It’s hard to tell if they’re playing tag,
or thrusting nectar-drunk love at each other—
mid-June attempts at getting it.
Maybe they’re fighting over first flowers—
legs twitching in hypoglycemic half-paralysis,
like the buzz of waking mid-vacation,
still dazed, muscles aching, but that stinger,
coiled stiff for the week.
Their terror-tails would end me,
or at least suspend me, breath held between
here and wherever histamine takes it.
I appreciate the bees, I really do,
their work, their faith in growing things.
But the anaphylactic risk of their existence
in relation to mine turns close proximity
into a kill-or-die situation:
all stabs and fury, and neither of us
wanting it to end that way.
"Being alone with Spirit lifts souls with gifts of joy for hearts and light for eyes." Poet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whether I am embracing joy or buried in strife,
Your presence has been clear to me all of my life.
Through all years, I have sought to feel You even more
so truth continuously cements firmer within my core.
Your closeness - my awareness ~ I live zealously breathless
Whenever I need and seek precious time alone with You,
I close my eyes so all of the world leaves my view.
Focusing on a tiny white spot grows an ethereal light.
I see and feel vibrations pulsed exquisitely bright.
Your closeness - my awareness ~ I live zealously breathless
Within my chest palpitates a genuine, stupendous high
unlike any intoxication to be felt on earth's side of sky.
It is no longer air that I breathe, but Your glory I inhale.
You lovingly wrap me serene in glimpses of divine detail.
Your closeness - my awareness ~ I live zealously breathless
"Even When You're Near"
I saw you yesterday.
You’re not far.
Maybe five minutes,
a handful of quiet streets.
But I miss you.
Not because you’re gone,
you’re not.
It’s just that the world feels softer
when you’re in it,
next to me,
not just in thought.
The couch feels bigger.
The air feels thinner.
I look at things I’d usually show you,
and they fall a little flat.
I don’t need distance
to feel the ache.
It’s not about space,
it’s about presence.
And yours?
Yours lingers in me
like light after sunset,
not quite gone,
but not quite enough.
So yeah…
even with you nearby,
I miss you.
Deeply.
Quietly.
Like my soul is holding its breath
until I see you again.
Lev
My son Kevin is a fine young man
With a positive attitude and the motto “yes I can”!
His energy is amazing and there’s no challenge too great
Results oriented like his mom, he’s a winner out the gate
Anything mechanical a piece of cake for gifted hands
Fast cars his passion as we watch from the stands
A Navy vet for which we are proud
Lots more to tell but there’s too big a crowd
This message should be perfectly clear
I will always hold my son Kevin dear!
Families are not
The same anymore
They seem to be
More distant, they’re
Not close at all
They barely have time
To pray and eat together
Everyone’s looking at
Or on their cell phones
Even taking sibling rivalry
To a new low
Jealousy and animosity cut
Deep within their souls
And the lack of respect
Is off the charts
Bedding down each other’s
Husbands or wives
Girlfriend’s or boyfriend’s
Is way out of bounds
And you’re at the point
Of no return, it can’t be fix
And saying I’m sorry
Won’t repair what’s
Already been done
GOODBYE!!!
I want to hear you breathing
Not just know that you're alive
Proximity is vital
For my beating heart to thrive
The spoken words a niceness
You won't hear me complain
But the silence in-between them
Life's invisible refrain
I want to feel you breathing
Just the warm breeze on my cheek
As you lean across to whisper
Something precious and unique
I'll smile and nod agreement
As your face it pulls away
I know you cannot be here
Yet I long for you to stay
I want to see you breathing
In the winter's Christmas light
A gift that we've been given
Amongst other gifts this night
If only, in this season
When the nights draw into black,
All this distance in-between us
Could draw breath to bring you back
I can see your soul
Through your eyes
Past your superficial exterior
I can know your feelings
In the tone of your voice
The way that you move
I can understand your thoughts
In the things that you say
And the way that you say them
I want to know you – Susan Manley (C) 1985
From the milky crimson rosy sky
The buds come to make a dream
To my eyes of hearty love to dye
The beloved soul to be closed rim
The rippling heart dances on a bud
Womb to seize the soul of true love
By the scythe moonlit with a squad
In the closest veins to free fine dove
Snowflakes on the white city bridge
With the star-studded southern air
Touches the heart of cathedral miss
To make the pavements of closed fair
Blue icicles on the wildflower to grip
The midnight of the elopement chills
To imbue the wrist with palm in trip
For closing the celestial being in a reel
Shining sun on a mauve cloud shelters
The footprints on the derelict pebbles
To make a canvas of momentum her
Closer to staying fine longest honorable
Nature grows to decorate everything fairly
Our love grows to enjoy the closeness fully
February 19, 2023
Closer to fine Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Kai Michael Neumann
In our slumber embrace
you talk in my sleep
I sleep in your talk
Does my furure lie in your words?
Do my thoughts tell our fortune?
I call it mystic 'cause you're
treasures are true, giving way
To my pleasured senses in you.
Leave me at loves point break to
Gather our tenses
Leaving our notions to
Travel the inner notions
To a love supreme,
Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS
I know you are always with me
As minutes gather, form together and mesh
Then don't be afraid
Then all at once, time stands still
Infinite nights dictated by moonlight
I know you never give more than can be handled
Allowing for time forgotten, to be reclaimed and remembered
Then go ahead, meet the challenges
Recounting moments captured from memories
I know you will be with me through the hardest times
Blending with each other, complimenting one another
Then trust me, ask me, let me…
I will not let you fall…to far
Enhancing the beauty of mother natures' symphony
Just enough to get your attention
words cocked and loaded
it’s only fair that
I explain ~
when I say 'I love you'
I truly mean that
you’re beautiful throughout
appreciating how I feel
when I’m with you
in spite of us being apart
what I treasure most
is that warm sensation
of being close to you
if only in my heart
AP: 1st place 2021
Posted on October 11, 2021
You knew me before
I ever knew you.
A child so innocent
You watched as I grew.
Still of this world
I floundered and fell.
Thank you my Lord
You saved me from Hell.
The day that you touched me
My life became yours.
You guided, you kept me
From worldly lures.
I talked about life
How hard things had got.
You listened and told me
You loved me a lot.
As I drew closer
And followed behind.
Only to realize
You were changing my mind.
Remember that day, Lord
You reached out your hand.
You pulled me beside you
And that's where I stand.
Thank you My Lord
for all that you've done.
I love you and need you
No more do I run.
You knew me before
I ever knew you.
Your name is Jesus
And my name is Sue.
when you dare open up and bare your heart
in all honesty and without guile
to reach out and make a true connection
that’s when I know soulmates can exist
when you trust in me implicitly
your past reveal its open book
walk me through its pages one by one
that’s when I know soulmates might exist
when you invite me to sail
the turbulence of your seven seas
and guide me to serenely roam your heart
that’s when I know soulmates possibly exist
when gently you take my hand
to meander through rose gardens
in the light of a gilded magic moon
that’s when I know soulmates probably exist
when silences are as comfortable
as summer picnics in a meadow
and whispers say more than books could ever
that’s when I know soulmates really do exist
AP: Honorable Mention 2021
Posted on July 27, 2021
Puppy love
oft runs away;
its tail
between its legs.
At first, it's all hugs
and kisses,
but as
hearts mature
feelings
morph into
something that's
far less hormonal;
an intimate trust, that
sees
two soulmates; embrace.
I’m in your life
for a reason,
though just for
a brief season.
You all ease
by me everyday,
breeze through me
then slip away.
Avoid my glance,
never even stay.
Hurrying by me quickly down this
street in retreat.
I’m in your life
for a reason,
though just for
a brief season.
Forgetting to share
our lovely gift,
by hurrying by
our hearts adrift.
Rarely our heads
do scarcely lift.
Hurrying by me hurrying down this
Street incomplete.
I’m in your life
for a reason,
though just for
a brief season.
May a poem
touch you sure,
capture brief your
heart so pure.
Carry this verse
outside your door.
Then walk by me and smile in this
Street… so replete.
(click on the picture to purchase my poetry book!)
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