June 19, 2011 “Virginia dreams…”
“Virginia dreams…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I walked into the midst of a river
to feel the cleansing water flow
to lay upon it my pain
to let it take my fear
a smothering blanket of sorrow
~
to cast upon its waters
what haunts my darkening soul
hidden prides and disappointments
unforgiven sins
that have taken a telling toll
~
to somehow loose the stains
that have tarnished me too long
the stigmata and bruises
and like stones let them sink
to the bottom where they belong
~
I lingered in the sparkling waters
in the wash of a relentless stream
I felt the water coursing
as I looked below the swirling surface
I knew it was only a dream
~
for the longer I stood in the current
the more I saw what I did not wish to see
I felt only a bone-chilling cold
for the man I saw in reflections
was the same man who walked in with me
~
when you find yourself standing by the water
if you think of me then you will know
in a sparkle, a splash, or a swirl
I gave myself freely to the river
and forever ride on the ebb and the flow
©tlh 6/19/11
Listen to this here:
June 15, 2011 “grave circumstances”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“grave circumstances”
*
going down to rise no more
time is at hand
scratching at the back door
just as well not at the front
not guest nor visitor
but a thief
the chariot swinging low
on the horizon of a setting sun
my course nearly finished
and my race run
sinking slow
the chariot low
and fiery red
green grass will be my cover
cold black earth my bed
weeping silence
trickles through ancient stones
slowly chilling mortal bones
sounds of tramping hooves
the fading rumble of chariot wheels
the acrid breath of a pale horse
with Hell snapping at its heels
I have no angel
and the horseman is on the hunt
©tlh 6/15/11
Listen to this here:
May 25, 2011 “belle of the ball”
“belle of the ball”
*
the sun smiled at me today
a flash of reflection
in a mirror on the wall
only a wink
just a blink
after a storm,that was all
it took me by surprise
it dried my rainy eyes
and made me see
from the shadows
beneath the clouds
a single face
among the crowds
the cramped places
and the blank spaces
between wasted chances
when the music plays
but no one dances
then suddenly
in the mirror
blinding sunshine
flashes on a wall
or in a dream
either way
I was dancing a waltz
with the belle of the ball
©tlh 5/25/11
January 26, 2011 “floppy hat”
“floppy hat”
in a dream or a memory
I can’t tell which
maybe it was yesterday
she is silhouetted by the blue-sky sun
in the morning of a warm summer day
a soft breeze smells of the sea and her perfume
and I take a breath
of the scented morning air
I strain to see her smile
a form in the shadow
under that floppy hat she wears
from time to time when the mood strikes
her face hidden in the blinding sun
but my eye can trace
the pleasant line of her neck
to the alluring curve
of her bare shoulder kissed by the sun
my jealous lips
envious of that lucky star
and the breeze
and the perfume
and that floppy hat she wears
from time to time when the mood strikes
©tlh 1/26/11
Listen to this here:
December 31, 2010
Dreams
Two thousand ten was a year of dreams…
dreams born…
dreams aborted…
dreams killed in their prime…
dreams living one day at a time…
dreams, too feeble to last, that died of natural causes…
dreams never dreamed because of fear…
I wonder…
What dreams may come next year.
©tlh 12/31/10
December 28, 2010 “a single thought”
***
“a single thought”
she is my thought at sunrise
in my sunsets she dwells
she waits for me in my dreams
I hear her voice in the depths of my slumber
she whispers
she smiles
she laughs
her eyes lead me into my destiny
I see into her soul
there she holds my heart
and hers is mine
love is ours
we are one
©tlh 12/28/10
November 21, 2010 “care lessness”
A Sunday 160 @ Monkey Man
“care lessness”
set sail west
to the setting sun
to the arms of love
the arms of one
who beckons you come
o’er the tide
be ever by my side
oh, never mind…
you’re no sailor
©tlh 11/21/10
November 12, 2010 “dream forgotten”
“dream forgotten”
*
I awoke in the middle of a dream
in the midst of some scape
a fleeting vision
of happiness
contentment
or maybe sad darkness
a foggy memory
the fog entering
through my sleepy eyes
as they open
the dream fades into the mist
my heart
vibrating in my chest
like butterfly wings
reaching for the phone
by my bed
a familiar ringing
in my head
it was her ring
I smiled a sleepy smile
as my hand reached
I heard the ringing
the far away ringing
from deep in the fog
the sad foggy darkness
of a dream
misplaced
or forgotten
©tlh 11/12/10
October 27, 2010 “divine nectar of fickle gods”
“divine nectar of fickle gods”
luscious wine…
sun setting
in the glass…
red
sweet
gentle
exotic accent
disarming
charming
relieved me
of my senses…
subtle
alluring…
promised
bliss
eternal kiss
warm surrender
dreams realized
happiness…
cold breath
in the gloaming
fog…
waking
in a salty
rain…
pain
from lonely eyes
opened
to stinging truth…
an empty glass
love’s racemus
withered on the vine
©tlh 10/27/10
September 30, 2010 “dream touch”
“dream touch”
alone in my bed
halfway in and halfway out
of covers and sleep
my waking moment
still dreaming and still with you
smelling your perfume
walking side by side
my eyes open without thought
I reach for your hand
©tlh 9/30/2010
(Image courtesy of artist)
Thank You, Red
September 25, 2010 “tealight dancer”
“tealight dancer”
fluttering shadows
mixing with dancing red
and orange shapes
on my ceiling
mesmerizing
my scintillated mind
with visions of her
pirouetting body
spinning through my head
in the sensual glow
of the tealight by my bed
©tlh 9/25/2010
Listen to this here:
(Photo by tlh)
September 18, 2010 “Rhapsody, On A Theme Of Paganini”
This is my favorite single piece of music…I find myself humming or whistling it so often. I hope you take the time to listen, and let your heart hear it…
Down by the lake…
(Photo by tlh)
September 16, 2010 “morning, love”
(My first Etheree)
“morning, love”
come and walk with me in the morning sun
bathe with me in the golden glowing
sparkling dewy droplets flowing
from pretty morning flowers
sleeping petals winking
in sunlight blinking
sweetly drinking
all the love
as we
do
©tlh 9/16/2010
(Image courtesy of artist)
Thank you, Red
The Perfect Poet Award
The Perfect Poet Awards
I am honored to accept the Perfect Poet award from JINGLE for weeks 26,27,and 28
and nominate dcwright02 
Thanks Ji, for all you do in the community, without you we cannot be here, and I want you to know that I really appreciate all you do.
I also want to thank each and every one of you who has honored me with an award.
I have been very busy lately and have not posted all of them but know that I truly
appreciate all the warmth and love received from you. Your support and
love means more than words can say. Thank you to every one of you.
September 11, 2010 “terror”
“terror”
I awoke!
to the thump-thump-thumping
of my racing heart pumping
from some unknown fear dumping
all it’s terror over me
I despaired!
as the blade snicker-snacking
to and fro whicker-whacking
the edge hack-hacking
at my soul
I cried!
my eyes blink-blinking
my shattered mind thinking
and my broken spirit sinking
back to the blackness of a dream
©tlh 9/11/2010
August 26, 2010 “Fear” Thursday Poets Rally
Thanks, to all who nominated me for this award. I display it with pride
Jingle….YOU ROCK!
In accepting this award, I’m asked to nominate another poet.
My nomination for this go round is… (insert drum roll track here)…..
The following piece is for my earthbound angel. I know, I’m mushy, and sappy; I write about LOVE and the pains that go along with it sometimes, but it’s what (according to some of you) I do very well. So, here is another Love poem from my Gloriously Tormented, Happily Sad Heart
Fear
of losing my words
of losing my rhyme
grips me
my pen quivers in my fingers
my mind races and stops dead
lost in a misty mélange
I struggle
I strive
against some demon
unseen and unknown
I cannot find myself
I do not know where I am
my past buffets me from all sides
my future mocks me
my now is a mystery
where are my words
why can’t I speak
I call out with all of my strength
I scream until I’m breathless
a cacophony of silence
crashes in my ears
the darkness swallows me
wrapped in a black shroud of nothingness….
I hear a voice in the dark distance
whispering my name…
am I dead or alive?
my eyes slowly open to pale light
I see the face of an angel…
I rest in the arms of an angel…
I look into the gray eyes of an angel…
I hear the voice of an angel…
“Baby…I’m here”
and that is why…
I Will Love Her Forever.
©tlh 8/26/2010
(Image courtesy of artist)
Thanks, Red
August 23, 2010 “continuum”
“continuum”
how do I feel you
as if part of you is with me
like a cosmos time traveler
into the future
I met you
I loved you
now I’m here
we’re here in this time
together, apart
but you are my future
at the same time
my past
our present
lies in the future
where we’re together
when we are at last
bound by our own gravity
building our past
into our future
together
and I feel you
when our lips meet
in that singularity
the universe stands still
we are one
©tlh 8/23/2010
Listen to this here:
(Image courtesy of moodflow)
Thank you, Red
August 11, 2010 “The Siren’s Painting”
“The Siren’s Painting”
The gray sea scratches at the sandy shore.
White foamy fingers struggle for purchase
at my feet, pointed west into the sun;
Siren song bidding me take one step more.
The orange sunset hangs above the foam.
Silvery deep blushes in that mirror,
beautiful with blue, purple, green and red;
Siren begs me closer to my long home.
My fate is fixed, love’s lot is firmly cast.
Eyes are set on that painted horizon.
I’m drawn deeper into indigo waves;
Siren’s touch I’m longing for holds me fast.
I have no bark and no sailor am I.
I stand silently upon shifting sand.
The rhythm of the tide eases my soul;
Siren paints me into the reddened sky.
©tlh 8/11/2010
Listen to this here:
(Image courtesy of artist)
Thanks, Red
August 6, 2010
“first kiss”
Anticipation
heartbeat syncopation
eyes met
a deep breath
controlled exhale
through pursed lips
only to calm
sweating palm
eyes still locked
stepping closer
pulled by heart strings
driven by desire
time standing still
future flashes forward
hers for the taking
soul mates making
his for the taking
foundations quaking
being reborn
all else forsaking
insides churning
fires burning
two lives turning
melting into one
moving in a dream
closer to reality
electrified mind
wants to scream
but the words
must wait
this moment is fate
the flowing stream
on the cheeks
are the tears
for the years
of waiting
for what’s next
the soft brush
of ecstasy
the taste
of lips
his and hers
the pressure
the wetness
the knowing
for each
with no doubt
it’s the last
first kiss.
©tlh 8/6/2010
(Photo courtesy of artist)
Thank You, Red
August 3, 2010
“The Angel”
(You know who you are)
I was in a hole when you found me.
Do you remember?
Or did you even notice
how deep the hole was?
That hole that I dug all by myself,
one shovel full at a time…
of pride and insecurities,
shame and fears,
mistakes and tears.
I dug it myself,
been digging for years.
How you found me, I’ll never know,
but you did, down in that hole.
You peered down from the circle of sky
your face was silhouetted in the sunlight
like a halo…an angel up above me
to my tearing eye
as I reached to shade my face
your hand reached into that deep dark place
that awful hole
and when you touched my startled hand
I felt your soft fingers grasping to get a hold
desperately straining to pull me from the cold
damp, dirty, desolate hole
You did it, somehow you did it,
you rescued me.
You hero, you beauty, you angel.
You pulled me from my lonely space
brushed the mud from my stained face,
and as I looked into your loving eyes,
dirty and tattered as I was…
I saw Love.
You said, “I’ve loved you forever.”
I said, “I’ll love you forever”
My muddy fingers closed around your angel hand
you didn’t seem to mind the stains of the hole.
You know….the one you saved me from,
that damp, desolate, hole
in my soul
You turned and led me into the sunset
as I let the shovel fall.
©tlh 8/3/2010
(Photo courtesy of artist)
Thanks Red
July 31, 2010 “a happy post for both Cindys”
Tealights
Two lovers draped in the flickering glow
of two tealights, dimly dancing slow
upon the ebbing walls, across the flowing floor
like fairy gods playing at the shadowed door
the lovers lie in lover’s eye
lost in the fluttering flame
melted and melded
til two lights become same
and brighter still their light
burning jealous green and passion red
each for their love’s loving through the night
two tiny tealights
lighting lover’s love’s way
til fairy gods vanish
and night’s become day
©tlh 7/31/2010
Listen to this here:
(photo from the web)
Thanks, Red
July 23, 2010 “Elements”
“Elements”
She:
is a capricious breeze that whistles through
upsetting papers and knocking off the dust
making all feel fresh and new
He:
is the trade winds; constant and steady
carrying precious cargo through the doldrums
gentle, but strong and ever ready
She:
is a mountain stream; always rushing past
tumbling effortlessly over every stone
washing away all that isn’t anchored fast
He:
is a mighty river; big, dark, murky, and slow
but continuous, wide, meandering along
deep and powerful in his flooding flow
She:
is a mountain range; sharp peaks reaching for the sky
forbidding, stark, and beautiful, difficult to navigate
but worth every step for one willing to try
He:
is rolling foothills; gently rising to meet the sun
robed in peaceful verdant forest, an easy trek
hidden valleys, cool breezes when the day is done
She:
is a flame; that drives away the chill, a small flickering fire
suddenly raging across a plain consuming any in it’s path
an inferno or a tea light whatever her heart’s desire
He:
is burning embers; smoldering, under gray and black
ready to flame into the darkness at the slightest breath
and rekindle flames to bring the warming fire back
They:
are elements; wind, water, earth, and fire
together in perfect balance… In Love
tlh 7/23/10
(Photo owned by artist)
Thanks Red
July 22, 2010 “Thursday Poets Rally”
“Dying Teardrops”
As I stand dying
Heart bleeding teardrops of red
I hear no crying
As I kneel dying
Ashen face with tearless eyes
I hear no sighing
As I lay dying
In sanguine pool of heartbreak
I see her flying
Listen to this here:
© Tracy H
(I borrowed the photo from the artist)
Thanks, Amanda
July 15, 2010 “For Skattie”
“For Skattie”
This is something very dear to me; it’s the first real poem I ever penned.
It was 1978.
I was 15 years young, and I felt the joy and pain of Love in such a concentrated form, that were it not for the strength of youth, I would have been consumed like tinder in a flame. Time and trials, heartache and miles had jaded me, so I had all but forgotten that feeling until recently. I give this precious memory to the one that brought me back to life…she knows who she is.
THE LAND OF A THOUSAND DREAMS
It’s time pretty girl for you to go to bed.
To go to sleep, to lay down your pretty head.
You’re going to take a trip to a wonderful land, you will see.
Just lie back, relax, and listen to me.
Now starts your journey as your eyes slowly close.
The places you go no one else knows.
You go to a land with candy cane trees
with chocolate mountains and Kool-Aid seas.
This is… The Land Of A Thousand Dreams,
with marshmallow clouds and caramel streams.
Everyone wants to come to this land
where there’s ice cream for snow and sugar for sand.
You can take a walk on a road of hard candy.
Isn’t it wonderful? Isn’t it dandy?
Then suddenly you come to the orange juice lake.
You go across in a boat made from a cupcake.
The little boat’s captain is a gingerbread man
And he’s taking you off to the gingerbread land.
The sailors too, are made of gingerbread
with whipped cream caps on the tops of their heads.
Then you come to a city of Angel food cake
as you step out of the boat on the orange juice lake.
You walk up the street and see all the people
and a sugar-cube church with a candy cane steeple.
All along the street you see Tootsie Rolls.
They use stick candy for telephone poles.
Everything is sweet in this wonderful land,
but you can’t stay here, I hope you understand.
You must go home and get back in your bed.
For now, you must leave this sweet land of gingerbread.
But remember, no matter how hard life seems
you can always return
to The Land Of A Thousand Dreams.
by Tracy Harris (1978)
Listen to this here:
July 11, 2010 “Haiku? Or…?”
Haiku for You
When I think of You
My heart leaps within my chest…
My dreams coming true.
When I look at you
Springtime blossoms in my heart;
I see my future.
When I hear your voice
Birds sing love songs to my soul…
At last I am whole.
***
Lunes
Robert Kelly Style:
Katydid flying,
Lights on me,
Bringing me good luck.
***
Jack Collom Style:
Red, like roses,
Fragrant, as my eye closes…
Dream’s eye supposes.
TLH 7/11/10
Listen to this here:
What folks think…