Saw her checking out the lamp
this 21st century vamp
wondered was I ready
palms were getting damp
pulse growing thready
nerves hanging by a string
yes — you do this thing
just say……… Hi!
noooo… she’s left the shop!
felt that string go — POP!
*
rob kistner © 2024
More poetry at: dVerse
when you became the interior designer at our store
you brought style and grace — and so much more
you were so very gorgeous on our wedding day
you took my arm — my poor heart melted away
to chase a mutual dream we moved far out west
those Oregon years, were for me, the very best
our art show years filled us with such pride
we loved displaying creativity side bu side
your artistic talents take my breath away
your creative mind is still on fire today
all these phases of us are still ongoing
my love for you ever keeps growing
these — and our new memories, stir my heart to thrill
long as my memory holds, my love — they always will
Happy Birthday!
Original DDE™ surrealistic art entitled “Last Light” by: rob kistner © 9/25/24
I remember you love, by the ivy’d garden wall
on those crisp copper’d days, in the waxing fall
laying languidly embraced, on a golden leafy sprawl
in the dappled shade, of our green willow tall
I remember you sitting by the greying oaken mill
‘neath autumn’s changing trees, on that grassy hill
where we’d make sweet love, in the pearl morning chill
with love’s tears of joy, I remember the thrill
we’d embrace laughing, fall’n’roll down the hill
your blue eyes flashing, shouting, “let’s take the spill!”
bold as brilliant wildflowers, I remember you still
yes, I’m leaving you now love, but hear my heart trill
I always will, always will — remember… I always will
*
rob kistner © 2024
More poetry at: dVerse
Warm September relaxes, preparing to step through Autumn’s portal. This is the time of Equinox upon this realm, as it continues to cool, slowly nudged, towards eventual winter’s peace. The season of sky-waters is at hand, to quench nature’s thirst, as she begins her time of rejuvination, to slowly regather strength.
Soon an all-consuming quiet, an absolute stillness, will settle. From this deep silence, comes an imperceptible murmur, a breathless whisper. It is a hushed prayer of gratitude for the breathtaking beauty of this Pacific Northwest. Also, a humble petition, that the crossing of the next Equinox will bring the blessings of renewed life to this soon quiet land, at rest in time’s hand.
*
rob kistner © 8/23/23
Poetry at: dVerse
Original DDE™ surrealistic art entitled “Strange Attractors” by: rob kistner © 9/20/24
This is the plot the studio intends
an evil villain who’s a killer clown
striking fear and mayhem all over town
I wonder how this horror movie ends
no way that clown and beauty queen are friends
not as hot as she looks in that evening gown
maybe he’ll push her in that lake n’let her drown
perhaps this is the plot the studio intends
bet he’s gonna kill her in front of her friends
perhaps he will beat her with her pageant crown
or stab her with her scepter when she turns ‘round
I so wanna know how this horror movie ends
ohhellno — RomCom’s not the plot the studio intends
please no — all this lovey-doven’s bringing me down
this can’t be how this movie ends — oh horrors!
*
rob kistner © 2024
More poetry at: dVerse
Original DDE™ surrealistic art entitled “Maneater” by: rob kistner © 9/16/24
I am a vampire
I am the danger that you desire
I burn in your blood like unholy fire
You say you don’t want me I say you’re a liar
I’ll take you beyond death and then take you higher
I am a vampire
*
rob kistner © 2024
More poetry at: dVerse
Original DDE™ surrealistic art entitled “The Slayer Cometh” by: rob kistner © 9/16/24
Slowing my heartbeat
steadying my breath
I turn the key
the lock clicks
the door unseats
fate’s dealt this hand
I’m both prisoner
and executioner
in this deadly game
silver blade poised
swinging the lair’s door open
I enter
whispering
tonight you die…
vampire
*
rob kistner © 2024
More poetry at: dVerse
Original DDE™ surrealistic art entitled “Paris Beauty” by: rob kistner © 9/12/24
Quietly she sits
aglow in Paris moonlight
spilling through
the tattered sky
time to time
to flood sterling
in those moments
this quaint sidewalk cafe
lovely lady
you look so at peace
yet so alive
vibrant
and so very beautiful
the rising moon
paints your face
a fetching pale rose
as the full Luna
works its seductive magic
a singular teary beauty
you’re radiant
under the cherry moon
cocktail in hand
I want so to approach you
tell you how enticing you look
how you stir my desire
but I hesitate
I fear you’d consider
my fervent advance
an indecent proposal
I don’t want the color of night
to turn a lecherous purple
when what I feel
is passion’s purest red
yes — I am excited by you
more and more
on fire
you’ve such a classic look
sensual
yet — vintage sophisticated
one of Ziegfeld’s elegant showgirls
but I’m a poor soul
the postman
a lowly schlep
out here fighting daily
to make a living
on this battlefield earth
most certainly
not in your class
my goddess
but I’m swept away
mesmerized by your beauty
the graceful lines of your face
your lithe feline form
Original DDE™ surrealistic art entitled “To Her Lips”
by: rob kistner © 9/12/24
your slender fingers
caressing the stem
of your martini glass
like a captivating
catwoman
you are utterly intoxicating
if you ever turn my way
look into my eyes
and smile
well then…
I know who killed me
you
Aphrodite of the corner cafe
Venus of the street-side apéritif
it would be you
…because I’ll likely die
my heart will stop
my hair
turning fifty shades of grey
as my dust blows away
but really
I would not mind
a magical little death
the transcendence of
“la petite mort”
with you m’lady
would be wonderful
quite precious
a precious Paris dream
but alas
too long I’ve lingered
too long I’ve dreamed
this moment has captured me
I am hopelessly lost
to loving you
Original DDE™ surrealistic art entitled “Ecstasy”
by: rob kistner © 9/12/24
*
rob kistner © 2022
edited revision © 2024
2022 Poetry at: dVerse
2024 Poetry at: dVerse
These are the movie titles featured in this poem, in the oder they appear: The Lonely Lady, Under the Cherry Moon, Cocktail, Indecent Proposal, Color of Night, Showgirls, The Postman, Battlefield Earth, Swept Away, Catwoman, I Know Who Killed Me, Fifty Shades of Grey
Original DDE™ surrealistic art entitled “Paris Beauty” by: rob kistner © 9/10/24
Quietly she sits
aglow in Paris evening
filtering through
the translucent awning
of this charming
sidewalk cafe
the lonely lady looks sad
but so very beautiful
her face
a fetching pale rose
as the embracing golden vespers
displays its full glory
a singular teary beauty
radiant as a pearl
under the cherry moon
an intoxicating vision
cocktail in hand
I want so to approach her
tell her how seductive she looks
how she stirs my desire
but I hesitate
I fear she’d consider
my fervent advance
an indecent proposal
I don’t want the coming twilight
to turn a lecherous purple
when what I feel
is passion’s vivid red
yes — I am excited by her
more and more
on fire
she has a classic look
sexy — but vintage sophisticated
one of Ziegfeld’s elegant showgirls
I’m but a lesser soul
the postman
a poor schlep
out here fighting daily
to make a living
on this battlefield earth
most certainly
not in her class
not this goddess
but I’m swept away
mesmerized by her beauty
the graceful lines of her face
her lithe feline form
slender fingers
caress the stem
of her martini glass
like a captivating
catwoman
she is utterly spellbinding
if she ever turns my way
looks into my eyes
and smiles
well then…
if I’m found dead
I’ll know who killed me
it is this
Aphrodite of the corner cafe
this Venus of the street-side apéritif
…because I’ll likely have a heart attack
I’ll probably shrivel — right here
my hair
turning fifty shades of grey
and my dust blow away
but really
I would not mind
because what I’m imagining
at this moment
would make for such a wonderful
“la petite mort” *
*
* Little Death — French expression for love’s climax
rob kistner © 2022
edited revision © 2024
2022 Poetry at: dVerse
2024 Poetry at: dVerse
These are the movie titles featured in this poem, in the oder they appear: Shining Through, The Lonely Lady, Under the Cherry Moon, Cocktail, Indecent Proposal, Color of Night, Showgirls, The Postman, Battlefield Earth, Swept Away, Catwoman, I Know Who Killed Me, Fifty Shades of Grey
Sing to me my sweet sweet lover
songs as soft as silk and satin
sensual as a bare embrace
warm summer sun upon our face
promise me the world is ours
that this perfect moment’s endless
lift me up on rapture’s cloud
my racing heart is pounding loud
set sail our souls on pleasure’s sea
fill our hearts with passion’s fire
smother me in scorched sweet kisses
oh what a fiery bliss this is
come to me and take me timeless
sweep me off ‘cross ecstasy’s ocean
enfold me in your deepest dreams
to simmer under summer moonbeams
we seek night’s soothing shade
aflame in love’s sensual serenade
under a moonlit sky of stars above
we’ll sail forever on the sea of love
*
rob kistner © 2024
More poetry at: dVerse
Original DDE™ surrealistic art entitled “Sweet Silver Steel” by: rob kistner © 9/9/24
He makes his way carefully
past the shallow-breathed crumple
that lay milky-eyed in a heap
un-moving on the floor
save a twitch of the sodden head
this wreckage is his mother
she remains slack
death-like
nocturne angels of sweet release
had laid down lush upon her
in fevered embrace
lustfully conjured
by last night’s spoon and lance
skewered silver
deep in the soured vein
mama — why do you want to die
only silence
mama
don’t you care
don’t you know I need you
to himself
as tears begin to well
I am haunted…
by how much
our mothers do not know
he angles to the bathroom
to the scum-brown bowl
to wash his face
a face lit sallow by the yellowed bulb
that hangs bare
eyes of knowing
eyes of sadness
stare into the mirror
broken as his heart…
…then they cry
mama why?
Original DDE™ surrealistic art entitled “MaMa Why?”
by: rob kistner © 9/9/24
*
rob kistner © 2024
More poetry at: dVerse
~ Can you ever go home again? This here’s a lil’truth, lil’fiction. ~
Last night I dreamed
I was wandering next to whitewater
in a stand of mountain birch
the white tree with paper-like bark
my father’s favorite tree
reminds him of Canada
his beloved country of birth
I vividly remember my dad
and his love of the birch
and his longing for Canada
a fondness he instilled in me
sharing his beautiful north country
via semiannual fishing adventures
to the small island log cabin
he still co-owned with a Canuk buddy
many memories still live and breath
in my heart
visions of younger days
one now calling me forward
down into the birch valley
and across the planes
of a childhood long ago
this morning’s sun
came crisp and bright
enfolding my waking
in warmth
and vivid presence
as the world awoke
fresh and fascinating
I embarked early
after eggs
juice
toast and jelly
the sweet and salty taste
lingering
of a homecoming
too long overdue
my soul is full
my mind is clear
my heart — overflowing
but my sprit is tentative
when dusk settles this evening
and early shadows fall soft
I will round Miller’s Corner
as it comes into view
worn
withered
but warm with recall
Original DDE™ surrealistic art entitled “Echoes of Laughter”
by: rob kistner © 9/4/24
my wooden framed
childhood home
abandoned now to ghosts
specters of a youth
spent surrounded by love
by laughter
by learning
and by loss
one of the ghosts
in that old house
is my mother
she passed within its walls
on a summer day
not unlike today
as I sat sobbing
in my room
down the hall
my father kept me from her room
he feared the sickness that took her
might take me
so I never really
got to say goodbye to her
nor goodbye to the laughter
that died that day
nor goodbye to the smile
on my father’s face
for it was never seen again
it disappeared
as did my father
into deep debilitating depression
shortly after mother passed
I was moved away
to live with my aunt
in Oregon
today I will return
to say a long delayed goodbye
to my mother
and to lay my father to rest
next to her
in the cemetery
behind the old church
where once they wed
quietly
I climbed the 2 steps
and entered the old church
empty at the moment
I sat down in a back pew
bowed my head
as if in prayer
and in a gentle hush
whispered
“I’ve come back — I’m here”
Original DDE™ surrealistic art entitled “Sacred Serenity”
by: rob kistner © 9/4/24
*
rob kistner © 2024
More poetry at: dVerse
~ never laugh at a clown ~
“Gaze upon me
if you will
my countenance crafted
to fool
and thrill
I’ve spent years in greasepaint
in fear and sorrow
I rued my past
and dreaded my tomorrow”
they call me Laughin’ Lyle
I love to see you smile
be joyful
full of glee…
but never ever laugh at me
it wasn’t intentional
you see
I only wanted her to
hear me
when I told her…
please don’t laugh
but her laughter
her hollow taunting laughter
her mindless laughter
wouldn’t stop
it wouldn’t stop
and I needed her to hear me
to understand how I felt
but the laughing
and laughing
her incessant laughing
I simply couldn’t have the laughing…
so I made it stop
now I hide behind this painted smile
and there are still those laughing
and laughing
and laughing…
until that moment
when they‘re not
I still hate the laughter
but I know well now
how to make it stop
I’ll spend my years in greasepaint
but no more fear
no regret
I’ll shed not another tear
so gaze upon me
if you will
my countenance crafted
to fool
and thrill
but when you’re all alone
and your laughing’s at its end
I will make quite certain…
you’ll not laugh again
*
rob kistner © 2024
Poetry at: dVerse
Consumed in love’s embrace
overcome in passion’s tide
overboard into desire’s flood
away we’re swept
a’spin in fevered bliss
breathing breath for breath
until finally
great release
sweeps over us
then gently we drift
intimately entwined
afloat in sweet afterglow
of love’s lingering kiss
*
rob kistner © 2024
More poetry at: dVerse