Zoot’n


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “To the 9’s” by: rob kistner © 3/18/24

 
S harp dressed dude
in a felt chapeau
deepest red
as fine Bordeaux

french-cuff ivory shirt
soft as cream dessert

red linen coat
double-breasted
uptown savvy
teal velvet-vested

tan gabardine slacks
3-pleated right
sunshine satin tie
knotted tight

lookin’ like jazz-age Paris
on Saturday night

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 

Brigands

This is a poem of recollection — a cherished past, living 25 years in Oregon City.


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Chickaree” by: rob kistner © 3/14/24

 
Outside my window
here in the Cascade foothills
late afternoon celebrates

alive in April’s sun
it’s the scurry of small things
the flight of majestic birds
warmed by Spring rising

imminent-equinox nature
midst the rich vernal spectrum
is in splendid voice

the chuff of tree’d red squirrel
the American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus

referred to by many
as the chickaree
or even pine squirrel

these chattery little bandits
prefer the higher-elevation
coniferous forests of Oregon

they blend their chittered bursts
with the songs
chirps
and trills of birds

chickadee
goldfinch
western bluebird
northern flicker
western tanager

and high airborne
osprey
hawk
and eagle

so many others
that fly
flutter
and flit
through the intoxicating
Pacific NW mountain air

all the while
quick little chickaree

in lightning-fast raiding parties
are stealing
cracking
and feasting on
wild bird seed

they effortlessly spill these
from my
“strategically placed”
squirrel-proof
bird feeders

yeah / right!

nothing is safe
from these scampering
bushy-tailed brigands

highly aggressive
fiercely territorial

their little 6” bodies
11” including tails
are amazingly physically capable

swinging
twisting
leaping
hanging
balancing

fearless acrobats
unbelievable contortionists

they can climb straight up
an extremely slippery
pencil-thin
6’ tall black metal pole

and then hang
by only one hand-like paw
while eating

utterly amazing

I watch it
still don’t believe it

cute as they are
they’re exasperating as hell

these seed raids
occasionally occur
under the patient eye
of a wise Red-Tailed Hawk

also with a mind on dinner

depending on disposition
this winged watcher
can make these raids
much less enthusiastic

wild nature checks
while always seeking balance


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Red Tailed Hawk”
by: rob kistner © 3/14/24

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 

~ we must protect the wild spaces for these, and all magnificent creatures ~

M’Love

For me, this is a poem of nostalgia.


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “M’Love” by: rob kistner © 3/14/24

 
Just beyond the garden wall
across the meadow
last night’s dew clings fondly
to our willow’s cascade
enwrapping it
in crystalline embrace

comes a zephyr’s stir
it shimmers

as if bejeweled with diamonds
sparkling in the morning sunlight

a splendor befitting
the lush beauty

this bright Spring day
has begun clear and crisp

bird songs lilt gently
carried on the soft breeze

our willow rustles
a tender murmur

I see you afar
approaching on the woodland path
backlit by April’s sunrise

your hair flashes golden
a’burst in dawn’s glow

I am a smitten lover
beholding my beautiful beloved

I watch you
as you stop by the willow
a’swim in wildflowers

your head tilts upward
eyes close
lost in nature’s serenade

in this moment
breathtaken
my love spills over

desire kindles ’round me
until I am ablaze

you fix your eyes upon me
your lips sculpt a smile
then a kiss

good morning they say

I fly to you
take you in my arms
swept up on passion’s wings

this golden morning
I am consumed
by the sweet fire
of m’love


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Sunrise Kiss”
by: rob kistner © 3/14/24

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 

Blackthorn Rose


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Bewitching” by: rob kistner © 3/12/24

 
Beautiful eyes
dangerous and deep as nile nocturne
scorching as nubian sundance

this blackthorn rose
is the secreted passion
craving’s dominance

bewitched of eros

the sultry goddess
inscribed in the book of ardor

fired in molten desire
a woman forged of earthen bronze

an ebony sorceress
vernal seductress
emerged from a golden dawn

ablaze in the sensual dreams
of writhing midnight

smoldering ember
in the golden echo
of a soul-torched love call
sustained to surrender’s sweet moan

she is smoke and flame
lust’s mysterious traveler

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse
 

Voices in the Willow

This is a long and winding path – hope you enjoy the walk, if you take it.


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Weeping Willow” by: rob kistner © 3/7/24

 
The old man sat quietly
day after day
hands resting on his knees
day after day
hardly moving

save to rouse
raise his hands
brush his brow
then adjust his cap

day after day
quietly
on the same park bench
at the pond
near the same tree
same willow

you could watch him come
mid-morning

see him leave
at dinner time

day after day
sitting there
hands on his knees
quietly
same bench
same tree

one evening
as he sat there
I left my office
walked across the street
into the park

I approached him
smiled
and sat down beside him
quietly

he said nothing
so we sat together
for a while
quietly
on the bench
by the tree

finally
I spoke up

why do you sit here
old man
sit here
everyday
day after day
here on this bench
watching the pond
so quietly

he tilts his head
I’ve come here for years
he says softly

but how can that be
I say
these office buildings
this park
they’re all new
how could you have come
to this park
for years

not to this park
he says
not to this park
to this tree

me
and all my friends
came to willow pond
to this tree
this old willow
for years
day after day

why
I ask
why to this tree

quiet smile
we played cards
in its shade

he explains

we talked
laughed
we listened
at the pond
in its wonderful shade
day after day
this wonderful willow

where are your friends
I ask
why are they not here
with you
on the bench

because
…he hesitates

they are gone
he says finally
quietly

gone
gone where

gone
is all he says
quietly
unmoving
hands on his knees
all gone

oh
I say
I see

do you
he replies

so why do you sit here
day after day

asking more

I’m listening

listening
I say
listening for what

he sits quietly for a while
then
without changing his gaze
without raising his hands
from his knees
he says haltingly
for our laughter
our beautiful laughter

I still hear it
hear them
here
on the breeze
in this willow


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Come To Visit”
by: rob kistner © 3/7/24

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 

Listening

This is a long and winding path – hope you enjoy the walk, if you take it.


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Weeping Willow” by: rob kistner © 3/7/24

 
The old man sat quietly
day after day
hands resting on his knees
day after day
hardly moving …musing

save to rouse
raise his hands
brush his brow
then adjust his cap …catnap

day after day
quietly
on the same park bench
at the pond
near the same tree
same willow …below

you could watch him come
mid-morning …mourning

see him leave
at dinner time …resigned

day after day
sitting there
hands on his knees
quietly
same bench
same tree …he

one evening
as he sat there
I left my office
walked across the street
into the park …dark

I approached him
smiled
and sat down beside him
quietly …expectantly

he said nothing
so we sat together
for a while
quietly
on the bench
by the tree …comradery

finally
I spoke up …interrupt

why do you sit here
old man
sit here
everyday
day after day
here on this bench
watching the pond
so quietly
…sullenly

he tilts his head
I’ve come here for years
he says softly …calmly

but how can that be
I say
these office buildings
this park
they’re all reasonably new
how could you have come
to this park
for years
…unclear

not to this park
he says
not to this park
to this tree
…explicitly

me
and all my friends
came to willow pond
to this tree
this old willow
for years
day after day
…pray

why
I ask
why to this tree …quizzically

quiet smile
we played cards
in its shade

he explains …pertains

we talked
laughed
we listened
at the pond
in its wonderful shade
day after day
this wonderful willow
…mellow

where are your friends
I ask
why are they not here
with you
on the bench
…ma’mensch

because
…he hesitates
they are gone
he says finally
quietly …sadly

gone
gone where
…share

gone
is all he says
quietly
unmoving
hands on his knees
all gone …withdrawn

oh
I say
I see …sympathy

do you
he replies …scrutinize

so why do you sit here
day after day

I’m asking …basking

I’m listening …wishing

listening
I say
listening for what …jump-cut

he sits quietly for a while
then
without changing his gaze
without raising his hands
from his knees
he says haltingly
for our laughter
our beautiful laughter
…everafter

I still hear it
hear them
here
on the breeze
in this willow
…hello-hello


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Come To Visit”
by: rob kistner © 3/7/24

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 

Realm of Somnus


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Exhausted” by: rob kistner © 3/4/24

 
E xhaustion hangs heavy
anchored ‘round my neck
I cannot stand nor straighten
pinned ‘neath enervation’s wreck
cannot lift this weight
by which my soul’s bound
no energy remains
to carry this burden ‘round
into the slumber realm of Somnus
I sink fathoms fathoms down


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Realm of Somnus”
by: rob kistner © 3/4/24

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse
 



Illumination


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Illumination” by: rob kistner © 2/29/24

 
Let’s reignite the flame of love
cast light upon this chilling fear
our human spirit seeks to rise above
the voice of logic we long to hear

cast light upon this chilling fear
illuminate this spreading dark
the voice of logic we long to hear
an inferno grows from but one spark

illuminate this spreading dark
the warmth of truth we need to feel
an inferno grows from but one spark
our hungry heart seeks something real

the warmth of truth we need to feel
our human spirit seeks to rise above
our hungry heart seeks something real
let’s reignite the flame of love


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Warmth of Truth”
by: rob kistner © 2/29/24

____________________

“This spreading winter of ignorance is more than the sane can bear”
____________________

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 

Now hear Todd Rundgren, the man who wrote this gorgeous anthem…

Lifeless

~ checking in is checking out ~


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Broken Hope Hotel” by: rob kistner © 2/22/24

 
S hrouding rains — sanity drains
sorrow celebrates the smothered light
weary winter withers hope’s refrains
no sun to shine, only sour bleak night

greyest grief stirs in the grimacing cold
ghostly mist melts color — this morbid night
on such a night lost souls are sold
broken hearts barren as the blight


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Hawk Moon Bog”
by: rob kistner © 2/22/24

hawk moon hovers harsh in a chromium fog
pocking the path from a pitch black sky
foreign and forbidding as a festering bog
this is the dark hour for dreams to die

in this drowning clench of deep despair
horror slithers and dire dejection dwells
horrid misery haunts this harrowing lair
happiness hangs lifeless at broken hope hotel


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Lobby of The Lost”
by: rob kistner © 2/22/24

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 


Soul Wrent

Inspired by the sublimely tortured beautiful sociopath Kurt Cobain — happy b’day.


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “So This Is Love” by: rob kistner © 2/20/24
 

Sing to me my sweet sweet lover
songs as soft as silk and satin
sensual as a strangled embrace
chill winter sun upon our face

promise me the world is ours
that this perfect moment’s endless
lift me up on rapture’s cloud
as my failing heart bleeds out loud

make melody set sail our souls
fill our hearts with passion’s fire
smother me in scorched sweet kisses
oh what a bloody bliss this is

come to me and take me timeless
sweep me off to ecstasy
enfold me in your ecstatic dreams
drink my life milk — squelch my screams


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Vanishing Act”
by: rob kistner © 2/20/24

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 

~Cobain was obsessed with death and suicide~

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