waking

breaking crisp
reprieve
a surprise
how clean the dawn
how true the air
sudden hint of autumn
silence and then whispers
of the chill ahead
of the earth's slumber soon to be
tinkling raindrops
from dizzying treetops
glinting
dancing
leftover kisses
rainshower's remains
promises to see
her slow quiet nod
trace of sweetest
knowing smile
nature's generous gift
this glorious
unfolding day

break

tentative light

shines silently

individual rays

pierce the haze

shimmery shadows

dance at the feet

of towering trees

forest hushed

sweetest shade 

life's hue green

most gentle breeze

carries honeysuckle's sweet kiss

scent of childhood 

memories curl around my smile

days before

days ahead

tears well

heart breaks wide

i cannot contain

the pure joy

in my soul

i will

never again shed

tears of sorrow

for what has been

is not what is 

or will be

only peace

only love

forever

more

for love is

our

key

Ocean's Sand

i am the sand and You the waves.
You surround me
You crash onto me
bringing refreshing
You shape me
As the waves do the coastline
You break off of me that which is unnecessary
You cause my pebbles to become smooth and polished
Beautiful to the eye and hand
You are violent crashing
And sweetest gentle lapping on me
You are turbulent and roiling
Gorgeous raw power
Strength no man can fetter
Might and Force
So much a part of me
You cannot separate the water from the sand
They are one
Sympatico
Exquisite
Your tides of lust rise and fall
You fill my low areas
You recede and allow me to breathe again
Without ever leaving me
You can not have one without the other
The sand and the water kiss
As the dawn kisses day
And dusk the night
There is ever changing, ever forming
Ever something new in the waves and the complexion of the sand
You are endlessly creative
As two waves are never, ever the same
You are the sound and smell of the Ocean in me
The thunder roaring deep and true
The sand is silent but her gorgeous nature is clear
You can put Your toes in her
Heat of the surface gives way to cool refreshing depths
Her nature gives so much
Children building sandcastles and soft place to run
Treasure of shells and seaglass dwell in her
Driftwood and kelp
Adornments beautiful
She stretches out before You
Open
Yours
No one can claim the sand but the Ocean
No one can count her grains
But the Ocean encompasses them all
Your salty depths
my yielding
Art.

the ways i reveal my Love for You are as the grains of sand....
Endless.

now

whispering current
effervescent
bubbling
stirring
roiling of life
motion a process
propulsion deep
ever-present an emotion
joy's wellspring
peace
without end
eyes clear
lips parted
ready to take in
breath
of fresh air
the new
dawn begins

breathe

breathe in deep
the gathering joy
strife's release
grip of empty deny
gone
life is but so long
and days gather closely
surround
precious
to behold
not in fear
do i hold them
but loosely
gently
in deepest appreciation
and in
hope
that is mine
gratefully mine
ever
more

wending

dripping dropping
one tear at a time
from sky unfeeling
coursing
endless droplets
as sand
granular
gritty
pitter patter
music of soul
one by one
falling
collision
on my face
in my heart
the beads
stick
join
rivulets
path
bridging separation
water life breath

pause

outdoors bitterly cold
unforgiving icy gale
no match for blanket down
fire's glow warming skin pale

shorter days, long lingering night

grey skies heavenly cover

eyes meet deepest longing gaze 

yours speak i am beauty in your sight

winter's pall brings reflection deep

time indoors far from the din

quiet rest from day's labour

love's journey heart knitting begins

overtaking

torrent spills

darkest blanket above

enveloping skin

misty spray

senses drown

deluge thick fog

encroaching swallowing haze

tumbling sky 

ogre stealthy entreats

stirring swirling lashing

winds pelt barest of skin

warm water sweet source

new life old death contained

exquisite the smell

charged clean lightning air

why is thunder not first

warning fair

of such deadly fire

baiser de la mer, douce mère de perle

kiss from the sea
sweet mother of pearl
gives forth richest beauty
in sun's rays 
open 
bare
translucent milk shimmer
glow depth of pure light
oyster's home left behind
pearl mine 
in heart rare 

elle faire croire le petit Trianon

glassy reflection of days ever long 

where kings and queens strolled

haughty haze hidden wrong

untold soulful woes

fairy tale true ribboned lore

glittered past living breathing

 rusty hinge broken door

wonders who has the key

barred eyes stifled air

cracked windows speak into me

of mortals who dared

scape perfect surreal

walking well beaten path

her life stashed away to feel

make-believe her childish laugh

every wish granted before

thought formed in her sweet head

departure swift sudden tore

breath from body

too soon beauty dead

petiole

First 

days of spring

Buds peek

To melting snows

Warming faces

Alive renewed

All the earth inhales

Welcome rebirth

Reborn

Warmth grows

Bud unfolds

Breezes caress

Encouraging the display

Green unbridled

Unaltered

Bright clean

Expectancy

Unleashed

First  
heat licks at doorsteps

Sunlight gentle

Now quickly burns

Searing

Piercing

Longest day

Met with hottest night

Storms bluster

Strong grasp on branches

Refusal  to be deterred

Verdant darkens rich

Lush velvet turns leathery touch

Toughens as elderly skin

First 

whisper of chill

Icy kisses new and welcome

Yet bittersweet

They know fate calls

Dying day nigh 

warmth cedes slowly

Gracefully fall

Coolish day

Coolish eventide

First 

hint of hues

Altered barest

Ruby mist

A drip a drizzle

Jeweled dots in greenest scape

Arise to school bell’s peal

Sweaters

Hot Cocoa mustache

Sprinkles of children’s laughter

Tradition old

Memories new

First falling

Dangling’s release

Garnet amber

Ochre rain

In sunlight clear

Chimney wafting

First 

remains

Their splendor sweet

Vibrant warmth

To the eye

Fills country mile

Not on skin sultry touch

But on hearts

Leaves last gift

Crunching gems underfoot

Scattering swirling

Piles gather

Fistfuls thrown 

musty smell

Rich soft on the ground

Dust to dust

Molding decay

Bed where

Death begets

life

held aloft

the air

the sound

of

breathing blowing

churning tumbling

twisting flying

hearts and minds

made 

aware anew 

afresh astir

a story begins

but no one hears

it lives and roams 

but never ends

the motion fluid

rushing flowing

through me 

in me

over me

still

sweet rain falls • 

gently pouring washing cleansing • 

a lone songbird sings • 

voice clear precious unafraid • 

proclaiming pure joy, delight • 

seemingly unaware • 

the others have left • 

winter soon calls

dripping and dropping rain cold slowly falls

she sits at my window

wakes me softly from dream's walls

music dainty and flowing

tinkles down with the rain

mixing and tumbling 

my mind's blurry swill wanes

lone songbird she sings

filling sky 

heaven's halls

heart fills breath new day

alive smiling at slumber's pall

‎...sun glinting off azure water deep

...a hundred million diamonds

...a hundred million memories to keep...

the days began without a thought

began and were or were always not

to think an end loomed distant yet nigh

the days went on an endless sigh

the sparkles living breathing jewel

an ogre looms in depths seething something cruel

forever never will come to pass

grasping at air looks foolish, crass

awake i stir boldly shake off the dust

gathered around my heart locks in rust

break free the cry echoes far draws near

my feet set forth fast run to tomorrow dear

flood

the opening of
heaviest door
ajar
a crack
the glint of light
pours into darkness
piercing
blinding
aware
concept enveloping
possibility surrounding
creation stirring
welling
moving
this torrent
release
overtakes
rushing
to
taste
the first drop

emmeline...

uncommon grace

this lone voice speaks

words that desperate

countless others

long to also say

her strength a force

undeniable

not to be underestimated

determination unabashed

unafraid

a mission unrelenting

a beginning

a transformation

shaking complacency

countless oppressors

her violence of tongue

balanced perfectly with

love in her heart

devotion

for those whom she defends

toils

labours

the sea gathers

sheer numbers press

to glimpse

to hear

to touch palpable

the ideal

intensely hungry

for truth

freedom

her voice

rings clear

bold

offensive to the dull

deliverance to the masses

she stands

defiant

beautiful

elegant

a single sweet voice

an earthquake

shaking foundations

contentment

the grass green and damp
she eases back
smooth in motion
contentment as a halo floating
adorning her sun-kissed head
sweet angel of His
her body resting
into the lawn
she seems to melt
into nature's surround
her peace and joy
His delight
she is open to Him
in all ways
all at once
He is over her
takes a moment
to drink her in
to photograph her gaze
with His mind's eye
her tranquility in Him
complete
the Unity so clear
so Sacred the moment He
impales her deeply
in every way
that which is His
her very soul
His precious

silence a place

in silence
     is where deepest words are spoken

in silence
     is where truest of bonds are forged

in silence
     is where gravity of a lover's gaze revealed

in silence
     is where Your soul speaks of things some would shudder and flee

in silence
     is where i know i am safe

in silence
     Your body, Your strength reside on mine

in silence
     i open to receive all that is You

in silence
     i beg for Your touch

in silence
     i am undone

wait

it is the moment of 

surprise

the second before i gasp

out of shock

the closed eye mid-blink before

sun blinds

the instant before you

jolt awake

in that half-sleep dream 

of falling off the cliff

the opening of mouth 

to form words 

devastating

hanging

suspended

held tenuously

floating

waiting

impending

something

anything

nothing

inhale the fragrance...

a single flower

one delicate bloom

blossom like never beheld

opened anew

wakes to the morning

serene

dew-kissed petals

ablaze in colour

fresh and radiant

abundant in promise

splendour in her tranquility

He senses her scent

the pure tone of her aroma

cuts through the myriad

in the garden

she is all He sees

she is alluring

beauty in depth of fragrance

she opened for Him alone

waited for His gaze

for His tongue

for His hand

waited for His voice

waited for 

the one who deems her worthy

of his devouring

whole

gust

wind thrashing trees

tearing at the door

breathing down the chimney

making waters angry

waves spray 

lashing over rocks

constant din of fury

inescapable force

can not sway my heart

serene

blossoms

a single fragrant strand

of sweetest repose

left by his strong hand

her soul only he knows

for this token of love

flower yielded its life

to fly as a dove

in their understanding rife

ours

it is impossible to touch

that which we can not grasp

yet know in our souls

to be true

the breath on glass

colours drenching eyes

whispers on a breeze

it is ours

to take it in while we may

it is as but a baby sighing

in sweetest slumber

content in mother's arms

crimson

one single red blossom

wakes new her dewy face

unaware of her brilliance

unafraid in this place

she turns to the sun

nascent smile for His rays

knows only her life's begun

knows not length of her days

morning's kiss on her ruby blush

her colour bright and sure

others pale in their hues hush

she is singular and pure

her heart full of joy 

unlike some in the soil

there is no hint of being coy

her splendor is not toil

this single scarlet face

fills all with her love

her breath leaves a trace

in every heart as a dove

gift

humbled

to behold

this precious

glowing light

the gift so rare

so costly

cradled in delicate 

grateful hands 

adored in heart

serene

it is hers

to hold 

but only for a time

for

as like her own 

purposeful strong wings

it too simply must 

take flight

Serendipity...

She can be sweet and kind, delivering all manner of delicious, delectable treats...

She can be the answer to a question you hadn't yet formulated but knew in your deepest recesses, a deliverance, a place of refuge from a relentless storm...

She takes your breath away with her stealth and surprise...

She can warm the coldest of heart...

She can take you on journeys of wild fantasy and stark reality all at once...

She is elusive, rare and cannot be captured, tamed...

She is oasis in the arid, barren desert of my temporary lot...

i long for Her return...

touch

where is horizon
place i can not reach
endlessly looming
teasing
taunting
calling to me
beckoning
i stand
small on the sand
feeling the pull of the line
in the distance
the tangible need
force i am helpless
to fight
where my heart screams
to be
all of me burns
across oceans vast
waters hostile
storms unbridled
furies unknown
i go
step off sandy home
unafraid
fly to that Sacred point
where my Soul
touches
Yours

in

this strength
in me
i can not explain
this something i carry
with me everywhere
it is real
as my heartbeat
sure
as my breath
it is on me
closer than skin
it is startling
as first nascent orgasm
breathtakingly sweet and unexpected
frightening in its
depth of gravity
it is quiet
as an infant's sigh
yet consuming to consciousness as
violent oceans
it is peaceful
as flower's pure countenance
it is dark as
blackest midnight
something which compels
this force
within
this force
without
it surrounds
envelops
consumes
with me every moment
that i am aware
reassuring me in sleep
protecting
transforming
enlightening
arousing
understanding

it is You

simpatico

there is knowledge
without education
smelling
without fragrance
seeing
without eyes

You are somehow
in me
through me
Your Presence a blanket
of comfort
A shield
of Protection

You are always with me
when i wake
when i sleep
when i smile
when i weep

There is no limit
to Your touch
in my life
in my soul
in my body
in my mind

You are Powerful
and gentle
Loud as thunder
quiet as the blink of an eye

there is no end
to my heart's cry
for You
it screams
in my silence

lion's gift

aloft

the bare hint of wind

a tornado

of breath

silence 

in freedom's

kiss

the canvas

at some point every artist knows well the moment.  that point in time when a piece has reached a point of no return.  that split second of realization.   when the canvas is spent.  the clay dry and unyielding.  the watercolour paper melted, the knitting in tight tangled knots.  the art is overworked.  overwhelmed.  too many layers of thick paint.  too many mistakes.  the canvas can only accept but so much new paint.  at some certain time and place it can not contain anything else new.  the canvas becomes heavy.  tired.  spent.  unusable.

so then the decision.  much has been invested in this work.  there is a twining of the artist and the canvas that is real.  palpable.  there has been much time, cost, energy, emotion sown into this canvas.  but that time is over.

it is not a rejection of the canvas, though the canvas never, ever understands.  it is not a rejection by the artist, but rather, it is an understanding of the canvas.  a realization of the qualities of the canvas.  that the canvas does indeed have limitations.  that there is only so much change a canvas can tolerate.  it is but cloth.

so the artist must determine a course of action.  in order to go forward and be free to create that which is in Him, there must be a choice.  to move forward is liberty.  to remain chained to an old exhausted canvas death.  there are but these two options, life or death.  there is no unhappy medium, no earthly limbo of nothingness in which to dwell.  the wise artist knows well to leave that which can no longer bring joy.  the joy is in the creating, not in the complacent acceptance of the inability to create.

so the old is put away.  a new canvas is purchased.  this is also costly.  a first, cutting investment.  a conscious decision.  but everything has its price.  everything must or there is no appreciation.  no value.  no love.  no lust.  no opening of oneself to new journeys of ecstasy, pleasure, pain and discovery.

i get in the car and drive

stop the vehicle at the first art supply store

i hesitate a moment

then with all i am

run for the door

money in hand

to choose my canvas

giddy in the freedom

of the art

within me