Incognito

The way the clouds broke
exposing the moon
it looked like it was blowing smoke
from a break curtailed too soon
and now it's stuck till noon

unless the clouds decide
to glumly reconvene
so it can nonchalantly hide
and end its shift serene
away from the machine.

Going Out of the Way

The driver didn't know
what drove her to the edge
but he grabbed her from that ledge
and wouldn't let her go

he lent an open ear
and the warmness of his love
with guidance from above
he found a way to steer

a soul consumed by doubt
away from the messiest fall
imagine the world if we all
could take the same route.


***Here's the story***

In the Dark

A finger dug into the night
so hard its crescent nail was white
but ere I was inclined to swoon
I saw that it was just the moon

I can't begin to emphasize
to those that love to scan the skies
how rational we need to be
when judging what we think we see.

Monitor

I began this poem as a lark
just to exercise my mind
not to try and leave a mark
or illuminate mankind

I revel in the sacred flow
of words upon the page
each character I get to know
the sanguine and the sage

releasing thoughts I'd never say
to anybody's face
examining the bright display
for gradients of grace.

Orders

"Make them a couple cubits long and at least a cubit wide."
The masons tasked to do the job were told
reluctantly they nodded gulping down fraternal pride
for recently their bastion had been sold,

it once was a den of secrecy behind a stone facade
so no one could discern their sacred rite
but now they're putting windows in this current house of God
inviting all to share the blessed light.

Composure

The reaper's in the field
with headlights glaring bright
the harvest doesn't fight
for it was raised to yield.

Harbingers

Those raucous pests
with beady eyes
begin to reappear
their kind infests
our hearts and skies
and trees to rudely jeer

their caustic caws
without remorse
for vexing those that sleep
there is no pause
they serve the force
that lives to grimly reap.

Don't Zig When You Should Zag

The giant seemed smaller (as trite as a pun)
compared to his ego which blocked out the sun
he brought back the polecat (as quick as a flash)
to foul the place rotten for even more cash
neglecting his stable (as bookmakers do)
of proven performers for malcontents who
were anxious to scurry (as rodents before)
with all of his profits for some other score.

Deserter

Sirius was circumspect
so I paused a moment to reflect
and then I trekked

the twilight sky was searing red
which burned the image in my head
and on I sped

I watched the landscape fade to black
and wondered if I should turn back
but stayed on track

I drove through night and most of day
my destination? I can't really say
just had to get away.

Submersed

There was nothing that you couldn't ascertain
by watching her just standing in the rain
through greenish eyes a flood of teardrops drain
from a broken heart that overflows with pain

Stricken

For me it's much too breezy
so button up yer yap
your nonsense makes me queasy
I think I need a nap
and you? Perhaps a slap.

Pursuit

The Hunter's Moon has slipped the shade
that could have camouflaged its raid
as piercing silver shafts are sprayed
across the darkened moor

until a revolution stills
its chance to get more sterling kills
so it just slinks behind the hills
to stalk a fresher spoor.

Influence

Dab by intuitive dab
The Master will compose
another work of art

with bittersweet and rose
and crimson from the heart
that flows with every stab

when inner urges start
and livens up my drab
attempt at autumn prose.

Leave Happy

A single golden maple leaf
is dancing on the breeze
succumbing to the cold just like its kin
and though its fleeting life was brief
it twirls about with ease
inciting goosebumps all along my skin

I long to join its jaunty jig
but lately I'm inclined
to feel the coming fall and simply mope
if only I could snip a sprig
of hope perhaps I'd find
a carefree way that I could likewise cope.

Guarantee

I wish I could promise you people don't change
but you already know that they do
some factor compels them to act really strange
so different from who you once knew

I can see on your face the confusion and pain
that I also had to endure
accepting the fact that is truly our bane:
nothing is ever for sure.

I won't always be here, but as long as I am
I promise you one thing is true
whenever you call me - whatever the jam
I'll do what I can to help you.

Tantalized

The gibbous moon is glowing
like gilt along the edge
of a covenant bestowing
me the grit to break my pledge

the clouds are growing darker
than the depths of Hades' realm
for when he calls his marker
the debt will overwhelm;

each stellar speck gets dimmer
as the plot starts taking shape
a faint but potent glimmer
of the fate I won't escape

unless I finally slumber
till the blessed warmth of dawn
when envies that encumber
melt like frost upon the lawn.

Don't Bug Me

With the acrimony of a killer bee
that would die to defend the hive
I likewise protect what's dear to me
till someone's no longer alive

so don't you try stealing my honey thief
or mess with those I call my own
for I will return tenfold your grief
with a heart that's colder than stone.

Game?

Be sure to grip
the coin you flip
for if you slip
your odds will dip

attempt to throw
the dice just so
before you know
your chances go

divide the deck
with pride in check
you may not wreck
your pretty neck.

Proceeds

The golden ingots blanch
once taken from the branch
as part of the withdrawal
to cover costs of Fall
then barren banks of white
contribute to the plight
until the dividend
of Spring makes green again.

Spectral

The sky was so intensely blue
I questioned my perception
and asked a perfect stranger who
gave this obscure reception:
"To focus on the hue
is a common misconception."

Instantly intrigued I said,
"I'm feeling some confusion."
And he replied, "Just try instead
to shun the vast profusion
of lies that have you quite misled
in mazes of illusion.

Conformity breeds preconceived
and boring expectations
there's so much more to be perceived
without those limitations."
And then (although I scarce believed)
he vanished like my reservations.

So Low

The moment that was ours to share
blew quicker than a breath of air
which seemed to be in short supply
when I woke up and you weren't there

you didn't leave a note goodbye
or any inkling as to why
but if I'm being truly fair
I'm not the nicest guy.

Distinguished

My first indiscernible clue
was fuzziness clouding my view
and then I began to observe
a gradual dip in my verve

My bones felt a chill from the creep
of a need for continual sleep
as I noticed a troubling gain
in motion relatable pain

My hopes to encounter success
seemed every gray day to be less
and that's when my blood ran cold
for I knew I was getting old.

Connection

For Dave King


Just surfing through the mire
of delusion and desire
to feel the kindred fire
of those that would aspire
to lift our species higher
with insights that inspire
they toil and then tire
unexpectedly expire
and I watch it all transpire
through a flimsy copper wire.

Cereal Killers

Their toxins are tasty
but make no mistake
they're deadlier than you may know
so don't be too hasty
inhaling that flake
unless you're impatient to go.

Juncture

It seems the world may end despite our high ideals
and when the judgment passes there will be no more appeals
those happy thoughts aren't working as we dizzily descend
despite our high ideals it seems the world may end.

Is a unified approach our only chance to last?
It's tough to say as we have never done it in the past
but as we feel destructive forces threaten to encroach
our only chance to last is a unified approach.

Prospects

Beyond a precipice
the void is vast
but once you feel the kiss
of icy blast
you opt for bliss
and leap at last.

Across a stormy sea
the shore is far
but if you frame the fury
of a guiding star
to some degree
you'll find you are.

Throughout the world we share
the truth is gold
its scarcity makes it rare
and misers seek to hold
what's free as air
and can't be sold.

Plenty

How can victory seem so sweet?
I've never had a bite to eat
although I help to cook the fare
my platter stays unduly bare
I only ask my proper share
but never taste the treat

perhaps my aims are much too high
my belly smaller than my eye
the crumbs I scrounge have worked so far
and who defines what victories are?
there's one drawback to being a star:
it's lonely in the sky.

Sensitivity

The only thing I feel
is a need that's ever gnawing
to know I'm real—

The only thing I hear
are whispers of oblivion
and it seems near—

The only thing I taste
is charred remains of entropy
as it lays waste—

The only thing I see
is the shadow of illusion
that's surrounding me—

The only thing I know
is love must be my mission
for God said so.

Refurbishing

As I try to stretch my pen
I'm reminded yet again
of the limits of my unpretentious cave
it's guarded and gloomy
and isn't very roomy
restricting how I'm likely to behave

My first inclination
is intensive renovation
allowing much more light to filter in
and then perhaps I'll see
all the good things that can be
and throw the useless rubbish in the bin.

Benefit

The sheep have been issued their monthly reward
for guzzling from the umbilical cord
brandishing plastic like a mythical sword
they're swiping much more than the till can afford.

Alert

The farmer stalks the corn
this lovely autumn morn
for soon it must be shorn

resigned to being downed
it listens for the sound
an ear upon the ground.