As the Moon rises in the east
barely showing its face above the horizon
the Penumbral Eclipse takes form
heralding the full weight of the time
a new Shadow was about to be cast over me.
Dark has cloaked my deeds up until now.
The Blood Moon enchants with its splendour
and ultimately the reflected light from the Sun
is embraced by illuminated corners of my heart—
subdued, as it reflects tentative forgiveness
rewarding me for changing my ways.
I’m set in my ways.
I yearn for unconditional forgiveness
of the ingrained dark corners of my heart—
reflecting my own perception of me.
A Blood Moon stirs fear in the heart
as my darkly disturbing thoughts reveal secrets.
Old shadows are difficult to cast off—
taunted by the recall of lighthearted times.
When the Penumbral Eclipse faded
remorse latched onto the dark side
of the moon on its arc to set in the west.
Wary glances are cast;
They look at me now
But by tomorrow -
I'll be as dispersed vapor.
If rumors shot bullets -
I'd be in the grave.
Thank you, Lord – I'm alive
But I wonder, what for?
Broad-Cast Fabric
Weeds Flower And Seed
With The Same Innate
Needs As All Desperate
Seek Some Survival.
They Have No Word,
No Sanctuary, No
Desire For Hatred.
Not Like Humans
Who Will Hate Just
To Hurt…
For The
Name.
-Gray Squirrel
07-10-2025
Written: July 4th, 2025, for contest: Sponsored by: JCB Brul
****************
a — l — a
| |
b a s
| |
t — e — r l
o v
e
m s
a t
r i
m l
o—real in l— ness
ormolu h
e a
r t t/*i/*c/*k/*s
Act one had just begun
on the day we met
how was I to know the die was cast
and the stage was set
Act two what was I to do
when you stole my soul
who'd have guessed the part was mine
and I would play a leading role
Act three now you're with me
I put my heart into all I do
should I fall before curtain call
I could put my heart in you
Act four can't ask for more
I won't miss a line or cue
it's beyond my wildest dreams
a fairy tale come true
Dreams cast about
as the moon climbs her rungs
By the first light of dawn
~ yield to the sun
Shadows Cast
Across the day shifting shadows pace,
Where each shadow fell leaves no trace
And minutes that queue to fill each hour,
Moment to moment, take their place.
And so the day moves slowly on,
Each languid hour comes then is gone.
Counted by the ticking clock,
Until tomorrow follows on.
And then that day comes to its last
And when the midnight hour is past,
The next risen day takes its place,
Across its path, slow shadows cast.
Barry Stebbings
April 2025
The name of every soul
is written line by line,
without highlights or underlining
in the leaves of pages
of the book of souls.
The stone temples built
by kings that rise to the heavens,
fall as empires fade and crumble,
when the ledger must be made.
No human god can barter with the end,
no king can forever
outrun the roll-call
for their entry in the book of souls.
Praying to the gods of nature
building towers of stone
reaching skywards to the heavens
is all to no avail.
For the same die
is cast, one for all.
With the passing of old ways
truth comes to all and sundry soon.
Etched in ink, bled from every soul,
each blot and stain
is recorded alike, one and all,
in the book of souls.
Asclepius, one cannot build from sand,
Such light and shifting grains as mortals be.
The wind and tide shall warp what e’er is planned,
Foundations fade before the pounding sea.
And yet, when grains of sand flow through my hand,
I smile at warmth and richness I know not.
Through falling columns have the sea I scanned,
As through a fog, and this the vision brought.
Once, weary, weary, weary on the sea,
One weary, wandering sailor, long away.
‘Tis torpor, tempest, tedium, weary he,
When wind-whipped waves whisk words on salty spray.
“Rain-hardened sailor, welcome now,
The ocean storms here mend their ways.
No lonesome mists embrace the prow,
Here glegful otters tend their bays.
This oaken isle, this Avalon,
O’er the futile, beating sea;
This dream-cast realm, this jewel at dawn,
Where thought is regal, talent free.
And here beyond the reach of might,
Where ancient tribal flaws decay,
With cobbled streets and spires alight,
New thought, new form, new love, hold sway.”
When whence these words surveyed had he,
Before his eyes a visage be.
‘Twas older than eternity,
That face that sank beneath the sea.
It has come with a swift hand. Yet not if a woman or that of a man.
For the World so it tis bound,
Shall snatch your spirit without a sound,
Author of the fallen sky,
The hand of its glory, are the tears we cry .
Dark days as we shall pray, so join me if you may,
The order of the world is poised for hell for this we have lost our way.
Rotten as my flesh has become ‘‘tis with the jezzabel I lay.
Father I beg of you is there another way?
I will wait long as I can, please I beg you to stay..
Surf Fishing
fishing
the rolling surf
cast, wait, haul in, recast
again. I catch nothing but don't
really care
CAST NO SHADOWS
My Face was Hidden from the Sun
Heavy Weight, Weight over a Ton
Walking lonely steps in Fear Alone
Voices could be Heard but none of my Own
O'Dear LORD, Shine your Light upon my Face
Help me to find my way with LOVE, LIGHT and GRACE
People Look but Look away
Looking for my Home, my Home to Stay
Cast No Shadows, No Darkness Found
Cast your LIGHT O'LORD, your LIGHT is Sound
Victory comes by Speaking from the Sword
To GOD ALMIGHTY, who is My LORD, Amen.
2 Nov. 2021
By: Xanthe LaDale Smith
the cast
and call…we’re tight
the shelves are high and tip
of toes supposed to lift…must ask
for help
So, what to do now the dye is cast
our choices now seem to be lost
in this land of emotions vast
do we but sigh and say “what cost!”
anger misplaced by any hue
can grow until it causes harm
stir hate where love is overdue
and signal there's cause for alarm
our nation's fate still rides on trust
of freedom's power to persuade
take off your coat, there's work to do
to protect promises we've made
we won't be idle: we're not through
protecting the red, white and blue!
Let he who has no sin
Cast the first stone
May we all red repent
And find spiritual home
May every woman or man
Child or any blessed being
Find kindness compassion and
God's lavender love so freeing
May the grieving be free from grief
Finding joy and hazel healing
May the soldier find peach peace
Despite ptsd and superior scolding
May the hungry be able to eat
Both in spirit as well as physically
May the lost souls be found
And find faith in embrace of community
May your troubles be liquidated
Becoming green fertilizer
And a garden of blessings created
From fruit of spirit licorice desire
Despite knowing trials and tribulations
May you find your path in faith
May your life be a celebration
Of God’s making each and every day
Related Poems