Author: Rob Kistner

 
Here
in this earthen abode
the voices of our elders
rose with the night fire

a blaze
of enlightenment

warmed us
with the knowledge
of the ancestors

but the sacred fire
its embers
now near ashen

who will stir to flame
this smoldering wisdom

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: dVerse

”The Wiseman” – Jim Warren © 1975

Your clarity
blazed bright
a flame of logic
a vivid light
pierced the darkness
of ignorance
its radiance
sparked inquiry

your blazing light
turning now ember
edge’s ashen
can still ignite
those who remember
your philosopher’s passion
stir to fire
your dark wisdom’s desire

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: dVerse

Here I gaze
one-eye’d blind
through life’s gossamer curtain
at a dark waking dream
a chill hallucination
of a polarized reality

dual worlds
close enough to touch
through which truth
stumbles
blind

beyond reach

walking as a wraith

moving in these worlds
captive to the bonedeep lie
implicit in the toxic grin
of inflexible conformity

lethal tradition
revered
in mindless trance

change

shackled cold
to the stone of fear

change

bound
with a grip
rough as rope
at the shadowed edge
of dark and light
of ignorance and knowledge

change

so far to go
so much to learn

rise from this night
beckon the dawn
someone needs
ignite the light

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: The Sunday Muse

She spent her life
building and feathering her nest
head down
consumed in the process

a woman committed
to the industry
of her task

so capable
so indendent
no time for distraction

wanting nothing
to interrupt
her single-minded endeavor

not needing
nor asking
for help
from anyone

she wanted
no sttings attached

finally one day
she rose up
to look around

to discover
she had achieved
every goal

every accomplishment
was indeed hers alone

but terribly alone
she had no one

she had it all
but at a cost

she was isolated
was entangled
in her cold
calculated
singular
success

she felt
nowhere
empty
lost

and
she
was
sad

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: The Sunday Muse

You’ve got the mask thing
and the social distancing
wrapped in one fell swoop
but nurse — ain’t you worried ‘bout
pokin’ some damned fool’s eye out

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: The Sunday Muse

they carry my longing heart
on their crest
and catch the tears
tears of sadness
I cry at times

moments that I feel
run aground
since you went away

would that I had a boat
a 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
just one more time
to hear your beautiful voice
rise in sweet song

but all is not grief
there are also tears
of joyful reflection
when I think of you

our love is that river
that flows eternally
through all time

you live still
in vivid warmest memory
forever
locked in my heart

but one cannot touch
a memory

would that I could hold you
again this day

hold you close
and tell you son
tell you the 10,000 things
I said far too seldom
when you were still here
fiercely alive
in my life

but please
watch the river
my beautiful boy
look for my special boat

I am coming — soon

*

rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: d’Verse

Poetry at: poets & stortellerd

Humbly
a word please

to those hurting
seeking relief
wanting answers

desiring truth

seek not the pompous
swelled with false confidence
dispensing the formulas of bliss

condemning you
as the un-visioned

while fleecing you
of your hard begotten

follow not the kings
nor the queens
of mammon

who worship the bottom line
desiring the upper hand

who would despoil the world
and all it offers
as their personal playground
of selfish gratification

suffer not the priests
nor the priestesses
who would say
that only they
have heard

and in so saying
would dictate your thoughts
and direct your deeds

to conform
to this truth
of the god
in their pocket

do not be cowered
by the iron hand
of the bullet-brained

who march in lock step
to crush under boot
the will of any
who will not queue-up

into the line
that they have deemed
leads to the only way
that life must be

do not be swayed
by those who “know”
possessed of absolutely
no uncertainty

knowing sure
that what they know
is what is

and in their infallible knowledge
know
that what they know
is
was
and will ever be
the truth

turn away
from the uncertainty
and manipulative pain
that all of these
insecure
arrogant
demigods would inflict

to mask their own
insecurity
weakness
and fear

these are special kinds of fools

disruptively dangerous
incredibly inexcusable
the idiot elite

focused only
on their manic pursuit
of unquestioned superiority
and ego-feeding control

parasites

blind to love
compassion
and empathy

empty vessels of chaos
and suffering

rebuke
and reject them

instead
gather with those
who do not know

find the curious
and the uncertain

those still filled with wonder
drawn to mystery
to unfolding discovery
to possibility

who embrace the constancy
of change
learning
of knowledge

it is they
who will sucessfully traverse
this ever-evolving world

who will fashion it
as a fair
inclusive world

as a far
far better place

they understand
the fragility of truth
and embrace
the true pain

the pain of growth

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: dVerse

Poetry at: dVerse

Such peace — wandering these mountains
exploring the shores of its lakes and rivers
spellbound by the immensity of its forests
praying it will endure the human species

its ancient secrets whisper on the winds
echoing in the treetops like quiet song
to resonate forever my beating heart
lost to the magic of this mystic realm
this wilding world of enchantments
this vast pacific northwest kingdom

I’m entranced by these majestic mountains
whose crisp whitewaters serenade my soul
cascading the boulders in its wild rivers

‘round each bend stirs a freshened zephyr
wafting through the timeless old growth

an osprey’s cry echoes high in the canopy
beautifully eerie this raptor’s haunting call
it seeks prey in the waters of these mountains

I have great respect for this masterful fisher
doing battle with a wild trout is in its nature
I need my wits and rod to fish these rivers
in pursuit of the elusive native rainbow
but such joyful endeavor is addictive

imagination ignites
a’wade in these streams
lost in sweetest dreams
soothed by the breeze
free from the stress
of this mad world
I decompress

the rustle in the tall trees is an intoxicating melody
this special place lives always deep in my heart
I am captive to the mysteries of these forests
enchanted by these wondrous mountains
my soul adrift on the glacial-fed waters

when I have passed ~ here I will rest
you’ll hear my voice on the wind
my footsteps in the old growth
my whispering on the waters
it’s my prayer for the earth

come quietly – and listen

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: d’Verse

Poetry at: Earthweal

——————————<|~|>—————————-
** READ THIS poem I read today “Live” on OLN: Eternal River
——————————<|~|>—————————- 

David Maverick © 2007

Strategy must play out slowly
protection is tantamount
but so is lethal aggression

the squarely stark contrasts
of extreme dark and light
laid out before me
stir my essence
fire my soul
rally my spirit
ignite my wonder
whet my imagination
engage my player’s drive

with the need to be right
absolutely

wholly wrapt – I ponder
I scheme
I calculate

I can feel sweat
on the verge

but I must not

to show vulnerability
to hint at fear
is deadly

I must stay cool

this situation
is at once familiar
yet it feels
exotically foreign

strange
dangerous

caught in the grip
of debilitating angst
I also feel the stir
of indignation

does he think me a fool
that I would fall for his ploy
be drawn into his trap
his feeble transparent gambit

I will not

but I feel a longing
as I search for discovery
praying I have not
exposed my hand

anxiety gnaws at my resolve
the sensation
of a hollow
empty place
deep within
echoing with uncertainty

but I embrace the moment

I believe I see his truth
his diabolical vision

it is offering me
just enough answer
that I combust
with questions

but I feel they are
the right questions
to unlock my truth
to guide my path

while I’m held
suspended in inquiry
transfixed
by this beautiful mystery
suddenly — I feel elevated
by insight
impaled by vision

yes – yes
I see it
I see it clearly
my perfect move

I must make it boldly
but carefully
because everything rides on this

why am I so intense
you wonder

is this a matter
of life and death
you ask

oh no
my friend
oh no

it is far more serious than that

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: The Sunday Muse

Poetry at: poets & stortellerd

Poetry Inspired by Ecological Change: Earthweal

A whispered crisp autumn zephyr
lifts and gently tosses my hair
brushes softly against my cheek
to tug my bright vivid kite — skyward

these beautiful, crisp autumn days
remind me so, of my loving, adoptive father
we’d leave Ohio to fish the crystal waters of Canada
and fly colorful homemade kites, from the boat dock

out on the lake, I loved the soothing sound of water
lapping the sides of our aluminum fishing boat
and the breakwater splashing of a hooked, leaping fish
contorting at line’s end, like an unruly, windblown kite

for a sad young boy, those fishing trips were magic
life after the orphanage, I still often felt untethered
a lost kite, whose string was broken – blowing away
eventually, I rose intact, buoyed on this fisherman’s love

I began life tossed and tumbled in daily crosswinds
a kite unloosed, frenzied by surrounding uncertainty
but winds of fate carried me to a loving, generous man
who tethered me to his heart, and I, to his as well

I still soar strong, in bold colors of living
on the warm wafting winds of wonderful memory
of this man who gave me love, who gave me a life
gave me a home – and he taught me to love fishing

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: dVerse

Radiant vision
silken skinned
sheer translucent
as a coral flame

you tempt my dreams
you rouse my slumber
you’re torrid
as a teen’s temptation

I am captive
to a lover’s pyre
kindle’d tinder
with slightest spark
sure consumed
by goddess fire

your delicate face
captivating
a visage more gorgeous
than heaven’s angles
comely soft
as spun-gold velvet

your hair a-flow
an enchanted rose
magic
to mystify
a petal’s blush
sensual to touch
soft
as a lover’s sigh

you’re Hedone’s daughter
lush with passion’s nectar
afire
in golden ardor
that folds upon you
sensuous as satin

your beauty
like a summer sunrise
so stunning
as to blind
creation’s eyes

you are fast
as a moment passed
light of foot
as an autumn zephyr
graceful
as a gliding doe

your courage
is your legacy
deeply rooted bravery
tempered well by history
relentless struggles
for equality

you’re strong
as an April storm
your scowl striking
as thunder’d lightening
your smile enticing
as a gentle rain

you are thinker
you are teacher
you are lover
you are mother
sacred source
of the human race

you are goddess
ever beautiful
divinely-splendrous
sculpted grand
brought forth
in nature’s glory
from fair eden
by Aphrodite’s hand

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: dVerse

Take a stone
from your pocket
toss it into a lake

as each ripple rises
a precious wish you make

let ripples now that spread
be dreams that fill your head

may each ripple
that returns to you
be a beautiful dream come true

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: dVerse

~ these stacked standing stones of Stonehenge are over 3,000 years old ~

Stacked by visionaries past
blessed in hope and courage
one upon the other
knowledge upon learning
these standing stones of peace

they call across the ages
beckoning us to rise
step into the future
to envision a new dream
let fear and hatred cease

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: dVerse

~ for George, just because ~

Makeup looks damned fine
hey wait – what the hell is this!
my head upside down?
no, wait, that reflection’s right
guess I’ve drank enough tonight

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: The Sunday Muse