bold and unlooked for
a handsome beast finds access
with thundering hooves
a few seem favored
she does not explain herself
prayers are pointless
night’s spectral pageant
hallowed undertow of sleep
rapture in repose
yellowing photos
edge of memory locales
unclear who I was
between gnarled covers
words and sigils penned in blood
pages made of flesh
silken wave of fog
westward ridgeline softens
hills lay down in mist
no rest for the king
she declares the rites corrupt
he wanders with shades
attend Cellini
in the dark Colosseum
open gates of Hell
scent of dread poison
decline the offered teacup
ask to be excused
some choose not to share
a sip of fragrant water
though they own a well
her legion ravens
pepper the citadel sky
nothing moves unseen
alone in the dark
above the firelit campsite
graceful doe strides past
moss hangs from branches
tangled gray green like witches’ hair
reach up high and touch
feet in the water
half snoozing wait for fireflies
sunlight almost gone
eyes closed sounds of wind
now strong men shaking canvas
now far off oceans
breeze over tan field
warm licorice summer scent
ambling slow across
recourse to dark arts
may their bodies know their ways
wake in world of hurt
I am not her friend
nonetheless she speaks through me
words she bids me voice
home channel fog horn
hollow somber call to port
wait or risk a run
temple bell deep tone
sly crows raise their heads and smile
monks are at prayer
artful midnight breeze
silent mist performs a dance
pale silver forms writhe
two cold night neighbors
him inside warm in his bed
her curled on concrete
ill-humored numen
on high smiling clouds sail past
on the sea dead calm
equal day and night
robed figures await the dawn
perhaps the last time
late afternoon breeze
crisp leaves on tumbling parade
wee skipping shadows
calm above the falls
giddy tickling tumble down
run on breathless stream
forfeited wonders
so many grand mysteries
so much left unseen
blunt old age mirror
little of worth sent forward
so much good held back
sapphire midnight sky
swaying blood red leaves now black
nodding silhouettes
old raw wounds fester
no rest for those who still live
tyrants and victims
haunting voiced minstrel
alone in the dark forum
stone columns shudder
centaur screams echo
dire pleas from the ancient vale
too late for redress
amber dawn-lit fog
circle of tree silhouettes
distant rasp of surf
the gods demand blood
thirsty altars welcome all
innocents and rogues
too hot where she kneels
rose pale velvet green purple
sunlight through stained glass
dry brown five lobed leaf
graceful pirouette descent
still now and at rest
swaying incenser
resin smoke pulsing from vents
random klink of chain
still mountain silence
stately hawk glides near through trees
silky feather hiss
blisters in the sky
black endless nothing beyond
blest are the childless
dawn heat moves the air
sandy wisps caress the dunes
sign of passage fades
sigil carved in stone
ardent prayer awakens
ask what you must know
entirely herself
kind wisdom and fierce love dance
her face hides nothing
sweet rich amber smoke
a crow rises from the trees
the other self soars
memory of touch
memory of jasmine scent
fond inconstant friends
over pounding surf
tall mist-shrouded crags glow white
gift of silver moon
savage rumbling breath
movement near now in tall grass
so much left undone
soft shadow pattern
to and frow across the path
under swaying boughs
they played for us all
honeyed tones no longer heard
magic fades away
coy shimmering moon
draws the dreamer to herself
in skybound rapture
low over the sea
born of a split horizon
someone came to me
mountain forest mist
still for long breathless moments
a world falls silent
drifting shadow veil
paints and unpaints distant hills
random passing thoughts
mist on the hillside
now a shadow of itself
now a mourning shroud