A leaf falls
forever separated
from its tree
drifting softly
delicate
like you move
I see your eyes
translucent green
beautiful as emeralds
I can taste
the kiss of your lips
sweet soul candy
a tear
warms my cheek
you’ve never left my heart
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: dVerse
T he landscape
losing its gild
mottles
in gunmetal grays
long gone greens
bare blacked sterling
nothing for the eye to swoon
nor in which
the soul to find solace
the poet’s words of warning
had fallen for years
on deaf ears
now nothing
to inspire grand verse
just barren rolling regret
stripped of lush mystery
color drained
jagged n’poisonous
fractured storm clouds
laced with the toxins
of human excess
and lethal impatience
churn ominously
in huddling menace
brightened breezes
that in the once-time
sizzled in the aspens
rolled the conifers
in velvet undulation
rattled the oaken forests
build and bulge
buffeted into angry fronts
seethingly murderous
faced with nothing
to stem the rage
nor to buffer
or discourage
the thrashing fury
howl and growl
into brittling winds
strafing gales
razing tempests
hollowed trunks
like spindled husks
ripped mercilessly from the earth
this world
that’s tumbling towards nothingness
is parched dust-blown emptiness
achingly void
my heart
shudders for the deep chill
of shadow
mourning eden’s devastation
scorching sun
pierces the dirt-broiling stir
that bites and stings
stumbling along dry cracked terrain
blurring watery eyes
chafing coarsen’d skin
that scalds and blisters
would that it rain
drown the lands
that I might
turn my face to the sky
flood my wooden mouth
charred by hunger
with drenching waters
of suspended thirst
to douse the cruel fire
of my spirit
that longs for
the whisper of winds
in canopies high above
now long forgotten
longs for the plush
of a high-mountain meadow
now scattered in tumbling debris
crying in cruel winds
never
never will it happen
ignorant words
which should never have been spoken
our covenant with nature
was badly broken
much too late
we realized the arrogance
of belief
that lacked intention
of assumption
that lacked conviction
as through tears
we watched our trees
slowly die
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: earthweal
A uburn mane with sable streaks
tips frosted ermine — lush with pride
a bounce and whip, and sultry snap
with each stiletto’d wanton stride
taut hips roll high on slender stems
that part in ripples then enmesh
a brushing sigh of stirring heat
toned thighs gliding flesh on flesh
a stare of comely crystal blue
penetrates above a ruby pout
that takes you in devouring
has its way, then casts you out
tongue tip teases top lip’s edge
like supple paintbrush flowing
a smile to burn and hypnotize
that wraps around you knowing
if she’s near you can’t think straight
your brain goes dizzy — all off course
make no mistake she’s the reason why
the wild disturbance in your force
her beauty like a sensuous song
when she’s near — music’s playing
beware your heart not sing along
or soon your on your knees n’praying
luscious wench — worldly wise
sleek as steel — tall and strong
swift and cunning — motor running
she might acquiesce, but not for long
poor fool who tastes this lusciousness
is quite hopelessly addicted
there’s only one word for this life-force
that word, my friend, is — wicked!
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: The Sunday Muse
R eally not a fan
of winter things
I get the cold weather blues
badly
when it’s cold
I’d like to die
or maybe
if I had a river
I could skate away on
I could feel better
but with my luck
I’d probably fall in
and be trapped under ice
oh yeah —
and a long december
forget it
all through the frozen nights
I hear the hounds of winter
and their blood curdling howling
next morning
their footprints in the snow
only serve to remind me
we’re trapped
soon to be snowbound
in the bleak midwinter
I get so depressed
it’s usually a blue christmas
but maybe
if we make it through december
I can let it go
after all
I’ve got my love
to keep me warm
for a cozy little christmas
and the snowfall
is beautiful and —
I believe in father christmas
perhaps this year
it can actually be
a wonderful christmastime
so let the bells ring-out
for christmas now
at the closing of the year
I think I’ll make it
a very merry christmas
and a happy new year
let’s hope it’s a good one
without any fear
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: dVerse
Poetry at: Poets & Storytellers
Poetry at: earthweal
* 25 musical artists whose song titles and/or lyrics featured in this poem
~
Counting Crows
Queen
The Moody Blues
Muddy Waters
Bill Monroe
Merle Haggard
Billie Holiday
Idina Menzel
Sting
Metallica
Moby
Ariana Grande
Joni Mitchell
Paul McCartney
John Lennon
Manhattan Transfer
Donald Fagan
Hans Zimmer
Greg Lake
Toys Chorus
Katy Perry
James Taylor
Wendy & Lisa
Seal
Elvis
Half full — your attitude resonates, ringing reverberant in my melancholy. Half empty has always been my perspective. Finding safety in my hollow, reluctant solitude. Seeing the world refracted through my somber pessimism. An abandoned dream can no longer disappoint. A shattered heart can no longer break. There is nothing to lose, for one who is without. Pain avoided by deflection.
But were your love to flood my isolation, to drown me in passion, I might gladly risk it all once more. Swimming up naively to the light, to the warmth — breaching the surface, buoyant with bliss, drenched with desire. To reach above water, in the throes of ecstasy, to encircle your gentle face in a lover’s trembling hands. To breath out of water again, drawing love’s rejuvenating breath.
But no! In the tender gray, I swim undisturbed, below the surface — in secluded, sorrowful safety.
Poetry at: dVerse
A dense fog
of time forgotten
rolled heavy
‘cross the lands
in the shaman’s vision
a deep chill
thick with memory
with calculation
lay at the heart
while envisioned here
on this earthen orb
the voices of our ancestors
…of the bright days
now gone past…
rose in warning
with the night fires
a sacred chant
in richen’d voice
as the flames roared
and they gathered
and danced
to a hallowed blaze
of enlightenment
warming all present
with their knowledge
did these ancestors
— our ancestors
but the footsteps
are but faint echos
while the sacred fire
is dying
its embers
now near ashen
but still
there are hearts
that burn
he saw
in a world out of balance
those yet ablaze
will again
stir to flame
their smoldering wisdom
and dance the steps
of knowledge
the twilight of fear
will recede
the moonlight
of vision and magic
will shoulder its way
through the shrouded silence
the dawn
of now veiled vision
will unfold bold
to proclaim
the truth
the chant
of the faces
gnarled and twisted
with abuse and contempt
muffled deep
within a wooded reach
will nurture and ignite
an imperceptible drone
of enraged voices
that will rise to a ruckus
wild and primal
a dark entangled chant
of a dreadful retaliation
is even now
rising above
the chaos of cacophony
a disembodied presence
sharp and omnipresent
speaks —
this night
you will experience
memories of glory
memories of beauty
memories of strength
memories of the homeland
memories of your proud people
powerful memories
sacred memories
of bles’sed miracles
conjured by strong
deft hands
these memories
were left here
with the threatened trees
in the fragile soil
to now incandesce
left here with the land
with your blood
by your ancestors
the gnarled shape
of leaf-dead trees
with their spindly
spiked branches
thrust skyward
twisted and bent
in a tangle of prophecy
listen — as nature speaks
so
reaching to the daybreak —
embrace these memories
these truths
in these there is power
— but go further still
lift your dreams
in a united vision
elevate your minds
to know
to realize begotten knowledge
to realize your truth
raise your voices
as in a single
sustained cry
a mighty bellow
for justice
if you hear —
then you are us
with heads raised
slay the false gods
who would have you bent
and supplicant
tear down their altars
of destruction
of avarice
of fear
of lies
lift your future
from the fire
embrace your manifest destiny
resurrect your dignity
the key
is in the veiled hands
of courage
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: earthweal
Poetry at: dVerse
T here is a needing
there is a caring
there is a taking
and a giving
so make genuine
your heart
as you reach
to clutch such knowing hands
as these
hands withered by life
deeply etched in wisdom
carved by experience
they bless you
with their touch
these beautiful hands
these fragile hands
strong with knowledge
anointed hands
blessed by time
and the will to endure
their radiance
envelopes their sainted touch
open hands
of precious flesh
reaching to you
through the ages
their sacred essence
is their touch
grasp firm
but gentle
hold tight these hands
enwrap them
in love
understanding their fate
may be your deliverance
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: The Sunday Muse
You are love’s beautiful rescue
sweeping us away
in passion’s sweet taboo
in the November rain
love drenched
and it is gone now
the deep silence
the dormant sadness
I feel your warmth
your smolder
in this moment
my love spills over
I’m consumed
wet with need
molten
in this splendid
pure golden moment
as slowly we kill ourselves
over and over
in fired small death’s
I sigh and settle
and resume reading
your pulsing desires
and for long as I can
I will
I believed love
might someday return for us
and it has
now we will dream
warm in each others arms
forever
no more probing
for the dark docks
of our souls
looking for home
we are here
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: dVerse
F og begins rolling
low over the boat
slowly cloaking
it in a ghostly shroud
the navigator’s lone light
hangs heavy
from the rigging’s ring
throws its yellowed glow
into the early november night
as the ship slips silently
under the ever thickening
paprika sky
searching its bow beam
silken ‘cross the still water
of the harbor’s tranquil lagoon
probing for the dark dock
for home
Edward William Cooke — “Sunset On The Lagune Of Venice”
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: dVerse
S treet is deserted save for single sign of life
morning hangs heavy in chill november
as autumn tumbles towards winter
S he feels the losing of the light
the ever growing darkness
the advance of the cold
the time of endings
death’s due vigil
deep silence
dormant
sad
~
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: dVerse
Across the meadow
I see you afar
resting by the path
bathed in sunlight
your hair golden in dawn’s glow
lover beholding beloved
I sit
warmed in daybreak’s window
with tea and fascination
watching you
in this moment
my love spills over
I’m consumed
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: dVerse
Across the meadow
low early morning fog
wafts easy through the grasses
an ethereal mist
like soft silver’d clouds
aglow in morning light
I see you standing
looking quietly at me
backlit by sunrise
hair afire in dawn radiance
I feel your warmth
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: dVerse
Midnight’s snowfall shimmers
through the boughs
of old growth
in moonlit forest
deep and still
it blankets
our high-mountain meadow
in crystal down
a great white owl
echoes
this winter night
through frosted cedars
lover and beloved
we dream
warm in each others arms
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: dVerse
Midnight’s snowfall shimmers
through the boughs
of old growth
in this moonlit forest
deep and still
as if christened 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
I sit by winter’s window
reading
glancing
enjoying the sparkle of moon-glow
a’dance on the frozen vista
then I see…
…what do I see
a dark form
moving at the tree line
hunched
and slow of gait
staff of some sort
seeming for balance
wing’ed creature on her shoulder
but — do I see
no shadow is cast
as if moonlight
penetrates a black vapor
unreflecting
yet still it moves
but no footprints follow
I go to the door
opening it for a better look
the movement
seems that of someone very old
and the night
very cold
concerned
I call out
“hello — are you ok”
but no answer
again I call
“hello”
at that
the figure turns my way
staring
the face
that of a weathered crone
eyes
black as midnight
deep as eternity
I begin to open my mouth
which she meets with a raised hand
and a brisk wave
just then
a stinging wind
laced with pinprick ice crystals
strikes me hard
I turn my head
step back into the doorframe
to cover my face
when again I step out
she is gone
nowhere to be seen
I call again
but no answer
she has disappeared
befuddled
I stand for a moment
dumbfounded
wondering
was she an apparition
a trick of moonlight
and shadow
on fresh snowfall
puzzled
and a bit amazed
I step back inside
into the warmth of my home
shaking my head
I return to my window seat
and gaze once more into the night
no-one is out there
no-one
but what did I see
satisfied I’ll not answer that question
at least not tonight
I sigh and settle
and resume reading
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: earthweal
S uccessful as a younger man
the grind became my home
and I — a conduit of worry
could I keep up the crazy pace
years spun wild as a top
around faster ever faster
life layering its patina
etched deeply in my face
suddenly — no longer young
now looking back from 76
I’ve known triumph — also tragedy
both have laid down heavy licks
I’ve borrowed bought — even stole
strayed through several shades of grey
but have I leveraged away my soul
just to play this fleeting game
I pray I’ll not end up an old man
gazing lonely out my window
trying hard just to remember
exactly how long it has rained
not sitting silent by the fire
lost in somber contemplation
wondering if all I lost
was worth what it was I gained
I gained my memories
huddled ’round me
sweet and still
I cherish each one dearly
for long as I can
I will
*
Happy Thanksgiving!
May you create a lifetime of memories this holiday season.
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: dVerse