lithedark

Rebirth

2008-09-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

Upon my wake, after spitting sand and water, I sat upright and turned my sights to the horizon. Brilliant golden streamers descended gracefully toward her, while she lay quivering beneath. Her complexion was cold and stoic as she refused the wind's perpetual push; she was a flat plain of murky blue and I could not tear myself away. As the sunlight warmed my back and compelled me on, she stole my strength and forced me back, reeling, onto the sand. Ne'er I had a chance nor choice as she stole my breath away once and again.

Rising to my feet, I cowered as the freezing breeze stung my shins with sand and combed me with dust. I looked upon my ship, torn and broken on the rocks, and cursed she who had wrought my viduity. She, who had widowed me, stirred callously as I kneeled and wept, wetting her broken frame and returning salt to salt. Despite her brutal hand, I stood again and turned my back to her.

She had borne to me to this place of my rebirth; I turned my back to her and left the frozen beach.

Old Crones

2008-09-04T23:42:00.000-07:00

Standing upon her metal frame, I found a strength I had not known before; ten thousand years behind me, yet rushing up to cradle in their arms. A slight wind blew and I looked down the waterway, into the lurid green. Sickly trees hung low above the water like old crones waiting to snatch any sign of new life from the dark water below.

She sunk in the sand a bit beneath my feet, causing me to jump. She was sturdy, oh, and she would carry me far enough. Returning my eyes to the horizon, I drank in the sun's splendor as she poured herself over the tree-tops, spilling into the water below before turning golden. Despite the brilliant sun, the aged guardian trees around me felt cool and uninviting; they caused me to pause for moment. I had to wonder if I could sleep under them tonight, or would they prey upon me when the sun fell.

Sight of Sea

2008-06-26T23:10:00.001-07:00

A purple haze engulfed my ache,
A mistress so in-tune,
My lady bore my weight and wake,
Guided by fluorescent moon.

A shift and stir, from side to side,
And rolling underneath,
Her sweet embrace is gentle tide
Her whispers, just beneath.

Washed upon the solid ground,
I feel a calming breeze,
Despite the earth to which I'm bound,
She puts my mind to ease.

Thrown from ship, I've seen the sea,
And she has seen no less of me.

Eye of the Storm

2008-06-24T22:17:00.000-07:00

Upon the waves I'm rocked to sleep,
Battered in the tempest wake,
I turn my gaze upon the deep,
And grimace, rubbing bones that ache.

The dark grey skies refused to rest,
The sea would not abate,
Frothy caps creeped up on crest,
I bowed my head, accepting fate.

On she came, oh once again,
Snapping beams asunder,
Thrown was I, to ocean den,
Blue mountains forcing under.

Heroic Self

2008-06-20T23:27:00.000-07:00

Forget the first and last you've seen of life,
White-washed canvas hides the horror of strife,
Jaded visions cloud the mind, blind the eyes,
Beget the anguish, the darkest lies.

Use the eyes to look outside, view the curse,
Avoid hostile, selfish, and the perverse,
For they are out to kill the ones who stand,
Tall above the rest, heads above the sand.

Within the mind your hidden conscience dwells,
Seek it, lift it, delivered from the hells.

Rebirth

2008-06-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

Black peaks devour
First rays of fragile sunlight
Reborn in blue skies

Friend or Foe

2008-06-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

Now that I have left my place,
Ventured into distant lands,
Disappeared without a trace,
Swallowed by the empty sands.

I find myself quite happy here,
A here so far from there,
But when old ghosts begin to near,
I find myself quite short of air.

Friends of old are foes reborn,
And so they have their place,
Ever hidden, scorn and thorn,
And yet they seem to know my face.

Giants

2008-06-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

Giants cut the world in half,
Cold, wet sheets of crystal,
Immune to poison and to gaff,
Eluding men so distal.

Their mournful moans, heart-wrenching,
Play softly in the azure,
Upon their thrones, most quenching,
Singing psalms of adjure.

Their place beneath the crest is holy,
A place devoid of men, so lowly.

Sunrise

2008-06-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

This morning as I rose from bed,
recovered from my rest,
I turned my gaze to distant hills,
The sun upon their crest.

An orange glow pervaded space,
Brought forth a humming muse,
I peeked into the outside world,
Guiding eyes by brilliant hues.

As she rose into the sky,
And greens returned to green,
She eased my mind into a lull,
And lifted orange sheen.

Pallid blue became azure,
Dull grey shimmered white,
The muddy palette vivified,
Bathing life in golden light.

Sun Kissed

2008-06-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

With opened eyes for break of dawn,
I rise from bed and stifle yawn,
To step outdoors and feel the wind,
I step outside my home, to tend.

Aching hands push spinning blades,
That kick up dirt beneath the shade,
Reduce the world to itching mist,
I wipe my brow and breathe, sun-kissed.

Half-truths

2008-06-14T23:47:00.000-07:00

Line after line that mock the old art,
Thrusting, ripping, and tearing apart,
Beautiful words that flow with such ease,
Sweet, savored phrases that come from the heart.

Word after word appears only a tease,
Defiling meanings, shown only to please,
Not written with love, they pour down the page,
Stifle the poet and drip with disease.

Letters, oh letters, from such an old age,
Gracing the poet, transform him to sage,
Yet meaning so less when they lack proper feel,
They condemn his actions, becoming his cage.

This poet has learned not to write, but to kneel,
Received in the bosom of only things real.

Clearcutting

2008-06-13T07:50:00.000-07:00

Let indecision end today,
A towering stone stonewalled the path,
For day daylight, there's no delay.

Though loves break and away sway,
Past the block blockade, a bypath,
Let indecision end today.

Begin anew, new life assay,
Forget the old dark darkroom wrath,
For day daylight, there's no delay.

Forget dead deadwood in the way,
Block out outright the barb and gath,
Let indecision end today.

Feel not now as praying prey,
Stand strong and tall, forestall warpath
For day daylight, there's no delay.

Clear clearcut of grey decay,
The soil assoils for lattermath,
Let indecision end today,
For day daylight, there's no delay.

Blue

2008-06-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

A sour girl with eyes ablaze,
Who shoots a rather icy gaze,
She scans the room for docile foes,
And spits a tale that's fraught with woes.

Dressed for war, yet fragile still,
She preys upon the weak of will,
Condemning actions others take,
Begets confusion in her wake.

At end of day, when light grows dim,
And cooler winds abate hot skin,
Her inner fire, quenched by ire,
Sheathed and shelved appears less dire.

Salty tears of deep remorse,
Cascade her face and run their course,
Controlled by demons deep within,
Furious storm births quiet din.

Strong-hearted souls, they love her so,
Unhurt by vicious seeds she sow,
They cherish her, for life is short,
Quarrels are of no import.

Glimmer

2008-04-30T21:31:00.000-07:00

Feel the omnipresent wind,
Blowing, breezing, cooling skin,
Chases 'way the oldest fears,
Seals up holes from end to end.

Bless the light for as she nears
She dries the face of salted tears
Turning past from gold to green
Resurrecting blessed years

Biting pain has fled the scene
Left behind no painful screen
There's sunlight now in every spot
No darkened days left to be seen

Brightly gleaming, light has caught
The two of us and tied a knot.

For Kambrie Balser, who taught me what love should actually feel like. Thanks for reading.

Jake The Snake

2007-07-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

I once met a snake, not a slithery snake
Not a slick-backed old snake or slimy slim snake
But a snake all the same and Jake was his name.

He came once a-hissing and said he was missing
Got lost reminiscing and soon found dismissing
He'd lost his own way and he chose here to stay.

"You cannot be here!", I cried out with fear
"The coast is not clear! Some people come near!"
"This room is for dining!" and he said, "Stop whining."

"I will speak nicely", he said quite concisely,
He grinned so spicily and cried quite precisely,
"A dining room spot is such a nice plot."

I then racked my brain, for phrases in vain,
"You'll get in the grain, or plug up the drain!"
"You'll get in my tea, then where shall I be?"
But it was too late, I'm doomed to my fate,
With a snake for a mate, he'd seen through my bait.
He'd gone straight to sleep, my pillow to keep.

For my friend, Abi Power. Thanks for reading.

Rejection

2004-11-04T13:00:00.000-08:00

Sinious shifting silhouettes
That move as life and cause regret
As soon as passion starts to grow
Pain becomes life's epithet

Promises are made to show
The endless line of love's own flow
But even now the sunlight fades
And brings upon a bout of woe

Life goes on, loves turn to shades
Amorous feelings gone to jade
For even as the trial starts
Rejection tempers burning hearts

I like this one; I wrote it in highschool English class. I remember my hands shaking furiously. I had such trouble. Thanks for reading.

Poetry: Art Or Prison

2004-09-21T23:00:00.002-07:00

Making rhymes a world apart
They're torn so fast from poet's heart
I sit and dream away the days
And plot my diction driven art
Penning phrase with which I part
Create a boxing wordy maze

I struggle seeing through the haze
Of choppy words that seem to faze
My sense of artist's urgency
To put down words in many ways
Writing just to quell the blaze
And set these captive words so free

But as I free these words of me
A sense of dire need to flee
This art that mends the holes in soul
And gives me reason just to be
Not friend of verse nor enemy
But just a slave to poem's toll

Hiding Spot

2004-09-21T23:00:00.001-07:00

Don't stand alone and stand within,
Oh children that you are;
Don't hide inside your high-walled pen,
Stop watching from afar.

People don't have answers, see
To the questions that you ask;
Treat life as it was meant to be,
Find answers as your task.

Ending up in holes of hate,
You block out all the light;
Tend feelings now for as of late,
Your bonds are growing tight.

Oh children, don't you hide from truth
Use painful life as love's own proof.

Gently Rip Me All To Bits

2004-09-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

Twist my soul around little finger
Turn about now and let looks linger
Hold something dear in heart so far
Just shatter thoughts, oh chaos bringer

Empty mind and empty soul
Onto my platter, for thats your goal
Stifling pain amongst yourselves
But make sure mine is born in full

Loving, loving, means nothing now
You foolish girl, you stubborn sow
You cry in pain and take the gain
But hurt's not something I'll allow

Something more is hidden deeper
Under heart's thick vine and creeper
But just as wishes pour so free
I'll no longer be your keeper

I don't begrudge you what you want
Assuming you can be up front
But you'll not stop me from my game
It's for to be alone, I hunt

To seek and strive yet just held back
Your need is like a bit of tack
Just driven through my heart so well
I cannot fight the pain it packs

Show me once and tell me never
What I'll have for these endeavors
Withstanding all your foolishness
Just searching life for something clever

I had no idea that this form was called Ruba'i when I used it. I was also ignorant of its origins. Silly me. Thanks for reading.

Praise To The Deathless Ones!

2004-09-19T23:00:00.001-07:00

Praise to the Deathless Ones! (9/19/04) Would that I could rove the waves
In a large hollow black ship
To scuddle over the ocean's back
And give my skulking foes the slip!

My hosts outfit me rather well
With a rich new set of gifts
Cloak and sandals, a blade of bronze
Just sent me out like this!

Sailing over the wine-dark sea
Avoiding all the traps
Charydbis and Scylla know
My men were made to last!

Through clashing rocks and Siren song
Go past Aeaea Isle
Don't stop for the Laestrygonians
Their tastes are rather vile!

Cannibal giants, those terrible men
They match the Cyclops' hate
Ripping ships and sails asunder
Dooming guests to ghastly fate!

Row around the House of Dead
Pay those specters not a glance
Stray far from Helios' prized cattle
When facing gods, take not a chance!

At last we reach the sandy beach
Of Ithaca's welcoming shores
Suitors holed up in our houses
Reaping of our stores!

Death to one and death to all
As arrows fly so fast
And mighty spears to help the cause
To kill those suitors to the last!

Thanks we owe to Zeus' daughter
The pale-eyed one, to note
Resting now on safe home soil
No more burdens must we tote!

I love this poem. Turns out, I wrote it on Kambrie's birthday years before we met. Thanks for reading.

Human Leeches

2004-09-18T23:00:00.000-07:00

To sit at night and chase your thoughts
Regret your past and goals you've sought
And seek to understand your life
With angst filled poems of your strife

You mock the art with common prose
Write poems of the bloody rows
That roll down arms and seem to shout
A cry of help to pick you out

You throw about such genius words
To try and stand out from the herd
But when you turn around and look
It seems your friends have read your book

They stand around and cause their pain
To steal your guarded looks again
They loathe themselves from head to toe
And, oh! Do they put on a show

Attention seeking human leeches
Sucking life and surely each-is
Doomed to go home to their life
As normal as are yours and mine

Nightmares

2004-09-17T23:00:00.000-07:00

Burning lights and burning rights
That singe my eyes and ruin nights
And tear apart the starry skies
Because of horrid imaged lies

Nightmares borne from dreams of hate
Of leading loves toward ghastly fate
To make a point to break my soul
And punch a hole in living's lull

Sleeping each eve with the lights
Terror-trained through sleepless nights
The mocking bright and glaring hiss
Parade each night til sunlight's bliss

Little Spots Of Life

2004-09-15T23:00:00.001-07:00

Bend and drink from the shallow pool
Swirling slowly, purely glowing
Kneel down now and tend the cruel
Churning waters, all but slowing

Swirling slowly, purely glowing
Breathy mists that drench the skin
Churning waters, all but slowing
Passion waters twist within

Breathy mists that drench the skin
Bend and drink from the shallow pool
Passion waters twist within
Kneel down now and tend the cruel

This format was shown to me by my dear friend Ashley Marie. Thanks for reading.

Holding Heart In Hand

2004-09-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

Hand over hand, and heart over heart
Tempted oh so, to steal just a glance
Brimming with fear, topping with fright
Chasing our feelings with looks all askance

Skipping so gaily down warm summer lanes
She bubbles with laughter and overfilled mirth
Soft pastel petals pour down from above
Look deep in her eyes for love and life's worth

Insomnia

2004-09-14T23:00:00.001-07:00

Sleepless pains that wrack my brain
And break and riddle nights with pain
A ceaseless torture comes to pass
In moonlight's secret silver mask

Darkened panes and drawn-tight blinds
That close out light and shut in minds
In hopes a simple remedy
Might come to save myself from me
I duck and smother under covers
Heated dark that's hatred's lover

Empty whispers fill my ears
A sound I know to quench my fears
And even now in pain of shame
Brought to me by source so tame
Avert the eyes and shift the blame

Grasp a simple concept, this
Even in the fist of bliss
A subtle hint of hate can stir
A heart so hard and wrath incur

Sleep gently now, don't wake the beast
And bring on pain to cease the peace
But rest so well in place so snug
Ignore the unjust wants that tug

...and back to the darkness. Still couplets, though formatted oddly. This is a throwback to older things. Thanks for reading.