An Enlightenment

sing low now their august lines
enlightened in a darkened room
as candles of the faith expired
so they too for empty tombs
did eulogize on what was lost
when wisdom did its nature tell
to counter heaven at all cost
would too deny all hopes of hell.

The Hopeless

Each plane set of heaven’s design
visible in its unbearable grandeur
yet elusive to the eyes of men.
Held as they are to this mean earth from whence they first glimpsed light
and where they will fall dark again.

We think those stars countless
for their number like our hopelessness
is beyond our comprehension.
The time to count and hope too brief
for our dust and blood, though of those stars,
to term a revelation.

End of Summer

I once saw god’s hand
guide the flight of the swallows
then summer ended

Down The Hours

a heart growing dim
colder in the dying light
beating down the hours

The Perfect Flower

in what was
the longest hour
I plucked a garden’s
perfect flower
and placed it smiling
in your hair
and what nature’s
craft did bear
my artifice
planted solace new
that bloomed as spring
from within you.

Poem

I shall build no great castles
save measure
for measure
these dry words lain
in verse for mine own pleasures,
what need have I for halls
for mighty keeps and walls
my monument is simple lines
unbesieged by godly chimes
or blasts from ancient Canaan horns
thus am I immortal born.

Into The Endless Winter

there is to be no summer more
nor even spring in fragrant rain
lost are the blooms expectant born
for your smile will not shine again

dark seasons wait beyond this sun
now death has but the winter won.

No Benediction

there is no benediction
but that from bloodless death
as he extracts with naked hands
every wakened breath
he allows no resolution
nor repose from the fears
that his shadow darker falls
upon us through the years.