there is no shame
being a traveler slowed
wisdom grows
to match the nicks
of years and miles
the virtue of sacrifice
begets the courage
to best the journey
that remains
rob kistner © 2019
3 IGWRT words: shame, virtue, sacrifice
rob kistner © 2019
I’ll not be defined
my nature’s fluid
my essence — turbulent
reach not for me
I will not be held
do not name me
I will not be yours
rob kistner © 2019
“The leaf of the gingko tree is found in fossils dating back 270 million years. Native to China, the tree is said to possess biological properties effective in the treatment of memory disorders, such as dementia.”
by the golden gingko leaf
since the ancient times
rob kistner © 2019
quiet is the blue forest
seek there your calm mind
rob kistner © 2019
falling leaf asks of the oak
— to your destiny
rob kistner © 2019
atop the bench
by our garden wall
just where she left it
our cat Taja
hides inside at play
pokes up his furry head
to look my way
he knows
it is her can
he waits every day
for his mistress
to tenderly pat his head
to reach her gentle hand
and lift her can
how many lilies
has it nourished
how many daisies
lilacs
roses
how many morning glories
it dispenses
its life giving waters
so gracefully in her hand
a delicate hand
gentle in its loving touch
gentle in its task
of planting
gentle in its tend
but rugged on any weeds
threatening her garden
she
the giver of life
the guardian
of her realm
but she could not stop
all that threatened
and I had not
her gift of giving life
and so it rests
atop the bench
just where she left it
no longer is it lifted
by her tender nurturing hand
that hand now
is still
rob kistner © 2019
keep these
from your inner being
these do not feed the spirit
lift someone in need
seek the components of peace
create enduring possibility
with these
feed your spirit
sustain your tranquil center
rob kistner © 2019
“Human beings have dominion over nature.” How absurd! Beyond smoke&mirrors, this is an absolute lie of a devastating magnitude. Human’s have inflicted inconceivable abuses on the natural world, as a result of this most self-destructive belief. For example, it has given birth to these abominations we call zoos. These institutions of cruel incarceration are a horrifying tragedy of perverse human arrogance.
searing deep to burn your soul
a beautiful, furious, calm inferno
unyielding is this panther’s pace
held captive in this foolish zoo
brutalized by human arrogance
denied the freedom that is its soul
cold eyes rivet snarled contempt
unfathomed pools of quiet rage
on this panther paces paces
turns and paces back he paces
graceful stride of brute resolve
presses on to test his bounds
proud this captive soul just paces
frustration turns anger retraces
this brutal prison of false environ
does not fool this mighty beast
observe how he continues pacing
instinct certain this is not home
his piercing gaze fixed well beyond
his suffered fate of cruel confine
see the panther pacing pacing
his nature steeled his spirit strong
relentless sorrow wild longing
drive on and on his constant stride
this will not break his fierce resolve
he tracks freedom he stalks life
imprisoned he will forever pace
and he will pace
and he will die
~ ~
caged beast close your eyes
have no fear of letting go
dream of wild freedom
~ ~ ~
rob kistner © 2019
This is a 144 word flash fiction piece written in response to a dVerse prompt. This one is focused at the beauty and power of the Pacific Northwest, the land that I embrace, and dearly love — my home! You can click at the bottom of this post if you would like to listen to the soothing sound of the river while you read.
I’m at peace wandering these mountains, spellbound by the vastness of their forests, searching their rivers, letting them carry my spirit over their boulders and falls. My soul hears ancient secrets whispered by their waters, echoed in the treetops by birds’ quiet songs. The tumble of their current is the lifeblood of my heart.
These pristine mountains are breathtaking, unspoiled natural beauty. They ignite my imaginings. The fragrance of conifers and wild flowers blend to intoxicate the breezes, wafting all around me, as sun rays drift down dreamlike from their emerald forest canopies, sparkling diamond-like on the chill chop-waters of their wild mountain rivers.
This special place is close to my heart. Here my spirit soars like the melody of a song. When I’m lost, the mystery of this magic place finds me. Here you will love again the stranger who was your self.
rob kistner © 2019
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LiiYMEWKVnY
This challenging form is called a sestina. This is the second I’ve written in response to a dVerse prompt. This one is focused at the beauty and power of the Pacific Northwest, the land that I embrace, and dearly love. My home! The region is a soul stirring, life transforming miracle! I’ve opened the door — take a look! You can click at the bottom of this post if you would like to listen to the soothing sound of the stream, and bird songs.
to this mystic realm I lost my heart
awestruck by these majestic mountains
rushing whitewaters serenade with song
roaring over rocks in crisp wild rivers
‘round each bend stirs a freshened breeze
wafting through timeless emerald forests
breathtaking — these pristine forests
unspoiled natural beauty steals your heart
fragrant conifers intoxicate the breeze
sun rays fall dreamlike on the mountains
sparkle diamondly on cold chop-water rivers
beauty so glorious as to celebrate in song
bles’sed mornings I wake to nature’s song
cradled joyful beneath the canopy of forests
dreams dance crisp clear waters of the rivers
nature’s energy excites the rhythm of my heart
resonant as root-chambers in old-growth forests
“be glad” breaths the quiet voice of the breeze
a treetop osprey’s cry echoes in the breeze
beautifully eerie this raptor’s haunting song
it seeks prey in the waters of these mountains
as the airborne master fisher of these forests
doing battle with a wild trout is in its heart
I use a wooden boat to fish these rivers
my imagination flows free as these rivers
life’s become light as a soft evening breeze
I hold this special place close to my heart
my spirit soars like the melody of a song
ever captive to the mystery of these forests
enchanted by the wonders of these mountains
the rush of wild rivers is like a brightening song
carried on the breeze through these ancient forests
my heart’s song resonates in these mighty mountains
rob kistner © 2019
I am not a big fan of strict-form structured poetry. This form is called a sestina, and was written in response to a prompt at dVerse Poets. This form was quite challenging, so I wrote a tongue-in-cheek sestina in response. Please read lightheartedly.
how can I avoid this creative consternation
and free my poet’s soul from these chains
I must resist this frightful pending threat
I fear my will to fight is slowly waning
as my poet’s spirit suffers this cruelty
can my true voice survive this violation
I must stand strong against this violation
stimulate my voice ‘midst this consternation
shield my free expression from this cruelty
my soul must not falter ‘neath these chains
resolve must be steady — be never waning
it’s imperative I withstand this awful threat
is it fair a poet be subjected to such threat
why must I confront such heartless violation
you see why my resistance might be waning
entangled in this creative consternation
and the pressing weight of these heavy chains
you must admit that this is unusual cruelty
I know that others here now face this cruelty
and must also stare down this unseemly threat
others here endure the heft of these same chains
I am not the only one who feels the violation
many victims here caught in this consternation
likely feeling their courage is ever waning
my love of pure free verse is never waning
I steadfastly rebuke this attempt at cruelty
I will not be swayed by foolish consternation
nor will I cower to this mean but failed threat
my poet’s voice will overcome this violation
I’ll wield my poet’s pen to break the chains
free of poetic consternation, my creativity’s no longer waning
chains on my poet’s soul are broken, I am beyond the cruelty
no more threat to my free thinking, I’ve survived the violation
rob kistner © 2019
This poem was inspired by the late Octavio Paz poem of the same title. Though they are certainly different, I used an essence from of each of Octavio’s 5 verses to influence each of my five verses: ocean, desert, roots, sparks, and stars. Click at the bottom here to read the Octavio Paz poem at dVerse.
I begin to run my fingers
slowly down her trembling back
as it tapers ‘neath my touch
flesh warm as twilight sands
at desert’s coming nocturne
in firm but gentle grasp
I cup the tender swells
atop taut velvet thighs
as we urgently entwine
tight as fresh young banyans
skin to skin we smolder
our bodies firing sparks
lover’s flint and steel
until we ignite to blaze
an inferno of molten bliss
our lust consumed and spent
we collapse body to body
in love’s sweet intoxication
the embers of our passion
rise to mingle with the stars
rob kistner © 2019
like a voice
in a canyon
I hear her calling
in memories
my name
rolling sweet as nectar
from lips
soft as orchid petals
glistening crimson
as they wrapped softly
‘round each precious syllable
that night her voice
was forever silenced
rob kistner © 2019
a place of beauty
pure as light
of goodness
strong as sterling
a place of plenty
where no one wants
precious gifts
freely bestowed
to those
that dwell in truth
whose voices rise
in sensuous song
of celebraton
rob kistner © 2019