I remember
holding you
those gentle nights
irreplaceable moments
out in your rambling garden
when the humbling stars came out again
all those bright southern lights
we watched the wonder of the Southern Cross
like pieces of Australia and Antarctica
prayers finding their way to heaven
all the sweet kisses in the world
those cherished garden nights
such is garish love
like a storm in my heart
I dare to hold you close
even though we're far apart
closer than a heartbeat
closer than a kiss
you're in me
I'm in you too
some warm summer night
when the hot day has given out
when twilight has launched arrows into my heart
I'll hold you in my arms
we'll swirl in that torrid dream together
while the charming stars come out
all those exceptional reasons we're apart now
twirling like a myth somehow
whirling words that made little sense
changing furious seasons in space
those hard kisses we'll never share again
passionate memories of you in that special place
grace can be my only recompense
perhaps when we wake from this stolid dream
we'll find ourselves in that charmed place again
we'll share ripe peaches and sweet cream
love says the stars revolve around myth and romance
so I'll hold you close and kiss you
while we join with the adventurous stars
there we'll explore each others eyes
wrap each other in our arms
burning bright like blazing stars
as we dance across the love crazed sky

  
   
                             * * *

those ideas we sow
planting seeds
just below a scratched up surface
many grow free
beacons of hope
sprout and bloom
annuals
two linear things
crouched side by side
along another garden row
I'm giving biennials some room
but those other things we plant
perennials and shrubs
juicy berries and long lived trees
those other amazing things
planting wonders for the future
today we nurture
tomorrow's garden story
that music we play and hear
all those notes we hold so dear
a dance with nature
only love no fear
clearly sacred value
talking the same language
planting the same seeds
we're nurturing our wondrous gardens
not just for today's everyday needs
but for future glory and future seeds
all that mothering energy out of the earth
delicious nectar feeding the world
utter joy found in this garden mirth
such sweet fruit as the world unfurls
   
    
                        * * *

I thought of you

throughout the night
 
dreaming about
 
where we'd been
 
together then
 
you and I
 
but when dawn came
 
you were gone
 
when trill morning broke
 
you weren't there
 
when the sun
 
called out your name
 
you had disappeared
 
when the still day cried out
 
love had come and gone
 
wond'ring how we had all gone wrong
 
just as I had always feared

 
 
                   * * *

I wrote my name in the sky again
when the sun refused to shine
I told the worms in the earth
you were never mine
I sang a familiar hymn
a vow of the earthly divine
reminding me of all those lost words
words that sounded like both yours and mine
that high familiar ground
we both tumbled off that mound
that pounding fall from grace
from love's quiet loving place
those unfounded words we both mumbled
turning away as we stumbled
instead of speaking clearly
face to face
I carved your name in my heart again
when all the light in my life refused to shine
when dark night came again
I cried for you
no love or shame
still nothing good or true found
no one but myself to blame
just the same
I've buried my feelings
deep in the fearless earth
I've scratched loamy love from my life
I'm a loveless worm again
whatever those segments are worth
  
   
                        * * *

I remember
that summer
so long gone
when we ran
barefoot
across the dewy lawn
after school ended
that new and welcome summer
we fished with our friends
off the old wooden dock
that early morning calm
out at Lac St. Anne
in the gentle summer dawn
do you
remember
a summer trip
long ago
when we all skipped
barefoot
along that dusty country road
cool summer when we camped
in those wild rocky mountains
where restless east meets the crested west
those glorious snowy peaks
such marvelous vestments at sunrise
glacial testaments with majestic sunsets
relative mountains in that objective place
where living trees reach out
wanting to marry the loving sky
such ancient history
sentient mysteries we envision
those youthful visions we create
childhood's creative mind and hands
landing like a convergence of creative water
rapid rivers conceiving rugged valleys
carving deep gullies
plateaus cradling crystal lakes
that clear thirsting quench
grand with herds of wildlife
all those gems and conceptual trees
convening forest realms
existential creationism
such conventional moral schisms
rational childhood divisions
summer's bejeweled decisions
exploring the diamond mind
where ruby joy and emerald wonder
show us gemstone dreams of every kind
featuring smooth facets and rough extensions
elements of the quizzical kind
where childhood and spirit walk
talking about every creative part
youth reminding us
a shower of creative life
with some remembrance
some semblance in part
of intentional inventions
assembled recreation
rememb'ring innocent summer
those youthful glorious days
when we ran half naked and barefoot
children at our best
young eyes and hearts
awed by rare summer sights
like flightless chicks in a nest
that canvas of starry night stillness
sheltering the spotted fawn
if you could
remember where we stood
the graceful doe with her new born fawn
nature's summer frill and freedom
I remember manicured summer lawns
where we tumbled until September's chill
remembrance without a rumble of contention
virtuous we're humbly still connected
that long gone childhood 
sweet memories
of all that innocence
those childhood intentions
  
  
                 * * *

this current
rushing stream
at times a perilous waterfall
some crush dream
alarm it seems
this covid-19
like lush Christmas
rushed and disappointing
and utterly lonely
like blustery Easter
the dead and the dying
disjointed by conflicting crosses and a reckless past
liberal lightning makes me believe
there are confederate storms that shall last
appointed by the democratic lord of the world
Ra speaks to earth's insurgents
things broken are broken
echoing a morbid resurgence
recurring broken dams
landslides and trust emergencies
comets are storming the night sky
emerging trends forming in many lands
summer storms urgently remind
fire sales should be last resorts
bureaucracy and pageantry of every kind
reckoning angles with supporting reports
some mindful invention
surfing every intentional wave
intent economic power
cohorts with executive retort
propaganda boosted by blowhards
supreme executive raves
all those respected glittering rivers
slivering glaciers once freely gave
reeling regency into urgency
reckoning and the steely world court
  
                 
                        * * * 

those words and visions
inside our heads
those times that made us
laugh and cry
by and by
seeing all our dreams
as restless clouds
in the relentless sky
i was born on the tenth
on the eleventh
i wore feathers
in my hair
war paint
rearranging
my tattooed face
my squinting eyes
staring into the duplicitous sun
gauging autumn's fall and old man winter
in that dreamy stead
waiting for lilac spring and sunflower summer
all those carrot top words and broccoli visions
salad dreams in my winter bed
those cold dark times
starvation almost saw us die
by and by
all our replacement dreams
complacency so it seems
we can only try and try
cookies for breakfast
donuts for lunch
cake for supper
wonders and stars
adoring the steadfast sky

  

  
                                   * * *

bare hands
rich garden soil
digging
into the healing earth
revealing hidden gardens
where tribal we 
plant seeds
drumming
we stand and watch
miraculous sprouts
growing faith
witness purity
this novel garden
fashioning lives
reverently digging deeper
unearthing revered souls
healing wherever it can
our reeling hearts
we feel real soil
smell real earth
sweet scented mirth
heaven amongst the perfumed roses
we see the perfect bees
a buzzing hive on daily rounds
revere all the august birds
warbling rounds of robust joy
concerts of bass and treble
melodies here in the garden
echoing cloud frequencies
blessing the stoic sky
reflecting frequency
all that heroic goodness
respecting creative requiem
passion in this novel location
such trappist adoration
vocation not vacation
gardening away
finding blossoms of love
tasting flowers full of joy
whoa boy
mindful herbal thoughts
few nervous regrets
watching the garden grow
garden of epic pleasure
teaching me about relics
reach out
who could ever know
go now
into the garden
pardon the gate at eden
such a sacred realm and place
blossoming smiles
each delicata face
delicate flowers
stalactite stamens
crowns of thorns
like divine relics
stalagmite fronds
pressing up and hanging down
caressing butterfly blooms
think of insect perfection
the magenta sky reflects the garden gate
where the respectful green man
welcomes all good things
no high border or hindrance
try repentance aunty told uncle sam
rich compost and wise guidance
from a distinguished garden mate
I'm only here to plant seeds
liberated flowers bloom and grow
I'm only here because the sun still freely shines
pure sacred water still flows
when God comes to lift my soul
when birds come and sweetly sing
all those miraculous garden things
penance that makes us whole
all that the faithful gardener knows
  
  
                 * * *

there are things we do
choices we make
in daily life
some times we need to be brave
have faith
taking that big step
sometimes we want to take it hard
make up other needy times
but timidly leap anyway
into the riveting void
crossing into the invented unknown
into unscented darkness and blind silence
but silence isn't real
every thing is vibrating
vibration dressed up as frequency
listen close enough
hear the stars moan
all things are suffering
consciousness creates a toughening
along with buffering joy and beauty
miracles from the upwardly divine
realms we dream about
sometimes afraid to leave
fear having arrived
leaving means
losing something
leaves falling
stressed forests and trees
stressed birds and migrating caribou
finding other nests and river crossings
everything is leaving
we can never ungrow or go back
to where we've been
fear of where we're going
keeps hearts fluttering
butterflies keep buttering us up
giving us strength
we are here
hourly
taking another step
we've been there
daily
where the sky meets the land
where the sun greets the day
where heaven meets hell
where love takes our hand
we need to go there
some say the whole universe can be ours
just a smidgen perhaps
a lick a bite or a slice
every molecule we consume
every atom of universe is part of us
every electrically terse ion
every ray of light
those eclectic things we envision
like a wretched grub I met
chewing life out of the earth
going and growing
not knowing about tomorrow
never imagining grand wings
a mottled life of brilliant patterns
shapes and colours adorning every mandala
every mantra and breath perfection
I thought of the auditory sun
and the sun heard me
when I spoke about faith
a lasting sense
of choice new leaves
growing out of old wood
new waves and ways
reaching out into the universe
moving this liquid world forward
untold liquid stories
undreamt liquid dreams
liquid faith will lead the leafy way
liquid love will have its current say
all those flowers we've watched bloom
all that sweet fruit we've picked and eaten
choice liquid moments
new wood grows with grace
divinity heard our voice
the sky promised us space
witnessing birds in every garden
choices in this liquid place
  
                 * * *

this pandemic thing
it's a war footing
without the blood and ripped out guts
no tanks blasting down ruined streets
still there are street fights and landmines
we have to watch where we walk
along this mighty explosive road
chicory are standing tall now
displays of proud blue flowers
those vast rafts of happy daisies
circles of white faces
encircling dapper yellow centres
translating nature's poetry
capturing lines and words
rap from nature's rapt glory
champions rise like mist from the ground
distress is barked along this difficult road
expectant raptors and vultures still gather
excellent pickings at those festering wounds
making a political living consuming dead flesh
while leftist wedding storm clouds still gather
searching for the well of souls
needing to righteously marry
middle earth to starry heaven
how deep must we go
before drifting desert sands
consume Cheops great pyramid
is this the last vernal equinox
before this viral world ends
virtual sand in our eyes
a consumptive virus in our lungs
fighting this covert guerilla war
assuming tomorrow will arrive
while a twin-tailed comet  comes zinging by
reveling in supernatural revelations
celestial ovations every six thousand years
future centuries and epochs
nurturing this storied comet
currently crossing my chocolate world
enlightening the dark bitter and the darker sweet
love's tight lips wish for some soft caress
dreaming of sweet kisses romance brings
unlike the burning sting of this covid thing
what space did this novel thing come from
this awful pandemic thing
it's a war footing
gory contaminated blood and sacrificed guts
this is where we stand out
a modern relationship with an ancient world
will we sink or swim
if caesar opens the jail gate
releasing criminal friends
surely caesar shall jail
failed friends and foe 
caeser's personal dislikes
autocrat rules with machiavellian trends
dictators and viruses deposing human rights
corruption ending with a serpent's kiss
this demon pandemic we're in
obscene injustice is blowing in the wind
adjusting to groaning communications
there's a hidden covid face we can't see
blowing in the summer wind
white daisies and blue chicory 
 
                    * * *

all those parts of us
bits and pieces
things we leave behind us
things from long forgotten facial creases
even things we thought we trusted

bits of rusted things
broken strings that teased us
those times we woke busted
must we lose parts of ourselves
as we wrestle and tussle

arresting those secret things 
intimate closet comments
hidden away moments
fomentations left on dusty shelves
all those lusty things we once felt

 

now musty and long forgotten
water under the memory encrusted bridge
we adjust each notch on this tightening belt
still each enlightened day
sunrise just won't hang on and stay

daylight washes over me
each passing hour a prayerful privilege
let rain fall with its tutelage
witness drips and drops
yesterday's liquid stops

slipping forever away
failed intimate moments
steep scree and shale slopes
free climbing then sliding away
what ego stops gliding

when darkness ends the regal day
when the gum drops
when the blood clots
all those lost parts
remarkable kisses with subplots

all those marked bits
all those bloodied pieces
where did they go
those sorry missing pieces
of broken hearts

  
  
                                         * * * * *

A big wind tore by
It stole away my clothes
I stood there naked
Wearing nothing
But poetry and prose
In life
We have to move things
Sliding seems right
Cutting butter with a hot knife
But then sliding things
Can become a nagging drag
Hunter gatherer
Rather modern stags
Box stores and malls
Rolling the economic ball
Consumptive walls
Dragging and nagging
Grow dragon fly wings
Lift into the perfumed air
Soar above those grounded things
Free wheeling there
Travel across the treeless sky
Zeal from ground zero
Speedily wheeling
A to B to C
Some grieving and continued dragging
There are cries and desperate pleas
Proud deluded Nero's
Our denuded world is seething
Volcanoes are belching
Who should we conclusively believe
When exclusive authority is squelching
Should we protest or grieve
When we simply can't breathe
Everywhere I look
Wildflowers are blooming
In mountain meadows
I see
Real forests
With real trees
Real nature
Real you
Real me
Real mountains
Real rocks
Wet with real raindrops
Along with nature's real hard knocks
So I'm naked now
Still somehow
Some genuinely manage
Walking gently on this provoking earth
Invoking hunting and gathering
Planting seeds and harvesting fruit
Naked under the sun from birth
Sliding words and phrases across the enchanting sky
Wheeling themes and sentences
Digging roots and rhizomes
Dragging ancient tombstones
Chanting in the glaring light
Enticing sky drones
Back down to mother's shared earth
No grunge or turf clothes
Imagine dense jungle homes
Funny in a worthy sense
Running with rakish goosebumps
Gamboling naked with garden gnomes
 
 

if you can't
sing or dance
then paint
if you can't
paint or draw
then write
if you can't write a word
then garden
if you don't garden
grow a chamomile lawn
if your lawn ends up
choked with nothing but rocks and grass
yokes you can't throw off or mow
sow wild flowers across that yawning mass
meadows of flash summer flowers
outdoor shows and indoor dreams
those high in the sky castle towers
when you just can't sleep or dream
think sweet cream
drink deep and breathe
meditate upon breaking reactionary goals
mediate surmountable layers of crumbling life
recounting your share will humble you
reckoning creation out of countability
lessening strife doesn't make us whole
wholistic lessons cultivate our ability
zen cultivating this garden
dance of the soul

 

There's the beach bar
July first fair
Cruz Bay webcam
There's the guy
Sitting at the outside bar
With his quiet wife
Pretty as the evening sky
Seven p.m. on the busy beach
He stares about
Everything on this summer fling
Except his attractive spouse
The big lout is staring down
That bright screen
On his smart phone
He's gawking about
Staring out at people on the beach
Only Jewel is singing
He's yawning
Bored with his life
Bored with his wife
In those late thirties
Sometimes not much to say
Sitting there like some nursery rhyme
Next to Humpty Dumpty
Surely there is something to share
On that dimpled beach
Some crimped island outreach
Shrimp and peaches
Rotting in the summer sun
Those flourishing beach trees
Reaching out to the placid ocean
That boorish man stare
Tourist man sitting there
Drinking fresh pineapple mimosa
Lotion that soothes
Smooth and slick
Groovy Virgin beach life
What ever licks make us tick
She's sitting there licking too
Attractive in her mid-thirty dew
Tricky she's attached
Astride that bulky frame beside her
Inside that manframe
Staring about
He's almost sulking
Feeling no shame or sin
She's quietly there
Perched on her stool
Wishing the evening
A magical tide pool
Wanting the fool tide to come in
Thinking widely about
Cruel and foolish relationships
They're swimming and surfing in

Back at the beach bar
Cruz Bay webcam live
Ten p.m. crowd jive
Drinking party
Buzzing this St. John hive
Partly beehive action
Male female attraction
Couples posting at the bar
Free tree limbs reaching out
Towards the lapping sea
Gapped beach tables
Sand where other folk be
Ocean lapping at their feet
Standing waving together
Folk sharing a webcam feat
Those feature girls at the bar
Taking selfies together
Posing and pouting
Who they are
Selfless selfies this evening outing
Tugging at long dark braids and dreads
Helpless selfies just for fun
Camera flashes across the darker beach
Folk taking evening selfies
Moonlight on that sandy outreach
Rythmically the sea spoke about rhyme
Selfies in the waning evening light
St. John bar trends
Couples and friends
Real smiles and genuine chuckles
Friendly folk having a friendly time
Smiling pretty women
Smiling handsome men
Drinking in laughs
Together again
Sexy guys
Sexy girls
Sexy dresses
July 1st party at the Cruz
Virgin Island bar life
Twenty twenty
Beats filling cups of summer mirth
For what it's worth
Cruzing beach life
Cruzing waitress
With a mask on
Cutting edge of the covid knife

   
   
                                           * * * * *