BETRAYAL

Remember you and I that night in Malibu,
when the alabaster moon on the water
mirrored the glitter in our eyes?
Standing on the edge of possibility, we
Laughed as waves of foam tickled our
bare feet and made us scurry like
shore birds back to safety.

Laced together, we walked along the sand;
footprints trailing behind, as if they couldn’t
keep up with where we were going.

Beautiful, the shell you folded so gently
into my hand with the promise of a pearl.
I carried it closed; choosing to live
with the promise.

We stopped along the way. Listened to
the whisper of the tide rushing in. Watched
as it took our breaths away, carried our
hearts out to sea.

I was looking up when that star fell from
the sky, brushed my waiting lips,
pulled me to your kiss

We’d be there yet, wouldn’t we, you and I?
Lying together on that Malibu shore.
Getting sand in our hair.
If only the moon
hadn’t betrayed us to the sun

Summer 2006

FILAMENTS AND TINTS OF LIFE

Uncertain pain suggest to one, each fragile
life can come undone. Like feathered threads
of coiled springs released to fly without one’s
wings. Distilled in ether’s murky breath, dark
songs of fear and fear of death pervade the heart,
eclipse the moon; predict demise of light, and
soon, the sun responds with stormy flare; incendiary
anti-prayer. Ignited flame, arrhythmic beat,
compelling errors to repeat.

‘till tainted heart can fight no more; has nothing
left that might implore diverting path of hindered
sway, or even knowing there’s a way that might
hold out diviner things; full-feathered flight
replete with wings, and smiles tendered from
the sky in promises that one can fly, though
featherless without a way, through dark of night
towards waiting day, with courage forged from stars
above, in rising filaments of love and song of
care in artist’s brush, refreshing palate, slowing
rush to colors pretty, shallow ways with
earth-warmed tints of wisdom‘s phrase eliciting
the truth of things without the benefit of wings.

A scene that shows it can be done, this flight
across the moon and sun. The heavy chords
of earthly strife exchanged for violins of life;
for trust and faith and courage strings releasing
joy such living brings.

In lieu of death’s inviting dance, life opts
for life and takes a chance on flight without
a wing or sail, deciding even should life fail,
The fight is worth the fragile flight to conquer
worlds that dot the night. Enchantment
waits in distant skies for souls with eyes
on paradise. Lives thus Intent expand to soar
in trills and runs of tethered flight unhindered
by the dark of night.

June 2006