 ~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
~Rebecca’s Garden~
My Dear Rebecca,
Whenever I write your name, your beautiful face comes to mind. How I love to plant kisses there. Poets write about smiling eyes but yours are the only ones I have seen that really do and for me to boot. Did the cosmos come up this spring? I smile as I remember your little-girl excitement when you placed the tiny seeds, one by one, in the front yard flower bed.
It is my pleasure to imagine seasons spent with you, to have actual memories. They are a future promise a lot of the guys here don’t have. This awful place offers its season of war and nothing else. We, as you know, can’t speak of where we are... as if we knew. I have so much more than others here, just to imagine you in that yellow summer dress will get me through a day. The doctor is here so I must leave off for now. I’ll be right back.
Hey Becca,
I’m back but it didn’t go so well. I forgot to mention yesterday that I’m in a field hospital, finally a few miles off the front line. I don’t want you to worry about me. I’ll be okay. They can’t do much for my wound here but are arranging for a bird (helicopter) to come get me and a couple other guys.
While I wait I’m just gonna write to you for awhile. I’m gonna close my eyes and, once your face is clear to me, I’ll have myself a nap. The worst shock in this hospital is upon waking. You are so vivid in my dreams. I feel like I have been kidnapped and dragged into some terrible nightmare place when I wake up.
I don’t think I could bear these long nights and dreary days if I didn’t have you at home waiting for me. The enemy crawls up on us at night. A buddy and I were talking about that awhile back. He thought it would make a lot more sense to fight on home ground. Remember those football games when we were kids. No one could catch me with Becca in the stands cheering me on. But this is no game here Darlin’. I hope our battles are never fought at home.
Home is where you and the cosmos are. I can see you planting the tulip bulbs, a sprinkle of cosmos seeds here and there. Maybe you can send me a picture, not that you didn’t describe it well enough. Did I tell you I love you before I left? I’m sure I must have but can’t remember and that just about drives me crazy. I love you, Rebecca. There, that helps a little.
I gotta go for now, Sweetheart. We’re on lights out tonight. A recon showed signs of a possible offensive.
Hi Becca,
I can’t believe I went to sleep so fast last night. They have me on morphine every three hours. An hour or so after the shot I get kinda dreamy. I’ll have to ask the doc if maybe they put something in my drip bag to help me sleep. Last night I dreamt about our dreams, mine and yours. You know, the one where we’re both writers, me in my cave and you out there with your flowers.
Remember when I said we were too young, hadn’t lived enough to be real writers? Well, I have now. I could write about what I’ve learned in this war for the rest of my life and still not have it told. Never mind the cave idea though. I swear, I’ll sit by your side in the wonderful sunshine and write until my fingers are sore. So you buy another lawn chair and I’ll bring the iced tea. Oops! Gotta go, Honey. Got a little infection here and they’re gonna run me through a battery of tests.
Sweet Becca,
I overheard the medic who treated me on the field talking to my doctor. I have to say too that you were right about feeling what is said, it being something entirely different than the words. I won’t be coming home. My life has become that ‘whisper and a prayer’ thing. I do love you so and want you to know you’re the last and only thing on my mind. You are my courage.
When they send that person to the house to tell you about me, you’re gonna hear what a brave soldier I was, the courage I showed in hand-to-hand combat. Funny thing is, it’s almost the truth, like all the other almosts that go with war. When they snuck up on us that morning, I actually put a bullet into another human being. I swear Rebecca, time froze for a moment. Both our weapons jammed after I shot him.
He came screaming toward me. I stood up to meet his charge, scared half out of my wits. No doubt though, I could overcome a wounded man in hand-to-hand combat. A hummingbird, Becca... I swear I never saw anything like that in my life. It hung between us in the air, sweet on the blade of my bayonet. Bored out of my brain earlier in the day, I made a wreath of wildflowers and laced them together there.
Forgive me, my sweet, sweet, girl. Each flower bore your name. Our eyes met on the fast fluttering wings of that tiny bird. The man would have stopped if he could have. Neither of us would have chosen to fight and die in Rebecca’s garden but it is done. His bayonet ran me through and he was already dead.
We never know how much our letters will be censored. I have tried to follow the rules here. These are my last wishes. Rebecca, you spread my ashes amongst the cosmos. You have to be strong. Get that second chair and find yourself a good young man to sit there with you. Bury my wings in Rebecca’s Garden.
http://wordwulf.com
WordWulf
Inquiries: tracy@traceliteraryagency.com & wordwulf@wordwulf.com
© artwork & words conceived by & property of Tom (WordWulf) Sterner ©
Rebecca’s Garden was published by Brown County Writers Group (Uplifting Romance)
~Into Black~
~was a time when words did carry~
~notions of love from yours to mine~
~it even saw the lovers marry~
~mine to yours and yours to mine~
~& many a soft glass of wine~
~was spilled and drank inside the walls~
~joyous parties and happy times~
~they touched us, touched us, one and all~
~I heard you hearing, going back~
~I saw you seeing into black~
~into black~
~in quiet repose the mistress fell~
~& yet she did not fall alone~
~the earth shook as she went to hell~
~still I can t find her in my home~
~oh oh, she surely used to come to see~
~& happily drink this tainted wine~
~she knew someday that she would be~
~mine to yours & yours to mine~
~I felt her as she felt the rack~
~she kissed me~
~then turned into black~
~into black~
~I remember how the dying went~
~the howling wind whispering please~
~our life s blood was spilled & spent~
~the times had brought us to our knees~
~when cousins married cousins there~
~from out the bottom of the line~
~I heard the begging in your stare~
~mine to yours & yours to mine~
~I said we burned the bodies and we hid the facts~
~you know we turned them into black - Into black~
~tomorrow’s sun still shines today~
~yesterday’s sun is in your eyes~
~all death’s children have come to play~
~& steal that garden in the sky~
~see they re empty behind the masques~
~shivering coldness in their breath~
~they answer what we’d never ask~
~& laugh themselves from life to death~
~are the soldiers coming back~
~see them, free them, into black~
~Into black~
~see them begging into black~
~into black~
~see them~
~free them~
~into black~
http://wordwulf.comWordWulf
~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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