grasp yet
the fresh
the streams
breadth
treads wide
churning in its
pools
like tides
great surrender
dying by
and by
with each
new storm
that drowns
away her pelt
of crystal morn
rise up yea
new shoots
full of haste
and green
taste the rains
that fall into
your beds
and awaken
drowsing scenes

.

HUIS CLOS

My heart sickens to near breaking
with memories of years gone by
and my soul aches for those days again.
moments lost forever, never to be regained,
but in recollection,
lost in the dimensions of Time and Space,
lost to this life, taken in death.
where is the womb that held me.
where are the souls I loved so much.
my days will not end well,
I suffer the agony of living
and I pray for annihilation
to end this lonely wandering

You don't want to see me.
I am the end that you fear,
the raven of despair's anatomy
who strips the life you held dear.

No walls can hinder my coming,
no locked doors can keep me away
it is all about the timing.,
the moment fate calls me to slay.

You think I am evil but you're mistaken.
I finalize the agony of pain's reign.
I return to the weak, the peace forsaken
and release them from earthly chains.

If I could figure out how, this poem would be entered in the limmerick contest, anyway folks I hope some may enjoy it.

Snug under the covers I go
to a world which no one can know.
then slide down the bed
sheet over my head
as outside its twenty below.

I'm here to find me,
whomever I might be.
I'm here to find God,
if He's really here.

[And I don't know if He's here
because there are days I can't seem to see
a foot in front of my face.
There are days
I don't even know
what He'd look like.]

hold on as long.

I assure you there is nothing beyond
we all love those who to us here belong

then all go up to
the pyre cemetery incinerator
and say
SO LONG ......

well since he is gone
why even go to the
Rideliew
'tis so far
most say so
no one will know
fare well for long

I can't enter the acrostic contest, must be too late. I thought I would share my effort anyway.

Thunder cracks and rolls along
Heavy rains morph into sleet
Undergrowth quails at this song
Nervous at so strong a beat
Desperate animals throng
Every head bowed in defeat
Ravens ascending to meet

Colourful berries abound
Rather like gems on a bed
All these are easily found
Caught in that glare, shining red
Keep your face to the ground
Stopping that dream in your head

RITES OF PASSAGE

M y spirit wants to soar
with broken wings
and my body of stone
yearns to move again.
my days are black and grey,
colorless and faded rainbows;
cold rains that strike my soul.
there is no hope in my heart,
and I pray for annihilation.
but there is yet more to come
before it is done.

Richard for Joe

arched freedom
the sweat glistens
like fresh rain on a waxed
board
the summer hoards
gather neath bright
umbrella
cool streamer drizzle
drifts downward
to the gooseflesh
excited
the hungry breakers
curl like a mouth with
frothing lip
and great blue tongue
the longing deep
inside
to slide down the
ride
the pipe
knowing danger
lurks in primitive
beasts
at heels rush
the thrill
that brush

ARKANSAS DREAM

You are in my skin now,
Needles leaving their mark.
Running your warm hands up my body,
You feel so hot against my skin
Burning deeply with your fire.
Your scent lingers in my nose
Your touch on my skin,
That craving I can't calm,
That itch I can't scratch.
Leave your breath on my neck.