Month: July 2023

The afterimage of your beauty
ever emblazoned in my mind

a mind full of desire and regret
as it’s nearing our leaving time

time I pray will please slow down
as this moment has captured my heart

I feel my heart keep perfect time
paced by scientific wonder

I wonder will this magic last
been wonderful since coming west

the western sun flashes off the sea
sparkling in your seductive eyes

my eyes sun-blind to what lay ahead
the afterimage of love soon dead

Original digital art: “Love’s Sunset”
by: rob kistner © 7/29/23

*
rob kistner © 7/24/23
Poetry at: dVerse

S omewhere
between the creole shadow
of Basin Street 2nd line juju
and the hell-raised echo
of the hollered anguish
of Beal Street’s blues

in a phantom sanctum
on the creaked-wood
beer-stained slat floor
of a temple of brown whisky
and steel-lance escape

at the down and desperate
sorrowing hour of 3:00 am
they were all there together
crowded into my aching brain
to forget

when heaven cracked open a door

as the tears of loss fell
and hurtin’ broke souls moaned
a melancholy dream
smiled upon the players

those with the gift of music
and upon those
come just to huddle
in the smoky haze
and sour-sweet darkness
of human need and frailty

as the band played on
devils danced with angels
till dawn
and the demon-fire paused
for a raw
glorious night
as lady blues
sang of release
n’mornin’ light

Original digital watercolor:
“Practice” by: rob kistner © 7/27/23

*
rob kistner © 7/27/23
Poetry at: dVerse

* NEXT: 2023 Grammy Award Winning “Song Of The Year”
I dedicate this to the memory of my son Aaron Robert Kistner

Evaporating
misting skyward
engorging the clouds

raining
penetrating thirsty earth

or joining a river
a lake

perhaps the ocean

persistent
seeking its natural way

breaking any futile bounds

returning always
to repeat its origin cycle

this is ever the will
and way of water

*
rob kistner © 7/24/23
Poetry at: dVerse

Poetry at: dVerse

F inally
the rain’s come
quenching parched summer
this invigorated evening

like a prodigal lover
I embrace the sweet petrichor
wafting intoxicatingly
into our open window

soothed
by the calming murmur
that rises and falls
in a spritely spatter
of freshening raindrops
breathed
‘cross our bedroom panes

a long-absent whisper
of coddling reassurance
lulls me gently
nudging me gracefully
towards the peace of sleep

oh
would that it be so
would that it be

but I churn unsettled
in the final rays
of a turbulent July sunset

holding unsteady

tossed by thoughts of you
thoughts of the struggle you face
that we face

I throw open the sash
searching the winds
fearful
that I am useless

rain on our window
a storm in my heart

perhaps someday again
a friendly wind
together ‘til then

“Together” by: rob kistner © 7/11/23

*
rob kistner © 7/11/23

Poetry at: dVerse

A stolen kiss in the night
by morning’s light
I was totally addicted
but not conflicted

this craving fire is sweet
I’m consumed by its heat

your kiss my addiction
I seek not to recover
come kiss me again
twelve steps be damned — lover

*
rob kistner © 7/11/23

Poetry at: dVerse