villanelle – The Poetry Patio

Roses

I never promised you a rose garden.Or maybe I did, in a wild moment.I beg your pardon. In a moment of wine drunk abandon,idealism rising to foment:perhaps I promised you a rose garden. There are blossoms where thorns hardenaround my green-thumbed attempts:they too beg pardon. Broken shovels and rakes also burdena space ripe with weeds’Continue reading “Roses”

Buffalo

there’s something sacred about a canyonhow the land gave way to river powerwater’s carrying works will never be done some majesty gets measured by the tonlips that graze are busy every hourin their bones they understand the canyon acknowledging sacredness in actionwhere rainfall meets land, and time empowersthe water to carve and never be doneContinue reading “Buffalo”

Coffin House

Glass-eyed Narcissus hidingtoo tall for me to see himin his past place abiding The summer days go slidinga boat upon the pond skimsglass-eyed Narcissus hiding its deceptive depths, chidingobsession’s inviting grinin its sin-seat abiding What seeking brings is findingwith a cup full to the brimstill spy Narcissus hiding Hours confidently stridingdistances the kith & kinofContinue reading “Coffin House”

Shadows

break it down, where the lightfinds the failing fallen,ignited by shadows broken patterns alightwithin the frame’s swollenhollows, flushed with light where geometry’s tightcourse follows peaks and glenswaves will find the shadows in the doorway hope fightsfeeling sorrow takenpast breaking down. The light will flush away the blightburning away brackenigniting the shadows til the fire’s hotContinue reading “Shadows”

Cimmaron

End of the mountains, the end of the line.Dad used to say “the dead center of town.”The old bones resting here have done their time. Now they gaze out at the prairie, the fineendless grasses wave back. A man could drownin those mountains. He has to hold the line until it breaks, then hold onContinue reading “Cimmaron”

Kittens

The day begins with energy renewedwhen rising sun peeps between the curtainsa lively cycle has already bloomed In half-light dawn with some yawning, subdued,the dozy moment won’t last, that’s certainsince overnight their energy renewed As soon as those bright eyelids are ungluedrecharged by sleep, ready again for funthe lively cycle re-bursts into bloom Nooks andContinue reading “Kittens”