin story ~


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Alice’s Produce Stand” by: rob kistner © 1/23/24
 

A veggie grower named Alice I’ve found
whose fresh veggies I consume with delight
her veggie stand is on the far side of town
gotta get more of Alice’s produce tonight

her Wonderland Risotto is simply to die for
her own homegrown mushrooms are the key
I’m off to Alice’s in hopes she has more
these other ‘shrooms I tried just don’t agree

while heading to Alice’s alone — not a care
through some tall trees I happen to glance
there’s a valley nature conceals down there
what do I see — a woodland nymph in a dance

I can not believe the wonder I see
a vision joined by singing butterfly elves
this enchanted vale is awhirl below me
mythical creatures enjoying themselves


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Alice’s Best Friend Poppy”
by: rob kistner © 1/23/24


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Blu the Rabbit Queen”
by: rob kistner © 1/23/24

dare I go down there and join in the fun
Blu and Poppy are there – I feel no fear
so down the mountainside quickly I run
burst through the trees – Alice! you’re here

Alice my dear, this is not your veggie stand
no — but follow me, hurry, let us not wait
my place is just ahead — please take my hand
you’re halucinating badly on that mushroom you ate

you feeling small, then big, is your head in a spin
I’ve something at my stand to make you feel right
then go home, make risotto — put my mushrooms in
close your eyes, take a nap, you’ll be fine tonight

I start drifting away, didn’t take but a while
as I do, I realize that I now understand
I dream Alice is saying with a huge Cheshire smile
“for ‘enlightening’ risotto try my Wonderland”


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Alice’s Butterfly Dance”
by: rob kistner © 1/23/24

*

rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 




The Vast Empty


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “The Vast Empty” by: rob kistner © 1/22/24
 

Bright white

it blinds me
taunts me

empty as my mind

no stir of love
no rant of anger
no wink of irony
no blush of sensuality

no tale to spin
no phrase to turn

NOTHING!

just – vast — empty — screen

damn this poetic pinch

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 

Fate Is Dancing


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Fate Is Dancing” by: rob kistner © 1/18/24

 
F ate is dancing in the moonlight
in a gossamer gown of falling stars
silhouetted against the night sky
in the satin silver chill of winter


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Silken Bed of Wonber”
by: rob kistner © 1/18/24

she whirls dream room to dream room
the whole world close enough to touch
on this deep night of ecstatic lovers
entwined on soft silken beds of wonder


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Passion-Winged Hearts”
by: rob kistner © 1/18/24

the bow of love songs pulled just right
taut golden strings are pressed down tight
the passion-winged hearts of lovers unite
lift them trembling in sensual delight

*


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Passion’s Embrace”
by: rob kistner © 1/18/24

to soar over moonlit rooftops above
ablaze in soul-fire magic of love
as lovely fate dances in moonlight
on this satin chill winter’s night
in her wondrous gown of stars



Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Moon Magic Lady” (diptych)
by: rob kistner © 1/18/24

*

rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 








Empty City



Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Empty City” by: rob kistner © 1/16/24


 
This city is my zip code
but it is not where I “live”
never has been

to me
this city
as are most cities
is empty of heart
void of soul

this city
that vibrates
with the rush and chaos
of synapse and sinew

this city
that vibrates
with the hum of networked urgency
data outdistancing comprehension
often the we can
beyond the reach
of should we

this city
teeming
with college’d clones
like-patterned minds
that surge with ambition
that submit to the agendas
good or bad
dreaming of early retirement
fearing an early death

this city
bedecked in stainless
and stone
poured
erected
glassen’d

this city
ablaze in halogen
aglow in neon
awash in tears
of the poor

this city
its haughty monoliths
of varying shape
differing size
flanked in concrete corridors
that criss and cross
blink and beep
that ring buzz belch hiss
— and stink

this city
that intimidates
in cold and calculated majesty

this empty city
as do most
abuses the human soul
it does not nurture

no
it does not offer solace
to my human core


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Folded Petal’s Mystery”
by: rob kistner © 1/16/24

that seeks the folded petal’s mystery
that marvels at the smallness
of a changing frond

at the tart-sweet scent’d
gnarled bark
of mighty conifer monoliths
thrusting ever skyward

or the magic
of a budding branch

this city
does not touch my spirit
soothed by wind and water
thrilled by song of birds
or the swoop of hawks

this city
does not spark my wonder
stirred by the yelp
or bark
or bleat
of beasts

this city
cannot reach my soul
that needs to see a salmon’s trek
the open sky
the roll of unobstructed clouds
see the fall of stars

this city
has nothing for my soul
that needs to hear the crack of thunder
resound for miles across the plane
then off the mountain’s face

that needs the fresh embrace of rain
the crisp and quiet drift of snow
the hues and sway of living fields

this city
leaves my spirit cold
that needs to watch the orchard
blossom and bloom to fruit
see forests
thick beyond horizons
or feel the lift of cresting surf

no
this city
does not satisfy my need
to know the evolving natural wonders
that inspire
that swell my soul
that resonate my heart

this city
does not hold my soul

and so I look beyond
for my tomorrow

*

humans stacked in cubes
compressed so their soul can’t breathe
this is not the way


humans need nature
the heart and mind must be free
break the concrete cage

*


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Future Balanced City”
by: rob kistner © 1/16/24

*

rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 




Tears In Rain


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Tears In Rain” by: rob kistner © 1/15/24

 
Here I’m wishing wishes for those days when life made sense. I’m thinking thoughts that tear at me for the things I failed to be. How I do welcome the damp dreary days of February, when my forlorn fallen face is commonplace. When no one intrudes to question what’s the matter. To tears I cry there comes no — why, because all around are caught up in the blues.

No, she will not excuse this sadly lost and broken man, who much too late understands I was a fool, and in this sorrow understands, love’ll not return. I am glad fouler weather will soon occur, to drive the joyful all around me to indoor spaces, so I’ll be spared the pain of smiling faces. My heart aches to feel her smile’s embrace. But that smile was the last smile to come upon her face.


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Fool In The Rain”
by: rob kistner © 1/15/24

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 







U-turn

This “found poem” is made from the first line from each monthly poem I posted in 2023. At the very bottom of this post is the title of each in chronological order. These first lines were not assembled chronologically.


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Mysterious Lady” by: rob kistner © 1/11/24

 
Mysterious lady in blackened silk
your essesnce unearthed in Corsica
we have watched billowing pearl clouds
sing to me my sweet sweet lover

a whispered zephyr tosses my hair
a stolen kiss in the night
I can still feel it — all of it
tonight memories unfold

hmmm… excuse me please
this american life is flawed
nightfall now — the darkness descends


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “American Nightfall”
by: rob kistner © 1/11/24

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 


The first poems from each month in their chronological oder:
Looking for America 1/3/23
Now 2/2/23
Hmmm… 3/2/23
Soaring Silken 4/1/23
I’m Here 5/1/23
Love’s Serenade 6/1/23
Kiss 7/11/23
Sweet Gold 8/1/23
Otherworldly Love 9/1/23
Femme Magique 10/2/23
Always 11/2/23

Beast of Verse

Poetry, so too music, are the best, highest level of the human mind,
expressed by the sacred voice of the soul.


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Beast of Verse” by: rob kistner © 1/9/24

 

A beast of verse
a seeker of my soul’s expression
stalker of the proper
the perfect turn of phrase

poetry’s ever my obsession
ever my prize

it haunts me
taunts me
relentlessly I seek it

in the voice of a breeze
stirring the trees
in forest high canopies

in the rustle of leaves
and dried conifer needles
underfoot
hiking

in the drumming
of my footfalls
on old growth root chambers


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Root Chamber Rhythms”
by: rob kistner © 1/9/24

in the crackle
of a chill
still
late night
campfire

in the cries
calls
chuffs
growls
and belling
of wild nature

it arrives in the roar
of the pacific ocean

rolling waves
crashing on a rocky shore

or relentlessly pounding
sheer cliff facades
that flank
the coast

soaring skywardy
from the ocean floor

it reveals itself
surprising
in a captured glimpse
of the midnight moon
rising


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Midnight Moon Rising”
by: rob kistner © 1/9/24

in the shimmered beams
of golden sunlight
drifting down dreamlike
to fire the forest clearing

it is the song
of the soul
played to the music
of the spheres
in the chords of truth
that every angel hears

it floats
between the notes
of a mellow jazz tune

and in the mist
that veils the
early AM moon

it murmurs in the ripples
lapping my drift boat
as I fish
afloat
a high mountain lake
seeking my take

it comes enwrapped
in the sounds
that abound
in pacific northwest
wilderness


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Quiet Contemplation”
by: rob kistner © 1/9/24

it comes unbidden
quietly hidden
dancing elusively
in and out of my thoughts

it comes in the quiet
of warm firelight
deep in the night
when all else
has fallen away

I reach out
to embrace it
in the hope
it will stay

it whispers to me
drawing me deeper
into the mystery
of it all

I hear it call
coaxing me to the edge
of almost comprehension

yet leaving me aglow
needing to know
in brilliant bewilderment
warm in the embrace
of bewitching wonderment

a beast of verse
compelled to write


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Compelled To Write”
by: rob kistner © 1/9/24

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse