The Dream Of Hands

I dreamed a dream
of henna painted hands
which seemed
at first
to defy all understanding
yet upon a further thought
as I a settled meaning sought
these hands were heaven’s prayers
assigned
to calm my troubled
brow with kindness
while I slept
to ease them all away.
Thus these hands,
though of the night
did with gentle fingers
stroke away the darkness
to reveal a new found light.

Vigil of the Hands

despite the darkness
moments are held forever
within loving hands

Time

time has not stopped
nor even paused for breath,
yet all the world is still
in this cold moment…

…save for the clock on the wall
which knows not pity
and keeps counting new hours
for which there is no need

Les Feuilles Perdu

There are no leaves
just naked boughs
reaching
into darkness
with fingers
stripped of summer,
where once
they danced together
to the music of the wind
and dappled sunlight’s
melodies
tonight is only
the slow weight,
the heavy wait
of winter
because
there are no leaves.

Nowhere

below me the sea
and only heaven above,
I must be nowhere

The Bar

There’s a guy in the bar
who looks like Bela,
Lugosi, not Bartok
enjoying a large glass of merlot
I hope.

Sléibhte Bhaile Átha Cliath

the mountains

there are mists in the north
and from the clouds ascending
is the place of faeries seen

gone now is the morning
and though my day is at an ending
through darkness is the green

what mists there were and are
can never cloud the ancient truth
that poets’ spirits are still here
just as they’ve always been.

The Rise

the lustful demon
waiting for my guard to fall
for then he rises

What’s Left of Sorrow (an Epigram)

the rest from all our sorrows
are held apart for joy’s refrain
though dark tonight, will turn tomorrow
into the light of dawn again

The Night

a lion’s eye had opened
and gazed within my very heart
hungry for emotions
that my soul imparted
within this dream I made
menageries of terrors wait
from the forest I had laid
their appetites for dreams to sate
a bloodlust of my reveries
did my sleeping soul a fright
and upon my heart’s unease
did they smile lustful delights
thus did my sleeping thoughts then pray
for salvation in the light
of the singing breaking day
to rescue me from beasts of night.