Tag: mystery

NaPoWriMo #4 – Now / Time To Smile

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

Nelle Lytle put forth a fascinating and challenging prompt at Read Write Prompt for day #4 of NaPoWriMo. We were to look at things inside out. At first I was perplexed. I kicked a number of ideas around and was hitting the wall, when it struck that inside out is a condition of perspective – a point from which things are viewed. You see one from the other.

I started thinking about situations in which I view one from the other, when it hit me – time! I continually view the “other” aspect of time from where I am… looking at the past or future while being in the present. That’s all it took. My muse (and Ram Dass) carried me from there.

I not only wrote a new poem, I created a new collage. Thanks Nelle! 😉

____________________________________




…collage above entitled “Time” by: rob kistner © 2010…

 

Now

•

the future — the past
tomorrow — yesterday
time’s not hard and fast
moments slip away

fretting what we miss
we ponder destiny
yet today is all there is
ever was — will ever be

days not yet arrived
ones that slipped away
not present in our lives
there only is today

can’t change what’s gone astray
or know what is to come
embrace what is this day
stop running to and from

forget the come and gone
all the who what when and how
don’t get lost looking beyond
learn to truly be here – NOW

• • •

________________________




 

Time To Smile

•

turning clocks forward

evenings last longer now

so too will my smile

• • •

poem and haiku by: rob kistner © 2010

• graphic rendering of smiling clock configured and colorized by: rob kistner

____________________________________

…for more poetic perspectives on NaPoWriMo 2010: readwritepoem…

NaPoWriMo #3 – The Leap / New Life

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

____________________________________


…facing one’s fear…

 

The Leap

•

she need not be frightened
she knows the moves
sees the steps
clearly in her mind

she knows the stride
the position of her body
just before elevation

she understands the speed
the run up
the lead foot
the plant angle
the knee bend
the thrust

she has done this
literally thousands of repetitions
no need for trepidation

she knows the energy of the moment
of the crowd
as they anticipate
as she anticipates
the lift off
the rise

the glorious weightlessness
the thrill of flying
the feel of returning to earth
to her toes
her feet
how to offset the momentum

to snap to a graceful stop
come to point
straight and strong
arms raised and extended

the applause
that exhilaration

she knows this all
to her bones

she can do this
in her sleep

she has this mastered
she is a master dancer

but

that flash of doubt
and again
she fails

there is now one leap
she fears she cannot master

the leap
back through time
to her youth
to her glory
her invincibility

still
she leaps

she will always
leap

• • •

________________________

 

 

New Life

•

wife in her mud shoes

clatter in the potting shed

soon will come new life

• • •

poem and haiku by: rob kistner © 2010

____________________________________

…for more fearless NaPoWriMo 2010 poems: readwritepoem…

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…

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…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

2B51D4D0-8D43-418B-82F5-4FED8AB9C058

~ ~ ~

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…

    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”

    So Many Gifts

    NaPoMo poem #29

    This is the twenty ninth and the penultimate of the poems I will write this April, in honor of National Poetry Month, as proclaimed by the Academy of American Poets.

    This poem is a tongue-in-cheek, but well intentioned look at life’s many gifts, inspired by prompt #29 at read write poem.

    • NOTE: these poems will all essentially be early drafts, so edits may occur after their initial posting.

     

    So Many Gifts

    •

    we were granted
    many gifts
    when we arrived
    here in this life

    perhaps the most precious
    is the gift of family

    to endure
    the gift of family
    and any other calamity
    we were bestowed
    the gift of courage
    the gift of patience
    is a part of this

    now when we require
    more reinforcement
    we have the useful
    gift of friends

    should all these gifts
    prove just too much
    there is the gift
    of nature’s beauty

    if we overdose
    on all things tranquil
    the fallback gift
    is our creative spark

    to prevent this gift
    from being wasted
    we have literature
    music and art

    and to preserve
    dark karmic balance
    we’ve been blessed
    with the critique clique

    finally we come
    to this the greatest
    of all the gifts
    that we possess
    and that gift being
    the gift of love

    though we enjoy
    all of these gifts
    life still can be
    quite tough at times

    but don’t despair
    no
    don’t lose hope

    some secret gifts
    have we been granted
    to give us strength
    and keep us going

    the first of these
    our sense of wonder
    and hand in hand
    our sense of awe

    and should all else falter
    there is the failsafe
    the secret weapon
    our sense of humor

    but please take heed
    keep careful watch
    if you lose this latter
    my friend
    you’re screwed

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2009

    ___________________________

    • you can find other NaPoMo offerings at read write poem

     

    Unexpected

    NaPoMo poem #27

    This is the twenty seventh of the poems I will write this April, in honor of National Poetry Month, as proclaimed by the Academy of American Poets.

    This poem is an edited rewrite of a older poem of mine and was inspired by a moving personal experience, offered here in response to the NaPoWriMo Wordle prompt #27 at read write poem.

    • NOTE: these poems will all essentially be early drafts, so edits may occur after their initial posting.

     

    Unexpected

    •

    unquestionable joy
    in a place most unexpected
    the crystalline eyes of an innocent
    cruel society deems disabled

    bent and stooped
    impossibly twisted
    confined to constant care
    and his rolling metal chair

    a hardscrabble life
    that would drive a lesser soul
    to lunacy

    but his gentle eyes reflect a wonder
    my jaded heart has long since lost
    by arrogance extinguished

    his timeless spirit knows only trust
    it pours forth from his being

    positioned close and cozy
    to the modest stage
    he is enraptured by the music
    engulfed within the rhythm

    enthralled by this magic
    he is beaming
    like an angel

    the band plays fast
    the band plays slow
    the band plays loud
    the band plays low

    he rocks forward
    he rolls backward
    waves in jubilation
    and launches heart and soul
    into a wicked shoulder wiggle
    as he vibrates unabashed
    with pure delight

    the veins of his neck
    stand out full and proud
    as he tosses back his head
    uninhibited in laughter
    tears of joy
    leaking down his cheeks

    his person full alive
    his essence full aware
    his nascent bliss aglow
    he is wholly in the now

    he is filled with every note
    wrapped up in the cadence
    sparked by the drumbeat
    thrilled by every nuance

    he experiences an ecstasy
    at which I can only marvel
    its clarity and power I can never know

    it’s at this moment
    that I realize
    how much I do not understand

    as I behold this able man

    faint envy stirs
    watching his unbridled joy

    so complete
    and unexpected

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2009

    ___________________________

    • you can find other NaPoMo offerings at read write poem

     

    Becoming

    NaPoMo poem #26

    This is the twenty sixth of the poems I will write this April, in honor of National Poetry Month, as proclaimed by the Academy of American Poets.

    This is my second metaphysical poem in two days, and was inspired by the NaPoWriMo prompt # 26 at read write poem.

    • NOTE: these poems will all essentially be early drafts, so edits may occur after their initial posting.

     

    Becoming

    •

    as is the spark of birth
    the burst of a seed
    the first ray of dawn
    the tug of love wakening
    the moment of humility
    the pen to blank page

    so is the essence of becoming

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2009

    ___________________________

    • you can find other NaPoMo offerings at read write poem

     

    Being Now

    NaPoMo poem #25

    This is the twenty fifth of the poems I will write this April, in honor of National Poetry Month, as proclaimed by the Academy of American Poets.

    This was inspired by a prompt at read write poem to write a “how to” about something difficult to do.

    • NOTE: these poems will all essentially be early drafts, so edits may occur after their initial posting.

     

    Being Now

    •

    step gently through the dream-gate

    take hold the strand continuum

    ride the light that carries you

    to the is, was, the will be

    transcendence moment

    when the all is one

    in the perfection

    of pure being

    here now

    alive

    ∞

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2009

    ___________________________

    • you can find other NaPoMo offerings at read write poem

     

    Spellbound

    NaPoMo poem #20

    This is the twentieth of the poems I will write this April, in honor of National Poetry Month, as proclaimed by the Academy of American Poets.

    • NOTE: these poems will all essentially be early drafts, so edits may occur after their initial posting.

     

    This poem was inspired by the image below entitled “The Bride Wore Red”, by Pareeerica…

    Spellbound

    •

    scarlet lady in crimson silk
    a beauty to mesmerize
    sculpted by a master’s hand
    so seductive as to scandalize

    a stare of comely crystal blue
    floats above a ruby pout
    spellbound by her magic eyes
    she holds your soul with no way out

    her tongue tip teases her top lip’s edge
    like a supple paintbrush flowing
    her smile will pierce and hypnotize
    then wrap around you knowing

    you are now her helpless captive
    quite hopelessly addicted
    in the velvet grip of her mystery
    is she an angle or is she wicked

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2009

    ___________________________

    • you can find other NaPoMo offerings at read write poem

     

    Stir of Love

    IMG_8652

     

    Stir Of Love

    ____

    he has kept it locked for so long
    the horror of that night
    holds the seal tight

    the memory riveted
    securely barring entry
    none can pass

    his bitter resolve
    makes certain none will try

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

    a wasteland of the lost
    inhabited by the dead

    the gate grown over
    by a tangle of grief and anger

    any memory
    of a once vital presence
    of a living breath
    of warmth
    of joy
    forever gone

    brutal night has fallen long ago
    that no sun can penetrate

    the blackness soothes him
    he retreats into its depths
    embraces its lightless void
    hiding
    sulking

    shielded from any possibility
    of further pain or remorse
    he is unfeeling
    safely lifeless

    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
    he must

    this is wrong
    this is trespass

    this is cruel betrayal
    of his lost beloved

    he has no right
    to leave this place of sorrow
    to step into the light

    no right

    but it grows inevitable
    all seems lost
    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 it
    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


    IMG_8653

    ____

     

    rob kistner © 2009