BROKEN IN EXILE

The sunniest of days can still declare

Downsides of lonely times spent pondering.

Blue skies don’t always mask cruellest despair

And soft breezes can’t stop tears wandering.

If you were here I’d be up for laughter

And I’d set my soul to your enjoyment.

Then we’d climb to kisses and much after

Upon the summits of love’s employment.

But I can touch you only with my heart

In dreams where sweet romance survives time’s tests

And desires fuse and never ever part.

Yet hope was slain when you were laid to rest,

Not coming home but in bitter sojourn,

Exiled, broken, and never to return.

ETERNAL FLOWER

My prize at day’s end never ever wilts

I see your face and hear your voice’s pitch

And I retreat beneath my warming quilts

To think of you before sleep turns the switch.

I toss and turn and stir and yearn and blaze.

An eternal flower flames my nightly stage

To light my bleakest corners and amaze

Just as you did before the mullahs’ rage.

I can never believe I left your side

Although your path seemed so well fixed and paved.

But now I know what pains you sought to hide

And how my pride meant you were never saved.

So rest in peace and know I’ve love for you
When next we meet to kiss and start anew.

APOLLO

Sometimes I go to this world’s darkest place.

There’s no bright air and only black abounds.

With all my strength I seek Apollo’s face

But falter parched on every day’s dry grounds.

Then I wander and cling to my instincts

And step ‘round all the weird winds of fashion,

Finding there’s no critics I can convince,

My eyes cast down to mask my raw passion.

Each day I lash the words ‘til they confess

What’s in my heart and bursting to be read

And yet there’s no respite from facelessness

While time spins by and leaves my mind near dead.

How could those mighty poets of lost years

Survive the stress and torture of their tears?

INSISTENCE

These are the times of insignificance.

Sketches I draw with winsome words fail me.

Bright scenes I paint with agile circumstance

Turn grey and mock like bland years that ail me.

Should I abide in plain indifferent chance?

Or should I set bold hope in destiny?

The world would urge me take the former stance -

Another slave of fear and apathy.

Unseen stories scratch at my grizzled heart;

Virgin verses glare back from curled pages.

Even if I have penned prized works of art

It seems no-one will mount my grand stages.

The cold craving to stop and rest persists
But still my soul’s flaming fervour insists.

FRAGILE SOUL

Why does my lonely task suffice

As the course I am bound to take

When all around is song and dance

And few hearts ache?

Is it because you quenched my spirit,

Making me some other being

When I was pliable and yielding

With eyes for seeing?

‘Twas fickle chance and nothing more

Set my naïve gaze upon your face

And you conquered my upright reserve.

So began the chase.

Your skin was creamiest caramel,

Your eyes and hair the darkest coal,

Your laughing voice conveyed no trace

Of your fragile soul.

Dazed by your body’s curves and sways,

And childlike in an alien clime,

I soon became a wayward knave

Longing for your time.

You led me on and played coquette,

But inside your young heart had leapt.

I made advances and took chances,

And my conscience slept.

When passion came it scorched us both,

'Though exquisite our moment seemed.

I wished I’d stayed your fondest friend

And so shyly dreamed.

But wise coolness was never likely

Between two bound by such desire.

Yet when we dived and burned in flames

Love survived the fire.

Still you could not take the final steps

And you chose ways that seemed so fair.

Before you and yours were lashed and caged -

Captives of despair.

And soon your brittle soul was shattered

So only splintered shards endured;

Black dogs tore your soft heart apart.

I lived on secured.

But when I learned about the truth -

How corrupt fiefdoms destroyed you -

I had no choice but change my life,

Proving love was true.

So now I dwell in densest gloom

That only you can fill with light.

By day I raise you with my words,

Then I weep at night.

DEATH SENTENCE

When I desire

Consolation

I tear down

The golden image

I made of you

And I remind myself:

If we had married

I would surely have spent

My whole life

Waiting for you

To be unfaithful

And never knowing

Exactly

When you were.