Roaming Shadows

All those shadows roaming ‘round

All those shadows gaining ground

Deepening from grey to black

Carrying your memories back

To a time of trembling tears

Forming clouds of festering fears

Long stretches of arctic cold

Times when only lies were told

Hearts patently distressed

Limbs nakedly un-caressed

Why do we hurt each other so

Instead of simply letting go…

Thrumming music deep inside

Touching fears and tears and pride

Stinging, twisting writhing pain

Wriggles in then backs out again

Forgive yourself and let it go

A minor dance in a larger show

Snow drifts with precious flakes
Life is bigger than your mistakes

Winter comes and calls you out

Then spring returns without a doubt

And life renews itself once more

A window closed but an open door

Embrace the shadows and light

Embrace beauty in day and night

For we are all humans flawed

Both grief and hope in our blood

You are one; and one is all

Hearts respond to mystery’s call

All those shadows roaming around

All those shadows gaining ground

Sweep them back to whence they came

Don’t get drawn into their game

Feel the currents both warm and cool

Let life and music lift your soul

Smirk of Satisfaction

You taunt me with a smirk of satisfaction

Especially when you elicit a provoked reaction

I wonder why you needle so deliberately

What joy comes from injuring so perceptively?

My returned insults--hard, reactive thrusts

Blade left embedded deep until it rusts

No apology enough to pull it free

Even if I cared for you to forgive me

Perhaps it is your road to superiority

Paving over your feared inferiority

I rationalize: that venom must come from pain

By inflicting hurt, you feel some kind of gain

My despising unabated by such justification

Nor stops that vindictive retaliation

Which sinks me to your level at my cost

That you thus diminish me, I hate the most

Are You an Artist?

Are you an artist with an artist’s broken soul?

Letting love and pain pour out in poem or paint

Beginning a piece by throwing all into the wind

Completing it with raw, reserved restraint

Know all mankind is burdened just the same

Loaded at birth with an intense need to create

Those unable or prevented will choose destruction

Hoping agony will thus be rendered satiate

Those with talent are beings set apart

Loved and lauded by most; hated by some

Burdened by both expectations and critique

They still burn brighter and rise into the sun