staring
up at
the stars
on a
clear night
waiting
for sleep
to come
and i
say my
prayers –
not the
rote mouthing
of my
childhood
but more
heartfelt
verses,
letting my
soul
do the
talking
and whisper
my fondest
wishes
my tenderest
hopes.
wondering
as the
night deepens
if you’re
staring up
at the
same sky
at the
same stars
lost
in your
own thoughts
as your
day
turns into
night
a long
way
from where
i am.
fluttering
to earth:
angel’s wings
drifting like
snowflakes
and i
stand ‘neath
the sky
bemused
bewildered
bewitched
by the
magic
swirling through
the air
around me.
and i
breathe in
the power
that surges
through
and it
soothes me
calms me
deep within.
and a
feather
flutters into
my hand
and shimmers
and glimmers
and dissolves
seeping
into my
skin
adding to
my lustre
my glamour
my magic;
and i
walk away
stronger
more sure
blessed.
“come
and play
a game,”
the reaper
said
and my
muse
makes the
first move.
it is
a slow
dance:
move and
countermove,
tactics and
strategies
coming into
play;
two deft
minds
circling like
sharks
in a
pool –
and my
muse
just plays.
“you know
you can’t
win,”
the reaper
said
but my
muse
just smirks
just smiles
just hums
his maddening
tune;
a slap
of sorts
at the
reaper’s face
and he
just plays.
in his
frustration,
the reaper
lashes out
knocks the
pieces
knocks the
board
to the
ground
and hisses
a curse
at my
muse
who merely
smiles
and calmly
so calmly
puts back
the board
and gestures:
come play.
and so
the reaper
sighs
and leaves
my muse
to his
thinking
to his
words
to his
song;
and i
just ask –
what is
it,
my love,
with you
and death?
and he
but smiles
in his
lopsided
impish way
and says:
“there is
beauty
in darkness.”
i sleep
in peace
in comfort
serene
satisfied
safe.
let the
rain
drum down
its staccato
tattoo,
let the
wind howl
wildly
its frantic
song:
i will
sleep on.
let the
moon
stream down
its silvery
beams
let the
stars
sparkle and
dance their
measure:
i will
sleep on.
and i
will linger
in the
peace
of my
dreams
till dawn
breaks
the sun
wakes
and i
once more
awaken
to life.
the clouds
float past
me
like a
dandelion puff
borne aloft
by the
wind
and i
long
to fly
with them
among them.
the clouds
drift above
me
like a
flock of
sheep
being led
to pasture
and i
long
to loll
to roll
with them.
alas:
here i
stay,
earth-bound
and fettered
to this
mundane life
discontent
with this
longing
to soar
to roam
to fly.
autumn leaves
flutter
in the
wind;
the summer
is finally
over.
and i
sit here
plucking
honeyed fruit
off the
branches
and sink
white teeth
into
tender flesh
tasting a
sweetness
long missed
throughout
the misery
of the
warm months,
throughout
the wearying
the worrisome
heat.
the rain
falls hard
the winds
blow cold
and the
fall harvest
is brought
in:
may it
be sweet
may it
be true
may it
last
even after
another summer
rolls in.
remind me
again:
how does
magic work?
where does
it start,
where does
it end,
how does
it end?
is it
like ringing
an ancient
bell;
does it
sound
like joyful
pealing
or more
like mournful
tolling;
is it
a feast,
is it
a funeral,
is it
a bit
of everything?
i know
it isn’t
just the
nostrums
we utter
or the
incantations
we mutter
but a
spark
from ourselves
to rekindle
wonder
in an
all too
jaded
much too
faded world.
i have
nothing
left inside
me
but hate:
the rage
courses through
my veins
empowering
energising
encouraging
me to
break
this cycle
of pain
of melancholy
by making
an end
of those
lavish sycophants
who coo
who trill
who sing
your praises,
their mindless
paeans
in your
honour
like so
many brainless
pigeons;
their petty
tributes
to your
pride.
it all
ends
right here;
my vengeance –
for everything
you said,
every wound
inflicted,
every mocking
insult,
everything
you took
for granted –
begins now,
begins today…
and no
one
stays alive.
silent walk
along this
tree-lined
lane
but my
head
wanders farther
than my
feet.
seeking
cooler climes
‘neath the
noon sun
and i
pine away
for comfort
for change
for clarity
for you.
lead me
onto the
floor
and dance
to a
measure
dictated by
our hearts:
steady rhythm
strong beat
lively
living
loving.
paying no
heed
to others
on the
floor
so entwined
so enraptured
by the
music
only we
can hear.
The Darker Side of Me 