Picture
~Kathy & me~
~as a man working the soil~
~so I appreciate my daughters & sons~
~imagine a friend for life~
~that is a long time~
~& so the five of them are~
~imagine the harvest perpetuating itself~
~so it has~
~further gifted with a partner to share the love~
~complete the circle~
~family~
 ~so it is done~
~a joy to keep – a~

~treasure~

~I used to get aggravated on holidays~
~trying to choose the right gift~
~something special for loved ones~
~telling them not to worry about me~
~my agitation was sorely exasperated~
~if I happened to be broke at the time~
~never seemed to have enough money or credit~
~to cut loose & buy whatever I chose~
~I confess I was as excited as everyone else~
~{except the children}~
~wondering what was in that package with my name on it~


~my folks have long been gone~
~{is there anyone left who refers to their parents as folks}~
~siblings blown away/scattered by the winds of life~
~as if they exist in another realm of time & space~
~as do I in my tower of word~
~I have lived long enough now~
~experienced the big ol’ world~
~seen folks alone~
~all the way alone~
~yeah, those folks & others~
~in alleys & penthouses~
~islands adrift in wandering crowds~

~I ain’t easy to know & I know it ain’t easy~
~through all the struggles of this life~
~there has always been someone who cared for me~
~there to pick me up & know~
~when to turn away & let me go~
~my mother first & children~
~before & when she passed away~
~we held one another always~
~starving & laughing~
~feasting & weeping~
~round the family camp our fire~

~grandchildren~
~when they place a gift in my hand~
~are likely to see a tear~
~a smile visiting my lips~
~what greater gift is this love~
~I have always held~
~& a tear for those who don’t~

~a weighty pride to bear alone~
~that hunger to reminisce & share~
~the good love for the little ones~
~& their folks who were my little ones~
~I slept with a ghost who knew these parts of me~
~she listened & never complained that I kept her awake~
~she seldom slept & neither did I~
~I treasured her existence & promised myself~
~to always be loyal & true to her~
~that one day she would answer~
~hold my hand & kiss my face~
~be folks with me & one day it was so~

~this is for Kathy~
~my treasure, my wife~
~the unexpected joy~
~she has brought to my life~

http://wordwulf.com
WordWulf
Inquiries: tracy@traceliteraryagency.com
& wordwulf@wordwulf.com
©artwork & words conceived by & property of
Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©

 
 
~there is no recipe for love~
~when it starts & what it does~
~unique & specifically wonderful~
~it creates a glow within~
~that reaches out to transcend our being~
~we may see through the eyes of another what it means to possess…~

~a window & chalice & key~


~if we had a window~
~we could tie ribbons in the trees~
~hang a crystal mobile in its frame~
~enjoy a prism of colors~
~each & every time it rained~

~if we had a chalice~
~we could sip from it each night~
~fingertips meeting to touch~
~sharing the blood of our love~
~& daring to love too much~


~if we had a door with a key~
~we could lock away our sorrows~
~begin again & learn to be~
~lovers and friends as we were~
~if we had a window & chalice & key~

http://wordwulf.com
WordWulf
Inquiries: tracy@traceliteraryagency.com
& wordwulf@wordwulf.com
©artwork & words conceived by & property of
Tom (WordWulf) Sterner©

A Window & Chalice & Key 
was published by Skyline Publications
 

~Flame~

09/06/2011

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Picture
~is a dream the night when sleep won’t come~
~the day after the day after~nightmare existence~
~shadow candle flame~drifted off with a pen in my vein~
~awoke needles in my eyes~blood is a hard master~

~Flame~

~pushing words away~
~lest they eat my sleep~
 ~become the only part of me~
~devour those golden hours~
~which amount to the rest of me~
~yes away with dreams and all that seems~
~possessed to make an end of me~

~anesthesia is an art~
~to which I might at once lay claim~
~a shallow grave divided~
~I might just lie between~
~some token awareness~
~consciousness~
~which came first~
~the egg or the bean~
~blackout describes the best-held dreams~

~I lit a candle to threaten the stars~
~but nobody’s laughing in this wayward place~
~would someone put out the light~
~stop this ringing in my ears~
~I am not afraid of the night~
~but see what is done in the light of day~
 ~no don’t take my candle away~

http://wordwulf.com
WordWulf

 
 
Picture
~when the final dance is over~
~I'll be holding up the wall~
~with these eyes, a thousand candles~
~years passing down the hall~
~I see you in your soft gown~
~wings of eternal lace~
~in a pirouette never-ending~
~your fall through the fingers of grace~

~when the last grave has been filled~
~I will stand me aside with my spade~
~bite down through layers of dust~
~lost civilizations have made~
~I will kiss your skin through a candle~
~ashes and blood of your name~
~with lips of ten thousand lovers~
~godforsaken and soon to be slain~

~when the tide is a weeping of rivers~
~flames, a face on the sand~
~I will shed my garment, reveal~
~at last and for once who I am~
~Children, awake in the forest~
~wander a garden of moon~
~sleep, as earth is your cradle~
~held in a moment of lune~

http://wordwulf.com
WordWulf
 

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