beauty

I love you
not just for
your fragrant beauty
but that you
have lived and grown
with thorns

Icarus

Icarus, I think of  you

the boy who had flown
too close to the sun

foolhardy, you were said to be

with  wings of wax

you had dared the impossible

Icarus, I hear

the beating of your wings

molten wax falls on my skin

for I crave the impossible too.

riverbed

tangled driftwood

blanched pebbles

forlorn on thirsting sands

forgotten riverbed

waits for the

river to return

damming

damming of rivers

is no easy task

ask those who 

have not wept 

for years

the craft of living
with barren eyes

and inundated hearts

drought

In seasons of drought 
one feeds on hope

in seasons of drought
one learns to make peace
with hunger's eyes
glowing wild in the dark

in seasons of drought
sun scorches shadows
with nowhere to hide
one lives in truth

in seasons of drought 
one understands well
why the doughty cactus
grows thorns galore
flowers are rare

in seasons of drought
one finds one has
roots running deep
tapping into
monsoons gone by

in seasons of drought
one tells stories to oneself
of slush filled puddles
mud splashed clothes
drumming rain
birds singing forgotten notes

In seasons of drought
one feeds on hope

Babe

omnipotent eternity
feigning helplessness
of an infant
smiles its mischievous smile

.

caging

birth in the family

celebrations begin

I think of waves

that rise and fall

coming into being

formless in form

"It's a boy!" I hear.

"and oh, he's fair!"

"Think of a name, will you?"
 I witness the caging

of freedom's bird.

Seed

I know no book.
I know no faith

I know no guide.

I know no god.

I am the seed 

of infinity.
All roads begin
and end in me.

uphill

higher and higher up the hill

closer and closer to the goal

changing view with every step

feasts my eyes can't behold

words leaping, falling back

on the wayside, in despair

futile in their foolish bid

to capture what they cannot hold

oasis

I am the seeker

the search and the sought

and you, I meet 

on the path

are the same

caught up that we are 

in this strange pursuit

this fanciful play
that knows no rules

lets rest for a while

in each other's shade

lets look for signs

in each other's eyes

lets slake with kindness
each other's thirst
for we are the oasis
we are looking for

story of wound

No, don't ask.

I will not tell

the story of my wound.

When, where, how

I found this precious

souvenir of love.

I will not tell 

for I have hidden 

in deep, dark corner

of my heart

knife edge of pain

carving me

into a receptacle

for joy

the likes of which

you cannot even

begin to imagine.

Queen

Its not about him, girl.
It's about you.
Beggar you have become,
scrounging for scraps,
grateful for small mercies.
Craving to fill emptiness
you let him occupy 
your being.
You lost yourself
and listen, girl, 
no one, just no one
is worth that price.
Queen, that you are
seek your kingdom within.
And though the path
may be hard and long,
find it.
And rule.

6-4-2013

Pain

Finally, one day

I stopped running

turned back
looked into her eyes

said, here, take me

I am  yours.

Pain smiled and

embraced me into

her fiery garment.
burning in agony

each pore glowed

incandescent.

Pain's midwifery

rebirthed me

clean, shining, forever

exorcised of shadows.
I knew then why 

women touch death

to become mothers.

The well kept secret 

of pain's sisterhood

with joy.

Desert

I hide desert

within

Little patch 

of thirst

bereft of rain.

Shimmering mirages

deceptive mendacity

mocking my

parchedness
promise of water
somewhere, someday.

I hide desert within.

So do you.

memories

walk slow

walk soft

eyes peeled

breath lost

in the minefield

of memories
a false step
could be
your last one.