~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~
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~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
~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~
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~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~
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