Reined Emotions

Their shadows quiver
behind tightly closed lids
and perpetually poised
on the threshold,
they augur to overflow
at the slightest flicker
of an eyelash...

THIS MOMENT.

These eyes will not shut
this mind wishes to stray
but come sweet morning
I know...my edges will be frayed;
My vision will be bleary,
my patience wearing thin,
I'll bemoan my utter recklessness
and curse the morning in;
Be that as it may,
I might reap as I sow,
but until that shall come to pass,
this moment is all I know.

POSSESSION

With the avidity
of a child
I followed the course
of a spot of white...
as it fluttered down
from the big grey dome
onto my palm
fragile and alone.
I gazed at it
in silent wonder
longing to hold it
to me forever....
but within moments
the snowflake lost its form
and all I was left holding
was a cold tingle
in an otherwise empty palm.

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW

My footprints
in the snow
are but momentary
this I know..
Quickly buried
under a silent drift
or melt away
under a sky, sunlit...
But until then
there they lie
and sweet permanence
they do belie.

A FAIRY REQUEST

From Rama to Uma, the sleep fairy
-----------------------------------------
Forsooth, tarry no more
array me with your dust of gold
that I may lie supine and soothed
within sweet slumber's hold.

From Uma, the sleep fairy to Rama
------------------------------------------
Sleeping beauty in the golden bed
let all your tiredness be shed
and fairy dust sweep you to the land of nod
and pray that all your dreams be shod
with tender, sweet and healing things
and may your dearest dreams
take wing...
and bring you all your cherished things.

A STITCH

A tiny stitch
of negligent size
has been sewn
nice and tight
on my heart
over the tick
that steadily beats
a staccato beat.
And from this stitch
there extends
a veritable line
of a surreal bend
that crosses lands
and many seas
till it meets
the shores of meet.
And this is where
the other end
is firmly held
by love's own hand
that tugs and pulls
ever so gently
this lethal line
of crippling capacity.
Till every pull
and every tug
bleeds a drop
into Dolores's cup.

SEEKING

Engrossed...
in a dreamy haze,
meandering lazily
along shaded ways.
Climbing knolls
of tenuous verbosity,
hitting plateaus
dull and dreary.
Searching for meaning,
a strand of thought,
that when pulled
unravels unfraught.
Such is the state
of my fertile mind
as it walks
the alleys of rhyme.

PATIENCE AND I?

Patience and I
parted ways
before my life
could be counted in days.
She stayed behind
to grace the Heavens
while I wander this Earth
ardent and impatient.

MY MUSE

Since the day
she walked away
leaving me behind
in a disarray;
The half writ page
lies neglected, askew
and the quill is dry
on the page, unused.
And so I wait
with bated breath,
for the sweet sound
of her returning step.
So that once more
the words may abound,
and unravel from her lips
onto the page, unwound.

INEVITABILITY

A drop of rain
splashes on the window pane.
Alone, set apart.
It pauses there
but for a moment
before its slow descent
downward.
Its descent is hesitant at best,
as if pulled against its will.
Halfway down, it rebels
with all the might in its tiny self
and conquers..
but for less than a moment
and not more.
For gravity proves an iron fist
that lets none escape
the inevitability of oblivion.

AN EMPIRE OF VAMPIRES

The dark alleys
and the underground,
where evil lurks
they're to be found.
Their might and power
is legendary;
gained and retained
by visceral savagery.
For they thrive on blood
these men nor beasts;
a passing innocent
their favoured feast.
But they hide well
this beastly affinity
behind a facade
of gentile nobility.
Harden your heart
to their mesmeric beauty
for it surely deceives
in its contrived purity.
Close your eyes
to that beguiling stare
that ignites in you
an answering flare.
For it will beckon you
by the pale moonlight,
subsequent wraiths
these Lords of the night.
Defy my warning
and it will transpire,
you too will be one
of an empire of vampires.

AN ANT'S MARCH

109 steps
to the cube and back
not one single step
off the charted track.
59 steps
to the corner in the dark
sharp right turn
and stay on the mark.
This is the very stage
to be cautious and quick
in case there is a need
to beat a hasty retreat.
Over the green sea,
around the monster's foot
50 more steps
to the sweet sugary loot.
The final giddy steps
to sweet ambrosial nectar
then 109 again
to safety and shelter.

CAT'S PLAY

What's more delightful
than a big woolly ball
to unravel, to chase
and to pounce upon.
Hour by hour
it rolls without cease
and does not take offence
if pawed, clawed or teased.
So one roll of wool
some tuna and a scratch,
that's enough to make
one happy cat.

THE PEDESTAL

What a jaunty step it is
that climbs
the lofty steps
of a glinting pedestal.
What lofty dreams swirl
around the citadel
like silver lined clouds
gathered by the winds of success.
With what passion
and tenacious intensity
the will clings
to its precarious edges.
And with what rapidity
the silver lining darkens,
threatening storm
and a slippery slope
all the way down.

MY KINGDOM

A mossy little hillock
was my stony throne,
a sweet chain of daisies
my jewelled crown.
I ruled my erstwhile kingdom
from beneath a willow tree;
it ran past the running brook
as far as the eye could see.
I had conquered many a land
by wielding my wooden sword
and my terrifyingly fearsome army
of a 100 croaking toads.
The fairies graced my court
atop their butterfly escort;
so did the blue jays, the swallows,
the squirrels and the larks.
But to appease the ever flitting whim,
the courtly act was waived;
I frolicked, I galloped,
I raced the wind instead.
How glorious, how guileless
were those days,
when I seemed to hold the world
under my adolescent sway.

PRIDE

A feeble form
this fickle mind;
What woeful sorrows
of its noxious pride.
Quick to anger,
quick to offend,
at the feet of humility,
it does not bend.
Debt upon debt
it has accrued
that need be paid
afore I am through.
And so an eternity
lies paved for me,
with no end in sight,
only a reckoning.

DAME AUTUMN

Riotous and vibrant
with burnished tresses,
jewel toned,
this en-slaver of senses.
Soulfully warm,
earthen and sensuous,
fire-lit,
inherently luminous.
Spell caster
this mystic enchantress,
has bewitched me
with her Elven graces.
But all too fleeting
is her elusive charm,
dispelled as she descends
into cold Winter's arms.

THE CHICKADEE DANCE

She flits
he swoops
the other follows;
the three in a loop.
She flirts
he gloats
the other asserts
with a raucous throat.
She perches
he alights
the other descends
betwixt.
A moment to rest,
a moment to reflect,
then off again
to the wooing contest.

THE WEB OF DECEIT

This web of exquisite lace
the width of my palm,
bedewed,
in the soft gray dawn.
Strung from point to point,
a beaded pearly delight,
oft times rendered invisible
until a blade of light.
Then it shimmers into view
like an optical illusion,
this formidable work
of tedious concision.
But do not be fooled
by its fragile innocence,
for it portends death
to a lingering winged one.

APPROVAL

The light turned red
I rolled to a stop,
casually glancing over
into the neighbors car.
My gaze was caught and held
by a pair of solemn eyes,
round, soulful,
so worldly wise.
A silent scrutiny,
reflective and grave,
in the name of ambiguity,
amity was waived.
I wondered at the thoughts
behind that contemplative gaze,
certain it was judging me,
on the docket for my race.
The light turned green
and as my foot hit the pedal,
I heard a soft, passing 'woof,'
I had it seems, met with approval.

AWAKENING

Everyday this awakening,
the soft flutter of lashes,
the deep in-drawn breath,
the passing dreamy vestiges.

The quickening pulse,
the flood of memories,
the sudden jolt of energy
and so the day begins.

A GIFT

My heart that was whole
has split in two;
One for me
and one for you.
The one that is yours
is the best one of the two;
Bursting with love,
steadfast and true.
But if you would rather
have the other one too,
here, it is yours,
I gift it to you.

THE PURSUIT

With a mighty tug
the rope's undone
leaving me free
to chase the sun.
I shout him a warning
I soar with a shove
higher and higher
lighter than a dove.
His light is blinding
the wind seems fierce
as it presses on my face
and whispers in my ears.
Toe on toe
the land falls by
bent on pursuit
I gain the sky.
I crow in triumph
I giggle with glee
I wiggle my thumb
in the face of gravity.
Just when it seems
I might touch the clouds,
the swing weighs down
and I touch the ground.

INFAMOUS BUFFOON

In the dead of the night
from under cover of leaves,
out he struts
as bold as you please.
Masked in black
garbed in grey,
out he steals
in search of prey.
His slender frame
is a blessing indeed,
he can slip in and out
with feline ease.
He finds his loot
with his fingers and toes
And every so often
on the strength of his nose.
Unrepentant thief,
this ungrateful wretch,
leaves behind
a frightful mess.
And so be wary
of this buffoon,
otherwise known
as the infamous
Raccoon.

MY SERMON

Whatever has been
and whatever will be;
One cannot be undone
the other cannot be seen.
Whatever might have been
and whatever might be;
One ruled by our choices
the other, therefore, our destiny.
Let what's done quietly lie
it matters nomore one whit;
Abide today with unwonted grace
and so the rest shall be writ.

TWO LOVERS

Every so often
the two unite
amid pre-dawn shadows
for a lovers tryst.
Trembling they lie
under his pearlescent cloak
quietly content
iridescently aglow.
When there parades
the other....
in a fiery blaze
making her blush
for her wayward ways.
For fair maiden Morn
has lovers two,
the jealous sun
and the gentle moon.

THUNDERSTORMS

Thunderstorms..
The tribal dance of the Gods.
Raw, Intense,
With a rhythm infinitely old.
Dark, broken by flashes of lightening,
Illuminating their faces
Dripping with sweat.
Their eyes pouring wisdom
older than humanity.
Their lips singing songs
Of souls lost in the mist.

INSTINCT

There was a design
to that desperate flight
that eluded at first
my very human sight.
As I followed his course
I couldnt help but wonder
whatever was it
that had him in such a dither?
As I looked on,
he dove in one final plunge,
and came up with a swoop
chirping and triumphant.
Then it was..
the reason dawned on me,
for I heard an answering chirp
and saw a tiny expectant beak.
The little red bird
no larger than my thumb,
was flying hither-thither
in search of a crumb.
He was fulfilling his duty
by one and by all,
to nourish and nurture
obeying nature's call.
In this if not all
we mirror one another,
all living beings
obey the edict of the Mother.

LITTLE KISSES

Spun wings of gossamer
A silken web, woven
Boasting a celestial design,
colours sun kissed and molten.
Sipping from cups of ambrosia
And weaving drunken paths
These little kisses of heaven
That we call butterflies.

TAP, TAP, TAP

Tap tap tap I heard
While engrossed in my reading
Curiosity stilled my movements
My mind grappled the meaning.
Ascertaining the direction without,
I tiptoed with silent feet
to the window on my right
Sliding it open with the stealth of a thief.
Inch by inch I gained the view
Of a blur of black, white and red,
Intent on carving out a hole
With a teeny tiny head.
It was a sweet little woodpecker
wishing to share my home,
Attempting to create a refuge
Before the cold winter come.
But my home was quite unyielding
The wood unwelcome and hard.
So off he flew in quest of softer yield
Without a backward glance.

NEW BEGINNING

Light overflowed the windows
Spilling over the sills and over the walls
Melting with certain warmth
Onto the snow laden sidewalks.
Illuminating the festive night air
With a dazzling rare clarity,
Rendering the dancing silhouettes within
With a careless, joyous solidarity.
The rooms seemed to pulsate
Bursting at the very seams,
They were chokeful of hope
And Grace tiptoed on their beams.
On this wondrous night of all
That teetered on the brink,
The world swayed in harmony,
Every soul in hope, linked.
Not a corner was in shadow
Nor a figure but that thrilled
To bid Adieu to the old year
And welcome the new one in.

A PAIR

Lead away Destiny
And I shall follow blind.
Trusting in the edict,
Yours nor mine.
Lead away Destiny
Take me by the hand.
Together through the labyrinth,
Mother and child.
Lead away Destiny
We make a pair, you and I.
Bound without a seam,
Who's the shadow and who the guide?

HARK DEAR MIND!

Hark! you wandering knave,
beware your lust to roam
lest it guide you down pathways
better left alone;
Hush thy discorded symphony
that rings without a tune
lest it ring a false note
your heart might sing true.