As do the flowers

oh! nature, hast thou changed thy face
for time has played its wicked hand
whereby once youth was fast in place
the aged ocean’s swept over sand
from days long past I thought eternal
my mortal frame will ne’er be saved
this debt for which was presumed vernal
becomes forthcoming by the grave
so to accept the years will sigh
as they tread with practised guile
across my footpath by and by,
and meet them gladly after a while.
For I, like all men, have my hours
as do the birds, the trees and flowers.

Magenta

in magenta dreams
I fall into a lost past
where memory lies

Through Clouds

through clouds I flew
and when they cleared
my island home
had disappeared
and in its place
a bitter face
indifferent at me sneered

Jesters Weep

the kings of old
they suffered fools,
yet we are cursed
to suffer fools as kings

so jesters weep

as must we.

Hearth

no hearth can warm me
as much as my lover’s touch
on this weary flesh

Given Time

given time
he’d have learned to play piano
given time
he’d have read more books
given time
he’d have visited Tahiti
given time
he’d have had his teeth fixed
given time
he’d have given more to charity
given time
he’d have repaired the leaky roof
given time
he’d have watched more movies
given time
he’d have said more goodbyes
given time
he’d have invented a machine
to give him more time
to waste.

The Stair

I face the night a gallows stair
not knowing if the dawn will come
or the drop into oblivion
is waiting for me there

THE POET DIED

the verse is wrote
and rhymes are sand
the pen has dropped
from inkless hands
forsaken muse
spirit denied
tear up this song
the poet died.

The Deep

like coral form my darkest thoughts
layer upon layer laid
in troubled waters deep
home they are
to unknown beasts
formless monsters in my sleep

terrors

I know no terrors
save those made of constant doubts
their shadows stalk me