Category: Poetry

 
Kathy
my warrior

cancer’s foolishly
chosen you as a foe

it’ll never
break your spirit

you are a star

you’ll slay this beast
strike it down

you’ll be
its masters

together
we’ll fight
— ferociously

cancer’s been a fool
to choose you as a foe!

Kathy

*
rob kistner © 2023

More star poetry at: dVerse

H ope is the thing with feathers
that perches in the soul
and sings the tune without the words
and never stops – at all –

”Vigil” — by: Laura Makabresku

Emily understood well here
the strength of a soul’s resolve

and yes, my dear sweet Kathy
cancer has made the foolish choice
to choose you as a foe…
because you are insurmountable

it will never break
your face of courage
but smashed will surely be
any face of fear

photo — by: iloveblsck3

and I will be your soldier
through it all
my love for you
will be your strongest armor…
it will never fail

we will set fire to the moon
if it is we must
to bring the victor’s torch
into this darkness

photo — by: Justin Peters

and we will burn fiercely
with the fire of love
and this ugly perverse beast
will be consumed to ash

when this most inconceivable campaign
comes to it’s undeniable conclusion
you will have beaten this beast
and you will be its master

neither you nor I
know how to lose
only how to fight
and fight we will
— ferociously

what a fool cancer has been
to choose you as a foe!

*
~ the opening stanza is quoted from Emily Dickinson ~

rob kistner © 2023

Mo’ Po’tree at: The Sunday Muse

 
Nightfall
now — the darkness descends
the hand of grief extends
terror is knocking at the door

nightfall
words of sorrow stain my lips
slip through my fingertips
and scatter ‘cross the floor

nightfall
the shadows hide my tears
but I am haunted by my fears
I am broken evermore

nightfall
dark waves of misery
are rising like the sea
I am stranded on the shore

nightfall
I am lost — I am alone
confusion grips me to the bone
horror chills me to my core

nightfall
I hear something growl my name
have I finally gone insane
be gone — I fearfully implore

but again the dark thing calls
no — this must be just a dream
what else can it mean
I’ll lay quiet and ignore

yes — I’ve simply been asleep
albeit very very deep
soon my eyes will open
as this nightmare’s spell is broken

soon the sun must rise — for sure
but… a blood-curd-ling encore
the midnight snarl is there once more
now it’s clawing at my door…

I’m so afraid I’ll forget what for…

*
rob kistner © 2013 (original)
rob kistner © 2023 (edited version)

More poetry at: dVerse

More poetry at: eartheeal

More poetry at: Poets & Storytellers

L ife is balance

the keeping of it
the regaining of it
when lost

that is my resolve
in this new year
to live life more balanced

to continue to explore
how to live on the positive side
of this profound mystery
that is life

this mystery
we are not meant to solve

I will not lose my wonder
I will continue to dream

though I will surely
temper my dreams

it is the winter of my life
I seek achievable dreams
because I seek the joy
of achievement

that to-the-bone-satisfaction

I want to love better
love born of the heart
love born of the soul

beyond love of the body

been there
done that

genuine love
I am convinced
is the gateway
to the great mystery
that is life

I still pursue that mystery

in the end
love is all I need

the love I know
is the love I show

the love I take
is the love I make

I want to learn
how to truly share
pure love
to love with gratitude
to love in peace

just as the butterfly
lights upon the petal
I want to learn
how to hold love
tenderly

not grasp love
not smother love

love is the truth
I seek truth

love maintains the balance
I seek balance
as I walk my final path
through the beauty of life

the bottom line
I seek to live
until this season turns

from there
we’ll see where it goes

*
rob kistner © 2023

More poetry at: dVerse

We’ve crossed winter’s solstice night
the final dying of the light
as the old year quickly wanes
seasons circle back again

earth’s life cycles reprise
as a fresh year does arrise
may the power of light’s rebirth
bring you blessings of the earth

we’ve passed the longest night
to bask in new born light
day’s stirring warmth increases
as night’s chill grip releases

light slowly overtakes the dark
sun shifts the journey of its arc
each new day light longer burns
as earth’s fertile warmth returns

I watch through thawing window
feeling warming breezes blow
the bitter cold had set me blue
but spring’s birthing feelings new

january light pierces frosted trees
coaxing dormant bud to bring forth leaves
orchards shed their winter coat
soon branches burst their fruited bloat

crop and beast gently revive
first-bloom chutes and newborn thrive
ruling sun casts out the cold
earth’s bounty grows threefold

the planet’s spinning t’ward the light
in it’s wake leaves winter’s blight
earth exudes urgency of birth
nature celebrates in joyous mirth

the pearl spring moon makes one
heady with lustful anticipation
acting quite the lovesick fools
desires sparkle like rare jewels

the elixir of blooms stir notions
they’re most dangerous of potions
to the lusting longing lovelorn
risky randy thoughts are born

the dance of the season’s new light
carry revelers through the night
it is is the dawning of the morn
marks the emerging season full-born

*
rob kistner © 2023

More poetry at: earthweal

*
rob kistner © 2023

More poetry at: dVerse

D o you
see the salt-tears
fallin’ like cold rain
from d’sterling horn’s bell

or feel the hit-bottom bass
of the fine wooden upright’s
thunderin’ swell

do’ya weep with the wound strings
of a hollow-body gibson

or ache to d’bent reed
of a lush broke-heart sax

ya throb’n with the rhythm
of the skin-taut drum’s beat
got’cha movin’ ya’feet

I am the rock band
playin’ crazy insane
rip riffin’ my guitar
roar’n like a fast train

I am the jazz band
the improvin’ cool hands
turnin’ d’melody ‘round
makin’ it my own sweet sound

I’m also the blues band
play’n careful n’clean
t’mellow the mean
playin’ my sad soul’s hand

I play at the light’s edge
that pools in the night
in a joint on the bleak streets
of the sad brokenhearted

I play to the anguish
of the loveless who cower
in the dark nightmare alleys
of the lost and forgotten

I play to the grief
of the sinners who moan
alone in their heartbreak
in the ruins of love

I play hot as a shot pistol
on the barroom slat-floor
in a puddle’a justice
that sent a po’fool to jail

I am the angel of miz’ry
that falls you flat down t’cry
a voice melt’n ‘round midnight
sing’n wings that can fly

I am a broke piano
in a dead drunk’n bar
squaller’d in shambles
sheddin’ mo’tears

I am the rattle of glasses
on shelves in d’back bar
when the band’s pumpin’ hard
on a packed Friday night

I am the true madman
sometimes d’sideman
in d’dark beautiful chaos
un’da joy’s tearful sky

I am the tambourine’s jangle
in a sweet delicate hand
in a hard poundin’ sextet
on a stage reekin’ reefer

I am the music and anguish
poured deep ina’m’soul
‘til I’m only the both
so to wring your pain dry

I am the storm in the vinyl
v-burned to catch tracks
of m’tears and m’sorrows
and m’fears for tomorrows

are ya’ blind
do ya’ see
are ya’ deaf
do ya’ hear

I am rock
jazz ‘n blues
and a lone angel cryin’

all that fuckin’ music
playin’ angry n’loud
maybe quiet n’proud
or dire and avowed
in earth’s terminal dirge

play’d for all’a us dyin’

*
You say we can’t kill it
you better think through it
I say your a fool
while I pray we don’t do it.

 
*
rob kistner © 2023

Mo’ Po’tree at: The Sunday Muse

 
-<{§}>-
~ a little gift to you — Aurora live in Brazil (full concert) ~
-<{¥}>-

James Dean, NYC, 1955 photo by: Dennis Stock

Me and the crew
was poundin’ it true
jazzin’
on a skin tight
be-bop night

man we was cookin’
maxed
in the zone
rhythm flushed
n’ flamin’ righteous

I was on my chops
riffs’a’bongo’d
goin’longo’d
pulse never stops

whap
bap
slap’n clap
rapity rapity
tapity snap

my fingers
was truly smokin’
urgently strokin’
caressin’ the key-taut hide

like a velvet touch
on the round bare flesh
of a fine-ass’d dame
hot’n fresh
we was all aflame
finely sussed
and fully percuss’d

uptown dudes
beatin’ it get-down
randy’n’rude
steamin’n’stewed

yeah
we laid it way down
plump’n’roun’
some bitchin’
damned cool bottom

this big joint
was thumpin’ thunder
rollin’ under
bles-sed wonder

the scene was more’n jake
a rhythm quake
we was jammin’smooov
shaken’a’grooov

our stick man caps
rocked his traps
like thunder claps
with a beat tight
as a steel trap
while big roy
rolled the ivories

we kicked our tunes
tore up the house
lo-ridin’ the night
was true far out

skirts’a flirt’n
legs was freak
stone fox sleek

we all were stoked
prime’d and smoke’d
so to my pad
ta’ave what we had

but first
chateau blanc
like blissed lo-riders
to down some slyders
sweet 3:00 am
belly bombs
lo-life filet mignons

then single malt
to wash it down
side’n with kingers
the skirts sippin’ slingers
all dis a mellow mood

then down the rabbit hole
full blow’d away
to clutch’n’such
nod’n’sway
n’wrap this beautiful night
pure golden

*
rob kistner © 2022
rob kistner © redux 2023

Poetry 2023 at: The Sunday Muse

Poetry 2022 at: The Sunday Muse

Poetry at: earthweal

Poetry at: dVerse

W hen
in the spring of my life
I called to the wilderness

to the forests
to the rivers
to the lakes

and later
to the mountains
and to the high cliff’d
remote ocean shores

they always answered

they came to know me well
as my friends

they welcomed me eagerly
invigorating my spirit
soothing my mind
warming my soul

they shared their beauty
and their bounty
generously with me

the wilderness became
the blood of my life

Oregon Coast

now
in the winter of my days
they no longer
seem to know me

they do not seem
as welcoming

not as welcoming
to wander and roam

to hike
to camp
to fish

to just be
in their embrace
drinking of their energy
awed by their magic

this change of relationdhip
it saddens me greatly

Oregon Black Tail — doe

but it is I
who have spoiled the connection
the deep friendship

that is to say
my age
and failing health
have made me too awkward
too uncomfortable
too absent

to my wilderness
I’m no longer recognizable

my face
my eyes
my stature
my gait
all different

I have changed so

now a feeble stranger
bent and slow

3 Sisters Mts. — Central Oregon

I still love my forests
my mountains
my rivers and lakes

my high cliff’d
ocean shores

I do not blame
any of them

it is not their fault
we are estranged

it is definitely I
who changed

someday
I will return again
carried by my son

to be forever joined
with this wilderness I love

please love her too

*
rob kistner © 2023

More poetry at: dVerse

Here they are yesterday being silly at supper. Hey’Yoo (Kathy) and Alex.

My wife is grandma
our grandson calls her hey’yoo
it’s a name of love
it is always what she coo’s
when she gives him love tickles

*
rob kistner © 2023

More poetry at: dVerse

Who am I

I’m father
three times blessed

I’m fire
a lover possessed

I’m ice
oldest son’s death

I’m joyful creativity

lyrical voice
artist’s eye
poet’s pen

I’m fragile nature

lofty mountains
old growth forests
wild water’s bend

man amazed
praying at land’s end

*
rob kistner © 2023

More poetry at: dVerse

Virgin papers
spread before me

undefiled

no burden of remorse
no weight of mystery
do they bear

no sting of anger
no wink of mirth
no blush of passion

coin of phrase unspent

nothing clever
nor profound
this night

icy void
my thoughts

uninspired

*
rob kistner © 2023

More poetry at: dVerse

Image by Vee Speers

 
Like a flash of startling color
like mystical midnight dreams
butterflies will materialize
from love’s pure heart it seems

like fragile fleeting fairies
this love-bound woman is the source
they flit and flutter dazzlingly
such a breathtaking tour de force

so frail and so diaphanous
such bold and brilliant wings
like true love they float on air
enchantingly beautiful things

they dart with such abandon
they dance more than they fly
so weightless — so very joyous
a lovers’s ballet in the sky

OH… don’t fret our lovely lady
she’s tucked tight and very comfy
she’s evolving in love’s chrysalis
to the butterfly she soon will be

*

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: The Sunday Muse

Image by Jocelin Carmes

 
So inconceivable
he thought…

that such a structure
can be so wholly engulfed

the fire so fierce

but what of the fury
in that single first flame

to have leapt
so viciously
to consume

to ravage

to devastate
so absolutely

it is always there
the nature of fire

like the rage
of a violated being
too long held down

unjustly deprived

confined

all potential denied
where there is great potential

spirit squelched
where there is great spirit

sometimes
an entire people
can be denied

until finally
a single incident

a single first flame

unleashes a righteous inferno
that has no bounds

it is always there
the nature of fire

the power to combust

to blaze
so brilliantly

can only be suppressed
for so long

it is always there
the nature of fire

ready to explode

like the fury
in a single first flame

like the fury
in a suppressed people

and when the smolder
becomes full flame

all will burn

it is always there
the nature of fire

~ Ukraine will be released ~

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: The Sunday Muse

More poetry at: dVerse

Veiled in promise
it beckons me
seductively
the elusive dream
upon my heart embossed

yet there is a storm
can rage within
to churn at times
my weary mind
focus turned and tossed

the way grows foggy
direction blurred
the path unclear
the purpose slurred
this journey can exhaust

to stay the course
I cast and chart
and reference often
in handmade note
but not every “t” gets crossed

I fire my dream
on electronic pages
share it with the world
progress at times freezes up
I pray it will defrost

so my life gets lived
in bits and pieces
scribbled on scraps
of random papers
so many soon so lost

in losing them
confusion rises
chaos threatens
hopes can scatter
my elusive dream the cost

failing health presses in
as does ravaging time
can I ever finally
get my dream to rhyme
before my clear thought wafts

*
rob kistner © 2023

More poetry at: dVerse

More poetry at: Poets & Storytellers