Bondage

A product of culture
Forged on the line
Honed by the voices
Symbols define
Lost in the daydreams
Those of the night
Phantoms beguiling
Clouding the sight

Views of eternity
Rise from somewhere
Calming the cold fears
Life’s wear and tear
But no escaping
Binds of the past
First breath of freedom
Would be my last

On the spot

Four days of fumbling, scratching lines
Mixed thoughts cajoling round and round
While trying to slice and deal out time
To put down something that might rhyme

Perhaps a late return to prose
But lengthy business, explanations
Not quite trials and tribulations
And the frivolous and bland
Refuse to move from head to hand

Importance hardly recognized
Old ideas somehow compromised
Profusions of inanities
Serve to confuse
That’s how it is

Temporary thaw

Photo courtesy John Walker 

The grey clouds, featureless and low
Bring moisture from the southern seas
As winter waits not far away
And other forces hold their sway

Rain falls where frost has lately lain
Across this land of leafless trees
A patchwork still of sleeping green
Adds colour to the wintry scene

The annuals are still alive
Within their pots upon the wall
Somewhat bedraggled now it’s true
But precious are their days so few

Flowers of the rose in frozen joy
It seems, dance still upon the breeze
As blackbirds dart in search of fare
Within that movement always there

Face of winter

First frost arrives as powdered white
Upon those staring to the night
A tingle added to that drawn
The breath of life each moment born

Cold quietness lingers, settles down
Oblivious to smile or frown
Storms that so long have had their way
By winter’s hand are held at bay

Sun’s rays are warm that pierce the air
To fall upon those few parts bare
Between the ice clouds drifting by
Upon that frozen sea of sky

Natural man

The peace one is seeking is already inside, in the harmonious functioning of the body

A light that shines so very bright
that turns to day the darkest night
burns deep inside what I call mine;
no thought has it to tow the line.

It seems somehow I can connect
with one not wayward or correct,
but driven onward to survive,
to reproduce and stay alive.

How is it that things go astray?
What emptiness is there at play
that draws me to wish and take stock,
to strike out and to run amok;

to rein in one that was born free,
to halt the gallop, blind to see?
Its movement leaves me far behind
midst cold illusions, man defined.

Possessed

Lying in the folds of night
the spectres rose to fill with fright
as body turned and twisted then
the nightmare came to haunt again.

Transpiring from that hellish tale,
through gritted teeth there came a wail.
What tortured thoughts could bring such woe,
could take such hold, such fear bestow?

The demon raged, its madness free
to weave a horror none could see,
until the first light pierced the air
and drove the beast back to its lair.

Onslaught

Psychological dependence sows only decaying seeds of progress

Disturbing developments
Deluge of thoughts
Immobilize
Efforts
To formulate
Regulate

Forces
Bedded in fear
And hope
Rear up
Stifling
Progress

Checkpoint

Calendar day, last but one
Still chance to get those few things done
That can’t wait till a brand New Year
Comes strutting in to raucous cheer

Eve of New Year, now in sight
The partying into the night
Friends, family, all gathered round
With happy laughter, joyful sound

Fireworks galore, shooting high
Some splitting air with shrieking cry
Explosions meant to chase away
Bad spirits that would gladly stay

Quietness abounds, morning breaks
Behind us then the gives and takes
The Young One leads a thoughtful throng
Along that road, one year less long

Prophesy

This Christmas came and then it went
With lots of money being spent
According to the tabloid press
That enjoys such things to express

Now down we go to a New Year
The days slide by in second gear
As hopes and fears form in the minds
Of all who wish to draw the blinds

Perhaps a Mayan light will shine
Upon some undiscovered shrine
And throw man to the wolves of kind
That then devour his feckless mind

Christmas Greetings

Image courtesy Simon Howden

To visitors, friends, far and wide

I wish you all at this Yuletide

Much joy, and happiness and peace

From warmth that loving hearts release