Month: May 2023

Just Books?


“Endless Stories” by: Erik Johansson

 

These, just books — no way!

they are submarines
or rocketships to space
taking you to amazing places
beyond your wildest imagination

where you can watch
the golden clouds of Telüré
wafting up its emerald climbs
high over its warm cerulean seas

where you can hear
the shrill haunting calls
of fast coral-winged Lêllûrts
racing into Droon’s violet skies

or see the copper hues
of rustling Parmus fronds
fire the indigo ground mists
beneath Gemin’s crystal trees


“Make Purpose” by: Erik Johansson

or maybe a genie’s lamp
carrying you off to Xanadu
to Kubla Khan’s pleasure-dome
where the sacred river Alph runs

or perhaps an enchantment
that introduces you to Bastian
and you two adventure to Fantasia
to save the kingdom from The Nothing

maybe it is a beautiful women
who lived in a kingdom by the sea
who was taken so young by the seraphs
she had never known love’s sweet needing

they are dinosaurs on the loose
perhaps they are toys come alive
an archaeologist in a haunted tomb
maybe they’re superheros who can fly

no, these are not books
maybe timetravel vehicles
or portals to parallel worlds
magic keys to unlock wonders
or imagination’s magical carpets
just anything you dream them to be
but they’re definitely not — just books


“The Forest Library” by: Erik Johansson

*
rob kistner © 2023
Poetry at: dVerse
 
2 more poems I wrote inspired by Erik Johansson. To visit & read. (Please Click)

Moon & Zephyr

Sky of Ardor

 
Watch the creation of Erik’s image:

Now, for some music:




Sky of Ardor


“Demand & Supply” by: Erik Johansson

 

T here’s an island city
rises from the sea
may not be for you
it’s heaven for me

every desire is satisfied
every night’s a fantasy
but you work your ass off
ain’t nothin’ free

there’s a suspended gondola
locked to most
but for the special
there are keys

those invited
have been given one
those who have none
are not invited

take your pitiful
elsewhere
please

to the inner sanctum
the gondola rises

come barefaced and honest
this place is brutal real
knife edge zeal
no agendas
no false guises

a place of labor
a place of ardor
a place of hard truth
a place of tough love
of amazing miracles
from wondrous minds

this place’l grip ya’
like steel binds

it’s the ever-pulsing artery
feeding the beating heart
of the truly free

come with me
and you will see
a most surreal
reality

but know
these are not lies

if you enter that door
to make that rise
you will be changed…

…forevermore

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: dVerse

 




Moon & Zephyr

“Shoot for the Moon, even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” — Les Brown


“Full Moon Service” by: Erik Johansson

 

PROLOGUE

This is the perfect moon tonight
I made certain it’d be just right
silkenly cool and subtly bright
a sublime orb of heavenly light

MAIN POEM

Moon spills in
the open window
paints the room
a soft silver glow

as a moonlit breeze
comes tumbling in
stirring a hush
of sweet refresh

it dances deftly
up your arms
across your chest
to tease your flesh

in whispered rushes
lightly lilting
fluttered breaths
caress your face

to wrap itself
soft upon you
in soothingly
fond embrace

as the moonlight
holds you tender
zephyred fingers
toss your hair

moon’s unexpected
cool companion
this night breeze
performed with flair

EPILOGUE

With this perfect moon tonight
the zephyr was a surprise delight
all my plans worked out just right
and my crew has moons for future nights

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: dVerse

 

Now, for some music:





Pack Man

 
I possess a wild heart. I’m a free spirit, living my best life to remain free — in sacred balance with my world — this earth we human creatures, share with all creatures.

It was long ago, summer 1955, on this day, without a date that I recall, I was first introduced to my wild nature, in the Canadian wilderness, by a kindred wild soul, who’d adopted me into his pack.

That day he began helping me understand, and seeking my balance with nature, standing in small-town Espanola, filling our fishing boat with gas and provisions, at a small general store, on a back street, dusky with growing Canadian sunset. Under the breathtaking Aurora Borealis, as we drove into Ontario wilderness, he talked in depth, of life ahead, on a primitive fishing island. Amazed, I actually howled. I grew to manhood runnin’ with our pack.

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: dVerse
 



W e must genuinely strive to never lose our sense of wonder, the wonder we had as a child. To a child the world is wonder. Do you remember the excitement, curiosity, pleasure, the fear, uncertainty, sometimes pain, but the overall amazement that surrounded you as a child on your journey growing up? The sheer joy of being a child. We must always encourage and help them in their growth, and never discourage or block their exploration. The children truthfully are our future. Just because we are old, and perhaps have become jaded, never let that interfere with our ability to see through the beautiful, clear orb of joy that surrounds a child; treasure it, nourish it, and celebrate it!
 

~ meet our new doggy: Myles ~

SunsetGunn

NOTE — I borrowed lines and inspiration from my 2011 poem: Skye Fyre
 

IMG_8599

 
The SunsetGunn is loaded, the controls, in GunnMaster’s grip
calmly concentrating, he scans the horizon with careful eyes
the golden sun having made his journey, is weary from the trip
quicksilver moon will very soon, traverse the starry skies

Gaia rolls on gently, hushed in quiet space
GunnMaster has her skyline, locked squarely in his sight
Gaia pulls a veil of stars, slowly across her face
GunnMaster has a task, he needs complete before its night

he’s to set the sky ablaze, before he falls to sleep
a fiery coral-orange, twilight-blue, and crimson-red
in patterns broad and bold, in colors rich and deep
he carefully aims the SunsetGunn, and blasts it overhead

in a brilliant, blinding flash, he sets the dimming skies a’fire
in vivid hues, and lavish shades — the dusky sky ignites and burns
GunnMaster has succeeded, so for this night, he can retire
the SunriseGunn already loaded, in early morning, he returns

IMG_8599

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: dVerse

 



A few more from Animal Logic — GOOD SHIT!



Love On The Wing

 

Standing at land’s end
atop a soaring precipice
jutting into the Pacific
I’m observing an Osprey
aka sea hawk

a magnificent single species
with four subspecies
these creatures
have ridden earth’s thermals
over eleven million years
fishing every type water
of every continent on the globe

the one I’m watching
is suspended in flight
high overhead
130 feet above the ocean
aloft on the westerly breeze
billowing up
then wafting down the cliff

just then
a tight wing tuck
a silent dive

effortlessly
it snatches a surprised trout
from its water’s home

using its deft skill
with talons
turns the fish
headlong into the wind
inherently aware of aerodynamics

he’s taking it back
to its stick-built
life long nest
high in the top
of a conifer at water’s edge

I’m mesmerized

this is a younger Osprey
though it will make this dive
over and over
in its 25 years of life
always taking the catch back
to it’s monogamous mate

this is a love story

he and his mate
will remain together
during their lives
and may travel 150,000 miles
including extensive migrations
always returning to home nest

he first attracted his mate
performing an aerial display
known as the “sky-dance”

he hovered
wobbled in flight
and screamed for attention
all in the name of love

snapping out of this recall
I am suddenly taken
by the breathtaking beauty
stretching before me

undulating azure blue
that’s falling away
over earth’s edge
into forever

unfurling below
a white ribbon of sand

fragile

pristine

a breath between eternal sea
and towering rock facades
flanking left and right
in sweeping panorama

the Oregon Coast
in all it’s majesty

this is my summer perch
up with the Osprey
since first I discovered it
thirty three years ago

my thoughts are adrift
enveloping me once again

just then
the breeze freshens
disrupts my reverie
tosses my hair
buffers my chest

I shudder
bracing against vertigo
swept up in a feeling
as an Osprey
rockets down the cliff face

oh to be un-tethered
weightless
no longer earthbound
like that magnificent raptor

my eyes close
my soul lifts
takes wing
soars skyward

I feel the wind on my face

I’m flying!

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: dVerse

 


Come fly with Michael Hedges!


NOTE: Ospreys are amazing raptors. They require nest sites in open surroundings for easy approach, with a wide, sturdy base and safety from ground predators (such as raccoons). Nests are usually built in treetops, or crotches between large branches and trunks; also on cliff edges, or human-built platforms, such as forest fire spotting towers, and large power poles of towers, generally in the wilderness, or isolated areas very near wilderness. Osprey pairs return to the same nest each year and add new nest materials to the old nest each year. The only exception is when their nest is obliterated behond reclamation, either natually, such as by forest fire, or by man. The male osprey collects the sticks, branches, and debri, while the female assembles thd nest.

I’m Here

 

T onight
memories unfold

fragile
as an old map
creased deeply
with regret

too late
I’ve returned

mom
you’ve joined dad

ghosts
in this old manor

father’s strength
your love
will be
forever-present
within these walls

the saddest tears
cloud my eyes

”I’m here”
I whisper

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: dVerse