Killer

 

Killer

•

…put two bullets in his brain

I shot him twice
at close range

to witness
the power of life
crossing over

and

to feel him die…

cool precision
in a quite rage

sacred act
of raw release

purity of instinct

• • •

rob kistner © 2009

 

•

NOTE: The poem above was written in response to the prompt, “The Other Side” — posted by the Totally Optional Prompt writing prompt blog. We were asked to write a poem from the point of view of a bad person. It could be someone from history, legend, or fiction; it could be someone who’s alive and making headlines. Regardless, someone whose acts you consider criminal or reprehensible.

*The man and his actions, as depicted in this poem, are totally fictional — and purely evil.

Late

Late

•

I’m awake late Christmas Eve
wrestling with what I believe
regarding the truth of Santa Clause
my parent’s proof is full of flaws

• • •

Ignorance falls like dark late night
a pitch so black there is no light
knowledge burning bright as flame
drives darkness back to where it came

• • •

I was born by dark of moon
a stormy night in late late June
it’s rained on every birthday after
my parties are devoid of laughter

• • •

O h this is bad, it’s our first date
and here I am two hours late
I have no quality excuse
maybe battery cables rattled loose
windshield shattered by a flying goose
the road was blocked by a stubborn moose
no… I’m turning back, ‘cause what’s the use

• • •

rob kistner © 2008

 

SeaLife

 

SeaLife

•

To the seaside she strolls
with me
On a sunny seaside day

Into the sea she slips
alone
Then silently swims away

The sea opens up and
swallows
In its watery deep sea way

Soon she’ll be down with the
fishes
Aswim in the seabed’s sway

Serene in the spledor of
sea life
Neptune’s beauty in array

She seeks solace in this
sea world
These blues keep her blues at bay

• • •

rob kistner © 2008

_____________________

drawing above entitled: “marea roja” — by: Lady Orlando

• • •

…poem inspired by read write image #5, found at “readwritepoem”

 

Lost To Me

Lost To Me

•

when you could
no longer
look
into my eyes

I knew
you were lost to me

when you could
no longer
hold
my longing gaze

I knew
you were lost to me

when you could
no longer
softly speak
my name

I knew
you were lost to me

when you could
no longer
smile
at my tender touch

warm
to my embrace

rest your head
upon my shoulder

nor
whisper
of your love

I knew then
for certain

you
were lost to me

never again
will I
soar
above the clouds

circle
‘round the sun

dance
among the stars

fold
with you
in the crescent
of the waning moon

never again
will I
drink deeply
from passion’s fount

nor
taste
a lover’s lips

you
are lost to me
forever

lost to me

• • •

rob kistner © 2008

Winter Tales (Midnight Snowfall / Winter / December Memories)

…here are three winter tales of beauty and love

Midnight Snowfall

____

in moonlit forest

midnight’s snowfall shimmers
through the boughs
of old growth

deep and still

as if spread by star clusters

it blankets
our high-mountain meadow
in crystal down

this night
fell quiet and crisp

a great white owl
echoes
through frosted cedar

lover and beloved

we entwine
‘neath winter’s window

with dreams
and one another

we sleep

in gentle slumber
we traverse
time
and space

adrift
in random wonder

we breathe
the ebb and flow
of nocturne

but I’ve awakened
in a winter
long ago

you
by firelight

warm and soft
in my arms

the night
that first we kissed

____

rob kistner © 2008

____________________________

Winter

(haiku)

____

coarse lands cloaked in white

lakes bejeweled in crystal

winter’s dressing hand

____

rob kistner © 2008

____________________________

December Memories

____

cold cheeks pressed in soft embrace
nestled warm in sweater’s plush
full hearts brim in fond delight
drawn close in loving gather

room awash in gentle glow
heady scent of fresh-cut noble
standing tall this winter night
resplendent in its cloak of yule

tender lilt of celtic song
sweet fragrances of promised treats
the pleasing snap of kindled log
spirits soothed by season’s hearth

ribbon’d papers flash multi-hues
gifts bestowed one at a time
each in turn a treasured moment
joyous laughter shared by all

round and round the kindred circle
we celebrate unveiled affection
nurtured by each act of love
precious times with family

____

rob kistner © 2008

IMG_8595

____________________________

photo at top entitled: “Moonlit Snow”

collage above: “Winter Night Journey”

Through Time & Space

 

…the following is an excerpt from a science fiction novel I’m writing

 

• • •

 

Through Time & Space

•

“I have watched
golden fire clouds,
hanging in pale green skies,
over the azure seas of Toluras”

“I have seen the copper leaves
of the parmus fronds
flashing from indigo mountains
in the crystal mists of Gemin.”

“I have beheld exquisite beauty
in my rich, full life
but none so beautiful
as your eyes tonight”

Artheo whispers these bewitching words, his breath warm on the tender lobe of my ear. Searching the depth of my eyes, plumbing my very soul, he presses his lips softly to mine, and with gentle passion — bids me farewell with a kiss.

The exchange of poetry, at times of high emotion, is a longstanding tradition on our planet – and my lover’s words were especially moving as we parted tonight.

This intimate moment now three hours past; I linger in the bittersweetness, still tasting his lips, smelling his hair, feeling the heat of his body – I ache for him.

But here I stand on the aft deck of the Thadius, hurtling through space, gazing into star-clustered blackness, cherishing the pleasures of our parting embrace.

A sudden chill shocks me sober. I’ve been here, done this, precisely this in every detail. But I know that is not possible. It is my first time aboard this particular ship.

I am gripped by foreboding. I shiver as I watch the sapphire-jade orb that holds my fascination, grow smaller, being slowly swallowed by the eternal night of space. It continues to recede, its form becoming softer, less clearly defined in the carbon-composite observation bubble, as zero-g frost clouds and obscures this breathtaking view of this lush planet, our home planet – Gemin.

Some now on board will not again see this precious sight for fifteen years, if they are counted among the fortunate who do return.

We race, exceeding light-squared, toward a distant call for help, an unknown destiny, in the far reaches of uncharted space — with no idea what we will encounter. The call made it certain that no good lay ahead for those aboard who now rush to respond to the enigmatic distress signal.

I am Sephias, on an ecological research mission, to return home in a year’s time. My team and I disembark at Topiarus, the first stop on this voyage.

Although I am off-ship before we reach the origin of the urgent summons — I am nonetheless distraught. It is the anxiety of separation. It is also the result of the intense stress that permeates the crew who are going the distance, to the edge of space, to answer the cry for help. The pressure is palpable, contagious — I feel it to my core. It terrifies me.
Continue reading Through Time & Space

A moment

 

A Moment

____

a clearing
of filtered sunlight

high breezes whisper

nature murmurs
serenely

a downed Douglas slumbers

snug in the moist embrace
of a moss blanket

a heady pleasance

life is aligned
for a moment

____

rob kistner © 2008

 

Stranger

 

 

Stranger

____

this day
as I journey
I come upon a stranger
standing by the road
looking sad

heavy box
held in his arms
clutched close to his breast

he stares
expressionless
into my eyes

his gaze stops me still
fixes me in place

his face is tired
and drawn
etched in withered worry

when at last I move
I draw near
as I do

close enough to see
this sullen man
is me

he offers out his hands
that open on the box

he beckons me retrieve
this container he protects

filled with apprehension

I reach
and grasp the case

lift it cautiously from his grip

lay it gently at my feet

it opens
as I do

slowly

to reveal
its haunting
strange contents

seven broken hearts

mute with wonder
I behold

confused
yet riveted

I ponder
as I do

then inquire of the meaning

these are yours
I am told

created by your deeds

cruelly left behind
as you ventured on

once
they each belonged
to one who trusted you

each trust you did betray
without a second thought

each love you tossed aside

abandoned carelessly

now the burden of this box
is mine beyond the grave

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

someday
a stranger will approach
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

_____________________

collage above entitled: “Heavy Box” — by: rob kistner © 2008

 

Tears of the Ancients

 

 

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”.

 

Drawn

 

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

Poems of the heart…

 

Following here you will find a whimsical poem entitled “Heartbreaker”, and humorous haiku entitled “The Color of Love”, each inspired by this Kyknoord illustration, which is offered as a visual prompt at “readwritepoem”.

 

Heartbreaker

•

this is a broken heart you see
this broken heart belongs to me
it once was vital whole and strong
‘till one day beauty came along

she reached in and stole my heart
but fickle beauty did depart
she’d found a better heart she said
and left mine hanging by a thread

my heart grew heavy with her farewell
my heart-thread snapped and down it fell
my fragile heart crashed to the ground
pieces shattered all around

I’ve tried hard to make it whole again
but I’m not sure how, and can’t say when
so it’s still a broken heart you see
a broken heart that belongs to me

• • •

 

The Color of Love

A HAIKU

•

May, the month of love

red, the color of love — yikes

I’m touching my heart

• • •

“Heartbreaker” and “The Color of Love” written by: rob kistner © 2008

 

Succulent

Succulent

•

succulent nectar of plumping fruit
peeled back in promised sweet delight
laid bare engorged deliciousness
a vision of tender ecstasy

tart sweet tingle at tip of tongue
probing to lift the fleshy folds
as lips embrace the juicy pulp
teeth gently nip the bursting core

breathing in the rich bouquet
all senses teased and tantalized
my mouth devours the dripping treat
again and again until satisfied

• • •

rob kistner © 2008

Make it happen…

 

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

• • •