Deep Indigo


Original DDE™ surreal art: “Soulfruit” by: rob kistner © 1/20/25

 
Quietly sipping his steeped motivation, peeling away the fog of another fitful night, somberly grateful for the peace of morning, thoughts begin to un-blend. They gather into a palette of emotions, the colors of mood — moods he recognizes too well. The dark ebony of anger, the shades of pain’s purple. Here is the violet of regret, and the sorrowful blues. But here too, peaceful greens, golden joy, laughter’s bright amber, love’s deep ruby red, and the scarlet of passion!

As he muses, reflections on his mortality creep in, unwelcomed. His failing eyesight shoulders in coldly. He curses his fate, struggling beneath the weight of uncertainty — of heavy emotions.

Reaching to his iPad, midst dawn’s saffrons and corals, he begins typing deep indigo. “I fear the death of light, loss of colors, if it went grey. Where can we find light in this never-ending shade?”

*
rob kistner © 1/17/25

Poetry at: dVerse

Sunset Sails


Original DDE™ surreal art: “Sunset Sails” by: rob kistner © 1/17/25
 

Like drizzled honey
the sun through the treetops
paints the tall conifers
that embrace our meadow
in golden warmth

in that moment
my thoughts drift to you
and the tall ships in Beaufort Harbor

their massive sails aglow
painted in sunset shadows
their masts and riggings
set in fired relief

you had commented how the patterns
reminded you
of abstract charcoal sketches
the artist in you
always interpreting your world

this day
sunshine makes radiant your gentle face
your green eyes sparkle

I reflect back once more
to seeing you squinting in those rays
of that past North Carolina evening

your smile
had shone brighter than the sun

I remember staring
captivated
watching your eyes dance
among the docks and ships
in that beautiful little harbor
that unfolded like a still life before us

mesmerized
I had watched your lips
sculpting your words
in gentle excitement

you’d said yes
accepting the engagement ring
I offered you
there by the tall ships

I had wished that moment
would last forever
knowing that it would not
could not

it was a singular precious moment
anchored forever in time

here now
on this anniversary evening
my thoughts amble sweetly
back through time

I find a joyful peace
lying here with you
in the cuddled light
of this sunset-drenched meadow

my heart adrift
long ago
in the deep harbors
of my memories

*
rob kistner © 1/17/25

Poetry at: dVerse


Gone


Original DDE™ surreal art: “Gone” by: rob kistner © 1/14/25
 

After your leaving footsteps long were silent
after the open front door caught no goodbye
after your front porch shadow faded away

after all our hope just imploded
after all our joy became a memory
after penetrating sadness collected day upon day

after the promises echoed hollow
after the dreams blurred to empty grey
after our days of passion had become the past

after the taste of regret grew ever bitter
after the loneliness mercilessly mounted
after sands in the glass spilled away to the last

what was once love’s rich blaze
had burned through the fodder
sadly all that remains is ash and char

our vision was most beautiful
our intention honest and real
its brightness so intense it burned out like a star

I did not know your leaving would set my soul ajar
I did not know your gone would be so final and far
I did not know love could become a haunting quiet
I did not know how deeply this silence would scar
 


Unknown artist — maybe Edward Hopper


Original DDE™ surreal art: “Gone”
(in Hopper style)
by: rob kistner © 1/14/25

 

*
rob kistner © 1/14/25

Poetry at: dVerse

Lover to Lover

Song Lyrics
…and a Peter Gabriel mini-concert.


Original DDE™ surreal art: “We” by: rob kistner © 12/3/24
 

Uplifting dreams for each other
our hearts joined — lover to lover
steadfast — we will prevail

in shadows — keep light shining
keep our love’s strength entwining
our dreams won’t derail

hands joined — journeying on
beyond darkness — we’ll greet the dawn
forever we — you and me

*
rob kistner © 12/3/24

Poetry at: dVerse

 

Ironclad


Original DDE™ surreal art: “Being Right Is Lonely” by: rob kistner © 1/10/25

 
Once my truth was my only guide
a rigid compass of steadfast pride
my wisdom I wielded like a spear
to vanquish doubt — settle my fear
in every debate I sought to prove
that my rightness surely would move
your beating heart to my love train
fallacies squelched — truth maintained
to prove correct was my ironclad creed
the flawless path for our love to succeed

now I see my flaw in final glance
the hollow triumph of circumstance
my being right did break our bond
a bridge destroyed – a faith undone
the truth is cold — barren of care
its sharp precision a lethal rapier
to listen — to feel — truly connect
outweighs the pride of being correct
my insistent being right proved my fallacy
your tender heart broken — ironclad shut to me

 

Original DDE™ surreal art: “Lover’s Accusation”
by: rob kistner © 1/10/25

*
rob kistner © 1/10/25

Poetry at: dVerse


 

Ever Evolving


Silky Owlet / Photographed in Papua New Guinea / Michael Sammut

 
Even in chaos nature finds balance
violent floods beget fertile fields
one thing ends — another begins
when life insists death yields

life is a cycle of birth and death
untamed wildfire creates forest ash
the ashen remains nurture growth again

forged in the fires of living
born is the miracle of expanding life
one thing ends — another begins
nothing beautiful comes without struggle

hammered from the pain of learning
emerges the power of wisdom
it is there in the teaching hand

evolution is not a revolution
it is the byproduct of time
one thing ends — another begins
nature ever seeks the best design

in between the was and will be
is the chaos realm of rearrange
the molten crucible of change

one thing ends — another begins
in the caterpillar lives the butterfly
one thing ends — another begins
now and forever the Mandala spins

 


Original DDE™ surreal art: “Great Mandala — Still / Moving”
by: rob kistner © 1/8/25

*
rob kistner © 1/9/25

Poetry at: dVerse

Poetry at: dVerse

 

Reclamation


Original DDE™ surreal art: “The Fog” by: rob kistner © 1/7/25

 
The fog rolled ‘cross the lowlands, a smothering damp and languid chill, dense with dread. Twilight having receded, moonlight labored hard, shouldering its way through the thickening shroud.

The gnarled shape of leaf-dead trees, with their spindly spiked branches, thrust skyward, knobbed and twisted. Their trunks bending and swaying menacingly.

Muffled deep within the gloom of the grove, a wind throbbed, like a drone of seeming voices, in dark entangled disembodied chant. This night memories rose. Memories of glory, memories of wealth, memories of conquests, lustful memories of sensuous willing lovers. These are memories of powerful magic.

left here with the trees
stolen from your ancestors
this night — take them back

*
rob kistner © 1/7/25

Poetry at: dVerse