hard lines in the face of a rock violent history forged into beauty

the touch of a hand– clouds of misgivings retreat into pure sky

where music once filled the emptiness a light yet shines

in cold, stone walls of certain ruination– a door to freedom

ice-covered asphalt roads leading back to my youth– peaceful winter days

deep furrows images of things seen and not seen

this landscape– dry, seemingly unmoving to my untrained eye

intersecting lines of power and light in the night sky

first date walking the new year home just after midnight

beneath the oak tree drinking well water from granddad’s tin cup

my mind like a bird’s wings frozen in mid-flight

cold morning a light, prickly fog kisses my cheeks

words swallowed whole by night

fear of falling fear of flying fear of standing still

“I’ll be here.” the limited-time offer of a lifetime

harsh penetration a perfect design interrupted

watching stars falling

exploring shadows– positive and negative qualities of light

so light– leaves and needles, ever green floating out to sea

old baggage, zippers broken, contents falling out trailing a mess

flame-tipped burning wick behind a glass wall

enraged in his cage he begged her not to cry as she lay broken

walking on rooftops one-hundred-and-two stories in the air

the universe aches from love lost and pain endured all of life entwined

sitting in the shade watching the black diamonds grow inching to the sun

watching the ink dry zen and the art of saving one’s own life  

facing the darkness hard rain and wind at my back light is so fleeting  

wild expression fragile body touching mind dancing  

clarity in the tiniest dew drop about to fall

torn but beautiful withering but full of light this is perfection  

stone lion roaring existence justified true liberation  

i am surrounded shadows merging with the light this is the path  

delicate edges fine lines and fuzzy figures charming deception  

not exempt from life these petals fade and decay gently laid to rest

stuck on this ledge i desire to catch the wind and fly away free  

moments of peace in hardship and suffering still, silent beauty

the cool breeze whispers now is the time to open the gift of spring

dark ramblers ocean of light at the tips of budding fingers

flash of memory black and white slow-motion film playing in my head

the darkness within such a comforting old friend afraid of the light

closed tightly against a black and white world refusing to bloom

the shadows have merged with the light of my being no more absolute

little hands reaching up into the sky new life

cracker jack box faith digging through the goodies for the prize

a rose is a rose even when besieged by darkness

i bow to the light in you that lifts my darkness

tired of this game interminable motion going nowhere

freckle-faced fair skin and sun-bleached blonde hair watson’s sweetheart

inner strength the threads by which i’ve hung my faith

i sit alone soaking up the truth dissolving in it