Poem: Crumbs - take 1

You know
you were not
hard to find

I just learned
to follow
the signs

first
there was
the daily mail

from that
I picked up
on your trail

there were
the clippings
at Thumpers
where they
cut your hair

the crumbs
at Estia from
the baklava
you ate there

There was
gossip dropped
at the Bethune

the tea stain
on your plastic spoon

the crumpled leaves
on Chebucto Lane

the empty bottle
of champagne

the light above
your front door

the clothes strewn
carelessly on the floor

and in the dreaming sleep
where you are renewed

that is where
I found you.

Verse: Will

I will sing
a rebel song
and I will
call it passion

And I will continue
to give it voice
even if it's not
in fashion

I will write
a manifesto
and I will
call it lust

and it will
shatter the complacent
and scatter them
like dust

I will whisper
a small prayer
and I will
call it hope

And I will send
it like a rallying cry
to those who cannot cope

I will state
a purpose
and I will
call it faith

And nothing
will move me from it
no law, no man, no wraith

And then I
will light a fire
and I will call it love

and it will cover
all the earth and
singe heaven above

Verse: Who Called For Me

(NB: I would say that this was the poem pushed aside yesterday, only all I had was the first line. When another poem resisted my advanced today, I called it up and gave it a red rose as an apology...)

Who called for me
when I was seeking
who called for me
when I was on fire
who called for me
while I lay sleeping
who was it
that burdened me
with desire

Who called for me
when I was sequestered
who called for me
when I made my defense
who called for me
before my crucifixion
who was it
that burdened me
with this offense

Who called for me
when I was a student
who called for me
when I was to be ordained
who called for me
when I was excommunicated
who was it
that burdened me
with this pain

Who called for me
when I courted silence
who called for me
when I committed to my schemes
who called for me
when I thought I was holy
who was it
that burdened me
with dreams

Who called for me
before my enlightenment
who called for me
before my rebirth
who called me
before I went to battle
who was it
that burdened me
with this mirth

Who called for me
before my journey's climax
who called for me
before the plates were cleared
who called me before
my affairs were in order
who was it
that burdened me
with fear

Who called for me
when I was hesitating
who called for me
when I thought I was through
who called for me
when I had no expectations
Who was it
please tell me
it was you

Verse: Who am I this time

(This is a lyrical ballade of a sorts that determined it should be the sole object of my study. Jealous of another idea that I had desired to write, it did engage in deception to turn my affections toward it...)

Who can I be this time
If I am not your love

If I am not the ground below
I will be the moon above

And guide you to others
like a hand slips into a glove

Who can I be this time
If I am not your love


Who can I be this time
If not your desire

If I cannot be your match
then I will be a fire

And guide you to others
whose passion you require

Who can I be this time
if not your desire


Who can I be this time
if not your paramour

If I cannot be your rock
then I will be the shore

And lead you to the others
you are yearning to explore

Who can I be this time
if not your paramour


Who can I be this time
if I am not your beau

If I cannot be your staff
I will be an arrow

And lead you to the others
whose love you long to know

Who can I be this time
if I am not your beau


Who can I be this time
if not your valentine

If I cannot be your map
then I will be a sign

And guide you to the others
who are faultless and divine

Who can I be this time
if not your valentine


Who can I be this time
if I am not your groom

If I cannot be your bed
then I will be a room

And lead you to the others
whom you want to consume

Who can I be this time
if I am not your groom

Two Poems for November 6, 2009

I - Recovery
I'm returning these
to you

I thought that you
might want them back

I don't know how
they attached themselves
to me

I didn't even notice
until they had accumulated
like a damp, heavy snow

If they seem
unfamiliar
I may have gotten them
mixed up with mine

You know
how it is

Just be careful
who you give them to
next time

II - Wanted

Lost
one kiss
last seen
at the corner
of North
and Agricola

It is
fierce, felonious
possessive
and not to be
approached

But if you
should find it
call me
I want it back

Two Poems for November 5, 2009

I - Parasites

When they inquire
and they will
tell them this

When the dreams
became nightmares
I did not
abandon them

I sat with them
all night
until the fever broke
and they fell asleep

They don't need me now
they are yours
to do with
as you will

But don't wake them
at least not
until I am gone

You know
I was never very good
at goodbyes

II
In winter
I walk upon
a million tiny stars
and break their hearts

Two Poems for November 4, 2009

I - Untitled (thanks to @therealamber + @blaineparker)

Go and tell
the ocean
it's tomorrow

Tonight
I mean to mount
the empty sky

And if you
do not accept
my invitation

Just wave to me
as I go
sailing by


II - Insurrection (someone told me recently to write from the heart. This is about as close as I could get. The mind said little, except to rearrange an item or two as is its prerogative.)

Love is checking her
reflection in the mirror

Love is quickly slipping
on her shoes

Love is coming on
like an insurrection

Everybody's going
to hear the news

Love is always quiet
on Sunday mornings

Love is shivering
at the thought of snow

Loving is coming to give
you back your conscience

And all the love you
dreamed of long ago

Love is not content
with just a handshake

Love is not satisfied
with an embrace

Love will not be penciled
in for meetings

It is love that will dictate
the time and place

Love is going to beat
market projections

Love will take the mike
and have its say

Everybody's going
to get the message

Love is not the kind
who will delay

Love is not about
to take your orders

There are no operators
standing by

It will not negotiate
or bargain

Love is coming
and it will not be denied

Love is going to be
precise and sudden

Love is going to be
intense and true

You'd better get
your affairs in order

Love's coming now
and it's coming for you

Verse: Prey

How is it
that you came here
when you know
the night
has seen your eyes?

Did you winter
in America
making angels
in the unkissed snow?

Did you awake
in a dream
and shower in the dust
of the nameless universe?

Or did you encounter
loose-lipped lovers
in the all-night
supermarkets
foraging for food?

Did they tell you
I was looking for you?
They lied.

Verse: confrontation

Is Lisa what
you call yourself
when I am not here
to call you lover?

You know
the first snow
will not make me
forget that I
was a vagrant
before you gave
me shelter

You know
the night
which we are inclined
to romanticize
doesn't fall
for cheap sentiment
it merely settles in
like a deep raw rasp
in your throat

Did you know
I wanted to be verse
before the spoken word
was desired
but I lost my objectivity
when I was born
and waited instead
for love to make me
its servant

No, I was
never home
before I encountered you
and when you sleep
I am alone

Please wake me
in your indelible embrace
and soon
before I lose
my sense of longing

Verse: Demeter

When first
I did meet you
I was not more
than a child

You harvested
my heart and
I found myself
beguiled

It was sweet
it was short
and we were
insecure

You harvested
my will to love
before I knew
what it was for

When next you did
encounter me
I had promises
to keep

But you harvested
my eyes and I
lost the life I knew
to sleep

The desire
seeded in me
at first seemed
no more than caprice

but you harvested
my fingerprints
and so I called
the police

I made a full
confession
I told them of
your schemes

that you harvested
my eyes and now
you know all
my dreams

I returned
to confront you
I was sure I would
prevail

But you harvested
my ardor
and my resolve
began to fail

You who did
embrace me
you who told me
to believe

You harvested
my frantic sighs
and I was
relieved

You who do
entice me
you to whom
I'm tender prey

You harvested
this verse from me
what more is there
to say?