Sight of Sea

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

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

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.

Friend or Foe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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.

A Halting Melody

Raindrops clash against the window pane,
Playing softly, sweet notes and such a melody.
Oh, but for life to hold such a beauty as rain,
To drown out somber songs of despondency.

Sitting and waiting, late at night, for clouds
To part and show a glimpse of silver moon,
My eyes upon that ghostly night-time shroud
That dances always, always, to the raindrop tune.

I close my book, tucking pen in page, making
A mark with which to return to simple rhyme,
Listening to that musical pane, its breaking
Halting melody that beats with the passing of time.

Wow, my first piece in iambic pentameter. It isn't perfect, but it'll do. Thanks for reading.

Turn, Realize, Close Your Eyes

Sing a simple sonnet, tell a shaking tale,
Don't stop keeping on it, life grows deathly pale.

Beauty isn't hard to see, if one knows where to look.
That's the part that frightens me, the pages in this book.

The heavens sing forever, so listen to their song,
As passions must endeavor, but also grow so strong.

Turn around and take a glance, but not so long to miss your chance.

Always the couplets, whether aabb or abab. Thanks for reading.

A Limerick To End The Beginning

There once was a man with no shame.
His parents received all the blame.
They coddled their son;
'Twas all in good fun,
And now he just chases the dames.

Could be better. Thanks for reading.

Pierce The Sunlit Silver Screen

And so the sun does yield to stars, bowing to their gleam.
Bringing forth the blinking points, sparkles in the sky.
Quenching rays from near to far, tearing sunlight's silver screen.
Binding heavens at their joints, rainsbows in your eyes.

Pinkish clusters paint the sky and tell a simple tale.
Solemn streaks of lurid blue dart across the page.
Speech begins to grow too slow and turn a deathly pale.
Glaring stars make empty threats by twisting fists in rage.

Sinking quick and shows no slowing, sunlight seeps away.
Hopeful glimmers start to shimmer, mapping out the sky.
Stars dart up and all around by coming out to play.
Darkness swallows life below and clouds begin to cry.

Dawn and dusk dance on and off, giving us no warning.
Revel in these glory days, there's no time for mourning.

Wow, this is surely a turning point; my format remains somewhat undeveloped, but the subject matter is surely more interesting. Thanks for reading.

Tell Me, Dear

Step inside my chamber dear, shrug away the cold.
Come and sit beside the fire, tell me what you will.
I will listen long my dear, putting thought to quill.
Tell me what you have to say, I've been waiting for you here.
Tell me that you've come to stay to stop the flow of tears.

Look into my eyes, my dear, tell me what you've seen.
Silver sails and hidden trails for which I truly yearn,
Tell me that you felt it too, felt the passion burn.
You've seen so much and know the world, I can only guess,
Have you come to be with me, or forsake me for the rest?

Let me hold you close, my dear, take in the starry night.
Give me words you've learned while gone, whisper in my ear.
Tell me til the sun does rise, chasing stars from here.
Your eyes are wet with sadness dear, tell me what ails you?
Amber orbs of love and care, wet with sadness' dew.

I thought this was different! It's mostly the same and the speaker is very selfish. The girl with the amber eyes has forever been my metaphor for the girl I love. Turns out her eyes were blue. Thanks for reading.

Something About Rhyme

Shining blinding silver lining, kills the shadow in your eyes.
Gleaming beaming brilliant streaming wipes away your simple lies.

If no discourse, plain to see, can come to save my life,
Frustration wells up within me, no dull edge on this knife.

I back away and get down low, for there is no escape.
Pain and darkness only grow, both nurtured by your hate.

Time within and time without, some aspects never change.
Still as stars there is no doubt, my passion knows no range.

Pretty yet trite words; ho-hum. Again I use life/knife. Thanks for reading.

Help Me Help You

Filled with anger, full of fright
Terrifying, guilt-filled night
Plea with her to understand
Fix her feelings on demand

Crimes of love and those of hate
Sentences not for debate
Explain my care now and again
Say goodbye, this is the end

How he hurt you, left in pain
Stinging tears and dying flames
Let me hold you, move in near
I'll take you oh so far from here

You don't want my help, you say
Push aside my cares today
There's a new day on the morrow
Too bad yours must end in sorrow

Hrm. Thanks for reading.

Breathtaking, Earth-shaking, Postively Nerve-Breaking

Mistakes mistakes oh blazing quakes
Softened nerves and hands that shake
Twisted rules for twisted games
Dance about the dying flames.

Weep, oh weep dear crying eyes
To fill the oceans with your lies
Drowning friend and foe the same
All losers in this deadly game.

Run and hide, oh silly bard
Don't care, don't fret, but play your card
A move so morbid none can see
Quite clear through your transparency.

Sing your song and tell your tale
Frightened child 'neath life's veil
Neighbors say they love you so
Then spill your blood upon the snow

This illustrates my callous nature in highschool; every highschool kid is callous and misunderstood, no? Thanks for reading.

I Dream a Dream of Thunder Strokes

Pure of mind and pure of thought
Never once have I been caught
Lies of mine too fine to see
And yet they shine so brilliantly

A never-ending tale of hate
Twisted, cursed, and won't abate
Envelop me in dark of night
Save me from my fiery light

A candle flame to light my way
A guide so dim in black of day
Hold my hand and make me strong
Falter not and sing your song

Strike again, oh thunder queen
Slap me down and pause to preen
Marvel at your cunning grace
Just smile while I hide my face

On my knees before your might
Filled with terror, full of fright
Push me down to suffer now
Love has never backed our vow

I dream a dream of thunder strokes
Brightened strikes my mind invokes
A crash to strengthen mind and heart
And yet to pull them far apart

This was some sort of misguided homage to my father, Ron Purtlebaugh. Thanks for reading.

20 Places

How I sing a dirge contently
Of tremor plain and clear fluently
Nevermore stately, blatantly
And to try, quaintly, love

This went into my highschool yearbook; count the number of letters in each word. 3 141592... it's actually 19 places, 20 digits total. What a mess. Thanks for reading.

Unnamed

Bright white sails of tragic ships
Flutter soft in darkened crypt
To cage a beauty so profound
'Tis only right, 'tis only sound

Shut the door to darkened room
Bind me, trap me in my gloom
Hold my shell and tie my hands
Damned to hellish "promised lands"

Here we see the first instance of the 'ship' theme; it is going to become an important theme for me later. The ocean is my mistress, or so I would have it. Joseph Conrad is a kindred spirit. Thanks for reading.

I Dunno

Opened, closed, drawn in tight
Necessary nightly fright
Shatter locks and bindings all
Wading through the blinding pall

A smoking ballad leaves his tongue
Sounds that ring of things to come
Nearly fade without a trace
A simple message dressed in lace

Can't compare to lonely times
Smashing, crushing, heaving rhymes
Complex rhythm weaves a dance
Piercing life on gilded lance

Swift to start and swift to end
Driving forces seek to send
Omnipresent pleasant perks
Clearly constant human quirks

This poem seems to be a bit clever than previous poems, but surely it doesn't mark any sort of turning point. However, the phrase, "Complex rhythm weaves a dance, piercing life on gilded lance" is one of my favorite ever. Thanks for reading.

Six

Sing a song of sultry six
Stumble 'long and remedy this
Break your stride to mend your ego
Ego never ran so hard

Trust a person night or day
Breathe air in your sultry way
Take a break to stretch your wings
Making plans of other things

Love Thyself

Adore me, show my heart your love
Just tear my soul, you gentle dove
Leave me lonely, head in shame
Another loser in this game

Uplifting notes flow from my hands
With words of love, restore these plans
With dire songs to kill the cause
And mellow dirges, bereft of flaws

Oh, you know it all too well
This loveless song, this lifeless hell
For love to leave a hole so wide
A glancing blow, I take in stride

As often as our hearts despair
Bear in mind that love is there
A subtle presence, seldom felt
Lives in friends and won't be quelled

Ruined a meaningful (yet simple) poem with a weak ending. Hrm. Thanks for reading.

Unnamed

Love escapes my darkened soul
Coming with a stabbing toll
Causing pain but bringing life
Like a sharp and cleansing knife

Never would I bring her harm
Too blinded by your brilliant charm
Bind my wounds with tender care
Ever more will you be there

Telling words that bring delight
To ease my pain and hide your plight
Your lies that never cease to flow
Lay hidden in your radiant glow

A story that you hid from me
To prove your endless need to flee
From those you have that hold you close

I never finished this; I was tempted to finish it now, but I think I won't. It is trite and uses the same vocabulary as the others. Seems like I have written the same poem a dozen times or more. Good old introspection. Thanks for reading.

Trust And Truth

Trust and truth are fickle things
You give them room; they spread their wings
I always end up disappointed
All excuses, all disjointed

'I never meant to lie to you'
Old words that ring yet sound so new
'I didn't mean to cause you hurt'
So stop these games and make it curt

There is no safety from your hell
That hurt me worse and made me dwell
'Ere the lie you had my trust
But dealings now are swift and just

Fickle people in my life
Do much to aid my toil and strife
A game gets played with every heart
Before the world just falls apart

So dark, like the others, but with a ring of truth. To be fair, I don't think anyone lied to me more than I lied to myself. Thanks for reading.

Nights Of Love

Loving, waking, dreaming, sleeping
This is why my world keeps keeping
Breathing, living, crying, dying
Passion filled and so-high flying

Waking moments at any time
Produce my passion in form of rhyme:
Loving you, to taste your scent
A gift to me, my time well spent

Never knowing, heart-filled flowing
Dreams of life and life of dreams
Never seeing passion going
Here to stay, a life of growing

Burning deep within my chest
A passioned soul that steals my rest
A forceful push that drives my life
Guides my breath, turns each knife

There's a common theme of pain and darkness, despite the title. I remember walking up with my love's name on my lips; that's why I wrote the poem. Thanks for reading.

All Is Done, All Is Said

Say the words, I'll have them done
A swifting fall, a firing gun
Famous fates sound like a bell
A ringing toll, a burning hell

Sing a song that can't be heard
Never uttered, sound absurd
Changing pace with dumbing ease
Blind your eyes, dropping eaves

Have you no shame to face?
Ever long for fainting grace?
A song that plays within the head
Put to rest, left for dead.

Darkness sings for you tonight
A rhyme to match your shallow plight
A harm to weave within your heart
A sea of love that never parts

I think that is is one of the most trite and meaningless things I've ever written. Hindsight is 20/20. Thanks for reading.

Don't Crucify Me

Felling, telling, quelling lies
A mental sign, you watch his eyes
Quick of breath and short to speak
Soundless words from cheek to cheek

A brilliant song that's never sung
Million times this bell's been rung
Quivering, shivering, blithering fools
Abiding by your simple rules

Timeless echoes, speechless words
Qualms to silence all life's birds
Seeking, sounding, driving, diving
Slipping, falling, ending, fighting

Light of dark and dark of night
Wistful tunes of witless plight
Ending, sending nerves cold heaves
Brilliant songs from cruel thieves

A Dark Endeavor

A fire burns within my chest
The glowing cinders steal my rest
They twist my words and cause my hate
Unholy fires won't abate

Young and carefree words may seem
Yet hidden 'neath their oily sheen
A black snake lingers, dripping fangs
Their poison brings a stabbing pain

I never aim to please or joy
It's just a cover for my ploy
I'm always after something clever
For ever dark is my endeavor

Pristine Crystal Ball

My life is like a ball of glass
Filled with nonsense, filled with crass
Its crystal texture shows no lines
The pristine surface gently shines

Sometimes the smoke may blind my eyes
My mind gives in to futile lies
The truths or falsities that rise
May someday be my own demise

They only serve to harm my cause
These lies, they only prove my flaws
They bring about a stealthy pause
While I sharpen up my claws

The tearing truth throws wide the door
No smoke to cloud it evermore
The silver ball that is my life
No longer blocked by hate and strife

This is the first poem I ever wrote; in retrospect it wasn't very good (at all), but that's the point of living: you suck less and less up until the very end. Thanks for reading.