Category: Poetry

Hidden from the light of day
here your other self resides
though keeping to the shadows
you know your dark self abides
you feel him at times — don’t you
feel that his dark thoughts are true

a darkling essence
scarred and damaged
sometimes so strong
barely managed

begotten in another time
another life
rife with fear
with pain and strife

come from far away
from another place
but this dark entity
did wear your face

it is an anger
powerfully manifest
righteous
so long suppressed

that could not find effective voice
to save your ruined innocence
you had not the strength
not the choice

you were silenced
you had no name
for what you did not comprehend
you knew you must not shoulder blame
but you knew sorrow as a friend

now you realize
it was youthful trust
that was betrayed
in these ways
dark and insidious

sadly was this torment done
by the hand of an entrusted one
concealed from blind society
to inflict hurt and animosity

yet
why do we feel conflicted
why do we feel guilted

me
and you
the frightened child
that still dwells
in me

our dark self
we had to forge
in fire of dire adversity

hammered out a hardened soul
tempered by survival’s hand
by desperate necessity

look here
my other
look deep into our heart
and see

we rose and fought
that abject fear
cradled within our broken heart
lifted ourself from that veil of sorrow
clinging to peace of mind
to sanity
to see one more tomorrow

to embrace our courage one more day
to finally stand and say —

no more
no
more

so be quiet
no judgment soul
we finally emerged
and shed our shadow self
our young life tattered
but still in tact
the life he saved
in fact

these days
still drawn to darkness
my affairs with melancholia

am I hardened
when necessary
but I’m not stone

I’ve finally found love
not a life alone

when I look inside myself
I see beyond the shadows

I see a man
who better understands
we’ve shed the shadow’d shell
but this darker self
will always dwell

now that self’s
in our command
it no longer
has the upper hand

does this darkness
that coincides in me
cost us our dignity

it does not

I’ve a firm grasp
on our integrity

years ago
we closed the dark book’s pages
the storm no longer rages

so be quiet fickle soul
our dark self need not to be reviled
he saved us
and our wounded child

he fought to set us free
and saved our sanity

we owe gratitude
for his ferocious interlude

peace now

Original digital surrealistic art:
“The Armor Cracks” by: rob kistner © 8/8/23

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

Would we’d soar free
high above the trees
undulating far below us
the constant rolling seas

farewell worldly anguish
we sail to infinity
beyond far horizons
upward steadily

like Dorothy in Oz
suffering ends today
dreaming my love and I
‘midst sweet poppy’s sway

Original digital surrealistic art:
“Valley of Dreams” by: rob kistner © 8/7/23

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

Your essesnce unearthed in Corsica
off the western Italian coast
when it comes to sweet and zesty
you are by far the most

you crossed the mighty ocean
seeds in the pockets of Peter Pieri
then down a roaring river
to the land of columbia valley

loved for earthy sweetness
your round and jumbo size
so much were you cherished
you put tears of joy in their eyes

gently selected and coddled
harvested each year carefully
the Italian growers of the valley
knew what a treasure you could be

demand spread round the state
soon America knew of your fame
so important are you today
you carry the valley’s name

whether breaded deep fried or raw
you’re the gem of WA Blue Mts.
you’ve enjoy a century of ya ya
Walla Walla — ooo-la-la

Original digital art: “Valley of Gold”
by: rob kistner © 8/1/23

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

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

Did you plan to ride with me to the coast
if so, we will be leaving at first light
the need to be on time is uppermost
I want to be there settled in tonight
not like last year when sadly I was late
seems much drinking occurred the night before
too late to bed had sadly doomed my fate
the ship sailed as I watched it from my door
but this year’s cruise should prove to be a blast
crazy friends, drinks, food of every kind
these soirees have been epic in the past
if we are late we will be left behind
tomorrow, it is breakfast on the beach
it’s there we meet our hostess for the week
she’ll have the masks we’ll need — there’s one for each
remember, after that we do not speak

yacht of wonder, where splendid games are played
magic – this high seas silent masquerade

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: dVerse

keys at top & bottom — AI extrapolations of original digital art by: rob kistner © 2023

This is the sorrowing hour
night’s full depth

alone now
present with my thoughts
my fears
my dreams

I’m sculpting words
into a key
to unlock my psyche
lay bare my soul

to intimately glimpse
who I’ve become today

here I find my sanity

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: dVerse

W e can seldom change a heart of iron into a heart of gold
no precious warmth should manifest from something hard and cold
a love that’s locked and set in cast is very hard to be set free
hope will likely struggle blind when our eyes of love can’t see

we cannot stop the hands of time from spinning ever on
when the sand is through the hourglass those days are ever gone

we usually can’t bring summer back when the leaves are off the tree
but perhaps with a strange magic spell — or maybe true love’s alchemy

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: dVerse