Daredevil’s Dread

 

Daredevil’s Dread

~

to be shot from a cannon
into the cool night air
is really no big deal

to face a barrage
of flying knives
isn’t really that unreal

to leap through the fire
of a flaming hoop
the warmth is kind’a nice

jumping giant chasms
on two-wheeled fury
sure – let’s do it twice

to be blown up
in a speeding car
sort’a turns me on

falling 20-story
from a skyscraper
I’m up over and gone

riding upside down
on an airplane wing
it’s the only way to fly

the high trapeze
without a net
I wouldn’t bat an eye

buried alive
in a padlocked tomb
count 10 and I’ll cheat death

chained in steel
tossed in the sea
no need to hold my breath



the sphere of fear
the dome of doom
the bungee-cord freefall

to walk blazing coals
swallow deadly swords
no sweat — I’ve done them all

almost nothing scares
this bold daredevil
I am very proud to say

save the single thing
of which I’m terrified

to give my heart away



~ ~ ~

rob kistner © 2010
(revised © 2018)

____________________________________

  • top 2 photos: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
  • bottom photo: source unknown
  • Touch of Love

  • My wife and I have enjoyed 31 years together. This is a poem I wrote to commemorate the moment we committed.

    IMG_8667

     

    Touch of Love

    ~

    three decades ago
    in the shadow of the tall ships
    nestled inter-coastal
    on the outer banks of Beaufort
    our passion burst to flame

    we bound that flashpoint moment
    in a promise of forever
    and a band of abalone
    I found there in that sunset
    on the Carolina sands

    as ever-precious
    as the diamond ring
    that now encircles in its stead
    that pearled bit of shell
    immortalized our pledge

    even to this day
    it rests next to your heart
    where it falls true and warm
    on links of purest gold
    my constant touch of love

    ~ ~ ~

    rob kistner © 2018



    Click below to read more poetry at dVerse:

    Open Link Night #233

  • Secret Ingredient

    IMG_9175
     

    Secret Ingredient

    ~

    – feeling the warmth of early spring sun
    – wandering through old growth forests
    – seeing the sunset into the pacific
    – breathing in the fragrance of summer
    – seeing joy in another’s eyes
    – hearing my grandson’s laughter
    – being breath-taken by art
    – being dazzled by autumn’s palette
    – tasting the richness of chocolate
    – being immersed in the rhythms of music
    – feeling the softness of my lover’s lips
    – seeing the morning dew sparkle
    – hearing the sweet lilt of a thrush
    – knowing the quiet of snowfall
    – raising my voice in song
    – drifting on a clear mountain lake
    – getting lost in poetry
    – feeling my lover’s gentle touch

    these are some ingredients
    of my wonderful life

    …my secret ingredient:

  • being thankful!

    ~ ~ ~
    rob kistner © 2018

    __________________________

  • See more secret ingredients at dVerse:

    Poetics: Secret Ingredient 

  • Infamous Last Words

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    Infamous Last Words

    ~

    so your guy wasn’t nominated
    but you got a solid candidate
    she knows her stuff
    brimming with experience
    and she’s a savy politician

    besides
    it’s a new era
    the era of the woman

    cheer up
    their candidate’s a fool
    no way he’ll get elected

    ~ ~ ~

    rob kistner © 2018

    ______________

  • and the nightmare continues…
    ______________
  • Go here to dVerse to get cheered up:

    Quadrille #70: Poems of Good Cheer

    Book Of Days (redux)

    book-of-days400

     

    Book Of Days

    ____

    found here in the pages
    of the book of days
    the neverending story
    of fathers and of sons

    in the book of days
    clearly it is written
    the father must move behind
    as the child moves beyond

    this is as it has been
    since all of time began
    the child growing stronger
    becomes father to the man

    and per the book of days
    this is the way of nature
    as the son becomes the father
    the father bows away

    yes, in our book of days
    as it has been written
    my time is growing short
    I’ve less and less tomorrow

    our space between grows greater
    our time together lessens
    as you pursue the future
    I slip further into the past

    yet in this father’s dream
    our time would linger further
    to soothe the mounting pain
    of bittersweet farewell

    I pray our book rewritten
    to bend both time and space
    and decree our time together
    stretch beyond that far horizon

    ____

    rob kistner © 2018

    (original version written 2011)

    That Velvet

    Lost in Azure

    Winter’s Window

    winter-night

     
    Winter’s Window

    ~

    in moonlit forest
    midnight’s snowfall shimmers
    through the boughs
    of old growth

    deep and still
    as if spread by star clusters

    it blankets
    our high-mountain meadow
    in crystal down

    this night
    fell quiet and crisp

    a great white owl
    echoes
    through frosted cedar

    we linger
    and listen
    entwined ‘neath winter’s window
    awaiting the solstice

    hush
    it approaches

    ~ ~ ~

    rob kistner © 2018

    ________________________

  • Written for “Imaginary garden with real toads”
    More toads in winter

  • What If (redux)

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    What If…

    ~

    …I’d held you close
    close enough
    to feel your heart
    beat one with mine.

    wrapped you tight
    in a healing warmth

    kissed away your loss

    whispered my soul
    into your empty spirit

    took your fear
    in loving hands
    hurled it far far
    into yesterday

    stirred the dieing embers
    of trust
    to reignite a flame of faith

    embraced your spark of life

    help you nurture it
    in safe shelter
    ’til vital yet again
    feeling strength surge
    a core power awaken

    so you would not
    extinguish it
    ever again

    what if

    ~ ~ ~

    rob kistner © 2007
    (revision © 2018)

    To remain

    2ABD13AE-EE3C-469F-8E46-4DFDB6AE4D4A
    Oil by: Albert Francis King 1854–1945

     

    To Remain

    ~

    moonlight
    keeps dark at bay
    pressing in
    as night wind stirs

    like mocking breath
    of life now lost
    to light-less realm
    beyond the chill
    encircling me

    I ache
    to feel
    your tender touch
    the warmth

    but naught

    my heart
    cold
    and empty
    to remain

    no emotion
    save grief

    apples spilled
    on broken stair
    where rail eluded
    grasping hand

    no voice came
    to futile cry

    those lips
    will not know again
    sweet fruit

    nor love

    ~ ~ ~

    rob kistner © 2018

    ___________________

  • More touching at dVerse