Baited Breath

The autumn wind is a kitten at play
Nibbling at my neck with frosty nips
Icicle claws take my breath away

Tail twitching stirs leaves an unseen moray
Bursting in air a red orange apocalypse
The autumn wind is a kitten at play

Leaves and wind in effortless ballet
Swans on the lake wind chilly kicks
Icicle claws steal my breath away

Downtown tower tunnels wind in ambush lay
Mischievous scamp up to old tricks
The autumn wind is a kitten at play

Soon more rough than tumble is the way
Wind grips and rips and strips and whips
Icicle claws tear my breath away

The wind howls as the hell hounds bray
Thin veil torn wind takes form in eclipse
The vicious wind a were cat come to slay
Icicle claws steal my breath awww...

(A villainous villianelle )

Clash

Clash

Lash out

Out loud thoughts

Feedback helps set tone

False peace means no changes

Listen and we move forward

'Conflict handled right will strengthen'

Honeysuckle

After a shower

My honeysuckle smells sweet

Sweet enough to eat

After some pruning

Pull back petals taste nectar

Down my sticky chin

Tantalizing taste

Makes hunger rise up for more

Inside to finish

My mind so far

When I was young my mind was chaotic good
As i grew my mind found connections 
A young adult I thought myself a zen master
Nowdays I'm just a space cadet

I was a little crazy not bad or mean
I believed what I saw on any screen
Ideas are matches my thoughts firewood
When I was young my mind was chaotic good

I opened my eyes and my mind
Saw God, the universe and everything intertwined 
It all kept on spinning despite my objections 
As i grew my mind found connections

No control over the world I'd control myself
Ignore pain  but still couldn't force stuff off the shelf
Meditation and music can't avoid disaster 
A young adult I thought myself a zen master

I've found solace in the living word
Went from wandering hippie to distracted nerd
A war or trek amongst stars help me forget
Nowdays I'm just a space cadet

Hunger

Hunger

That clawing need

Never quite goes away

Then I met her satisfies my

Craving

True Love

Meet me in the garden

Meet me at midnight 

Midnight moonlight 

Midnight rendezvous 

Rendezvous with you

Rendezvous Deja vu 

Deja vu look at you

Deja vu like a movie

Movie madness 

Movie makeout

Makeout in the dark

Makeout in the park

Park in lover's lane

Park bench by Starlight 

Starlight star bright

Starlight express

Express your self 

Express your feelings 

Feelings nothing more than feelings 

Feelings of love 

Love in all its forms 

Love is my anchor 

Anchor in the quiet Bay

Anchor in the storm 

Storm the gates 

Storm the castle

Castle in the sand

Castle captures knight 

Knight moves

Knight kneels to his lady

Lady and the tramp 

Lady marmalade 

Marmalade sweet and tart

Marmalade muffins the morning after

After the battle for Hogwarts 

After all this time--always

Always on the sunny side 

Always and forever 

Forever in blue jeans

Forever and ever 

Ever after 

Ever shall I sing

Sing with the angels

Sing with passion

Passion that will enflame

Passion that will remain

Remain true

Remain in love

True

Love

Hot Rods, Marble Quads, and Toga Wads

Iris was a messenger for gods

She and her sister were at odds

Golden one got all the lauds

'Arks' liked the boys with bods

They liked flying broads

But they were clods

Zeus sent squads

Mean frauds

Gods

(A nonet. )

...he ripped off her irridescent  fairy wings like a child with a fly.
Anytime a goddess tries to get a leg up by letting men get a leg over it ends up in pain, shame, disgrace, and despair.
Be prepared to live in hell.

Hero's journey

Heroes must try heroes must fail
In getting up finish the tale
Closeted ghosts monsters in dark
Monkeys on back the secret mark
There is a monstrodex you can get hindered by
Though its impossible you know heroes must try

The mountain path is steep and long
Sharp and forked like an antler prong
A chance misstep could spell your doom
Ignore the thorns or miss the bloom
The rocky trail will hurt so find the hidden bath
Use the best of what you see on the mountain path

Watch the compass find your true north
Set the mainsail and sally forth
See the world from your own balloon
Climb on a rocket to the moon
The worst the world can throw at you will   come to pass
When in the midst of the worst storm watch the compass

Alphabet Soup

Adaptation is defensive evolution
Balance of planning and flexibility
Change is inevitable
Don't tread on me
Exept when I ask
For you to walk on my back
Give me liberty or else
History repeats itself
Illusion is an illusion of an enigma
Justice is a joke without compassion
Knowledge is a knot
Logic is the key
Miracles are a change from the mundane
Nostalgia keeps the mind narrow
Opportunity knocks once the door is closed
Poverty has the power to push to perform
Questions quelled make emotional quagmire
Roll with the puniches
Stagnation occurs when you stop flowing
Transformation ties trama with time
Understanding ugliness urges usefulness
Variety could be a vehicle to victory
Wrinkles are a sign you walked well
Xenopus frog on a xylem leaf
Yesterday was tomorrow will be go with it
Zone of comfort a prison

Aquire desire

Desire

It is like fire

Can be good or dire

Lift up or keep in the mire 

Comfort or cut like thick razor wire

Remember as a kid s'mores over campfire

Rock star dreams played through an amplifier 

Girl next door makes you perspire

You want a kiss by her 

You require

Desire 

I was/They were...

(Warning: there is some disturbing content and the end is dark. It started playful with a thesaurus and some rhymes. It took over and got dark fast. But so does the news. I have often wondered, have I helped create those ' villains'? And what would it  take for me to become one.)

...unimpressed...

In school I dressed for success

Wore my medals on my chest

Endured the test

Tried to be like the rest

They treated me like a pest

The effort left me stressed

Hurt, strung out and depressed

...and they kept on eating

...banal...

Strolling laughing past my job at the mall

They tried to make me feel small

Rolling eyes as I passed in the hall

Always last to get the ball

Its a big joke when I fall

Because I'm not built like a Ken doll

Into my cave of books and games I'd crawl

...and they kept on eating 

...insipid...

There's nowhere I fitted

My soul like my complexion pitted

The snickering rumor I was flaccid

Condemnation unaquitted

A trackless crime once committed

No evidence to be submitted

Words are flames that flicker wicked

...and they kept on eating 

...bland..

Because I play tuba in the band

Against bullies I don't make a stand

None of my clothes are a designer brand

I turn lobster when the rest are tanned

I don't have the snide words at my command

I'm only intimate with my own hand

My grinding teeth sound like sand

...and they kept on eating 

...glib..

Dress like hookerst talking about women's lib

Acting 40 barely out of the crib

Big jock boys smash you in the rib

Talk about scoring it's just a fib

Got a short fuse they call me Squib

Chanting, 'little Squib needs a bib'

Written on my forehead with a sharpie nib

...and they kept on eating 

...vacuous...

If anyone survives it'll be miraculous

If you put out they call you promiscuous

If you don't then you're gender ambiguous

They think poison words are innocuous

Tried to stay anonymous

An angry target is conspicuous

I cut myself because I'm useless

...and they kept on eating 

...aloof...

My life seems like a movie spoof

Photoshop me with my dog call me woof woof

Nice burn but you're not fireproof

Boys beat me down cause I'm a goof

Wolves corner a moose get a face full of hoof

I've got a plan that's foolproof
Got my hunting rifle and some pipe bombs on the roof

...and no one is eating

No one is laughing

Have I got your attention now? 

Dragon the World Around

Dragons are not a species

But chosen from the beasts 

One is called each solstice 

To be transformed with power

Imbued with ancient vast knowledge 

Able to fly without wings

Through the air and space

To rule on the moon

Watching man and beast below

Defending all from threats beyond

There are ten lines 5 words each which makes 50 words. I read 'The dragon chose...' my mind said ...a successor. But it not a position...or is it?
It now seems like the teaser for a full book
Maybe I'll write some of in November  

The sense of fear

See dark shapes in fog
Hell hound or lost dog
Fear gives life to that unclear
Grin masks in plain sight
Lithe hunter of night
Some need fear the hungry Leer

Smell a hint of smoke
That's why you awoke
Cautious cats sniff all that's near
Acrid metal scent
Let the shop prevent
Dangerous brakes or loose gear

Taste a bright berry
Bitter? Be wary
You're a carcass midst the deer
Not a germaphobe?
Beware the microbe
Dread toxin in week old smear

Feel soft touch by night
You will start in fright
Spider's your hair on your ear
Fear's brush on my brain
Could drive me insane
Pray and it will disappear

Disgusted

Disgusted 

That is the way I feel 

Every time I watch the nightly news 

I love a haiku

It is an express poem

When you got to move

House of Many Voices

Welcome friends to the house of many voices

Come as you are bring whatever you have to share

Or not we also need people who enjoy and listen

Remember you don't need to get paid to be an artist

If you write anything then my friend you are a writer

Paint your feelings with emotional words you are a poet


Unless you write greeting cards no one pays  a poet

So we are forced to listen to cold practical voices

In your spare time you can be an aspiring writer

Contribute get a real job so you do your share

Don't be a leech no one likes to see a starving artist

Eat vitamins brush your teeth learn to listen



Well I have never been one to blindly listen

Except to the good book my instinct and the voices  of the poet

For the moment I'm making ends meat as a sandwich artist

The company sanctioned soundtrack drowns out artistic voices

I could crunch numbers to find the quotient mean of the market share

Or a suit a tie an office an actuarial table I'll be an insurance writer



Out my high rise window the ghost of Petty is a free falling sky writer

Hey spike use ten foot tall words to get the world to get woke and listen

I'm opening up more and more soon  I'll be the king of the over share

Lost in space and ground control is the only lifeline of the poet

I would have gone crazy without this way to release the voices

Once again I am the Prince formerly known as Artist



There are other times that I feel like a literary  con artist

I want to apologize to beloved long gone writers

With rhythm with rhyme and meter they skilfully gave their voices

 Push a button I have 10 rhymes a metaphor and a Playlist just listen

Click the mouse I have any quote from  any poet

Mindlessly I can poke post tweet like and share



I don't know how much more to share

With heart honesty and passion I can say I'm an artist

With words finely tuned  and chiseled  I am a poet

I've got a good plot I've got fingrertip resources I am a writer

Open heart open mind I've finally learned the art of listening

To be heard we must raise our voices



Let us gather in the circle  to share storyteller balladeer and writer

Sculpter painter performance artist the world will come to listen

Come actor dancer bard and poet welcome to the house of many voices

Autumn Leaves II

Autumn leaves 

A mess behind her

Twirling through life quite madly 

A grinning tornado in pigtails

Autumn leaves 

no pile alone kicking poor 

autumn leaves

Dancing like leaves with the autumn wind

Leaving a harvest of joy

I'm always sad when 

Autumn leaves 

(Dedicated to my niece Autumn Grace)

Autumn Leaves I

I walk for a living giving out parking tickets 

Dancing is not that appealing after work

So I let the the world dance for me

I love to watch and keep time with my mind

Autumn leaves swirl through through the air

Floating gently like snowflakes soon to come 

Tap dancing fairy rhythms like a knock on the door

When they strike my canvas coat 

Gathering stirring whispering singing

A protest movement against the winter wind

Til armor clad gusts push them into full scale riot

I try to exert my control over autumn leaves

I snap at heels and shepherd them in corral piles

The grip of my hand and pull of stubborn leaves

Reawakens languid summer muscle memory

Of wide shovels and heavy snow

I trudge along tunnel streets of trees holding hands

They bow they moan they mumble they stiffly sway

Stately old men knotted yet strong hosting Cotillion 

On the stage of my deck and yard

A cold but handsome Baryshnikov breeze

Stirs up ballerina leaves to follow his lead

The rain clouds roll in like ocean swells

A chill wind on my neck like a spectre's kiss

I'm the intrepid adventurous archaeologist spelunking

Scarab shell leaves crunch grimly  underfoot

The musty decay sets off sneezes and sniffles

Is the undiscovered pharaoh tomb around the corner

Walking past the skeletal cemetery trees I see

Gold flake autumn leaves covering crumbling tombs

The dusty markers stand a chorus line of headboards

Above a crimson pumpkin lemon drop leaf quilt

Tucking in and keeping warm loved ones

Thier dance is done save for the occasional  rustle

Of weary bones shifting into a better position 

Autumn leaves swirl through through the air

The answer is busking in the wind

I woke up one restless Saturday morning

And thought I'd go to the market and play for change

The air was cool but still and gave no warning

The powers that be were brewing something strange

I set up my guitar case and music stand

Donned my plaid fedora put a harmonica in the holder

Playing dust in the wind like a one man band

Blowing tunes and strumming my hands a blur

The gentle summer wind unassuming 

Was overpowered by a vicious autumn gale

Each time I opened my mouth to sing 

The screaming squall answered with a wicked wail

Sudden gusts tornadoed leaves into a dancing flash mob

Flipping pages looking for a song in my lyrics binder

To regain control bull clips always seem to do the job

My hat blowing off and then returned is a reminder

Life nature and people try to exert their power

You have to find some way to regain control

Like the helpful bumblebee fertilizing a flower

Allowing others to help you empower your soul

Palindrome emo alien

Smoke 

Drifting  gently 

The lights strangely glowing

Fire from space created

Life alien seeking 

Peace not war

Humans fear by rule

Attacks suddenly call on

Death

On call suddenly attacks

Rules by fear humans

War not peace

Seeking alien life

Creating space from fire

Glowing strangely lights the

Gently Drifting

Smoke

(I thought I would try a palindrome. It's not easy.  Hope it makes some sense )

Wisdom Cascade

Wisdom is better than rubies and pearls

Seek wisdom as you would silver

How much better to get wisom than gold

Deep respect of the divine is the source of wisdom

Exploring knowledge caverns I had found a few lumps

Tears of repentance washed off the dust revealing a glint

Wisdom is better than rubies and pearls 

When the full moon turns I learn

I've got a hairy side and need to shoot it down

Seek wisdom as you would silver

I was burning melting and drowning 

I discovered my impurities and began to shine

How much better to get wisdom than gold

I nearly sunk in the murky water of philosophy

God's well of truth bubbles up clear and pure

Deep respect of the divine is the source of wisdom

(This is a Cascade form poem. The first lines of the 1st stanza are from the bible)

Step back

Don't cross the line

Don't cross the mob

Mob mentality 

Mob rules 

Rules made to bent

Rules made to broken

Broken Arrow 

Broken promises 

Promises promises 

Promises are hard to keep

Keep on trucking

Keep on the sunny side

Side piece 

Side effects may occur

Occur too often

Occur at random

Random acts of violence 

Random acts of kindness 

Kindness matters

Kindness always pays

Pays for your sins

Pays to confess

Confess it's good for the soul

Confess we have ways of making you talk

Talk of the town

Talk is cheap

Cheap thrills

Cheap shots

Shots across the bow

Shots in the behind

Behind on your bills

Behind the shed

Shed your inhibitions

Shed your skin

Skin on skin contact

Skin is only skin deep

Deep thoughts

Deep end of the pool

Pool your resources

Pool party

Party politics

Party till you drop

Drop out of orbit 

Drop me a line

Line up at the step

Line up front to back

Step

Back

Keeping pace

When I was young I would pace
The mirror my catwalk and my fans
Time and experience have taught me 
Beauty fades but wisdom does not wrinkle

When I was young I would pace
Rehearsing a play to be the star on the stage
Time and experience have taught me 
The role of a lifetime is performing acts of kindness 

When I was young I would pace
Arms raised heavenward trying to bend it to my will
Time and experience have taught me
The still small voice responds to the servant heart

When I was young I would pace 
Giving the response to an argument I'd lost earlier 
Time and experience have taught me
Slow to speak quick to listen slow to anger is the key

When I was young I would pace 
Stalking gatherings hunting for someone to love
Time and experience have taught me
Sometimes what you're looking for is following you

When I was young I would pace 
Waiting for someone to be done with the washroom 
Time and experience have taught me
Somethings only get worse with time age and experience

Moonflower

Carved in stone are the words 'I love my moon flower 

Like the plant on the vine My love could not stay long 

He touched my soul and left In my heart his love song 

###

They lie upon the base of an ancient tower 

It is attended by a woman just as old 

In clean but well used rags bound up against he cold

###

The black and thorny vines give off a scent quite sour 

Like her the rotting leaves seem to be past their prime 

Youth's sap must give in to The plodding March of time

###

They bloom when the clock hand strikes the midnight hour 

No morning glory here No harsh and cruel sun 

Cool quiet stars show Life's day it's course has run 

###

One moon beam descended in a blinding shower 

Shattering sullen clouds lighting up the dark sea 

The star seemed to hold a figure-- this couldn't be

###

The being rose bathed in celestial power

With stately strides toward her the tall angel came

A voice she seemed to know softly breathed out her name

###

When he spoke she could do naught but freeze and cower

The hallucinations from the plant when distilled 

Must explain the vision with which her eyes were filled

###

Fear not my precious one I've not come to devour

I am your lover lost you thought left you alone

I've watched and waited 'til the time to take you home 

###

Body left soul as birds slip the snare of the fowler

In the beyond behind the veil we can not see

They will dance together for all eternity

###

(This is a variation on a Constanza: a/b/b, a/c/c, a/d/d, ect. 
The first lines which all rhyme could be read as a poem.
The difference is 12 syllables per Line not 8
Here is a Joseph star poem)

Learn

Every day

Old dogs can surprise

I was an eager young pup

Curious but no focus

Open up your eyes

Let your mind

Grow

As I thought about between sea and sky.  An image of the moon popped into my head.  10 min. Later I saw this etched into the side walk

This picture covers the wall where I ate lunch

It is by Brian Marshall-Schieder
It is titled 'Island of the Angel '

Moonflower

The Ancient Art of Inuendo

 The Ancient Art of Inuendo

'You will taste my blade, sir.' Said the knight

It is long and hard and strong

Many a good man has gone down upon its point

 As a first class bandit I am a master swordsman

In the Orient I learned many ways to grip it and swing it and thrust and parry

Unless you perform an act of fealty upon your knees I will destroy you

Uninspired

Before you can have

Inspiration you must have

Some perspiration  

Prose or poetry 

Starts with ideas or feelings
And end with hard work

Just write something down 
Sometimes it will start to flow 
Ditch don't dig itself

Don't abuse your muse
Amuse yourself to get clues
Or just watch the news 

In her arms

Lying in her arms I think
'How did I get here?'

She was the fulfilment of my vision quest

In her eyes I see a picture of eternity

I am strange and she is wonderful

When the wait is long the bond is stronger

Our words began to create
a path to follow

In spite of or perhaps because of
The ghost of a substandard beau
She stayed

Our love magic is not made
Of smoke and mirrors but something More elemental and arcane

Each soul speaks as flesh of my flesh
Manifests electric ecstasy

The will of the Father yields more
Than we could hope or imagine

Like salmon slowly bathed
In fragrant cherry wood smoke
Our love tastes sweet, rich, and earthy.