Diabetes is narcissist‘s disease. Every minute, of every hour, of every day, of every week, or every month, of every year, of all of your life , until forever! you must always consider yourself first — or you will die. It is hard to give yourself when you are hostage.
Deep Indigo
Quietly sipping his steeped motivation, peeling away the fog of another fitful night, somberly grateful for the peace of morning, thoughts begin to un-blend. They gather into a palette of emotions, the colors of mood — moods he recognizes too well. The dark ebony of anger, the shades of pain’s purple. Here is the violet of regret, and the sorrowful blues. But here too, peaceful greens, golden joy, laughter’s bright amber, love’s deep ruby red, and the scarlet of passion!
As he muses, reflections on his mortality creep in, unwelcomed. His failing eyesight shoulders in coldly. He curses his fate, struggling beneath the weight of uncertainty — of heavy emotions.
Reaching to his iPad, midst dawn’s saffrons and corals, he begins typing deep indigo. “I fear the death of light, loss of colors, if it went grey. Where can we find light in this never-ending shade?”
rob kistner © 1/17/25
Poetry at: dVerse
Sunset Sails
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Sunset Sails” by: rob kistner © 1/17/25
Like drizzled honey
the sun through the treetops
paints the tall conifers
that embrace our meadow
in golden warmth
in that moment
my thoughts drift to you
and the tall ships in Beaufort Harbor
their massive sails aglow
painted in sunset shadows
their masts and riggings
set in fired relief
you had commented how the patterns
reminded you
of abstract charcoal sketches
the artist in you
always interpreting your world
this day
sunshine makes radiant your gentle face
your green eyes sparkle
I reflect back once more
to seeing you squinting in those rays
of that past North Carolina evening
your smile
had shone brighter than the sun
I remember staring
captivated
watching your eyes dance
among the docks and ships
in that beautiful little harbor
that unfolded like a still life before us
mesmerized
I had watched your lips
sculpting your words
in gentle excitement
you’d said yes
accepting the engagement ring
I offered you
there by the tall ships
I had wished that moment
would last forever
knowing that it would not
could not
it was a singular precious moment
anchored forever in time
here now
on this anniversary evening
my thoughts amble sweetly
back through time
I find a joyful peace
lying here with you
in the cuddled light
of this sunset-drenched meadow
my heart adrift
long ago
in the deep harbors
of my memories
*
rob kistner © 1/17/25
Poetry at: dVerse
Gone
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Gone” by: rob kistner © 1/14/25
After your leaving footsteps long were silent
after the open front door caught no goodbye
after your front porch shadow faded away
after all our hope just imploded
after all our joy became a memory
after penetrating sadness collected day upon day
after the promises echoed hollow
after the dreams blurred to empty grey
after our days of passion had become the past
after the taste of regret grew ever bitter
after the loneliness mercilessly mounted
after sands in the glass spilled away to the last
what was once love’s rich blaze
had burned through the fodder
sadly all that remains is ash and char
our vision was most beautiful
our intention honest and real
its brightness so intense it burned out like a star
I did not know your leaving would set my soul ajar
I did not know your gone would be so final and far
I did not know love could become a haunting quiet
I did not know how deeply this silence would scar
Unknown artist — maybe Edward Hopper
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Gone”
(in Hopper style) by: rob kistner © 1/14/25
*
rob kistner © 1/14/25
Poetry at: dVerse
Lover to Lover
…and a Peter Gabriel mini-concert.
Original DDE™ surreal art: “We” by: rob kistner © 12/3/24
Uplifting dreams for each other
our hearts joined — lover to lover
steadfast — we will prevail
in shadows — keep light shining
keep our love’s strength entwining
our dreams won’t derail
hands joined — journeying on
beyond darkness — we’ll greet the dawn
forever we — you and me
*
rob kistner © 12/3/24
Poetry at: dVerse
Ironclad
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Being Right Is Lonely” by: rob kistner © 1/10/25
Once my truth was my only guide
a rigid compass of steadfast pride
my wisdom I wielded like a spear
to vanquish doubt — settle my fear
in every debate I sought to prove
that my rightness surely would move
your beating heart to my love train
fallacies squelched — truth maintained
to prove correct was my ironclad creed
the flawless path for our love to succeed
now I see my flaw in final glance
the hollow triumph of circumstance
my being right did break our bond
a bridge destroyed – a faith undone
the truth is cold — barren of care
its sharp precision a lethal rapier
to listen — to feel — truly connect
outweighs the pride of being correct
my insistent being right proved my fallacy
your tender heart broken — ironclad shut to me
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Lover’s Accusation”
by: rob kistner © 1/10/25
*
rob kistner © 1/10/25
Poetry at: dVerse
Ever Evolving
Silky Owlet / Photographed in Papua New Guinea / Michael Sammut
Even in chaos nature finds balance
violent floods beget fertile fields
one thing ends — another begins
when life insists death yields
life is a cycle of birth and death
untamed wildfire creates forest ash
the ashen remains nurture growth again
forged in the fires of living
born is the miracle of expanding life
one thing ends — another begins
nothing beautiful comes without struggle
hammered from the pain of learning
emerges the power of wisdom
it is there in the teaching hand
evolution is not a revolution
it is the byproduct of time
one thing ends — another begins
nature ever seeks the best design
in between the was and will be
is the chaos realm of rearrange
the molten crucible of change
one thing ends — another begins
in the caterpillar lives the butterfly
one thing ends — another begins
now and forever the Mandala spins
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Great Mandala — Still / Moving”
by: rob kistner © 1/8/25
*
rob kistner © 1/9/25
Poetry at: dVerse
Poetry at: dVerse
Reclamation
Original DDE™ surreal art: “The Fog” by: rob kistner © 1/7/25
The fog rolled ‘cross the lowlands, a smothering damp and languid chill, dense with dread. Twilight having receded, moonlight labored hard, shouldering its way through the thickening shroud.
The gnarled shape of leaf-dead trees, with their spindly spiked branches, thrust skyward, knobbed and twisted. Their trunks bending and swaying menacingly.
Muffled deep within the gloom of the grove, a wind throbbed, like a drone of seeming voices, in dark entangled disembodied chant. This night memories rose. Memories of glory, memories of wealth, memories of conquests, lustful memories of sensuous willing lovers. These are memories of powerful magic.
stolen from your ancestors
this night — take them back
*
rob kistner © 1/7/25
Poetry at: dVerse
Rêve D’âme
Original DDE™ surreal art: “New Horizon” by: rob kistner © 12/20/24
We will never lose vision
never let our soul dream die…
though they come
the hands without faces
the voices without logic
without truth
the ones who poison
the pristine air
to blind our sight
who turn our rivers
of communication
to shards of pointed glass
and tell us it is progress
reeking of entitlement
they do not knock
they seep through the walls
quiet as shadow
binding us with silk
that feels like comfort
we are taught to love the sameness
to celebrate the gray
while the fire in our chests
grows cold and hard
a stone
we no longer remember swallowing
they whisper to us
in a voice
that sounds like our own
over and over
…you are safer this way
you are cleaner
you are clearer
you are chosen
you are one…
and so we march
eyes forward
vital vibrant thoughts
funneled into neat canals
death ditches
where they are picked-off
systematically
helplessly
easily
the world around us
a hollow hum
even the stars
once sharp and burning
blur into a single smear
of fallowed light
but some nights
in the deep black
between their laws
and their lies
someone remembers
not a word —
a feeling
raw and jagged
like a thorn
caught in the soul
it whispers
there was more…
you were more…
remeber…
they cannot kill
what they do not understand
the lone sparks
of smoldering disgust
our hands
that claw at the sky
out voices
that crack the silence —
they rise
strange and terrible
dripping with the dark
heaped upon them
like gods
pulled from the earth
transfigured
yet…
still too
they come
with their rules
their chains
made of dead ideas
to scrape the truth
from our bones
let them try…
we will rise
in the ruins of their perfection
a tide of broken mirrors
reflecting only what they fear to see
that we are many
that we are their chaos
that we are truth
that we are infinite
…relentless…
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Changin’ Time’s”
by: rob kistner © 12/20/24
*
rob kistner © 12/20/24
Poetry at: dVerse
Uncertain Wheel
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Time’s Wheel of Uncertainty” by: rob kistner © 12/10/24
The great wheel of time
rises up through fog of history
midst missed-moments meadow
silhouetted by grey of mystery
this great wheel of time
turns ever slow and steadily
its fluid mass unstoppable
it revolves onward mightily
outlives the mortal mountain
bears the burden of potentially
sees ages and civilizations
borne and razed eventually
our frail lifetimes ride this wheel
how far — is not for us to see
with faith and fate, ’round we go
orbiting bold toward our destiny
as ever fragile temporal beings
of a most truly amazing bravery
we choose to dream of a tomorrow
for which there is no guarantee
though circling toward this future
of veiled and vague contingency
still, on we whirl — and dare to love
despite this vast uncertainty
enjoying the amazing mind-blowing ride
the sensations the emotions the mystery
*
rob kistner © 12/10-12/24
Poetry at: dVerse
Poetry at: dVerse OLN
Stardust Again
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Little Bang” by: rob kistner © 12/9/24
Born to a pearl-grey morning
now nodding goodby
in golden twilight
that frantic
wonderful
precious chaos
that was my life
done…
this madman
ready to shatter
into a million shards
of shining light
shoot through the universe
n’reshuffle to pure energy…
(((bang!)))
…stardust again
*
rob kistner © 12/9/24
Poetry at: dVerse
OK… Sure
Original DDE™ surreal art: “I’ll Get Right On That” by: rob kistner © 12/5/24
I
want to
do my best
make an effort
to make no mistakes
counting the syllables
making sure I’m accurate
because I want this to be right
something I can truly be proud of
for today as well as for the future
so now
that’s done
—<§>—
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Hmmmph”
by: rob kistner © 12/5/24
*
I
am
…
yes
…
most
happy
…
almost
…
obeying
creative
direction
accurately
stubbornly
herniatingly
articulatedly
transfluxuated
||
OK
)(
SURE
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Say Wha..”
by: rob kistner © 12/5/24
—<§>—
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Kiss Me My Love ”
by: rob kistner © 12/5/24
OH
you are
my true love
my reason why
my morning sunrise
my brightly shining star
it’s in you I found my truth
you are the one guiding my heart
sparking my purpose to move forward
in you I have discovered life’s meaning
thank you
my always
—<§>—
Original DDE™ surreal art:
“Now That’s Just Too Far! ” by: rob kistner © 12/5/24
* * *
rob kistner © 12/5/24
Poetry at: dVerse
Freddie
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Regal Rag Man” by: rob kistner © 11/28/24
Rags-ole-iron, he called out loudly
rags-ole-iron, rolling down our road
collecting scraps of post World War II
gathered this’n’that in a recycled load
he had a slow n’steady way about him
from where he came — I never knew
he always seemed to me quite magical
a TV enchantment that had come true
he was such a mystery to this young boy
tattered mad-hatted wizard from the past
I’d hear his call echo between the houses
I’d rush to watch Freddie Freeloader pass
his horse clippity-clopped along the pavement
his bulged bounty clicked n’clacked n’clattered
he walked out of my TV then into my memory
always knew Fred’s mys’try mission mattered
time-to-time he still passes by in my memory
rumbling down that misty street of long ago
was it Mr. Freeloader who’d shuffled by me…
that boy from ‘52 prefers to imagine it was so
Red Skelton’s iconic 1952 B&W TV character, Freddie Freeloader
*
rob kistner © 12/3/24
Poetry at: dVerse
T’day Food Porn
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Fall Feast” by: rob kistner © 11/28/24
Got the turkey on the table
we’ll eat as much as we’re able
and sautéed green beans — man oh man
stuffing is a really big hit
sweet corn – can’t get enough of it
mashed taters made the dinner plan
we’ll wrap it up with punkin’ pie
rich whipped cream piled high as the sky
food porn with good wine — such a fan!
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Pumpkin Custard Cinnamon Chocolate Pie”
by: rob kistner © 11/28/24
*
rob kistner © 11/28/24
Poetry at: dVerse
Regal Rag Man
Original DDE™ surreal art: “Regal Rag Man” by: rob kistner © 11/28/24
Rags-ole-iron, he called out loudly
rags-ole-iron, his cart rolled our road
collecting scraps of post World War II
gathered in a this’n’that recycled load
he had a slow n’steady way about him
from where he came — I never knew
he always seemed quite magical to me
like some enchantment had come true
he was such a mystery to this young boy
tattered mad-hatted wizard from the past
I’d hear his call echo between the houses
I’d rush wonder-filled to watch him pass
his wheels rumbled quietly on the pavement
his piled bounty clicked n’clacked n’clattered
he came out of a dream then into a memory
somehow I felt his regal purpose mattered
time-to-time he still passes in that memory
rumbling down that misty street of long ago
where he came from and to where he went
truly a magical mystery I care never t’know
*
rob kistner © 11/28/24
Poetry at: dVerse