Whelm

Beg each burden on

To climb, grip harder so as

Not to fall away. Pile on!

Lift and carry, Pilgrim!

Strain tendons, will, 

Credulity: can I

Do all this?

Clean ALL the things?

Be the best of me

Again? 

So tired, I beg

Overload to fall away, be

Gone! Leave me!

But then I find just

One more thing.

Honey-do list falls to me,

The list I wrote, to finish

Trails into oblivion!

Each hurdle daunts, derides:

Amelia flies and Orly shies and

Cornbread bakes and I've applied

Myself and won, directing Nana's 

Silly play and books are on their 

Way and I elect my own condition:

Never dull and never finished, but

Tired, oh so tired today!

Catch Up

Tread

In tor's shade,

Steady on.

Heather sweeps sweet scented,

Ruffled mountain's cape

Churn about my feet.

Craggy top bound,

Eye avert, focus

On each toe hold,

Hand to gravel,

Bring to purpose

Peak, 

Complete.

The Smell of Gentle

You know.
I can't explain it;
You remember!
Held in arms that knew you,
Wanted you to be
You, and saw
All faults and failings,
Didn't care. Cradled
You as you are.
Even just the once,
Held fast, held so,
Remember what it smelt like?
Peace, acceptance?
Love?

Hospice

Tightens, burns, I beg
Relief! Ah, sink,
Deft, gently stitch torn
breach to past, bring
Soporific, let me
Drift. Would I bask,
But Sol defies, I see
All blackness - cramping
Help me! Relieve! O!
Give me solace! Turn,
It's day again. Spent
The whole of last in agony
Or haze? I beg
Relief. Hear me?
Turn me, change. Oh! Didn't
Mean to soil. Shame - oh!
This morning, did I see?
A hand held mine,
Briefly.

Wed

Rock wall, stood
To crash, to rush
And flashing end find here upon
Shadow cast, 'gain blue contrast,
Save, resolute
And final, waves abate and
Splash! What show
And Solitude
Safe, these four feet
Keep me,
From sea's
Angry self, somehow a
Tame, predicted swell

Radio

Farmer in the Dell,
Roll on, Henry,
Face puffer wall, inflate,
Diffuse the fire and Fate
Smiles, apprehensive
Time, truth, or both
Led us back, Not
So different after all, Tim
Have a bit of
Faith in me, my little
Jewel, don't make me want
To make it better, Jude,
Beseech you please don't
Leave me
Sober
Now

Reach

Why not?
Worst thing, if I fail:
To fail
At just this one thing.
Trail feet in treetops,
Moonbeam's tail
Ahead, I grasp
Hands empty! But,
Only lack of filling -
Not empty again.

Sensible

Imagine
Ran away, I
Saw, pretended, met
Friends, frivolity
Ate, drank, merry-made, and
Live tomorrow, long
And prosper? But
Must apply, abide, arbeit,
Days in/out, toil on
To solve, attain, and keep
As Mine
These things? So -
So humdrum,
Acceptable,
So strong to weave
Cords attach
Possessions to me,
Fast! I labor;
I will work to
Make illusion last.

Cordis

Heave to! Tide waits none,
Nor we tarry, dawn encroaches!
Sweeps to sea, to stink and rot and
Creaking flight, to Open sky, to
Swells, to life! But!
Tug! vain, silly strings - tug
Beating, quavering polestar
Right about - and, beam of smiling
Turn wanderlust-rid seafarer back
To port of call, I shall not
Wander more, I shall not go
Gently into that cold night, I
Shall not leave thee, Exeter!
My gift, again my song, I bring,
I carry with me home.

Hold

Tiny token, this
Mini trifle, edge and haft
Of bliss, a pixie's lips not far left
A-trembling, trip air's wings lightly
Bring weed's trophy deft and flit
Grasped close, enough of dancing
Carry soft to land and root
Draw milk, drink earth's dew
Nestle, softly smile
And rest.

Hunger

Hours of moments - Want,
but wait, prepare, caress, imagine.
What will be when had, oh satiety!
I dither, dicker, hum along to
Radio and hymn - as kitchen bound
and lethal carbon's twist sought out,
platter present, and oh! lament! I wanted
Once. I did, I truly! What of all this
cavern's echoes caught the longing,
took it back and hence, now
rather than partake, I weep.

Today's Me

Contentment breeds.
Give on? Oh, it's fine.
No matter, the little way
a molehill, only. Ply trade
of deceit and pass this by
I can't be bothered to clean
that mess, so skip! Don't knock.
Here, I'm busy being peaceful:
have what I need and then
some wants fulfilled, least
not of all my fullest heart
So many loves to live and care
them all for. My lives and past
horizon glimmers, lace arm in arm
and fingers twine and skip. I
wouldn't miss this, though
Hell should bar the way, to be
today's version of this life,
I lead.

How do you Suppose?

What's the color of your pen, Jim?
Attorney fees collected, saunter off
Grab coffee. Just a little white one -
Coffee. Cream and crystal sugar.
Just a minor indiscretion. Pause
For relief of headache, tension,
Take a "pill" inside the whorehouse
Ease your nerves.
Don't be caught, Bill: though
All fib to hide our dark side,
All have to cover up, save Glenn,
Any others there?
Not to stare, as Matthew said, but
True! Deny biology and fate -
Choose to be faithful, cleave
to none other - though she changes?
Will's star-crossing eschew
Though she wavers, waits toe-tapping
nags, you napping, sighs, rolls eyes,
And yet!
Will you kneel, will you ask?
Fall into the trap, the task? And pledge,
Though all be lost, to lose yourself in this?
And risk?

Beast

Grog, spice and song, avast! Alas!
My mind I've hidden long, my cropped
locks gone, a-smear my smile and glance
to be recognized and seen. To shed
both frill and frolic, must appear as low.
In full dressage, I mocked the epic, found
enraptured public longed to see, to feel, to be me
and yet, was I, made up to seem as I
should be, should I choose the mirror, glare,
the glitz of adoration to my shoes
I walk. I sleep and dream.
The few, the proud, crew cut and clean
stand tall, side-step the dance I be
and twist. I drive to drink and play DD
I burn and flame in search, in spite,
in play and I play at being this, press mute.
Aloud and proud and larger than
coldest reaper's blade - I dodge,
one-two, that vorpal blade, begone!
No! Give to me! I hunt. I stalk
and trace, soft patterns on your face
and skin, embrace, and twine again,
seek out the ides, the ism, whys - give I
a rat's apparel? Addiction commercial and for
Swine! Have oyster's children, love them -shine!
I have found the Kraken and he walks,
he sleeps, he dreams
daily in my breast.

Over

Heat and humid heart have faced thee
Gone, Florence, let be! As have been
To come anon - patience! Let's fall and
Fall in sway will brighten, chill.
Bring the little death, flurry by, rise
And circle blue painted pole to say
Again to welcome, May abide
Enlighten all and lift, dune grass
In offshore gale to sway, in grey.
Remind me, sweep, of Ever and gone
Sigh and enter dog days on.