The sky was a bruised and swollen purple,
bursting open above the slick asphalt.
While all behind me breathed its sour, familiar violence,
I bolted out into the sudden, roaring flood.
The rain was the only thing that ever touched my bare skin
without wanting to leave a mark.
It struck my shoulders like a thousand cold, pin-prick needles,
washing off the stale terror,
drowning out the sudden screams that lived in and around me.
I slammed my canvas boots into the black mirrors of the street,
a wild, breathless grin ripping open my face.
Murky, engine-slicked water exploded upward,
slapping my knees, soaking through my thin denim.
Every heavy splash was a deliberate riot -
I spun in chaotic circles, throwing my head back,
tasting the storm, a creature pure and unpunished.
It was a rare, ecstatic madness to just be small and playing.
And no one came out to seize my wrists.
No voice rose to call me filthy, or foolish, or loud.
The thunder clapped, but it asked for no apology.
For ten exquisite minutes, my laughter outran the noise,
the storm let me exist at my full, unsoftened volume,
and the water held me without demanding I break.
Let it like an eagle swoop on me,
I'm just a lonely swallow
scared and barely born.
I welcome death with all its pains,
As sundry pains become so excruciating.
Still in whatever form it may wish to take
I know I can hardly bear more.
All agonizing, throbbing, and vexatious.
Piercing stabs of affliction vibrate
In and around my entire body.
Oh that I would rid this misery,
This quivering of bones that feel
Like boiling water slowly dripping
On my weakest corporeal parts.
Death appears not! Oh well, who cares?
I’ll suffer the slings of torture
Hoping my painkillers would do their job.
Tomorrow is another day.
The pain will pass,
who knows the sun may shine again,
A new leaf, a fresh rose, a new love
Therefore, with beacons of light, I’m sure.
(Leo - our cat's name)
Dear Leo, this verse is about you!
It's being shared not out of the blue
He is the morning person of all
But he doesn't require a rooster's call
He likes going for a morning walk
Of course; only up to kitchen block
He gets delighted to stirring sound
And responds if he's in and around
He takes a stance by arching its back
And displays his prudence to attack
Wise enough to show his intention
Follows on to catch our attention
He does give no scope to any mess
He never takes food less or excess
Our casual talks filled with his bites
We feel proud to share all those highlights
Decodes signs like a flawless scanner
Wins hearts with an elegant manner
He always appears to be composed
With great love, the best of him disclosed
she swooped in and around us
the dogs were curious
I had never seen such a dark butterfly
She was not as large as a luna moth
but rather large in butterfly circles
velvety black
when she landed on my foot and opened a bit
I noted that she also had gorgeous periwinkle blue
not a lot, but enough
I did a bit of research
She looks more like a black and blue monarch
than any other kind of butterfly
This delighted me
I had not seen a monarch for two or three years
She is still circling us.
In and around, vibrance abounds,
rhythm of the universe perfect
and each fresh breath intake astounds,
source of which we cannot detect.
Immediate and intimate,
is touch of enigmatic space,
flow of time unveiling our fate,
where our origins we retrace.
Ramana inquired, who am I,
as that awareness self-aware,
ear of the ear, eye of the eye,
as stark truth sages did declare.
When we sleep, ego disappears,
resurrecting itself at dawn,
bringing with it desires and fears,
demons that vanish when we yawn.
We feel limited, caged in form,
yet heart tells us there’s more to us
but since we’re trapped in a thought storm,
concepts continue to nonplus.
Betwixt two thought trains, in the pause,
with the fulcrum, our tranquil heart,
as both the effect and the cause,
we then sense bliss ignition start.
How may magnetism be explored,
that truth of Self be realised,
save by erasing mind’s scoreboard,
that thus ego is exorcized?
Upon ending thought commotion,
that that remains is who we are,
revealed in ultra slow motion;
light that lights each and every star.
Tenby sits down on the coast
in Pembrokeshire, South Wales
it's a lovely seaside holiday town
where summer sun seldom fails
Plenty of places you can stay
with B&Bs and caravan parks
based in and around this town
short breaks and weeks suit your mark
Caldey Island is a short sail away
discover its wildlife, explore its beaches
unwind yourself in peace and tranquillity
immerse in its spirituality within your reach
Loads of places for coffee and cake
enjoy a hearty meal to fill you
walk down to the harbour to see bird life
there is so very much for you to do
So many places to visit nearby
with the scenery so lovely and true
it's not too big but not small either
but having been there often, it's brand new
I saw magical faeries.
Tripping in and around
Sparkling wings shining
In the dazzling sunbeams
That transversally filtered
Through the mighty beeches
Of a Bavarian forest.
A royal feast proclaimed.
The mighty Queen arrived.
And took her place on a throne
In a prominent part of the glen.
Sumptuous abundant delicacies
Appeared out of nowhere,
Cheeses and pixie pears,
And saffron flavoured cakes,
Plus, milk laced with honey.
Enchanting lively music
Advanced towards the glen.
Happiness and Felicity
Thrilled the expectant audience.
Soon, darkness fell around,
But innumerable, bright glow worms
Lit up the secluded grassy glen.
Dancing thus began in earnest.
Until they tired out and all returned
To their cosy leaves to dream
About their lovely Fairy Queen.
An epiphany dawns: practice the pause,
without stifling heart’s spontaneous vibe.
Our void-centric presence seeks no applause,
conditioned patterns choosing to proscribe.
Holding steady sconce of childlike delight,
suffused in mists borne by bliss magnetism,
in cave of heart, simply feeling God’s light,
dwelling in peace is our soul’s chosen ism.
Space in and around, hums with God’s power,
with which we are touched, blessed and unified.
His breath alone is that does empower,
so why should we behind mere symbols hide?
In vibrant stillness, rigidity thaws ~
An epiphany dawns: practice the pause.
barn swallows flying
in and around covered porch.....
sonar practice time
A secure peace in my own home
Yet fainted warm hued shadows
Woven in and around an empty loom.
Whispers disappear into a calmness
In quiet unfailing stillness solace
Like ascending wispy bearing tendrils.
I, submissive to a protective embrace
Urged to yield to the seductive feel
Breathless in absolute healing solitude
I trace my filled days holding in
Effortlessly still by its existence
Bound by the comfort of my sanctuary.
The nights are the worst.
so lonely.
wanting to hold you,
the pillow becomes your skin.
Arms wrapped around it,
face buried
in nonexistent raven hair
that is yours, but not yours.
arms clasped around
and folded into sheets
that in my hazy dream state
become our hands,
holding hands as we walk
in the park.
Wrapped in and around this
tear stained fabric
we kiss, and I cry
knowing you're only a ghost,
lips I created and neck I kiss made
as real as can be in your absence.
I no longer know where
you begin, and I end.
Every night
I recreate you,
wrap myself around you
tangled sheets
lost in UN-reciprocated desire
wrapped up in my longing
for you and only you
like a mummy, a lonely mummy.
It's not the heat that is unbearable
it's the dust
dust holds us away from clean air
dirt dances in and around our lungs
a choked feeling that lasts forever
mixed together, heat and dust, slows down all.
Time and space does not exist
an empty vast horizon, looms
and lulls us to make peace with the dead earth
above, the merciless sky can't be bothered to cry
I sit alone with my mind
"All hope shall not be lost"
how many more times should I tell myself?
Am I beyond it.
Do I not hear my own voice anymore?
increasing the heat of an object increases its pressure
heat of pressure rises up
then it presses down, upon us
molds us into bronze, and silver and lastly, gold medals.
those are virtues of patience and endurance.
those who do not turn into dust, turn into diamonds.
At the night when the shadows fall
It’s you I remember in my all
Nothing then seems so long ago
As we dance again in our lover’s concerto
Just thinking out loud and sliding away
I wake and you are in and around me
Is this how love was meant to find me
Pray these moments won’t leave me now
Not knowing the when why what where or how
Just thinking out loud and sliding away.
© Paul Warren Poetry
I sit under a large Nuttall oak
its leaves protect me from the sun.
Around me, lizards abound
as they scuttle in and around
the soap stones and other rocks.
Silence abounds except for the melodious
Singing of light brown Veery birds,
With their mysterious sweet voice,
While cicadas strum their mystic song.
Time for my solitude,
Away from disagreeable persons.
Not everyone loves to be alone.
In truth neither do I,
but occasionally it is a must.
I need to ponder my past in seclusion.
As evening approaches I wander
lonely among the lofty hills.
Below are verdant vales and winding rills
A pleasure to sore eyes.
Alas, my joy is ephemeral.
My time is up.
I betake myself back home
Where I know my love waits.
It does not feel right to be always alone.
High above the mile-high Colorado Rocky Mountains,
Anywhere I see, I see the tall cliffs with silver lined snow caps,
The Alpine fir, blue spruce and oak trees abound,
The winter snow is gone, the summer greenery has come to stay.
In and around the trails,
I hear the music of river creek flowing down the hills,
The sparkling clean glacier water sings its own divine tune,
The gentle wind blows over and serenades her with whispering chime.
There are many obstacles in the river's path,
The fallen limbs, boulders and numerous rocks,
The river embraces these hurdles with tender touch,
It embraces, under flows, overflows, still playing its melodious tune.
I walk miles along the river walk,
I try to listen to the joy in the music of the current flowing fast and slow,
Whatever the intricacies and hurdles we face,
We must flow like the river, singing, dancing and living with joy.
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