Flight of a Soul

hidden -
lurking
in the shadows,
where the heavens meet the earth
where dawn touches dusk
where the sea embraces itself

hidden -
lurking
in the faded, distant memories
locked away ... inside
my frail and tattered soul
why have you gone?
i cannot see you -
i cannot feel you
here, alone
in the deepest stalk of darkness
i waiver, without you
why have you gone?
i thirst for you,
why have you gone?
you have left me
shattered,
shredded and torn -
an empty desiccated shell

hidden -
lurking
in the loneliest
cavern of darkness,
a miniscule and frail
shard of light
i shall find it
blossoming
in the deepest stalk of darkness

Written by the.red.mantissa

Flowers

I dreamed you were my private flower,
close to my breast, you knew
my heartbeat, my thoughts, my sins.
You forgave me everything with your
delicious spice that enfolded me in the
greatest love I have ever known.

Flowers forget the end to eternity;
they breathe life into stale air.
You breathed into me; your inhalation wove its
way into endless weeds that clouded my mind,
making me clear and whole again.
How can I not love you for that?

Yes, I do. But the truth of love lies only
in flower beds, tended like children. My love grew wild;
more weeds clutter us. Now I know that
fragrance is transitory, like love you share that
later wilts in the winds of winter that says the end.

Written by Cruel Virgin

Michaels House

It’s good and solid,
built of fresh scented wood with tough brick—
all multicolored—warm to the touch like a glass of mulled wine.
He cries: “Michael’s house!” every time we enter.
But it’s nobody’s house.
No one lives there.
They come and go, a way-station for the severed.

I think of the hospital, cool and bright,
forced smiles, nurses waving bye-bye,
off to half-way houses, group homes.
Michael doesn’t want to live there.
His eyes beg me: “Let me heal!”

The doctor says no.

Do you feel the shivery wind
blowing through the empty house
like the silent breath of the bleeding Lord?

Written by Cruel Virgin

Lonely

To many thoughts...

To many lonely night

To many hurts...

Alcohol loosens the tongue.

Words get spoken,

that would normally not.

Another heart hurt.

The words are an arrow.

The truth pierces.

Tears course down....

Seeking, searching...

Will I ever find...

the light I seek,

the soul to share....

Written by Barbara Osborn

Uncleansed

This rain, it’s always here,
Bulging dirty clouds,
spewing ashen drops,
A muddy volcano, erupting despair.
Where are you now?
Nature covers us, her filth; some call it grief.
Not me—sad fate that rains and rains and rains.
Even the angels cry; translucent tears can’t wash me away.
God, do you weep or laugh?
The joke is on me—he left me here.
Grubby rainwater covers the rainbow,
Leading to the other side—his home.
And you said I would be the first to go…

Written By Cruel Virgin

Trapped

You cage me.
Your words are the bars.
Your tears are the lock.

Let go.
Let me fly.
Free my soul.

I have tried the cage.
My soul doesn't belong.
The walls close in.

Can't breathe.
Can't laugh.
Can't move.

Give me back my Wings.

Written By Barbara Osborn

Under Tree Shade

...did clink
that back door
out toward the walnut treeshade
running to the tire swing
we
swung so low I filled heaven
in a mugfull of your soul
and drank until
the day came
to tulips in rain
till that swing swung
only to winter's breeze
blowing our summer to clouds
the storm and the years
dropped by like the hard fruit
of the tree that we owned
-
Like that, you were gone
the summer gone
house gone
the tire's gone
the tree's cut
and a lazy red new house
sits splayed for it's new owners
young drinkers of tulip rain
and honey
but no old tire
no swing shade
no summer with grace
no time, no trust or season
to let go of the door
to run
to let go weak reason
and...

Written By Eric Bachman