Images
Awakening Song
bare your sterling soul on high
shimmer ‘cross this sleeping world
enchantment be this night unfurled
’til all dreams are dreamed tonight
’til pure hearts are lifted light
then new hope awaken strong
let peace be awakening’s song
Immortal Heart
Immortal Heart
~
mysterious lady in blackened silk
a bewitching beauty as to mesmerize
sculpted by a darklord’s hand
so seductive as to scandalize
a wilding stare of icy blue
floats above a dangerous 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 ignite and hypnotize
then wrap around you knowing
you are now her helpless captive
held hopelessly soul addicted
as her immortal heart combusts to flame
is she an angel — or truly wicked
~ ~ ~
rob kistner © 2020
Silence!
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
the party promises to be a blast
cool people, drinks, and food of ev’ry 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 she’s chosen, one for each
remember, after that we do not speak
then to the yacht, where wondrous games are played
magic – this high seas silent masquerade
Very Best Year Yet
This one is done in a John Donne “Song” format (ababccddd).
He is considered a pre-eminent representative of the metaphysical poets.
is there no let up in this misery and strife
leaving this horror behind, please, can‘t it go faster
too much terror and grief, rips the heart like a knife
exchanging today’s deadly disease for wildfire tomorrow
its not fair to be trapped on this dark trail of sorrow
gold and joy in 2020, it was to be my very best year yet
for my dreams were to flourish, I’d have all that I could get
brassy fire ‘n tears are what happened, oh, such burning regret
rob kistner © 2020
Goblins be Wan’drin
Goblins be Wan’drin
trees — gold, orange, crimson, brown
leaves down, lay mottled ‘n crisp
rustle’n crunch, winds brisk
goblins’ be wan’drin
witches in flight
ghosts rise’n
autumn
night
*
trees turn — gold, orange, and crimson
leaves down, lay mottled ‘n crisp
rustle, crunch under foot
goblins’ be wan’drin
witches in flight
ghosts arise
autumn
nods
*
~ ~ ~
rob kistner © 2020
Paradise Ravaged
Paradise Ravaged
~
There’s peace, night-wandering these slumbering mountains, spellbound by their vast forests. In their dreams they sleep with the moon. I search their peaceful rivers. My spirit carries buoyant over their boulders and falls, my soul listening to ancient secrets whispered by their waters, echoed hauntingly in the treetops by great white owls.
These pristine mountains are breathtaking, unspoiled natural beauty. The fragrance of conifers intoxicate the night breezes, as moonlight drifts down dreamlike to blanket the forest’s canopy, to dance diamond-like on the chill mountain lakes. This special place is sacred, so close to my heart.
But this night, the breezes have become unbreathable, blistering winds, choked with soot and poisonous smoke. The rivers black, strangled with char and smoldering debris. Wild fires continue to rage and ravage. I weep — but will there ever be tears enough to again cleanse pure my defiled paradise.
~ ~ ~
rob kistner © 2020
__________
fire dragons consume
poisonous vapors strangle
eden is dying
__________
span style=”color: #808080; font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;”>NOTE to “Blogger” site owners: I enjoy reading your work, but frustratingly, many “Blogger” sites DO NOT let me post comments? 🙂 So sorry if you don’t see personal comments from me on your “Blogger” site. But I will keep reading your work — and welcoming and responding to your comments here on Image & Verse.
The Fox & The Feather
The Fox & The Feather
~
oh to glide
in buoyed flight
soar skyward
in sweeping circles
lift high on mighty thermals
never again earthbound
not a prisoner of gravity
this day would be soaring
and swooping
and diving
giving thanks for feathers
and hollow bones
but
I have no hollow bones
I’m just a little fox
with only this one feather
I found it
over there
~ ~ ~
rob kistner © 2020
NOTE to “Blogger” site owners: I enjoy reading your work, but frustratingly, many “Blogger” sites DO NOT let me post comments? 🙂 So sorry if you don’t see personal comments from me on your “Blogger” site. But I will keep reading your work — and welcoming and responding to your comments here on Image & Verse.
The Chill
moonlight
keeps dark at bay
pressing in
night wind stirs
mocking breath
of life now lost
to lightless realm
beyond this chill
encircling me
worn stone step
where rail eluded
grasping hand
as ankle bent
held oranges spilled
moon caresses
tender neck
once softly kissed
from which no voice came
to futile cry
those lips
will not know again
sweet fruit
nor love
blackness presses in
VERSION 2
moonlight
keeps dark at bay
pressing in
night wind mocking
life now lost
beyond this chill
no emotion
save grief
a worn stone step
a grasp-less hand
an ankle bent
held oranges spilled
tender neck
once softly kissed
now broken
a futile cry
those lips
will not know again
sweet fruit
nor love
darkness presses in
VERSION 3
moonlight
keeps dark at bay
pressing in
oranges spill
on worn stone steps
rail eludes
grasping hand
night wind stirs
scattering
the futile cry
mocking
the breathless life
lost to the lightless realm
beyond this encircling chill
these lips
will not know again
sweet fruit
nor love
~ ~ ~
rob kistner © 2020
NOTE to “Blogger” site owners: I enjoy reading your work, but frustratingly, some “Blogger” sites DO NOT let me post comments? 🙂 So sorry if you don’t see personal comments from me on your “Blogger” site. But I will keep reading your work — and welcoming and responding to your comments here on Image & Verse.
Who Am I
that huddle ’round me
soft and gentle
some dim
some vivid
through all my days
and all my nights
though you are gone
left much too soon
just in your springtime
you are here
quiet in my memories
I like
that you are still with me
in my heart
this recall is such sweet ache
other memories
from quite near
and far into the past
drift forward
mingled rich
through the years
their embrace
is soothing
warm as the sun
memories of others
I’ve been blessed to love
a tender tear
for every one
the places
this 6’ frame has been
the wonders
these hazel eyes have seen
the joys
that painted me
so brightly
the sorrows
that taught me
the depth of life
in these memories
there is a sweetness
it holds my heart
tempered
by just a touch
of soft regret
that at times
bowed this silvered head
my heart is full
my spirit calm
a peaceful surrender
to fate’s embrace
that precious
unfurled strand
from there to here
from then to now
would that these memories
never end
but soon
the flames of recall
will falter
as the lingering embers die
it’s then I’m prayer
when I am called
among the memories
would that I be
carried away
in stillness
delivered off
in sleep
forever wrapped
in all it is
I am
I am my memories
~ ~ ~
rob kistner © 2020
NOTE to “Blogger” site owners: I enjoy reading your work, but frustratingly, some “Blogger” sites DO NOT let me post comments? 🙂 So sorry if you don’t see personal comments from me on your “Blogger” site. But I will keep reading your work — and welcoming and responding to your comments here on Image & Verse.
Eavesdropping
dusk slowly advances
night’s chill is settling
all the dreams have gone to bed
I sit quietly
close by this fire
soothed by its crackling
eavesdropping on my wife
reading our child
bedtime stories
soul’s settled
heart’s full
~ ~ ~
rob kistner © 2020
span style=”color: #808080; font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;”>NOTE to “Blogger” site owners: I enjoy reading your work, but frustratingly, many “Blogger” sites DO NOT let me post comments? 🙂 So sorry if you don’t see personal comments from me on your “Blogger” site. But I will keep reading your work — and welcoming and responding to your comments here on Image & Verse.
Up a Tree
Up a Tree
~
the king of beasts has gone up a tree
says it’s a better vantage point to see
the evil that’s happening everywhere
yet much of the human herd don’t care
that lies and disease are running wild
it seems that they have been beguiled
prudent folk seem to have been struck blind
the other fools have simply lost their mind
the king says he is not coming down
‘til Trump and Covid are chased from town
~ ~ ~
rob kistner © 2020
NOTE to “Blogger” site owners: I enjoy reading your work, but frustratingly, many “Blogger” sites DO NOT let me post comments? 🙂 So sorry if you don’t see personal comments from me on your “Blogger” site. But I will keep reading your work — and welcoming and responding to your comments here on Image & Verse.
Lauria at the Speed of Light
Lauria at the Speed of Light
~
living at the speed of light
blazing through the midday sky
rocketing through the night
she was a natural wonder
a miracle to behold
soared through time like a lightning flash
unwilling to ever grow old
streaking through the universe
a meteor of flesh and bone
racing high above on wings of dreams
like a shooting star she shone
mystery sister of Aoede & Terpsichore
she’s a goddess of dance and song
she’d cast her beguiling lyrical spell
and hold captive her mesmerized throng
the news came late last weekend
Lauria was nowhere in sight
last seen circling a midnight star
moving at the speed of light
people who knew Lauria well
were sure it was what they’d feared
she had finally outdistanced time
and mystically disappeared
never ever to be seen again
no way — no how — nowhere
she’d lived life at such velocity
she blazed out like a beautiful flare
oh, would her end have been such magic
whirled away in an enchanted gust
sadly she was felled by a virulent evil
smaller than a speck of stardust
R.I.P.
~ ~ ~
rob kistner © 2020
NOTE to “Blogger” site owners: I enjoy reading your work, but frustratingly, many “Blogger” sites DO NOT let me post comments? 🙂 So sorry if you don’t see personal comments from me on your “Blogger” site. But I will keep reading your work — and welcoming and responding to your comments here on Image & Verse.
Hedone’s Lovers
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines erotic as: “of, relating to, exciting, or expressing sexual attraction or desire”
~
translucent alabaster blaze
you’re torrid as a teen’s temptation
I’m a kindle’d lover’s pyre
tinder poised
with slightest spark
near to burn
wrapped steaming
in eager hungry arms
achingly we yearn
your graceful face
wanton aglow
comely raised and tilted back
my fingers tangled in your hair
swept away in lustful swoon
you’re Hedone’s daughter
lush with nectar
afire in ardor’s golden flame
that folds upon you soft as satin
down glistening back
that tempting tapers
to the tender
warm and sultry
a wonderland for fingertips
mine touch
and tease
and tantalize
we explore
full measure
our quivering bodIes
mine chiseled firm
hammered hard
smooth as stone
with Himeros’s brand
your divinely-pleasing
sculpted vessel
brought forth
by Aphrodite’s hand
flesh-fruit swells full and ripe
a silhouette to hypnotize
enticing in the candle’s flicker
we fondle freely with wanting eyes
I twist and tweak
your blossomed berries
that burst
engorged with passion’s heat
my teeth to nip and tug
draw to my lips
to taste
your tender touch
soft loving stroke
drawn slow ‘n steady
ignites my need
now full ready
to firm express
my willful hands
of pleasured probing
wrap slender waist
then slowly slide
‘cross pleading hips
of sensuous rise
to fall in frail folds of eros
molded from the charms of Venus
’round dual swells of burning myth
that writhe
atop two lathen’d stems
long and lithe
as liquid love
turned by pleasure’s gloried angels
tempered in a sacred fire
stretched taut
arched high
in carnal roil
we entwine
god and goddess buff
beyond delirium
I enter rough
we thrust and thrust
in randy lust
’til passion’s seed
has turned to dust
and our wanton
carnal
flames
are snuffed
love’s raging madness
at last rebuffed
~ ~ ~
rob kistner © 2020
NOTE to “Blogger” site owners: I enjoy reading your work, but frustratingly, many “Blogger” sites DO NOT let me post comments? 🙂 So sorry if you don’t see personal comments from me on your “Blogger” site. But I will keep reading your work — and welcoming and responding to your comments here on Image & Verse.
Poetics: Exploring Erotica as a Literary Genre (what makes a poem erotic?)
Hiking Paradise
Hiking Paradise
~
Filtered by the towering woodland canopy overhead, sunlight drifts down dreamlike to settle radiant, igniting the breathtaking forest cathedral before me. Suddenly, a young doe bounds onto the trail ahead, stands proudly, pausing in the warmth of the rays. She considers me briefly, then disappears as quick as a stolen glance, quiet as passing time.
I dart my eyes here, then there, in a vain attempt to follow. Its then I catch a glimpse of silver-blue, reflecting resplendently, where massive old-growth trunks part — Lost Lake! This is the prize I sought on my hike today into this Cascade wilderness paradise.
I step through the opening, to climb a huge boulder. A deep expanse of chill mountain lake unfurls before me, sparkling cerulean and sterling, in the crisp quickening breeze. I sit, pull my legs under me, and lean forward — enthralled. Elbows on knees, I marvel, mesmerized by the energy and splendor of this natural wonder.
dances in gilding sunlight
crisp breeze stirs old growth
~ ~ ~
rob kistner © 2020
NOTE to “Blogger” site owners: I enjoy reading your work, but frustratingly, many “Blogger” sites DO NOT let me post comments? 🙂 So sorry if you don’t see personal comments from me on your “Blogger” site. But I will keep reading your work — and welcoming and responding to your comments here on Image & Verse.