Yule Eve.

It's longest night. Light me a fire, I said and you did. 
Carrying wood, and setting the ready hearth.
Your hearth. Our hearth. 
We burned the old year away, 
Piece by piece. Debt by debt. 
As the wood sung it's phoenix song to the night sky
Calling to the Sun- Remember! Return! 
This fire- the light we carry from your kisses
we release back to you. 

In the morning, 
the house smelled of sweet ashes and peace
and the world outside was wrapped in shining glory. 

Writing

One day I might begin to stop
and take the time to fill the pages
with my hand, that are written by my heart;
scrawled on the scratchpad of short term memory.

The words burn like matches
flare and gone,
smoke in silence.
lit to the alarm clock,
the turn of my love's neck,
the dance of leaves.

blown, and gone.

Year's End

Outside, the sky woke, and poured libations
to the thirsty dead below the black earth
and the trees walked in stately procession
waving red flags against the grey sky.

Inside, we gently lay the coins of our love out
the heart's payment for life, our life-
and pull, wincing, on the cords of blood
that weave us back, back to the beginning of all things.

With this, the Summer unravels,
and the dark stitches the days together again
in shortening loops. Now is the time to go within;
in the space between here, and there.

We are those that came before.
Our cells breathe in the silence;
listen to the slow oar-strokes of our hearts' ferry,
Come to beach on the shores of memory.

Lost and Key

Away, I went

And my heart went before me. 

The stars were blind of guidance, winking and keeping their secrets-

And the boat drifted 

Since I burned the oars

To remember what sunlight looked like. 

I thought I had left you behind,

Far on the starting shore

Where the night whispered

(But not to me).

I landed, far and further 

in another place 

where the paths were strangers, pushing past me in a hurry. 

How was I to know I would find you waiting there in the road? 

I am of the distant paths, 

You said. 

When you go far and further, 

I am there. 

This too is My place. 

And night opened its doors

And the stars sung my heart awake. 

Longest Night

The sun set, sinking early in reverence
and the darkness froze to the walls of night
and the trees nudged the sky and took off their hats
in respect
a moment of silence.
and this once we did not curse the night; 
in laughter, in music we drank his health. 
holy, holy, holy is the darkness
and the small light of our dancing.

c. December 21 2011

I know it's not really a spring poem but I remembered it and wanted to add it to my collection. 
This was my favourite longest night of my life. 

The Breakup.

If it is as they say (They Say)
That everything that happens to us,
Happens first in our minds
Then I am sorry
(not sorry and not sorry I'm not sorry at all actually)
to say that you must go.

Get Out.

I know I'm not the first person,
or the hundredth, or the billionth lucky customer
to experience pain
Really,
no one gets off the ride without paying
this price of experience, the stamp of life
that says
I Have A Body.

But, there are limits and you,
You have fallen over the edge of my limits.
That moment of sharp edgery
when you wake up and know that you have the strength to be done
Even if you weren't really asleep before, just dreaming.

There was that one day, when pain knocked
and said he couldn't stay, just passing through
but could you spare some time some thought a glass of water some pills that grey hair there.
for him please.
Then he will be going.
Really. Can he have a seat?

Then you find you have stayed, and payed and talked and sat
and slowly lost track
and made excuses and been too tired and allowed yourself to wind inwards, smaller.
You forgot how to push back and said yes instead.
Yes, it's okay for this to hurt
always and forever and
Yes it's okay to move in, put your baggage right there
on my back. Perfect. No, it's not too heavy.
Yes it's okay to walk slowly
to forget the sunshine of of being happy
in your miracle house, the soft animal who you are.

and Yes. It's okay to be afraid of it hurting more, hurting worse
and Yes. It's okay to gyre slowly around your pain and call it life.

Until you wake up.
and break up with pain.

Here! Here is your baggage back, and your hat.
I will not forward your mail, or nod to you in the street.

c. April 06 2013

Doors and Windows

I used to eat beer

drink wine- spirits, rye and

glory of glories;

burning like kisses

on the tongue,

whisky. Now I thirst

and drinking only water, will die.

dry like a husk

burned clean by the summer sun

of my desire for you.

I used to have a heart,

rich and full as a pomegranate,

sweet and bitter

as the first bite of our lust.

Now there is only the moon

in my chest.

beating its wax and wane;

flexing with holy need

in the imperative sky 

of my love for you.

I used to have visions,

Now there are only words-

words that frame and contain

the world's whispers, 

and nail thoughts- my thoughts, your thoughts-

down like willing butterflies,

like flesh under tooth

and quiet sunrises against the bedroom curtains

of my future with you. 

Our whole future exists only in my words,

blurred by your careless hand's touch,

throwing our dreams on the wind's wings.

your words flow

in place of blood- meter and rhythm

breathe meaning into my veins.

c. Jan 17 2011

The Dream

I just woke up from the dream. You know, the favourite one. You have it too, I'm sure.

I'm out for a walk- going to meet someone, maybe. I'm in the city, this city- and I cut through the park. Feelin' good. Dusk falls. Out there beyond the trees, the streetlights strobe on orange and blare against the sky but here under the trees, it's dark and cool. The ground is springy. Pretty soon walking feels so good, I decide to run and it's effortless. Leaping up steep hills, using root knuckles and buried stones for purchase, body working perfectly, smoothly. Night has fallen but the air is bright. And I think- wouldn't it be easier to run on all fours?

And it is. Oh, it is. Easier to run, and run, and turn away from the city lights into the blue brightness of the night air and the smell of trees.

c. June 01 2011

Pleasure

The strangest things bring pleasure.

The bright sun surprising me with 

The tattooed shadows of leaves on the grey stones

riverwashed, swimming in violets. 

the lyrics are stuck in my head

of the song we were singing together

when I fell asleep, my head on your chest. 

c. April 23 2012

Dreadlocks.

My hair is a shield
A blanket and a pillow,
A lions mane and a wild head dress. 
It is a glory and a burden, 
A crown and a yoke. 

It smells of campfire smoke, 
and summer sweat,
Neroli and frankincense and cinnamon. 
It smells of memories and wishes, 
But all I can think of is the tilt of your neck
As you bury your face in my hair.

c. May 30 2012

Summer Rain

Dim the lights and turn the music off-
The rain is drumming. 
Open all the windows 
And breathe in the dark green 
Of the summer's breath
Which sets my skin dancing. 
Come dance with me.

c. June 12 2012

Equinox

Today? 
Today I will celebrate the moment, fleeting and treasured
when night and day meet as equals-watch them. 
They pour themselves into the others eyes, deeply and take hands. 
If you look closely, you can see night pass so closely to day,
that their lips brush, lightly. 
Day smiles, and a bird sings it's heart.

c. March 20 2013