Take Five at Seven

Why do rushing trains

Hold each other in restrains?

 

Keeping breath in wait;

Minutes are hours in wain

While clock’s face does entertain

Time as a way station

Lying in state.

 

As the cosmos rain

Light upon a darkled fate.

Running Kinescope

Night longings, from where do you call?

 

With your mid-summer’s din in blackness

Chasing all sanity into the arms of pall

That devours all cloth - leaving nakedness

In full view of rampant eyes in the dark;

Silhouettes flickering through life’s kinescope.

 

Frame by frame - each is a moment in flame.

Moment by moment each an hour of torment

Until finally only the wretched truth lies in stark!

Splayed across the lap of lost dreams and dashed hope.

Tears of a Good Cry

The old bags and boxes sit there waiting

Indeterminately for a place to belong.

And along with all the reasons now fading

Into what was once an autumn wedding song.

 

The wine has mellowed in bittersweet

Memories that hesitate and will not leave

For the heart holds dearly to its entreat

Of time that now seems ever so cold and reave.

 

The garden too, untended and oh... so dry-

Waiting the soothing tears of a good cry.

Bravo - Maestro

Alas, sweet Prince

You have found your way

to places that have since

sounded your music’s play

as we remember how art’s - allegro

came from a gentle heart’s – grazioso.

The melodies swirl and play a virtuoso

In classical form sweet Prince

 

Bravo! Bravo! Bravo- Maestro.

(dedicated to Ron)

Come Together -

With each loss there is a pain

That must be allowed a voice

Until gradually sorrow will ‘gain

Into songs of rejoice.

 

For while the heart grieves

Love’s music forever lives

In the quiet of the torment

As the morning’s tea is a moment

 

To Come and Be Together

And together - always together.

Star Bright – Star Light...

As I sit here alone

In the darkness

Thoughts coursing as they do

When time has lost its rhyme -

I search the heavens for you

Knowing that in the vastness

You will find me too.

 

And trust that in all those stars

That shine in the night

I will find your eyes

Twinkling ever so bright

As when life was ours to be

And all was just you and me.

Star bright Star light.

The one star I see tonight

Will be my shining knight.

(for Joyce)

RDN Rondo

So, you are here...

I’ve been waiting

For you to be near

And that - I do not fear.

 

As you may only take

This - that is fleeting;

For I will hold forevermore

The keys that I adore

Will keep you here

In my heart deep – my dear.

 

(written for Joyce July.10.2010)

Worn Loyalties

If I changed my name, would you still find me

If I left the room before you came

Would you still look for me

 

If I refused your advances

Would you insist on stilling me

If I close my eyes to avoid your face

Would you then take my mind

 

If I cursed your presence

Would you leave me behind

Would you have not worn coat of loyalty

If I had not denied your naked existence

Should I slip away to another place

How long will you wait - skulking there

 

Will you let me go tonight

And allow me to pass at my choosing

Or will they find me in time

When I am out of rhyme?

A Recipe for a Good Neighbor

Start with solid Midwestern stock

Add ample amounts of generosity

Stir until the mix is warm and friendly

Add herbs and spices to allow good taste

Then serve at table spread with kindness

And light by candle to soften the gracious glow;

With a final touch - raise and offer a toast;

To family, to friends and neighbors.

Sleep

The false lights were twinkling at the house

Where the disparate friends were good for one

More round before the end call was done

 

And once the last desperate homely mouse

Took a fatal bite of the sweet bait

Before riding away on a ship of hate

 

What is now so wise cannot be rouse

From the dungeons where they keep

Their screams silent not to wake the sleep.

“...The Dying of the Light”

The gentle Lion who now roars

At the fleeting moments – near;

He will soon leave as he lived-

Quietly, but with a resoluteness

That has and will continue to be

A strength for all who know and love

This Lion of a man - with the gentle hands

And that played musically upon our hearts...

 

Roar, Roar, Roar -

away “the dying of the light”.

(Ronald Noffsinger July 9, 2010)

Dancing Under the Night’s Leaves

Sometimes when the long day is almost done

Just before the night creatures come to dance

With all lost souls who are wanting to be one

Then is the time that the failing light gives way

To the darkness; allowing the music of silence

Into the endless night that envelopes the play

Between forces that keep dear hearts in grip

And those that drive unraveled thoughts to flight.

 

Only dawn’s gentle touch will find which one survives

The evening’s ingress whilst morning’s harmony arrives.

 

Rise early and embrace the moment and if leaving

To meet yourself - run for time is believing.