Tears of the Ancients
•
the bones
of nature’s rivers
borne away
on strands
stained
with the ghosts
of salmon
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
_____________________
photo above entitled: “Drawing Lines in the Sky” — by: Martin Kingsley
• • •
…inspired by the hydro-electric dams choking the mighty Pacific Northwest rivers
and by read write image #3, found at “readwritepoem”.
Dawn
•
I gaze
through gossamer curtain’s fall
at a mirrored reflection
in a waking dream
hallucination
of a polarized reality
dual worlds
close enough to touch
through which truth
stumbles blind
beyond reach
walking as a wraith
moving in these worlds
captive to the bonewhite lie
implicit in the toxic grin
of inflexible conformity
lethal tradition
revered in mindless trance
change
shackled to the stone of fear
a grip rough as rope
change
bound
at the shadowed edge
of dark and light
ignorance and knowledge
change
beckon the dawn
summon the morn
there is far to go
and much to learn
rising from this night
someone needs release the light
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
Drawn
•
seduced by the fog
I seek the mystery
it enshrouds
always just ahead
round the bend
over the hill
behind the heavy gate
my ears prick
to its distant call
just beyond clarity
my heart longs
my soul is drawn
to the unknown
down the path
around the curve
over the crest
into the mist
where
shut away
the clarion awaits
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
Hope
•
with hope
we have direction
the energy to move
a map to follow
a hundred alternatives
a thousand paths
an infinity of dreams
with hope
we are half way there
without hope
we are lost forever
• • •
• here are three ‘light’ pieces in response to the word “echolalia”, focusing on the word as a derivation of the Greek – “to echo or repeat”, suggested as a writing prompt by readwritepoem.
Liar Liar
•
you’ve killed our dream
destroyed our home
you dreadful liar liar
I’d faith in you
thought you were true
not a horrid liar liar
but you’re exposed
you can’t deny
that you’re a liar liar
I’m through with you
I will not stay
with you – you liar liar
get out of here
just leave me be
go now — you liar liar
you’ve broken me
cut out my heart
how could you, liar liar
how could you… liar liar
• • •
Darling Dear
•
I heard you clear
my darling dear
that spiteful little word
have no fear
my darling dear
your nastiness was heard
you seared my ear
my darling dear
some hurtfulness occurred
but your cutting jeer
my darling dear
was mostly just absurd
you’ll cause no tear
my darling dear
with what you have inferred
because listen here
my darling dear
I’m proud to be a nerd
• • •
Haiku
•
echolalia
can drown one’s aching heart in
melancholia
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
• you can hear more echo’s from soul’s canyon at readwritepoem
Outragesauras
•
beware the outragesauras
gluttonous drive-time dinosaurs
dreaded treaded behemoths
that bully across the face of our crippled planet
devouring resources
like a herd of metallic mastodons
a relentless forage of fragile fossil fuel
to suck dry the paleozoic nectar
300 million years in the making
a fraction of that in the plunder
they spew forth poisonous discharge
fouling the atmosphere
pummeling our frail ecosystem
shoving earth closer
ever closer
to the brink of no return
to satisfy toxic arrogance
extinction’s revenge
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
cartoon by: mike baldwin
• discover other dinosaurs at readwritepoem
Midnight July
•
relentless din
of crawling
prowling
night
pours steaming
through my window
midnight intrudes
damp
and searing
insistent
scalded air
too hot and thick
to breathe
a heat to suffocate
coarse whirr
drones overhead
promising relief
in vain
sweltered darkness
lays heavy
upon me
unbearable
I toss
in labored
half-sleep
gasping
for
cool relief
haltingly
I deep inhale
to fill my lunges
only to bake them
in cruel
sustaining breath
this oven to endure
salted droplets
trace my spine
baste my neck
pool
in the hollow
of my fevered chest
bloom and seep
from beneath the smother
of matted soak
atop my head
to weep their way
‘cross smoldered brow
into my eyes
and sting
no respite
in this nocturne furnace
night clings
and stifles
even dreams are scorched
simmering in July
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
The Light
•
even the smallest light
of wisdom
burning in the pitch black
of ignorance
casts its glow far-reaching
• • •
__________________________
•
the pitch black
of ignorance
succumbs
to the simplest
light of wisdom
• • •
__________________________
•
(haiku)
one can penetrate
the pitch black of ignorance
wisdom is the light
• • •
__________________________
•
(haiku)
lightless ignorance
cannot vanquish absolute
seek the light of truth
• • •
__________________________
•
(haiku)
lightless ignorance
does not rise impregnable
wisdom’s light will pierce
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
…here are two forms of reflection on the concept of melody…
Off Key
•
version 1
nature is a song
a melody transcendent
sung in harmony
but this chorus is threatened
humankind grows discordant
•
version 2
but she will not sing along
likely she would sing off key
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
__________________
Love’s Lilt
•
sometimes
in the clatter
of a thoughtless moment
I forget to listen
fail to hear
the tender lilt
of our heartsong
but
when I am quiet
and we are close
our melody of love
is all I hear
please forgive
my selfish noise
rejoin me
in our sweet duet
I miss
your gentle voice
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
Shattered
•
I come upon a man
standing by the road
looking sad
heavy box
in his arms
held close
he stares
expressionless
into my eyes
his gaze stops me
fixes me in place
his face is tired
and drawn
etched in worry
when at last I move
I draw near
close enough to see
this sullen man
is me
he extends his arms
that clutch the heavy box
he beckons me retrieve
this container he protects
filled with apprehension
I reach
and grasp the case
lift it cautiously
lay it at my feet
it slowly opens
to reveal
its strange contents
seven shattered dreams
struck mute
I gaze in wonder
confused
yet captivated
I inquire
of the nature
of the ruin
I behold
these are yours
the stranger says
broken by your hand
once
they each were shared
with one
who trusted you
each bond
you did betray
without a passing thought
abandoned carelessly
now the burden of this box
is mine beyond the grave
the stranger’s eyes
intensely sad
begin to pool
as he continues
it was on a road like this
that it was passed to me
I have carried it too long
I am weary from the load
now you must bend and lift
and clutch it to your breast
to struggle with its weight
until you pass it on
a tear
now softly glistens
on the stranger’s cheek
someday
a man will come
over that horizon
he will stop
and stare
transfixed by your presence
you will charge him with this chest
then he will lift
and carry
as I do
in a cycle of forever
for he too
will be you
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
_____________________
composite above entitled: “Box Of Dreams” – by: rob kistner © 2008
_____________________
• • •
Dark Self
•
hidden from the light of day
another me resides
though keeping to the shadows
a saving grace abides
a darkling essence
scarred and damaged
begotten in another life
another place and time
it is an anger manifest
righteous and so long suppressed
that could not find effective voice
to save my ruined innocence
silent when I had no name
for what I did not comprehend
the woeful time when youthful trust
was betrayed in ways insidious
sadly was this torment done
by the hand of the entrusted one
concealed from blind society
to perpetrate such vile deeds
in this fire of perversity
my molten other self was forged
hammered on my hardened soul
tempered by survival’s hand
to rise and fight the abject fear
cradled within my broken heart
to lift from me my veil of sorrow
and so restore my peace of mind
to stir and wake my sacred rage
and instill my will to live
thus reclaim my rightful pride
to finally stand and say – no more
my shadow self did save my life
in doing so turned me to stone
I did not like what I’d become
I’d sacrificed integrity
I turned away from my dark self
refused its further influence
set about the trying task
of recapturing my dignity
not so easily subdued
this shadow calls when I am weak
so now I live with watchful eye
vigilant – yet thankful
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
_____________________
collage above entitled: “Dark Self” – by: rob kistner © 2008
_____________________
• • •
Morning Gold
•
across the meadow
last night’s dew clings
fondly to the old-growth
wrapped in crystalline embrace
it adorns the stately cedars
as if diamonds
that sparkle in the morning sun
a splendor befitting their beauty
this Sprring day begins bright and crisp
bird songs lilt
carried on a breeze
I see you afar
approaching on the path
backlit by sunrise
your hair golden in dawn’s glow
lover beholding beloved
I sit
warmed in daybreak’s window
with tea and fascination
I watch you
as you stop to rest
in this moment
my love spills over
floods ‘round me
until I am consumed
your lips sculpt a smile
I’m swept away on passion’s tide
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
click below to hear Morning Gold
Remembered
•
leaning comfortably
into the curves
wind whipping
through our long hair
we wind our way
into the mountains
into the evening
alive
with 2-wheeled freedom
on the open road
not counting days
not keeping track
just being – free
we glide
feet up
knees tucked
captivated
by the thrill
of the throttle
we rocket
dive from light to shadow
to resurface once more
in the light
again and again
as the sun reveals itself
from time to time
warming us
from between peaks
as it begins to settle
behind the western slope
of the Rockies
four friends
four adventurers
fresh on the heels
of the summer of love
dedicated
to a critical mission
spread the peace
share the love
save our sanity
and above all else
keep the party rolling
we’ve thrown off
the structured mantle of life
to venture
into the random
the unknown
to embrace
the magnificent perfection
of living in
and for
the moment
•
it’s nearly four decades
since those days of freedom
memories have cooled
grown hazy
I take license in their recall
grateful they remain at all
I’m blessed by their refrain
no matter how faint
my days are not so light now
I’m rooted in responsibility
balancing the blessings
and the burdens
of life
sometimes bent
by the yoke of worry
made heavy
by the weight of loss
yet
occasionally
I still feel
the gentle breeze of freedom
stir
as I stand
feet firmly planted
braced against
the changing winds of time
and fate
tonight
adrift in the eternal now
awash in recollection
I smile within
warmed by remembered times
with beloved friends
those days of wonder
falling deeper in reverie’s embrace
I can almost feel that wind
on my face
tossing once more
my youthful mane
almost hear the laughter
see the glow
on the faces of three friends
now far away
I whisper a promise
to my awakened spirit
someday
before it is too late
I will again
pick my feet up
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
…this is a bit of retro-melodrama written just for fun…
The Legend
•
with confidence he took each stage
flashed his skills with pride and power
his celebrity rocketed skyward
enormous talent, in his finest hour
a humble tempering childhood
helped him hone his mythic dream
a bright young man with wicked ‘chops’
he could make his guitars scream
his glory spread round the globe
renown and fortune grew unbound
like a rampant roaring wildfire
nothing it seemed would take him down
but terror struck while touring England
unleashing panic, fear & strife
bombs tore through the concert hall
to save his fans — he risk his life
the first blast ripped the back wall
mike in hand, he stood firm and fast
directing the people to safety
they all escaped — now he was last
it was horror in high definition
TV broadcast the heartbreaking sight
a question hung heavy over the chaos
did their hero meet death tonight
the sad truth was the top news story
the brave mega-star had died
all the world was seen to mourn
at candle vigils the people cried
so permit me to share this legend
of this remarkably brave young man
who, possessed of wealth and fame
truly never forgot the fan
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
The Vow
•
I pledged I’d never leave your side
and whole my vow remains
as the passion of our love spilled forth
we drank deeply in our youth
the fire of our joined bliss
flowed molten from our core
as we made our fervent bond
its blaze grew ever brighter
it kindled dreams that carried us
to family and good fortune
its heat has warmed us in the times
when winds of fate turned cold
through the autumn of our life
its glow held back the chill
and as winter felled its quiet deep
we were drawn close in comfort
nurtured by the ever present
steady flame of love
now it is our time of rest
when worldly worries lift
we are one next to the other
in the embrace of mother earth
I pledged I’d never leave your side
and whole my vow remains
• • •
rob kistner © 2007