where to find yourself, someone in love............. #NaPoWriMo Day 30

where to find yourself, someone in love 

find a poet

find your never shy words

what are you 

or may be 

in a moment

in a series of them

in chances taken 

in the looks 

ahead and back

in someone's sculpted 

spun wheel clay hands 

real eyes realize 

why Hope lives 

to be loved 

as art does 

a poem 

a dance 

a piece of ribbon 

caught in a breeze 

the stillness of a bird 

perched atop a tree 

wading the possible pants we wear 

what does tactile crawling say 

when we listen 

for what sings 

to us 

every way 

inside 

to outside 

why light rides 

every night  

to be wished upon 

starlight falling into us 

knowledge too has a scent 

we descend into 

wondering wandering 

we find the places 

we left 

to our devices 

our vices and vises 

our roses 

we plucked petals from 

our slow thorn singing 

our throne-ing the scratches 

we said look 

mad and map less 

yeah, the roses 

our smell of vision 

our, are we muddy enough 

our, oh look darling 

where we went 

pulling poem thin air 

daring wearing what words did when slid 

hid to pied piped mountains 

waiting worn shorn rain over eons 

oceans eating every word 

every conversation 

every mountain 

we ever were or 

leaned into 

beneath trees 

atop their hair 

wishing to be birds  

we dare this breath 

more than Life 

could ever be held as what is 

a breathless 

moment of discovery 

wordless poems too 

ether meld, a spell or two 

gifted magic meaning 

a fleeting sense 

of immortality 

we often remember 

how precious 

we are when scented with rain 

when we find ourselves 

somewhere we hadn't expected to 

be on the other side of 

EJR © 

https://www.napowrimo.net/day-thirty-7/

inside a heaven we once were... #NaPoWriMo Day 29

inside a heaven we once were 

<part one>

we had become 
regulars at the midnight diner 
i was the stranger 
from out of town 
weary eyed shoulder folk 
in or out would lean depending 
on what booty they thought 
needed being hidden 
from my curious sight 

there was a gift stand 
by the cash register 
knick knack bric-à-brac 
and all sorts of things 
that called for you to touch them 
fobs and frillies 
snow globes and sillies 
sayings, painted and sewn 
onto all sorts of things 
my favorite was the plain white tee 
with this little poem 
stenciled onto it 

"a journey is a radio ride 
can the soul become 
carnage ready wear 
a corpse ware 
a scent forgotten 
rotten, bitten into 
smitten for your gold too" 

----------------------------------------------------------------- 

<part two>

at first we'd gone the wise way 
we went wolf mother 
flow garden hoe soft Earth routine 
it was always Spring and the birds 
gave us reason to puts eggs 
in baskets, task the day 
with purpose and not beyond 
the night 
which had always 
belonged to longing 

memory is a 
slippery fast
 teeming background music 
and not important 
to the knife of being young 

you were said 
to have held hope 
but gave no indication 
while eye had become 
a lantern less crawl 
a nose to know, an awl 
and often fantasized 
being raked by well done nails 
their slow tracing intention 
their guile wisdom whys 
applied leverage 
ages well enough 
to become wise 

there was a hula bobble girl 
on the way out 
near the gum machine 
she seemed to dance her way to say 
a womb wears us inside to when 
we go from quiet 
to speeding through 
every window then 
the poetry 
of can we 
smell to see 
where it was 
we came to feel 
being, outside heaven 
when the snow stops falling 
and almost everyone makes sure 
they wobble too 
left in love and woo 
red shift blue 

EJR © 

https://www.napowrimo.net/

time melts when we die the unseen death............. #NaPoWriMo Day 28

time melts when we die the unseen death

seven years old 

the child was 

parents panicked 

heard the cries 

the child is not dead 

risking life again 

neighbors flay, a fray 

to pull the child out 

who may have been 

already dead 

we can relive pain

 but we have to create art 

to feel it with purpose 

i wonder if we ever get over our own 

or is reaction to pain our true north 

the directions our needles point  

our journeys encounter energy fields

 every breath and another 

i much rather feel 

dulcet warmth 

ever Spring 

than sing my demise 

one more day or time tined 

what have i become here 

non story no glory 

gory pouring 

with no way to redeem worth 

or way 

onward eyes play 

the child in us all 

must to dust 

from formless fall 

we go finding fine elements 

down along spined roads 

valleys, alleys, boulevards and parks 

i spent far too long being selfish 

as cover for woe is me or some other sordid geez us 

life in the moment, is the best we are 

the turns toward 

morning and beyond 

reckoning 

rhymes with 

let soul sing 

at least until supper 

is served and we can 

share a prayer 

a few laughs 

and those sounds dishes, 

wares and fed appetites make 

when we 

break bread 

drink the rain 

and give thanks 

for why it is 

we came this way 

EJR © 

https://www.napowrimo.net/

intrigue goes with any picnic... #NaPoWriMo Day 27

  intrigue goes with any picnic 

You were in my dream 
we were walking along 
a rocky little pocket of big pebble sand 
we had to crawl down through 
bramble-d sumac to reach 

you said we only have 
a small window 
to breach heaven 
between us, folding 
and tucking away  
your tide chart 

the Sun was setting 
Clair de Lune getting 
on replaying dusty memories 
we say nothing 
we dive right in 

we became 
feasted feasted 
breasted beast-ed 
we became 
breathless sea 
tongue landers 
we became 
pulse and wrist kisses 
fabric destinies 
dirty knees, sandy pleas
Love, you cried 
is this immediacy 
and never anything less 

we rested 
bitten sated 

gloaming 
eaten in too 
slip silk dark velvet 
covering us a star fall come sky 
an ocean begging to climb 
back home against 
us, shimmied down to 
our bare essential being 
rite where we needed be 

when you packed 
the hiking lamp headbands 
on a gloriously sunny afternoon 
i had no idea what you were up 
or were going to be into 
intrigue goes with any picnic 
i said, smiling as we shimmied 
back up through the brambles 
on home, another scent poem 

EJR © 

https://www.napowrimo.net/

much like a grand foyer with wainscoting and marble... #NaPoWriMo Day 26

much like a grand foyer with wainscoting and marble...

there we were 

poem and subject 

alley charming 

a poet in the poem hall 

we both wanted to be Esau 

but instead saw humans with hats 

all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors 

some hats even had their own entourages 

couriers who fettered the walks before hands 

flower petals and bottle caps 

the sounds of which mixed muffled to chronic 

harboring on something bending you away 

from how you feel tight to the marrow 

crawling the poem in our turns towards morning 

is she 

are we 

sitting thusly 

with coffee 

and a book 

does she 

do we look 

over rural to woolly wildly disguised land 

does she 

do we look 

through barren concrete to office scapes 

is it Monday there 

is it ever Monday there 

when she as we wears 

thought as surrender 

to not thinking 

stealth is the wealth 

of always fitting in 

she never said we in her poems 

until one time she did 

she said i got lucky 

and bird found 

a way in 

she smiled 

said this, a begin 

and i did 

start to beg 

my own way 

an into an in 

she said we 

are near 

rite here, quiet 

silk, silt and exhales 

what the reader gets 

to keep at the end of a poem 

she said we 

we wrote this 

we birthed these 

cities and silhouettes 

these scents and senses 

at the foot of our bed 

EJR © 

https://www.napowrimo.net/

hemingway was our scullery maid... #NaPoWriMo Day 25

 hemingway was our scullery maid  

when wanting to be bowsprit 

we both write in the daylight 

we scream it against what augers our souls 
holes where rain gets in 
our tear Suns, our skins 
our bone kites and cages 
our sage burning 

we desperately 
cling to soul glow 
lantern human on a coach 
some wear our mercantile past 
a mere few thousand years ago 
when we first entertained a
shared hope, hoping we would 
live long enough 
to write woven into life, love 

a poem 
sewn on hoe down 
broken soil clown face 
pancakes and white corn 
fear hides the angry oceans 

quiet places pile up unfelt 

places behind blank canvas 
places we fall to 

when we give up 
silent screams, exhaustion 
so we don't give up and instead 

we feed ourselves inside song 
scent trial recipients 
what forgetting gives 
each breath 
deceptions lie easily 
sugar swallowed whys 
is it wise to bite the hand that feeds the land 
eating the sate saint poison portal gains 
does it fatten us up on shallow pools 
maybe wisdom 
isn't a kingdom 
without chaos 
after all 

i am a fool 
the fool near you 
the fool falling in love 
the fool with every one 
the fool eve licker 
the fool in eye, nose knows  
the fool of every me ever of every you 

we are children of antigone and prometheus 
the nearness of stardust, the almost, the blinks, the nods 
the table legs, the crawls home, the things we put on the mantle 
the wishes we make when no one is looking 
the outside every life we have led, looked into 
the kneading of cutting time, the hull dove beneath time
time hugs the coastline of consciousness 
time is never far from 
how possible tongues 
whole realms 
time is our bodies 
our breaths 
our silhouettes 
our cities 
our rumpled clothes 
at the foot of our bed 
time is places words fell to 
time is a scent waiting 
for us to remember again 
how we crawl in the Spring 
how we twine bramble when Summer 
how we bleed out things we never were when Autumn rings 
how we are born, the turn towards morning 
when Winter 
time 

EJR © 

https://www.napowrimo.net/

she put her dreams in my mouth... #NaPoWriMo Day 24

 

she put her dreams in my mouth 

demi tasse spooned 
said stir the pot you got 
if you want Sun and rain together 
i said the Luperci are at the door 
she said then we are Satyrs 
on a moment 
i remember waking when 
fruit trees wore white flowers 
past Beltane 
in a daylight 
house of fireflies 

what is the stank of being 
true to you, your core ore 
is often a better bouquet and rose 
than most kinds of confections 
though we take longer 
to take to direction well 
as sometimes woven into consumption 
isn't a place to mantle pray 
the reasons why you 
like how surrender 
wears you sweetly 

you said try the blue cheese 
make sure you have plenty of vitamin C 
and coffee on the ready 
in-da-couch you said 
and how rite you are 
i slouched 
began telestrations 
demonstrations 
of stupid human tricks 
i amuse myself with 

my mouth still 

so very full 

of your dreams 


EJR ©  

https://www.napowrimo.net/

to like to fall down is to love how you rise......... #NaPoWriMo Day 23

if it happens

 in funny ways 

i linger, after the splat 

for a moment or two 

i can feel if am bleeding 

and where 

are we poems 

of consciousness collected 

i suppose love's roses 

pose the greatest 

metaphor 

between how we bloom 

and how we care 

to guard how we grow 

some lessons are blessings 

taking longer than others 

to reveal themselves 

mothers always know 

to lens us feel 

even if too they're 

a neurodivergent angel 

who sews buttons 

and things onto what life 

is meant to be held 

and sung as 

in a poem 

we marvel how 

movement clings 

to our soul aglow 

this poem dances too 

into your eyes  

loam waiting to 

warm daylight

where we marvel how 

morning sun gets caught 

in your raven hair 

EJR ©  

https://www.napowrimo.net/

"tell me a story..." #NaPoWriMo Day 22

"tell me a story..." 

what did you want to write 

i wasn't sure right then 

sometimes feeling 

as if my radio was broken 

we went into town 

she had picked out some clothes for me to wear 

cover your skin darling the sun is hotter here 

and we've half a day's light hike yet 

course she was right, i rather liked that she was 

often so, more than me 

about these sorts of things 

we would sing 

melodies each of us knew 

as a high Sun bore down 

we'd find a brief moment 

in the shade of an outcrop 

angle tongue shadow oasis 

we'd stop, drink, kiss and pray 

though not necessarily 

in that order 

she would always ask 

why we were happy 

when we went to quiet places 

tell me a story Edward 

show me how a bird can fly rite 

every time, a sown into me 

tits, wrens, robins, crow 

cocks, hens, warblers, thrushes, 

grackles, sparrows 

and every bird of prey 

that matters 

put them all 

in a pie 

fit for a king 

or queen 

of the realm 

our inner child 

will never ask why

EJR ©  

https://www.napowrimo.net/

when you wear... #NaPoWriMo Day 21

photo by Fausto Podavini ©

when you wear 
anything is possible pants 
the heart is a language 
without words 
this is where, i pray 

looking out my window 
another simple poem 
made me cry 
like laughter caught 
rather naked under the sky 
a calendar of bones with the trees 
is where a warm bed 

and the broken grey cold 
of winter meet over 
spring again 

your turquoise veins 
my inner folds 
our toeholds 
our flesh, blues 
and other hues 
the slews of them 
portend the renders 
while never enders send hope 
o'er eons, oceans  
tongued lands beg in 
desert to mountain dare 
rain again 

the shorn wings 
we mounted and mantled 
with our betweens 
our rosy after ware  
our muddy knees 
our ashes where 
our bodies 
used to be 
we heard a sound 
looked around 
and found 
our children 
with their hands 
on our shoulders 
saying nothing 
but feeling why 
the fire lives 
when we fall 
and we only begin to 
fly again when in love 
with being human(e) 

EJR © 

https://www.napowrimo.net/

she had orchestral fingers... #NaPoWriMo Day 20

„The Juggler of the Apocalypse“ Michael Hutter © 

slate roof hoof spill 

street lathed 

bad Sun acolytes 

we daggered in sin 

apple bobbing October 

even when April 

more role pun play, say things 

we want to eat desire 

burning fingers on plates 

we grab hold seated at 

childhood stretched out 

we pocket hope for luck 

before assigning 

any resignation 

to a canvas 

inside the great songs 

we knew 

we wanted to... 

we wanted too 

we knew 

we knew 

we knew 

atop the tribute table 

your ordinals 

were cardinal scribed 

an open window-ed poem 

moonlight, wolves howling 

membrane thin crescent glide 

you said 

I am I am I am 

reposed and 

covered in nasturtium 

orchid hues 

candle light 

when mood is right 

walk around me 

 my table 

my sentient hunger 

my ripe, my rain 

my pour, my reign 

skin to tide 

stand high 

seed spill 

fare dare 

bare bite into me first 

bending low 

every chariot 

wants to be on fire 

pulse and grind 

hips to the rind 

you arrive 

with a hearty laugh 

bell tone and prayers 

the wicked give 

your best conducted poem 

"start the bell 

my maestro darling 

we are digging in 

to Life here loved 

a once ago..."

EJR © 

https://www.napowrimo.net/

art found here https://kunstkrake.wordpress.com/ 

She taught me how to walk my humanity............ #NaPoWriMo Day 19

becoming Rapunzel's shoes 

at the foot of my bed 

fell into a dream 

seams splitting spit roasting my innards 

skin words kin wards eyes stole 

every moment it could chew 

to swallow then another 

couldn't breathe at first 

seemed every breath less a breath 

kite joy toed starlight 

swinging high fleet night 

rejoice, dance the hens again 

when Spring begins 

and Summer comes 

to let down her hair 

the ravens and the crows tell me 

fetch and leave stones 

mark the ways 

the reasons why 

sparrows and jays 

hark brightly 

my dirty knees and soles 

my palms to the blue 

my bare spine reach trees 

my eyes surrendered, squinting 

hinting the sweet smell 

between what is 

and what it is 

decay tills 

apathy kills slowly 

an unknown anything 

without passion seeding 

compassion 

the womb poem 

and you 

EJR © 

https://www.napowrimo.net/

what we wear of another... #NaPoWriMo Day 18

when our universe began 

fabric sorrows 

be not something we'd borrow 

often enough from each other 

and not that we ought seek 

to do so but rather 

can we grow 

to understand 

and accept 

walking the road 

in the shoes 

of another 

eyes wore scent 

painted skin 

 took turns 

palming samaras 

 brushing them slowly 

a trace poem feel 

a whirlwind of 

sight kites and bone fish 

your spine my spine 

serpentine falling 

love loved lines 

vines 

I tell her 

what we are 

every flower 

eyes us 

when aglow 

every bird 

every bee too 

wryly watching mother sew a gown 

for some wedding to be 

a bride's maid dress 

yellow gauze light spilling 

table window 1970's 

standing on an ottoman 

having this maid's gown pinned to me 

because she hadn't a form to use 

i wandered right then 

into all your wonder 

all the women you are 

flowers and leaves 

wanting to be, bees 

hummingbirds 

penchant undone 

merely mentioning 

your name here too 

and i am was there 

wearing you 

in love 

EJR © 

https://www.napowrimo.net/

Mother of Stone Giants... #NaPoWriMo Day 17

Thomas Cole, 'The Course of Empire, Destruction'

Why quiet, why a voice 

to stay dark 
has nobody told you Edward 
another child kind 
binds blood 
tines doom thyself 
a mouth a mood 
no tongue 
all thirst 
a desert of one 
song says rejoice Edward 
speak out what calls forth 

can we kill earth 
as we carve our bones 
goated cries, wind and rain 
will our hunger 
have no bottom here 
will any heaven remain 
will we miss her womb 
will we champion Love 
death is already here 
sowing sorrow 
feeding us words 
will we miss Her womb 

this place 
a palace 
where two rivers meet 
old mountains worn 
wind and howl 
where souls gain bones 
and spirits guide 
ancient wayfarers 
a final poem 

Mother you have no choice 
nose sure, You cry out 
against any unjust sword 
a duty to stand, not a step back 
She tells me 
do not watch the news 
Life falls perverse calls 
away from my womb 
many families consumed 
unable to carry my fire fell, lit  
let Love remain in thy heart always 
tiny teeth and hands 
on the shovels and plows 
no shroud for any child of mine 
time to Live now 
no need to ask why 

we tasted into each other 
all our lives 
blood, iron, salts 
we served peas and potatoes 
curried gold with a bite 
beets and greens 
with lots of spicy garlic 
we fell into a trance 
each taste rising another realm 
another undone 
another unpack 
another way 
to fill our home 
we have gone 
beyond the garden walls 
Nod rings, a table leg tied 

Mama are you still there 

for you too 
like you are for us 

EJR © 

https://www.napowrimo.net/

when night hungers for its turn towards morning... #NaPoWriMo Day 16

i made a plate 

and was proud 

it looked great 

when loud progeny 

said to me 

when are you leaving 

pressing me 

vindictively 

apple doesn't fall 

far from the tree 

look at me 

nearly limbless 

a soul in duress 

i guess poem 

will go hungry 

too tonight 

she already knew 

coming down tacks 

on the wax 

a slew of hate 

in her hands 

anger flew to raging 

and away dinner went 

i cried one bent bit 

and did the dishes 

made my wishes 

i could share this 

like i might have 

a dinner with 

a night that knew 

some other side 

of the rain 

EJR © 

https://www.napowrimo.net/

if madness were a clock: wanting your blue hour music... #NaPoWriMo Day 15

to awaken 
as you belly sleep 
smiling, some wanting to be 
last night rolling grapes down your spine 
eating them in the small of your back 

carved by your remarks 
last night wishing wise 
envelope and vise 
i admire what supple quiet 

lovely being is 

here you said 
timeless regard 
wears me, night 
and the daylight 
calling another turn 

bending a kiss 
each rib, 
each breath, 
each heave and exhale 

before you stir 

i go slow tiger lily 

watching what sides of roads 
will do when you pass on by 
much like birds and insects 
in morning carpet dew 
there in certainty in mind 
unfurl and nothing more 
best we grab hold what we feel 
without having to 
savor sown seeds within 
geometries, spirit, bones and flesh 

what tenders our ferocity 

to love from within 

the soul holds our hopes 
and if it isn't often enough 
in the daylight, inside falsetto modernity 
we can surrender to the dark inside us 
though we'd have to pray peace and awareness 
wearing us thin enough not to have to 
see anything to feel what is 

we all want being loved 

up high and between 
howls, growls and laughter 
we conceive what is 
reach magic 
humane beings 
so very blessed 
to be born 

a timeless regard

EJR © 

https://www.napowrimo.net/