Category: FINAL DRAFT

Hmmm…

Original DDE™ art: “Hmmm..” by: rob kistner © 2/8/26

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mystery is an abandoned chair
a door left ajar
light leaking just enough
to make the heart lean forward

it trusts the reader
to walk the rest of the way—
alone…

to bring…
their own held breath—
their own shadows—
their own spine chills—
to embrace the plot
personally—
to step inside

in mystery
absence
speaks louder than fact

what is not said
vibrates
haunts
entices
titillates—
captures the imagination

hard proof arrives rudely
it kicks the door in—
fluorescent…
cold…
glaring…
dimensionless…
unquestionable

a slab on the table
tagged and measured
its answers complete—
conjecture closed

no possibilities
no curiosities
no room to surmise—
no space to surprise

but mystery
lives in the
unexplained
unfinished—-
in the possibilities

it survives on doubt
on questions
on suggestion
on the intimate collaboration—
on the soul dance
between writer
and reader

mystery doesn’t demand belief—
it invites wonder…
which outlasts certainty

certainty closes the book—
mystery keeps seducing
long after
the ink’s run out

<~>


rob kistner © 2/8/26

Poetry 

Jumpin’ Gelotology

Original DDE™ art: “Wild Laughter #2” by: rob kistner © 1/23/26

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wild laughter breaks the grip of seriousness
and people start saying what they want t’say
time expands into bubbles of outrageousness
rising and drifting, then bursting away

the voice forgets manners — the body says yes
shoulders shake loose old history’s hold
sorrow releases its grip in the mess
and silence leans closer — curious — bold

this sound gathers chaos, twists up the face
in a warmth that tingles like satin on skin
echoes that soften the edges of space
opening a door so that joy can rush in

when finally it fades something lasting remains
the foolishness of gravity come unquietly true—
being here despite losses — eschewing the strains
is a shared miracle — enjoyed rockingly with you

<~>

rob kistner © 1/23/26

Poetry at: dVerse

Joy

Original DDE™ art: “Ecstatic” by: rob kistner © 1/23/26

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Joy arrives without knocking

a small beautiful bird
chirping merrily on the sill
not asking what you lost
or what aches you carry

it is the lift in breath
when morning light
finds a clean edge on the world

the laugh that escapes
unexpectedly
not asking permission

joy is not boisterous

it hums
it steadies the hands
loosens the jaw

teaches the heart
a gentler tempo

it shows up while washing a cup
in the smell of rain
in the sudden kindness of memory
that chooses mercy over regret

it throws wide its arms
in realizing that you are loved

joy does not promise forever

it asks only this:
be here now
notice
stand still
breath fully
and let yourself be glad

<~>

rob kistner © 1/23/26

Poetry at: dVerse

If Only

Original DDE™ art: “If Only” by: rob kistner © 1/13/26

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regret is the echo that lingers
after a door has closed

not loud
just persistent

a thin whistle of chill wind
through memory’s cracks

it does not accuse
only reminds
replaying moments
revised too late

regret gathers in silences
where words waited unsaid
in courage folded untouched
stored away unused

it settles into storms
mistaken for only weather
into seasons endured
not knowing their duration

yet regret shapes awareness
reveals the outline of choice
it proves something mattered
that a crossroads once held weight

without regret
movement would be reckless
ill considered

steps unmeasured

never a sense
of the true cost
of turning away

<~>

rob kistner © 1/13/26

Poetry at: dVerse