Month: February 2023

Poetry at: dVerse

photo by: Oleg Oprisco

Lake mistress sees
the guilty knot
of sinew’d evil
that brutally slays

by she, called forth…
vengeance — fang and claw
to ravage at nights
and hunt by days

young witch of wile
with will of steel
perched encloaked
in innocence sorrows

repays the sins
of the vilest few
who in blackest deed
stained pure tomorrows

photo by: Christian Houge

piercing molten
through wolf’n eyes
in steady gaze
stalks with the beast

vain trembling
is the villain’s fear
when set upon
by this blood moon priest

there is a truth
in that circled moon
that empowers this
righteous ambuscade

it wades in shadows
reaping the wickedest
‘til midnight’s debt
is fully paid

image from: Verbena

when seeking justice
all restraints are shed
wolf and lady prowl
in fur and leather

procuring retribution
across the realm
they avenge the holy
with edge and tether

they both are gifted
with unmatched strength
and superb cunning
and there’s another

the special gift
to become just one
to meld at will
one with the other

in brute unified rage
and redoubled fury
they rip the cowards
in moonlight’s wild

‘til never an innocent
be again found to fear
nor precious purity
be again defiled

and all that died
less blame or fault
will on this night
be requited raw

and guilted hearts
will hide away
to deny at dawn
the truth they saw

*
rob kistner © 2023

More Poetry at: The Sunday Muse

Tao Te Ching
Seven Eyes Seven Legs

One can see mystery
the center a tiny mystic
it is like a veil barely seen

a world so full of beauty
hidden deep but ever present

there were no shadows

it is the space within
the world before this one

the more it moves the more it yields

wizards had great power in the land
creating yet not possessing

they dream their summer dreams
washing and cleansing the primal vision
as prayers to appease the ghost lands
holding fast to the center
that we live in
knowing harmony is constancy

great care must be taken
precious things lead one astray
then all the ghosts set the rules

if nothing is done then all will be well
then all the people are happy

the truth often sounds paradoxical
things are not always as they seem
do not be concerned with a loss or gain

certain life is silent waiting
but who can remain still until the moment of action

I sit and beat the drum
and move with the present
as wild birds cry against the broken sky
as the sage stays behind

very strong is his medicine

am I a fool — but yes I am confused
some events can be both wonderful and terrifying
but knowing constancy the mind is open
to lives long enough to come in two parts

the highest good is when
joyfully dancing out of the earth
wisdom and intelligence are born

before the sun goes down and darkness comes
set things in order before all is confusion

I know that this is true

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: dVerse

 
Nineteen sixty one
was a tough year
at least for me

I had just turned 14
and what gripped my mind
at my February birthday party
was the two year wait I faced
until I could drive

my fantasy car
was a ‘57 Chevy V8 Bel Airu
convertible of course

day dreams
of top-down cruisin’
my girl by my side
and the radio thumpin’

as it turned out
summer of ‘63
was to prove
a great summer of tunes

Martha and her Vandellas
wailin’ out Heat Wave

the Chiffons sweetly singin’
He’s So Fine

and Franki Vali
and the Four Seasons
all walkin’ like a man

the Beach Boys
singin’ about an ocean
I had yet to see
much less
knowin’ how to surf

but loved their harmonies

then there was Smokey
with some monkey
that belonged to Mickey

who knew
who the hell
Mickey was

OH — and those 4 Beatle guys
from Liverpool

strange name
and strange hair
but great tunes

~ tuuunezz ~

ya know
I love tunes

so many great tunes
so many great groups

especially in 1963
I’m 16-years-old

hot tunes
right there
playin’ on the AM radio
in the coooll dashboard
of my dream car

my 1957 RED chevy BelAir
con…ver…tible

oh — by the way
this girl by my side
this — is my beautiful Donna

at 14
she is already sexy — NO

and yes
I’ve kissed her

and occasionally
got to 2nd base

even 3rd base
but only once

last week
after my 14th birthday party

WOW!

and our fantasy now
at least for me
is ignoring a movie
while foggin’up the windows
at our local passion pit

the Mt. Healthy Drive In

of course to drive in
I needed a car

to drive a car
I needed a license

to get a license
I needed to be 16

so you can see
why being only 14
in 1961
was stressful as hell

at least for me

I knew I’d get my license
given I already drove
although — without a license

drove very carefully
with my head on a swivel
scopin’ for cops

of course
the passion pit
required a car
but I had a plan

my uncle Bernie
leased parking lots
down at Crosley field
where the Cincinnati Reds
played professional baseball

he had promised me
at my 14th birthday party
if I could get a permit
to park cars at Crosely
he would hire me to park cars
during the games each summer
starting the coming summer

he said he’d pay me one dollar
for each car I parked

well
I didn’t actually park the cars
just directed the drivers to spaces
makin’ sure they didn’t crash
or hang over their marked spot

I had done a thorough inquiry
about how many spaces in the lot
and how many home games
so I’d done the math

if I played my cards right
and could get that permit
I would have enough
on my 16th birthday
to buy my fantasy car

used car of course
but that was fine
at least for me

I had to wait 6 weeks
nerve racking weeks
to see if I could that permit
in time for April’s Opening Day Game

which in those days
was a BIG DEAL
they were the BIG RED MACHINE

it was the very first game
played each year
in all of pro baseball

it was because
the Cincinnati Reds
were the 1st ever
professional baseball team

finally
the end of March 1961
I got what I feel was
the best gift I ever got

my permit to park cars
at the Reds’ Crosley Field

this would be the key
to my big red machine

my uncle kept his word
and I worked very hard
those next two summers

February 18th of 1963
my 16th birthday
I had enough money
to make my car dream
come true

it was the greatest
or certainly one of
the greatest days ever

at least for me

I had already found the car
so two weeks later
with Donna by my side
we bought my dream car

the very first thing we did
was put the top down
and go for a cruise

a very cold cruise
because it was
February in Ohio

but we loved it

Louie Louie
by the Kingsmen
was rockin’
outta the AM radio

instinctually

I was heading
for the drive-in
when suddenly
I realized

the drive in
was not open
in February
in Ohio

so we just cruised
the rest of that day

of course
only after
I put the top back up

as I was instructed

I cruised day after day
for many days
and many nights
far into the future

my cars changed
as did the names
of the girl
sitting beside me

but not that day

that day
it was
me and Donna
cruisin’
and groovin’

at 30 cents a gallon
cruisin’ was easy then

and that day
I realized
we had to wait
for that first trip
to the passion pit

but believe me
the wait
proved – to – be – worth it

at least for me

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: dVerse

OLN Poetry at: dVerse

Robert E. Bourke of Loewy/Studebaker is credited with the Starliner design.

Beautiful 1953 Starliner, customized & owned by Ian Hendry of Yorba Linda, California.

 
Gliding to earth
a heavenly burst
of stardust

gracefully sleek
igniting our lust

Bourke’s vision
of automotive chic

as enticing
and exciting
as a beautiful women

no american car
ever minimalisticaly finer

a heavenly body
named for its celestial muse
the alluringly stunning
Starliner

*

Original stock 1953 Starliner.

rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: dVerse

 
Kathy
my warrior

cancer’s foolishly
chosen you as a foe

it’ll never
break your spirit

you are a star

you’ll slay this beast
strike it down

you’ll be
its masters

together
we’ll fight
— ferociously

cancer’s been a fool
to choose you as a foe!

Kathy

*
rob kistner © 2023

More star poetry at: dVerse

H ope is the thing with feathers
that perches in the soul
and sings the tune without the words
and never stops – at all –

”Vigil” — by: Laura Makabresku

Emily understood well here
the strength of a soul’s resolve

and yes, my dear sweet Kathy
cancer has made the foolish choice
to choose you as a foe…
because you are insurmountable

it will never break
your face of courage
but smashed will surely be
any face of fear

photo — by: iloveblsck3

and I will be your soldier
through it all
my love for you
will be your strongest armor…
it will never fail

we will set fire to the moon
if it is we must
to bring the victor’s torch
into this darkness

photo — by: Justin Peters

and we will burn fiercely
with the fire of love
and this ugly perverse beast
will be consumed to ash

when this most inconceivable campaign
comes to it’s undeniable conclusion
you will have beaten this beast
and you will be its master

neither you nor I
know how to lose
only how to fight
and fight we will
— ferociously

what a fool cancer has been
to choose you as a foe!

*
~ the opening stanza is quoted from Emily Dickinson ~

rob kistner © 2023

Mo’ Po’tree at: The Sunday Muse

 
Nightfall
now — the darkness descends
the hand of grief extends
terror is knocking at the door

nightfall
words of sorrow stain my lips
slip through my fingertips
and scatter ‘cross the floor

nightfall
the shadows hide my tears
but I am haunted by my fears
I am broken evermore

nightfall
dark waves of misery
are rising like the sea
I am stranded on the shore

nightfall
I am lost — I am alone
confusion grips me to the bone
horror chills me to my core

nightfall
I hear something growl my name
have I finally gone insane
be gone — I fearfully implore

but again the dark thing calls
no — this must be just a dream
what else can it mean
I’ll lay quiet and ignore

yes — I’ve simply been asleep
albeit very very deep
soon my eyes will open
as this nightmare’s spell is broken

soon the sun must rise — for sure
but… a blood-curd-ling encore
the midnight snarl is there once more
now it’s clawing at my door…

I’m so afraid I’ll forget what for…

*
rob kistner © 2013 (original)
rob kistner © 2023 (edited version)

More poetry at: dVerse

More poetry at: eartheeal

More poetry at: Poets & Storytellers