In memoriam

so kiss goodbye to romance
let her dance where the dragonflies dance
in the flash of clear light
where the day meets the night
let her dance where the dragonflies dance

let the mourning bells ring
and pause while the mockingbirds sing
where that one final tune
wreathes stars round the moon
and pause while the mockingbirds sing

stand and wait at the edge of the grave
while grass whispers and red poppies wave
the soft sigh of the breeze
calls to oceans and seas
while grass whispers and red poppies wave

breathe farewell on one last longing sigh
send your love where the butterflies fly
cast your grief to the clouds
wear your black cloth like shrouds
send your love where the butterflies fly

and take this, then, the last chance
to dance where the dragonflies dance
in that flash of clear light
where the day meets the night
you can dance where the dragonflies dance

© 2ndwitch, 24/06/15

No going back.

Each step is treacle-bound, the effort of
Keeping open those eyes is almost
Greater than humanly feasible. Yet.
Still, forwards, forwards, and still
Forwards, there is no other route.
There is no other way, the roads
That used to be open are now shut,
And the turnings marked 'no entry'.
The white line never ceases, bending
Round corners and pausing. Yet.
Still forwards, the relentless hum of
The engine is mesmerising the driver.
And forwards, only forwards, there
Is no other way. Yet. Yet. Yet.

© 2ndwitch, 17/06/15

Silver and gold.

There is no use for my body,
It is broken, and flabby, and
lacks the smooth grace that is
Demanded of it. I have failed
At the basic requirement of woman.

There is no use for my soul,
For, with a body that repels, how
Can the soul be heard to sing?
How can the sun that lurks behind
The steel-grey cloud of rain penetrate
And impregnate the silence of voice?

(2) 2ndwitch, 03/10/14

(My thanks to Drever McCusker Woomble, whose song 'Silver and Gold' inspired this poem. I do not have a url for them, but see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wtg-k8zj03c for the song.)

The Meeting.

I met you, one day, unexpectedly, and since then
I have thought of you every day.
I met you, one day, when I was not looking to
Meet anyone, and since then
I have always watched.
Often in silence.
I met you, and for a while you walked with me,
You held my hand, or so I thought,
And walked along at my side.
I thought I would always have you in my life.
But when things were not right,
When life became hard,
And the night was long, long and dark,
Then you were not there, then
I could not find your hand, and
I could not see or hear you beside me any more.
And when I called to you, in pain
And in fright,
Only my own voice echoed back at me.
The trust I had felt, the sense of belonging
And certainty for the future evaporated.
Perhaps I never met you at all.

© 2ndwitch 27/09/14

I want to do nothing.

When the day has faded from gold to soft grey,
And the twilight sings with the evening songs
Of the leaves, and the whispers of bat wings
Tell each other the secrets of the day now ending,
That is when I dream.
I dream of being accepted, whatever I am,
Whatever you are, and whoever anyone might be.
I dream of peace, and smiles as we pass on the street.
I dream of kind words from the people we meet.
I dream of silence, and contentment as the blanket
Of night falls onto the sleeping day,
And the stars, bells in the velvet sky, chime
A lasting lullaby.
I dream of one day, one future day,
When you and I, whoever you are, can sit
In silence and do nothing together.
When all the world can halt, and watch in peace
And understanding, and when no-one will be alone
As the depth of night descends.
I dream.

© 2ndwitch, 24/09/14

Stan Rogers

A few words, a glance, such simple things
That can mean so much, that
Allow the sun to shine when the clouds
Are weeping rain on your world.
So many songs, so many pleas, so many
People for whom love is a reality,
And yet, and yet . .
For so many people that is a dream,
A longing, a pain and a hole that no
Transient pleasure can fill.
Sometimes we have something so
Precious that we are dazzled to the
Meaning and beauty of it,
And we carelessly cast it aside,
And trample it underfoot.
But I am glad he lived.

© 2ndwitch, 15/09/14

Thoughts

I knew you as a friend so long ago,
I knew your smile, and the words that you
Whispered in my ear.
I knew your laughter, and the raised eyebrow,
That said so much without saying anything at all.
I knew you as a friend so long ago.

I knew you as a friend so long ago,
I knew your words, the messages you'd send,
And I knew when something
Might upset you, and cause you to stop still,
To pause and take stock.
I knew you as a friend so long ago.

I knew you as a friend so long ago,
I knew that I could call you, I knew
You would be there.
I knew your voice, and the soft touch of
Your hand on my arm.
I knew you as a friend so long ago.

Today I look around me, and I see you are not here.
No longer is your smile just round the corner.
I look to read your words, they no longer
Speak to me, I cannot call on you now
If I am lost or without hope. I knew you then,
But I do not know you now. Sometimes.
Sometimes. Sometimes I think of you, when
I hear the notes of a tune, or the soft indrawn breath
Of the morning's child. And often I think of you
As the sun sinks into its nighttime bed, and the world
Fades from gold to deep blue. Then,
And always then, I think of you.

You are legion, you are dead, you are alive,
Just born, and nearing the end.
You are everyman, and I have lost you.
But I will always think of you.

© 2ndwitch, 12/09/14