Commissioned
to perpetuate death’s dark shadow
creeping across horizon’s grin,
awaken agony’s lone figure
aghast against a merciless sky,
Control rebellious brushes,
unravel cowering colors,
draw forth from darkness – cold light
contain forever’s pendulum
upon the instant of the canvas
standing naked between us.
Thunder in the guise of billowed cloud
shakes the very core of our belief
lightning, stealing brilliance from the sun,
shows but a glimpse of demon claws,
weeping streaks of shivering paint
seek solace under arcing rainbow.
Commissioned
to capture
in the blinking of an eye,
a baby’s first breath,
whispering to the gods.
John G. Lawless
6/26/2017
Categories:
commissioned, art, life, perspective,
Form: Free verse
Is there any more darkness to find?
I have found myself here again,
And again I am alone.
I have never felt more than a half,
Half of something fragile,
Are you the other part?
Could
We
Just
Try
And
See
If
We
Fit?
We do, it seems.
I'm calming down, uncurling,
And you're seeing all of me,
Finally, this feels right.
I can grow right into you,
Sleep safely, breathe freely,
For the very first time.
The truth of it is, we're just two people,
Too truthful for our own good.
Can you feel it?
I give until there's nothing left
There's nothing left to give
Anymore, and I feel a shift,
This rift is getting bigger
Now we're
No more.
And again I am alone.
Categories:
commissioned, depression, loss, love,
Form: Shape
Someone told me I must write poems
In the language of common meanings
Like brown paper bags
And the popped out eyes of children
What are poems I asked
The silence trickled into disgust
Not because the dumb cannot speak
But because I cannot make the mute to hear
I pour me out in words
First after being distilled to thoughts
I would not play with these words lightly
Each pourings leave less of me
And when this poem is done I am no more
That is why my meaning stay unique
And uncomprehended as I am
Sorry, I do not write that poem. madam
I write change on permanent memories
In the heart of the deaf he hears a fountain of melodies.
Categories:
commissioned, friendship, on writing and
Form: Free verse
Stoically he faces the enemy hoards;
Emotionless and appearing almost bored;
Courageously, “Onward!”, his battle cry;
Masking the coward hiding deep inside.
Sending his men to certain death;
From a distance he witnesses many a last breath;
While he rides secure upon his steed,
In the rear of the men he was trained to lead.
Medals pinned upon his chest,
In royal garb and a crimson vest,
While soldiers, barefoot, heed his command;
Advancing into the enemy’s land.
When all is lost and no more can die;
Long after he retreated in this futile try;
He laments, “No reinforcements ever came”,
Although his incompetence is to blame.
His own account of this failed event
Includes tales of bravery that he’d invent;
Masking his fear and cowardly feats,
Creating glory and valor from his defeats.
Categories:
commissioned, holiday, warmen,
Form: Rhyme
They heard the Spirit call
To send Barnabas and Paul-
Good News proclaimed without fear,
The Gospel of Christ ,for all to hear;
Antioch gentiles, the frst to driaw near.
Categories:
commissioned, history, people, places,
Form: Narrative