Infinatum

 

 

Infinatum

•

…this is an ecstatic poem echoing the mystic tradition…

their fire and light
incandesce my essence
burn deep my soul
stir my spirit
unsettle my being
ignite my wonder

and whet my seeker’s vessel
with need to be filled full

at once familiar
yet exotically foreign
strangely boxed
but exquisitely wrapped
in longing
loss
love
and infinitely more

they reach to a hollow place
deep within
echoing a past
awakening a myth
exposing that which I embrace
in the moment
as truth

stirring my pain
my loneliness
my hope

offering just enough answer
that I combust with questions
sacred uncertainties

suspended in inquiry
in memories of neverwas
recognition of evermore
enrapt in blissful cognizance
of that which is not known

I am transfixed by mystery
elevated by insight
impaled by vision

spellbound

• • •

rob kistner © 2010

• artwork entitled “Infinity Portal” by: rob kistner © 2010

___________________________

…you can find more cognizance at One Single Impression

NaPoWriMo #5 – Kathleen / Blossoms

This is my fifth post for National Poetry Month 2010
• one free verse poem
• one haiku

____________________________________




 

Kathleen

•

he has kept it locked for so long
none can pass
his grief makes certain none will try

this is a dark forbidden place
high-walled
cold and barren
unyielding
lifeless

brutal night has fallen
no sun can penetrate

the darkness soothes him
he retreats into its depths
hiding
shielded from any further pain

but see
a shadow falls across the threshold
someone approaches

a comely being
warm and alive
lays gentle siege
threatening to breach his hardened fortress

but this lovely creature
fair and fragile
can not possibly gain entrance
must not

he will resist
this is wrong
this is trespass
this is cruel betrayal of his lost beloved

he has no right to leave this place of sorrow
no right

but his stronghold is succumbing
falling to this delicate advance

he is vulnerable
terrified
but it is useless to resist

searching with a patient heart
she has found the key
grasped in her loving hand
fingers tenderly enfold it

gently
she slides it into the lock
turning with great care

he is defenseless
he feels his heart slowly open
the long forgotten stir of love
begins to warm his soul

• • •





________________________




 

 

Blossoms

•

sweet pink blossoms fall

red spring buds will take their place

soon will be cherries

• • •

poem and haiku by: rob kistner © 2010

• photorendering entitled “The Key” – by: rob kistner © 2010
base image by: Getty Images
• photorendering entitled “Blossoms” – by rob kistner © 2010
base image by: Harold Davis
____________________________________

…for more personal NaPoWriMo 2010 poems: readwritepoem

La Difference



 

La Difference

•

I take her into my arms
she brings her lips to mine

I run my hands down her back
caressing the satin flesh
that tapers to my touch
until my fingers
gently cup the firm and tender
that swells and rises
atop taut lush velvet stems

we collapse in passion
folding into one another
her breath hot on my neck
as I whisper warm into her ear
vive la difference
my love
vive la difference

• • •

rob kistner © 2010

• photorendering entitled “The Embrace” – by: Getty Images
_______________________________

…catch the other differences at Carry On Tuesday

NaPoWriMo #1 – This Journey / Birds

This is my first post for National Poetry Month 2010
• one free verse poem
• one haiku

____________________________________

…written in the spirit of the wonderful journey that is NaPoWriMo 2010…

 

This Journey

•

this journey has been one of wonder
joy, sadness, awe, and tears

it’s carried me ‘cross boundaries
borders
mass of lands
‘cross time and space

it’s shown me magic
marvels
the mystery of love

the best
the least
the good
the evil

it’s brought me pleasures
fame
and fortune

to claim them back
with no remorse

I’ve known satisfaction
adulation
a woman’s love
a child’s passing

it’s been true and faithful
genuine
just to turn away
and break my heart

it’s been fantasy
fact
and fiction
clear as light
then contradiction

I’ve been ignored
I’ve been betrayed
honored as a man of standing
then left behind
to cry alone

I’ve traveled light
I’ve traveled fast
I’ve stumbled
burdened
weighed with grief

I’ve lead and followed
lost my way
regained direction
just to go astray

I’ve walked hand in hand
with fear and death
stared down depression
to be consumed

then arose
to again go forth
without a clue my destination
with no regard for the fated outcome
and to my plight
no consideration

long ago I abandoned worry
having learned it’s of no use

I’ve realized despite our difference
at the core we’re all the same
this realm we enter all alone
from here we’ll leave alone again

but all of this is of no matter
foolish so to dwell upon
of no concern
of no regard
most certainly not worth the measure

because in reflection
one sees too late
it is this journey
that is the treasure

• • •

________________________

 

Birds

•

no wind at feeders

suet and the black seeds swing

evidence of birds

• • •

poem and haiku by: rob kistner © 2010

____________________________________

• five shuffle titles used to create the poem “This Journey”

Digable Planets – Time And Space
Marianne Faithfull – The Mystery Of Love
Bad Company – Fame and Fortune
Metallica – No Remorse
Finger Eleven – Lost My Way

NOTE: shuffle courtesy of my son’s iPod — me, I’m a jazz man…

____________________________________

…get shuffled further into NaPoMo 2010 at readwritepoem

Caisson

 

 

Caisson

•

see you
see you in this carrion half-light
unworthy scavengers

you cluster to ravage
to defile the entity
drawn in this caisson

but you cannot

the living presence it bore
is greater than you

your gluttonness lust
might pick the meat clean
pick the bones dry

but this being has lived well beyond the muscle
beyond the sinew tendon and bone
these were its limits

now it is set free

so help yourself brother crow
sister raven
birds of black
help yourself

this essence has gone beyond
far beyond
to become infinite
pure thought
unbound spirit

what you pick apart is the afterimage
of a mortal now eternal

so take your fill crow
have your way raven
blackbird — do your best
engorge the glorious

then be gone
scatter
and far off

this caisson has delivered its miracle

unus est privatus

• • •

rob kistner © 2010

_____________________


…this piece inspired by readwritepoem

• photorendering entitled: “gathering” by: alice popkorn

Avatar

 

 

Avatar

•

you do not see
me

no shadow do I cast
that you perceive

no movement
to catch your eye

no color
no shape
no texture that is truly mine

you see
the avatar of your fantasy
the puppet of your desires
the specter of your lust

to you
I
am invisible

• • •

rob kistner © 2010

___________________________

• you can find more avatars at One Single Impression

…image found here

 

Alchemy

“Went digging through some of my older poetry to find this piece I wrote 9 years ago, March 2010. I remember being inspired to write it watching Hermione’s love potion scene in ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Price.’ I had just purchased the DVD at the time. My grandson was watching the DVD last night, which put me in mind of this poem. Wanted to share it here for dVerse OLN #252. It contains very minimal revision and a slight upgrade in graphic embellishment”

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Alchemy

~

you cannot change
a heart of iron
into a heart of gold

no precious warmth
will manifest
from something hard and cold

a love that’s locked
and set in cast
can never be set free

there is no hope
nor magic spell
not even alchemy

51A71700-37A0-46A2-8732-6ED479833CDF

you cannot stop
the hands of time
from spinning ever on

when the sand
is through the hourglass
those days are ever gone

you cannot bring summer back
when the leaves
are off the tree

there is no hope
nor magic spell
not even alchemy

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~ ~ ~

rob kistner © 2010
revision © 2019

 

  • Click below to check out some fine poetry at dVerse:

    OpenLinkNight #252

  • Flower

     

     

    Flower

    •

    young flower fresh-bloomed
    engorged with succulence
    bursting with life’s urgency
    vibrantly seductive

    dewy lips of supple petal
    lay open in offered sweet delight
    velvet pistil of gentle blush
    enwrapped in throat of golden hue

    this vision of tender ecstasy
    entices with a lilting sway
    a fragrance to intoxicate
    wafting from the luscious folds

    breathing in the rich bouquet
    all senses stirred and tantalized
    my eyes embrace this visage rare
    pleasured in the heady moment

    captive by such vital beauty
    consumed, one savors slowly
    exquisitely delicious
    this tender bud, full bloomed

    • • •

     

    Flower

    (minimalist version)

    •

    young flower
    fresh-bloomed
    engorged
    bursting
    seductive

    supple petals lay open
    velvet pistil
    soft in golden throat

    lilting fragrant folds
    stir the senses

    consumed
    one savors slowly

    exquisite
    this tender bud
    full bloomed

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2010

    …come see what else is blooming at Magpie Tales

    Sing

     

     

    Sing

    •

    a tear can cloud the brightest day
    song will brush aside the clouds
    is not sadness just a passing state
    but what a melody can chase away

    a tune played true with voice in tow
    little sorrows flee from such display
    thing is, so few will dare seek joy
    and thus succumb to feeling low

    yet when life is lived in harmony
    what hurt you have will drift and fade
    joy in chorus will lift the heart
    it swells the soul in reverie

    is it not foolish to keep bliss entombed
    to see not but the dark and gloom
    sing — and laughter will light the room

    a song is but a little thing
    and yet what joy it is to sing

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2010

    • photorendering entitled “Sing For Joy” – by: rob kistner © 2010
    _______________________________

    …catch the other tunes at Carry On Tuesday

    Bridge of Auras

     

     

    Bridge of Auras

    •

    possessed of all it is I am
    I breath a sigh of longing
    and wish for what it is I’m not
    across the bridge of auras

    I covet not a kingly right
    nor scepter gold to rule a realm
    I seek to fill my barren soul
    across the bridge of auras

    worldly wealth is not my goal
    nor power over minions
    enlightenment is what I seek
    across the bridge of auras

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2010

    ___________________________

    • you can find more aura’s at One Single Impression

     

    Magenta Lace

     

     

    Magenta Lace

    •

    furtive strumpet nonpareil
    fumbles from the motor-coach
    cup of bacchus fondled lush
    held close to velvet bodice

    supple breast, soft loin and limbs
    costumed for seduction
    magenta lace and turquoise silk
    kindles lust’s combustion

    sweet undulation in a mirror mist
    of moonlight on the midnight fog
    beckons through the dewy fern
    enticing — come enjoy

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2010

    _____________________


    …this piece inspired by a wordle at readwritepoem, and they all fit in quite wonderfully…

    photo rendering entitled: “Sweet Strumpet”

    The Sculptor

    Silver Falls, Oregon, USA
    The Canyon Trail system leads hikers along the banks of the north and south forks of Silver Creek, to 10 majestic waterfalls, including the grand South Falls (177 feet) pictured below.

     


    •


    • magnified section of photo to show scale

     

    The Sculptor

    •

    gazing upon this magnificent canyon
    cut by time and current in the great rock of the earth
    I marvel at the power
    at the beauty
    at the determination of the relentless river
    sculpting this majestic work
    tumbling timelessly in crystal clarity
    over boulder and falls
    ever onward

    • • •

    photo & poem by: rob kistner © 2010

    here is another artist’s view of these falls…

    …for more eye-candy check out this site: Scenic Sunday

    Duet

    Duet
    •

    rounding a bend
    brushing through waist-high fern
    I crest a knoll and stop

    mesmerized

    awash in the warm brushstrokes of evening
    filtered through this woodland realm
    as the waning sun paints the world golden

    below me
    a pristine ribbon of silver-blue water
    flecked with sunlight
    sparkles like a strand of gems

    transfixed
    I marvel at the beauty
    at the power
    of this mighty river

    as it tumbles in timeless clarity
    over boulder and falls
    ever onward

    its lyric voice
    beckons me

    I come
    entranced
    stand immersed in its energy
    captivated by its duet with the wind
    that plays the boughs of the towering pines
    singing down the lofty climbs
    to gently brush my face
    toss my hair
    and dance past me round a bend
    in perfect harmony

    serenaded in this evensong
    sunset has melted into moonrise
    the waters ripple sterling in soft applause

    the moon sets aglow this splendid concert
    so I listen
    spellbound

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2010

    _____________________

    • photographs taken near my home in the Cascade Mountain foothills

    top photo entitled: “Sunlight on the Clackamas”
    bottom photo entitled: “Moon over the Santiam”

    _____________________

    …this edited rewrite of an older work of mine was inspired by sunday scribblings

    Entrapped

     

    Entrapped

    •

    unfurling in linear spiral
    time escapes into the future
    tethered to the past
    ever captive in the now

    over and over
    repeating in my head
    these same strange words
    the same chilling voice
    over and over

    unfurling in linear spiral
    time escapes into the future
    tethered to the past
    ever captive in the now

    always the same fevered dream
    the fear
    the guilt
    the regret

    I am fallen
    paralyzed
    unable to lift my head

    it’s then I see him
    see him coming
    slowly out of the mist
    coming
    always coming

    his sour smile
    menacing
    condemning

    I want to rise up
    run at him
    scream at him
    strike at him

    run from him
    run

    but I cannot
    I cannot

    again that haunting voice

    unfurling in linear spiral
    time escapes into the future
    tethered to the past
    ever captive in the now

    but what
    what does it mean

    I’m going
    going — I think
    going mad
    mad

    what does it mean

    why — charles
    it means nothing
    and everything

    and yes — charles
    you are going mad

    who
    who are you
    how do you know my name
    why won’t you leave
    leave me alone
    what do you want!

    want?

    why – you, charles
    tethered to your past
    ever captive in this now

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2010

    Ferryman

    Ferryman

     

    The Wondrous Dream…

    •

    sailing on a skiff of dreams
    the ferryman standing watch

    you soar untethered
    ‘mong the clouds of wonder

    to magical mystical ports of call
    where all imagined is in your grasp

    if only you could stay the course…
    but fast – daybreak approaches

    • • •

     

    The Final Dream…

    •

    caught in the final dream
    called forth by the ferryman

    spirit stirs to the distant voice
    readies for the journey

    one foot still in this mortal realm
    soul resigned to embarkation

    time folding in upon
    as slow you approach the light

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2010

    _____________________


    …this piece inspired by readwritepoem
    …and by sunday scribblings

    photo collage entitled: “charon” | by: h.koppdelaney