Old Poetry

Moment's Glow

To bask so in the moment's glow
Though all may ever fail me
Is height and breadth and depth
Though all may ever fail me
Though all may ever fail me


From Whence We Came

Who knows what road winds on before
That swifts us from the open door
And takes us ever onward
Or back from whence we came

The milepost that we mark today
At mountains height or brilliant shore
Is it new, unknown to us
Or seemingly the same

Our feet grow weary when our steps return us at days end
To somewhere that we'd rather leave, yet seem to have always been 

So heed you well and know the path may end or quickly change
By taking step, right or left, to misfortune or fame


Nort' Win' Moan

Iron and Rock, Stick and Stone
Pop an' talk when the Nort' Win' moan
Icy fingers, in the bone
Fingers snap and spark be shown
Light the big fire, fry the scone
Love all day when the Nort' Win' moan

Thirteen

The Sun endures it's Celestial Path
So we in chorus tarry on
And in the wake of traveled space
Another year has come and gone

What marks this place upon the line
Of times more ancient than we know?
The will to shed the tyrant's chains
Those who who cast their fear below

Who in the seasons chill and burn
Were set to mind and charity
And of one will the die was cast
Our Nation of Fraternity

That with the pen and linen's might
The blood and treasure guarantee
Upon the Alter of God's Grace
Became The Nation Of The Free

So yes, we set this day aside
Count Thirteen past Midsummer's Eve
Remembering the Patriots Brave
Who gave to us our Liberty

Arlington

I stood on the hill over Arlington
Where my fathers before me were lain.
And thought of the peace in my green backyard
That they bought for me with their pain.
The score upon score of their brothers,
Still loyal in ranks beside.
Will march into Heaven in soldierly rows
When the Bridegroom calls his bride.
The sting of death does not touch them now.
They’re sleeping and waiting for God.
In the green, green hills of Arlington
’Neath the nation they saveds’ fair sod.

Masters of War

The masters of war are loosed from the pit
They pile up their money as our flesh is split
And the innocent's veins that pour out the blood
Are smoothing their way to the darkness for good

Time and again I have cried the days short
That fading is peace while they spoil us for sport
So soon the day breaks they release their machines
That hunt us as prey while they hide behind screens

But short is their vision and broken their hand
They make a chimera of machine and man
And think they will live in a life without death
As in Noah's days when long was the breath

But as in those days when the flood took it all
The vibrating power that broke down the walls
Will take the imbalance and even the scales
With fire and true cleansing that smothers their wails

It is for the meek to inherit the earth
Though gentle of spirit and humble of birth
The way is forgiveness and love for another
Treat each as yourself, a sister and brother

The Voyage

How odd it seems
The moment's wink
That we are here and gone
But of the miles
We've flown through space
The millions traveled on

There is no gauge
Nor metric sound
To illustrate it true
How we perceive
Our tenure here
And limited our view

But know it well
That we're adrift
Like sailors on the tide
A sea so great
With struggles fleet
When suddenly, we've died

Oh little ones
With open hearts
Do not regret the whip
Learn to forgive
And sail again
The master of your ship

Shadow Dancers

I heard the Shadow Dancers
Chanting in the night
They beckoned me to join them
In step on soft Moonlight

I gathered up my courage
To face the fate of man
Let the Tom beat guide me
Joined the circled band

In murmured song we started
Soon growing in refrain
Of life's eternal circle
The rapture and the pain

The circle gathered numbers
As lunar day went by
Dawn in ragged ribbons
Was floating in the sky

With sun now full upon us
The Dancers must abide
To let the grand fulfillment
Take wing upon the tide

When the moon arises
The dance begins anew
All fealty to the Dancers
To thine own self be true

The Pixies

Are there Pixies?
Yes there are
Just ask the puppy in her new back yard

The leaves and their shadows
In the moonlight dance
And hold new eyes
In a phantasy trance

And the joy that is found
In the puppies heart
Is a brushstroke pure
Of God's great art

The River Crossing

In the cold the wind is waiting
Laughing in its giant breath
Moving now and finding me
Hidden here amongst reeds

There is no stopping its invasion
Blindly it inspects my frame
Moving now to find the others
More wind comes to see again

We will wait here, cold and scared
Soon the river we'll be crossing
They are there across the water
Warmed by fire and rum

They fight for the Kings gold
We fight for hearts of gold
One Nation Under God
God of the very wind

The Veteran

For every hero on the stage
On parade or in the grave
With medals pinned and glory flags unfurled

The humble serviceman by scores
Packs the caissons, Guards the doors
Sails sea and sky across the troubled world

Comrades in arms who heard the call
And stepped across that line for all
Knowing well that fate might call their name

They crossed that sword mark in the dust
For freedoms sake and God they trust
And did it not for fortunes gold or fame

So on Remembrance Day give thanks
To veterans past and current ranks
And Praise Eternal God that they were there

Oh quiet heroes, every one
Without your hand, naught would be won
Pray our acclaim, the purest badge you wear

Amaranthine

There is a gate on the narrow way
That few there be will find
But peace and life Amaranthine
Are waiting just behind

Bread of life crumbs mark the path
Sustain you, noble fledge
Hear the Master call for you
Walk the razors edge

Burdened judgments lay ye down
Your sorrow and your hate
They will not pass the narrow way
Nor fit Masters Gate

So come along you gently now
Thou wounded by the fall
Accept the gift Amaranthine
That’s waiting for us all

The Night

Deep, dark, mysterious
The night goes on before.
Dappled on its inky fabric,
Tiny bits of light
Tease of life unknown.
We have such a luxury,
That day divides our Night.
But out beyond our shores,
There is only the Night.
So as I float and dream,
Upon the blessed waters,
I submit to the Eternal Night.
Its wondrous chasm frees me.
For all I’ve ever been,
Or all will ever be,
There is only this one moment.
Floating free.
In the cryptic chasm of the Night.

The grand oaks teach us patience.
Yet grasp they ever for the day.
And muse in ancient verbs
Abstruse tomes, written by the wind.
But in this magic moment
Enlightened by the unfathomable,
The oaks and wind sing a secret song.
Renewing their fealty to the Night.
And I have my martial music,
That I may march into the infinite.
The Night

Underwood

Oh grand machine of grand design,
I press your keys one at a time.
Pray words take form on rendered wood.
That I will craft them fine and good.
With fair intent and understood.
The gilded script now fading, wrinkling,
Spaced by hand upon the frame.
So long ago, yet all I see;
Is that script staring back at me.
The pulp and linen standing by
A pile so neatly stacked and styled.
I pray the words will come, and good.
Yet all I see is,
Underwood.
Somewhere within my huddled id
The words are there but staying hid,
And only one fine gilded word
On ancient frame in wrinkling script
Is there within my frame of view.
I close my eyes but it remains.
And though I muse of joy and pains
My poor imagination strains.
The grand machine of grand design
With keys worn barren over time
Yet every station's script remains.
I pray the words will come, and good
Yet all I see is,
Underwood.