it comes a surprise
life after life flies
away
a blink of the eyes
tomorrow arrives
today
one lifetime derives
so many sweet lives
rob kistner © 2019
Aeropachydermicide: recklessly causing the death of someone or something by actions that result from the foolish belief that one is so smart and powerful that one can make an elephant fly.
we fantasized we had dominion
that we understood the vast unknown
could control the raw chaotic
that we had figured out the why
so we delved into dark science
with no regard for frail nature
flailed our way across the planet
belched our leavings into our sky
we so bought into our egos
that we perceived ourselves as gods
that we were capable of anything
perhaps make the elephant to fly
but we humans lost sight of balance
did not comprehend our place
as only one of precious many
we let the tipping point slip by
now we wonder what will happen
to our misbegotten dream
stare through disbelieving tears
as we watch it slowly die
rob kistner © 10/3/11
revised © 2019
to believe
people are by nature good
that we can live in peace
and make the world a better place
to believe
universal understanding
is a common goal
of the peoples of this planet
to believe
we haven’t lost our faith
in these sacrosanct ideals
of an elevated life
to believe
there still exists somewhere
a shared and nurtured vision
of a paradise on earth
I’d like to believe
but empty runs the hourglass
I’ve heard the daily news
and I’m so weary, and broken-hearted
yes, I’d like to believe
I’d really like to
but now I even wonder
did anyone ever believe
rob kistner © 2019
Click below to check out more poetry at dVerse:
rob kistner © 2019
Click below to check out more poetry at dVerse:
but soon I will see you
in the carrion half-light
of this black caisson
this funeral hearse
unworthy scavenger
as you cluster in a murder
to ravage
to defile the entity
drawn in this caisson
but you cannot
the living presence it bore
is greater than you
your gluttonness lust
might pick the meat clean
pick the bones dry
but this being
has lived well beyond this muscle
beyond this sinew tendon and bone
these were its limits
now it is set free
so help yourself brother crow
sister raven
birds of black
help yourself
this essence has gone beyond
far beyond
to become infinite
pure thought
unbound energy
what you pick apart
is the afterimage
of a mortal
now eternal
so take your fill crow
have your way raven
fat black bird — do your best
engorge the glorious
then be gone
scatter
and far off
this caisson has delivered its miracle
ab hoc unum solum
rob kistner © 2019
Old Red has comforted me for years
longer than many of my friends
dear loved ones I’ve been well to know
for those now gone beyond – a tender tear
my heart is full, my spirit calm, my life is sweet
I surrender to another year in fate’s embrace
wrapped in Old Red, I am grateful for my life
all I’ve been given, so very much for so very long
grateful for the sun that rose golden to warm this day
mountains that rise majestic, covered in old growth
the rivers, the lakes, the clear mountain streams
the beautiful nature of my Pacific Northwest
grateful for my wife and caring friends
for my precious children and grandchild
the miraculous moments of their birth
bittersweetness for the son I lost
would this evening’s reverie never end
but soon the lingering day will bow its head
as twilight fades I’ll watch this night descend
here in Old Red – grateful where my life has led
rob kistner © 2019
Click here for more poems about familiar things at Toads.