Dark radiance pushes
Tired gloom upon
Travelers disoriented
In mists of doubt;

Steps clod loud on
Wooden planks that
Lead to elaborate
Patterns of deception.

Bright brilliance bursts now
Above beyond the barrier,
“Replace caution,” it shouts
“With soulful adventure.”

“What is the cost?” Timid asks;
“Whatever the cost!”the reply.
So rapture stirs courage as
Dreamless conformity fades.

Segovia

Can you hear
The water boil,
A tribute to
Segovia,

The vent fan
On the stove,
Crackling of
Chicken frying,

Steam rising,
Tortellini cooking?
And here I sit
Reading Khalid Hosseni;

Recalling in pause
Heartfelt words of
Undying love –
Still-born it seems

For me tonight –
As water boils
Amidst a tribute to
Segovia.

“Chelsea Hotel, N.Y.”

Dim drab once grand
He waits for her
Stolid along
A gloomy corridor.

Hoarse whispering
He is not heard –
A call for boldness,
Consciousness freedom.

Instead drear light
Dims further – silence;
His vision undiminished,
He waits – patient,

A spirit refreshed,
Undaunted by sterile mentors
Preaching fear fire,
While coveting love.

Something’s missing,
Except in echo
Above a piercing
Silence that speaks

Of desert drift,
Absent a touch,
Smile – care – concern,
Or is that unfair?

Silence enshrouding,
Except for plaintive pen
Scratching thoughts across
A blackboard of doubt.

The regularity of gray waves
Reaching shore this winter morn
Stirred memories of past loss;
Walks up mountain paths at sunrise,

In search of understanding – solace,
Cosmic healing amidst heart-groans;
There in retraced steps – an invitation to
Fly horizon-less – descend so deep,

Each gesture touched Source;
Where all was synchronous
To a pattern I had missed earlier,
Except now – solitary on a beach.