Monday, May 26, 2014

LOVE POETRY

SHE WHO NEVER SLEEPS
 
 
 
God is himself Love, and it is because of love that we pursue him. In his ineffable majesty he is our Father, but in the comfort ‘ he extends to us he has become our mother. Yes, the Father in his love became a woman, and the Son whom he brought forth from himself is strong proof of this.
 
 
 
 
SO SAYS THE HOLY MAN CLEMENT
IN THE COMFORT HE EXTENDS
HE BECOMES OUR MOTHER
 
HOW REASSURING
BEHIND THE TRADITIONAL
HARSH FACE OF THE FATHER
THERE IS A WOMAN
WATCHING OVER US
 
SHE WHO WATCHES OVER ME
IS PATTERNED
AFTER SUCH A GOD
 
THROUGH ALL MY PHYSICAL AFFLICTIONS
AND DEEP DEPRESSION
SHE HAS BEEN WITH ME
TENDING ME
NURSING ME
CHASING AWAY SHADOWS
PULLING ME TOWARD THE LIGHT
 
WITHOUT A GRUMBLE
WELL MAYBE A LITTLE
SHE’S NO SAINT
WELL MAYBE IN TRAINING
 
EVEN NOW I MUST BE QUIET
IF I MAKE A NOISE
OUT OF THE DARKNESS I HEAR
ARE YOU ALRIGHT
 
 
HOW DID I MANAGE
TO HAVE SUCH A PEARL
 
 
WITH APOLOGIES TO DAVID I SAY
SHE NEITHER SLUMBERS
NOR SLEEPS
WHO WATCHES OVER ME
 
IF THESE ARE THE FINAL DAYS OF MY JOURNEY
I COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER COMPANION
TO WATCH THE SUNSET COME DOWN
A GLORIOUS FINISH
 
 
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RIPPLES OF LOVE
 
 
 
THERE FLOWED BETWEEN THEM
SUCH A DEPTH OF LOVE
THAT OTHERS IN THEIR COMPANY
FELT ITS WARMTH
AND WITHOUT KNOWING WHY
TREATED OTHERS KINDLY
 
LIKE A RAINDROP IN A POOL
IT SENT OUT RIPPLES
THAT BROKE THE MOON
INTO MANY SILVER PIECES
EACH PIECE CARRIED ITS LIGHT
INTO DARK PLACES
 
TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN
MUCH IS EXPECTED
THEY CARRIED THEIR BURDEN LIGHTLY
THIS LOVE
THAT THEY MUST SHARE
 
THEY SUFFERED NO LOSS
IN THEIR REACHING OUT
FOR LOVE THAT IS GIVEN
RETURNS INCREASED
 
AND WHERE THEY WALKED
FLOWERS BLOOMED
AND THE SUN SHONE
ON A KINDLY LAND
 
 
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HOUSE BLESSING
 
BLESS OH LORD
OUR HOUSE OF LOVE
WHERE YOU DWELL
AS WELCOME GUEST
LET YOUR SUN
FILL EVERY CORNER
MAY YOU DRAW
FROM US THE BEST
 
BLESS MY PARTNER
GENTLE MAIDEN
SOFTEN TEAR
AND HEIGHTEN SMILE
MAY THIS PLACE
BE SANCTUARY
WHERE WE IN LOVE
MAY REST AWHILE
 
BUT WE SHALL NOT
WITHDRAW FROM LIVING
FOR LOVE YOU GIVE
IS MADE FOR SHARING
SO MAY OUR HOUSE
BE TESTIMONY
THAT GOD IS LOVE
AND HE IS CARING
 
 
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
 
 
ANNIVERSARY
 
THE THOUGHT OF ANNIVERSARY
IS THE RECALLING
OF SOMETHING
THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN
 
BUT I CAN SAY
THAT SINCE I FIRST LOVED YOU
FIRST FROM AFAR
THEN UP CLOSE
TILL FINALLY AS ONE
 
MY LOVE FOR YOU
HAS NEVER NEEDED REMINDING
 
ANNIVERSARIES ARE NUMBERS
AND HAVE ENDINGS
 
MY LOVE IS FOREVER
IT WILL NEVER END
 
THERE IS NO REMEMBERING SOMETHING
THAT HAS NEVER BEEN FORGOTTEN
 
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ARIRANG
 
ARIRANG
ARIRANG
 
A MOUNTAIN
IN THE MIST
 
ARIRANG
ARIRANG
 
MY LOVER FADING SLOWLY
IN THE MIST
 
THE MIST IS LIFTING
HE IS GONE
 
MAY HIS FEET HURT
BEFORE HE GOES A MILE
 
ARIRANG
ARIRANG
 
MAY EVERY BONE IN HIS FEET HURT
AS MY HEART HURTS
 
THE PAINS IN MY HEART
ARE AS NUMEROUS
AS THE STARS
 
WHAT DID WE ARGUE OVER
I DO NOT KNOW
SOME LOVER’S FANTASY
 SOME WOUNDED PRIDE
 
ARIRANG
ARIRANG
 
I WANT HIM BACK
HIS FEET BOTHERED
BY SOME PEBBLE IN HIS SHOE
QUICKLY REMOVED

 
BUT WAIT
IN STARLIGHT
DO I SEE
MY LOVER COMING BACK
TO ME
NOT HOBBLING
BUT ON NIMBLE FEET
 
 
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
 
 
 
PROVERBS
 
 
I HAVE AN ARGUMENT WITH PROVERBS
THEIR DESCRIPTION OF A GOOD WIFE
IT LOOKS LIKE A LIST FOR HIRING HELP
I THINK IT SMACKS OF WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS
MY WIFE LOVES ME
AND I LOVE HER
 FROM THAT FLOWS GOOD
LIKE GRACE FREELY GIVEN
LIKE DEEDS FREELY DONE
THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD
AS AGE WITHERS AND BEAUTY FADES
THERE STILL IS HEARD
THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE
 I AM A BLESSED MAN
 
 
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
 
 
LOVERS
 
 
 
 
THE LEGEND GOES
THAT TWO LOVERS
DISPLEASED THE GODS
WHO CAST THEM TO THE SKY
TO BE STARS
THAT NEVER PASSED
 
I DON’T BELIEVE
IN SUCH A GOD
HOW ELSE TO EXPLAIN
YOU
 
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THE RENDEZVOUS
 
 
MAYBE I WANTED IT TO HAPPEN TO THEM
BECAUSE I WANTED IT TO HAPPEN TO ME
I KNEW WHAT THEY FELT         
THOSE LOVERS ON THE MATCH BOX
WHO ON MILLIONS OF COPIES OF THE MATCH BOX
STARED        LONGED       LOVED
BUT NEVER TOUCHED
FROZEN AS IF BY SOME ANCIENT CURSE
EACH ONE REACHING
BUT NEVER TOUCHING
BUT NEVER SAD
THEIR LOVE HAD BEEN CAUGHT
IN THE MOMENT OF REACHING
PERHAPS IT WAS THAT INTENSE DESIRE
THAT MADE IT HAPPEN
AT THAT MAGIC HOUR OF THE NIGHT
WITH THE MOON LIKE A BOWL GATHERING DREAMS
SPILLING DREAM’S FULFILLMENT UPON THE LOVERS
THEY RAN TO KISS
TILL THE DAWN CAME UP
AND FLED TO ALL THE BOXES
NOT SEPARATE NOW
BUT JOINED FOREVER
SMILE ON ME MOON
IN THE MORNING SKY
I WILL NOT FALTER
IN MY REACHING
 
 
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A CEREMONY FOR REMEMBERING


A CEREMONY FOR REMEMBERING

 

 

 

 

 

 









 

 

 

PROLOGUE

 

LET US SUMMON TO MIND OUR DEAD

BE THEY PARENTS CHILDREN LOVED ONES OR DREAMS

BUT WHEN WE ARE DONE

LET US GENTLY CLOSE THE DOOR

AND LET THEM SLEEP

 

 

 

EMMAUS

 

THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT HIS EYES

LIKE A SOLDIER OFF TO WAR

SAYING GOODBYE TO LOVED ONES

OR A SAILOR FOR A LONG LONG TRIP

 

WE'D WALKED THAT ROAD MANY TIMES

MY FRIEND AND I

IT HAD BECOME A BIT OF A TASK

WITH NOTHING NEW

TO BE DONE WITH SWIFTLY

AND DONE WITH

WITH PLEASURE AT EITHER END

BUT NOTHING IN THE JOURNEY

 

UNTIL THE STRANGER CAME TO WALK WITH US

THIS STRANGER

WITH RELUCTANT EYES

HE'D SIGHT A TREE AND CALL IT OUT BY NAME

A FLOWER

BIRD

OR SOME CREEPING THING

THE WAY THE SUN TOOK A CLOUD

AND LIT IT UP WITHIN

OR CAST LONG SHADOWS

LIKE THE SHADOWS

THAT SAT UPON OUR HEARTS

THAT DAY

 

WHY ARE YOU SO SAD

HE ASKED

AFTER A WHILE

 

WE'D LET HIM TALK FIRST

 OUT OF COURTESY

HE SEEMED TO NEED TO TALK

WHY ARE YOU SO SAD

 

AND SO TO THIS MAN

WHO SEEMED SO EAGER FOR LIVING THINGS

WE TOLD HIM OF A DEATH

OF OUR FRIEND JESUS

WHO HAD DIED

AND TO USE HIS IMAGERY

PLUCKED LIKE A FLOWER

THAT WAS THROWN AWAY

PICKED WITHOUT PURPOSE

 

OF A MAN

WHO WHEN HE SPOKE

BOTH TESTED US AND JOYED US

 

OF THIS JOURNEY

THAT WE TOOK

WHICH WAS DOUBLY LONG

FOR WE CARRIED SADNESS TO EMMAUS

THERE WOULD BE NO PLEASURE THERE

 

THE BODY WAS GONE

OH THE WOMEN HYSTERICAL

HAD SAID HE WAS RISEN

BUT THE BODY WAS GONE

 

WHY SHOULD HE DIE

WE BELIEVED HIM CHOSEN OF GOD

WHY SHOULD HE DIE

 

PERHAPS BECAUSE WE WERE TOO NUMB TO SPEAK

HE TOOK OVER THE CONVERSATION

WHEN DID YOU LEARN TO LOVE YOUR FATHER HE SAID

 

WHEN I BECAME THE AGE HE WAS

WHEN I DISLIKED HIM

IT SOMEHOW MADE HIM DIFFERENT THEN

AND UNDERSTANDABLE

 

SO JESUS CAME HE SAID

TO BE THAT PARENT

TO BE THE ONE WHO WENT BEFORE

TO BE THE ONE WHO LIVED AND DIED

AND TO BE TRULY RISEN

AS THE WOMEN SAID

TO BE THE PARENT

WHO HAD GONE BEFORE

SO YOU COULD LEARN

TO LOVE HIM AS YOU GREW

AND THROUGH HIM

THE FATHER TOO

 

PERHAPS IT WAS THE CADENCE OF HIS VOICE

OR THE WORDS OR THE MAN HIMSELF

BUT WE FELT CALM

WE INVITED HIM TO SUP WITH US

IN OUR GARDEN IN THE EVENING COOL

FOR THE DAY HAD RUN AWAY

 

AND WE KNEW HIM IN THE BREAKING BREAD

AND THE WINE

THAT TOOK THE JOURNEY'S DUST AWAY
 

 



 

THE SHAWL

 

 

THE SHAWL IS FINISHED

I HAVE WOVEN THE WOOL WITH TEARS

I HAVE HURT MY FINGERS

AND SUCKED SORROW

 

BUT I AM DONE WITH WEEPING NOW

 

IT WAS FITTING HE SHOULD DIE IN FALL

OR EARLY WINTER REALLY

WHEN GRAYNESS COMES UPON THE LAND

 

WOULD I CALL HIM BACK

TO RE-SUFFER ALL HIS PAINS

TO ELIMINATE MY OWN

 

DID I NOT LOVE HIM TO THE POINT I COULD LET HIM GO

IF GOING WERE THE BETTER CHOICE

 

BUT I AM DONE WITH WEEPING

 

THE SHAWL IS FINISHED

 

I SHALL FIND OTHER THINGS TO DO

 

 

  

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

 

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD THE WATCHMAN CRIED

IN THE CITY WHERE HE WAS RIDING

ON A CART PILED HIGH WITH LAST YEARS DREAMS

AND LONG REMEMBERED ANGERS

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

THIS CITY THAT WAS ONCE SO FAIR

WHOSE WALLS WERE WHITE AND RIVERS CLEAR

WHERE MEN WALKED OUT ALONE AND UNAFRAID

HAS BECOME A STINK HOUSE OF REMEMBERED PAIN

AND PENT UP SORROW

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

LET WINDOWS ONCE MORE OPEN TO THE BREEZE

AND PIPERS PLAY NO MORE THE FUNERAL MARCH BUT GAY

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

THAT MEN MAY SAY ON PASSING BY

A FAIR CITY THERE PLEASING TO THE EYE

AND HEAR

THE LAUGHTER RINGING IN THE AIR

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

 

 

 
STARS

 

 

HE LIKED TO WATCH THE STARS

THEIR SENSE OF ORDER AND HIS FILIAL PRIDE

BOTH GAVE HIM WARMTH

HE LIKED THE LEGENDS THAT MEN TOLD

ABOUT THESE LANTERNS IN THE SKY

HE LIKED THE WAY THEY LED A SHIP

OR CARAVAN TO FIND A HOME

HE SOMETIMES THOUGHT HE HEARD THE SOUND OF SILVER BELLS

WHEN THE WIND WAS IN THE TREES

AND NIGHT CLOUDS CAME SCUDDING ACROSS THE MOON

  

WHEN WILD DOGS BARKED

AND SHEEP BELLS RANG CLEARLY IN THE DARK

HE THOUGHT HE HEARD THE STARS SING

 

PERHAPS THAT'S WHY HIS FATHER

MADE THE SKY GO DARK

BEFORE HE DIED

 

 


 

 

THE OLD HOUSE

 

WE FOUND IT DEEP IN THE WOODS

FAR FROM THE PATH

THE RUINS OF THE HOUSE

AND THE OLD STONE FENCE

YOU COULD TELL THE GARDEN

IN THE DIFFERENCE IN TREES

AND BUSHES GONE WILD

THE MOUNTAINEER'S CABIN

HARD BY A STREAM

YOU COULD MARK OFF HIS FIELDS

BY FOLLOWING HIS FENCE

EACH STONE HAND CARRIED TO BUILD IT

AS HE FOUND THEM

ON A SLOOP SO STEEP

YOU COULD PICTURE THEIR SAYING

IF YOU DON'T HOLD ONTO THE PLOW

YOU'LL FALL OUT OF THE FIELD

YOU WONDER WHEN HE BUILT THE HOUSE AND FENCE AND PLOWED

DID HE THINK IT WOULD COME TO THIS

OR DID HE SEE A LINE OF SONS COMING AFTER

LOVING THE LAND AS HE DID

IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER I SUPPOSE

WHAT COUNTS IS

HE HAD A DREAM

AND TRIED TO MAKE IT REAL

 

 

ABSALOM DAVID'S SON

 

 
HE COULD REMEMBER HIS SWINGING ON TREES

WATCHING HIM NOW

HANGING FROM THE TREE BY HIS HAIR

 

HE WISHED HIS FACE WAS LESS CONTORTED

HIS FACE LINES LAUGHTER CAUSED

 

WHEN THEY TOLD HIM HOW HE DIED

HOW HE SWUNG FROM THE TREE BY HIS HAIR

THE SOLDIERS SPEARS IMPALING

HE ONLY ASKED

DID HE CALL MY NAME

 

I WOULD NOT WANT HIM DEAD IN ANGER

THIS CHILD OF MINE

WHO TREE CLIMBED OFTEN IN HIS YOUTH

WHO TREE CLIMBED OFTEN AND WOULD CALL

FIND ME IF YOU CAN

 

WHAT HAPPENED AS HE GREW THAT I LOST MY CHILD

WHAT HAPPENED AS WE GREW THAT I LOST MY CHILD

WHEN DID HE CLIMB DOWN UNHEEDED

AND WENT HIS WAY

 

DID HE TIRE OF HIDE AND SEEK

WHEN I WOULD NOT PLAY

WHERE DID I LOSE MY SON

WHEN DID THE SILENCE GO TO ANGER

AND THE NEED TO HURT

 

SO MANY CALLS UPON ME

SO MANY PLACES TO BE

OH ABSALOM  

ABSALOM  

TREE CLIMBER  

MY CHILD

STRANGE FRUIT ON THE TREE

STIFF IN DEATH

AS YOU WERE IN LIFE

I KISS YOUR STILL UNFEELING LIPS

 

 

WOULD TO GOD I HAD DIED

WOULD TO GOD I HAD DIED

THAN BE HERE TO WATCH

THE SUN GO DOWN

ON YOUR ANGER

AND YOUR DEATH

 

 

 



 

METAL FENCE

 

METAL FENCE WITH GATE DOOR OPEN

STANDING IN A FIELD BEFORE A HOUSE LONG GONE

THE GARDEN OVERGROWN

AND GONE TO SEED IN WINTER

WHAT POSSESSED ME I DO NOT KNOW

TO LEAVE THE ROAD

AND GO AND CLOSE THE GATE

WHOSE GHOSTS DID I WANT TO RESTRAIN

THEIRS OR MINE

WHAT VISIONS OF PARENTHOOD

HOPES 

DREAMS 

STILL DWELL IN THE GARDEN

STAY CLOSED GATE

I HAVE GHOSTS ENOUGH

OF MY OWN TO KEEP

 

 

JOSEPH'S DEATH

 

IT WAS SUMMER AND THE WINDOWS WERE OPEN

THROUGH THEM HE COULD HEAR THE SOUND OF HOUSEWORK BEING DONE

THE SNATCH OF A SONG THE RUNNING OF WATER

THE SOUND OF A BROOM

IT WAS HOT BUT HE COULDN'T FEEL IT

HIS SHAWL WAS ABOUT HIS SHOULDERS

BUT HIS COLD WASN'T IN THE WEATHER

THE SOUND OF THE BROOM RAN ALL HIS DAYS TOGETHER

SO THAT HE THOUGHT HIMSELF ONCE MORE YOUNG

AND COMING TO CALL FLOWERS FRESHLY PICKED

UPON HIS YOUNG SWEET LOVE

HIS MARY

BUT THEN HIS MEMORY DARKENED

AND HIS BLOOD IN SPITE OF YEARS RAN HOT

ANGER POUNDED IN HIS BRAIN

I AM WITH CHILD

NO A THOUSAND RAVENS CRIED

NO A THOUSAND CROWS REPLIED

PANDEMONIUM OF THUNDER 

LIGHTNING FLASH

AND DRIVING RAIN

NO HE CRIED TO NO ONE LISTENING

RACING FROM THE SUMMER STORM

RACING LOSING AND WAS CAUGHT

DRENCHED

THE RAIN RUNNING DOWN HIS FACE MIXING WITH HIS TEARS

NO HE WHISPERED TO THE EARTH

FACE PRESSED DOWN IN SOGGY GRASS

WHY HE SOBBED OH GOD WHY..

BUT NO ANSWER CAME THEN SOMETHING CAME

THE MEMORY OF HER WORDS

REMEMBER I LOVE YOU

HOW QUICK THE STORM

HOW SUDDEN THE SUN'S RETURN

SO THAT THE OLD MAN FELT ONCE MORE ITS HEAT

HE STRUGGLED TO FORM THE WORDS

FROM IN THE HOUSE THE QUESTION

DID YOU CALL

I LOVE YOU

DID YOU CALL

I LOVE YOU

DID YOU CALL

THEN JOSEPH DIED

 

 
 
ON THE DEATH OF A FATHER OF MY FRIEND
I MOURN YOU

THOUGH I NEVER KNEW YOU

I NEVER BOUGHT YOU A BEER

LAUGHED AT YOUR JOKES

OR SHARED YOUR VIEWS

YET I MOURN YOU STILL

FOR YOUR DEATH IS A LOSS TO ONE I LOVE

AND I AM DIMINISHED BY IT

AND SO I MOURN YOU

BUT MORE

FOR YOU SHAPED AND BROUGHT INTO BEING

MY FRIEND

SOMEWHERE IN YOU THEN WAS A GIFT OF BEAUTY

AND THAT MUCH BEAUTY IS NOW GONE

AND I MOURN YOU

NOW YOU SLEEP OUT IN THE RAIN

ALL YOUR ELEMENTS GOING BACK TO GOD

NOW THE SENSE OF LOSS GIVES MY FRIEND PAIN

BUT IN THE SPRING

WHEN CROCUS BUDS PEEK THROUGH THE SNOW

COME BACK

WITH MEMORIES WARM

ALL HARSH THOUGHTS FORGOTTEN

COME BACK WITH MEMORIES OF LAUGHTER

AND MAKE MY HEART-FRIEND

SMILE
 
 
 
 
 
THE ULTIMATE IS SILENCE

 

I THINK PERHAPS THE ULTIMATE IS SILENCE

WHEN ALL LOVE COMES HOME TO GOD TO REST

WHEN WORDS

WHICH DO NOT TELL THE HEART

ARE OVER

I THINK PERHAPS WE SHALL REVERT TO THE BEGINNING

AND WITH A SIGH BREATHE OUT OUR SOULS TO REST

WHEN SPIRIT OF GOD AND LOVE ARE REUNITED

AND SAFELY DWELL FOREVER IN GOD'S BREAST

 

 

 

 

FRANK A VOLLMER