Author: Kurt Philip Behm

I am a lifelong author with 21 books published to date—one best seller. Much of my writing is about the deception of time and its many disguises. My Poetry 'An Anthology Of Perception,' is now available in four volumes. In addition I have a 175 page Poem 'After Midnight,' that was published in 2014. My Historical Fiction series, 'The Sword Of Ichiban' is now up to volume 8 which is being published this Spring ... Vol #1- The Sword Of Ichiban Vol #2- Darkening Sun Vol #3- Revenge Along The War Trail Vol #4- Death From The Sky Vol #5- Jumping Into the Darkness Vol #6- The Fall City Mandate. Vol #7- Approaching Storm Vol #8- Brothers In Blood One autobiographical novel, 'The Death Of The Playground' a Best Seller, published in 2007. One travel novel, 'Searching For Crazy Horse,' published in 2005, recapping my forty years of motorcycle touring in the American Rocky Mountain West. I have written one Children's Book, 'Sammy & Bumpers' that was published in 2016. All of my books are available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and better Book Stores world wide. Kurt Philip Behm

What Would I Say

My Father died at 63

I’m now 75

I remember the day

I turned 63

Thinking I would finally know

What he knew

Be able to feel what he felt

See what he saw

And to be who he was

But I wasn’t a decorated

World War 2 Marine

The last of his platoon

To survive

The Solomon Islands the graveyard

Of most of his friends

He died on a Thursday

But we were estranged

‘Another woman who was not my Mom’

Looking back I wonder

What could I have changed

What words would I have used

To say to him …

 

(To Edward F. Behm U.S.M.C.: March, 2024)

 

Morning Rain

Answering The Past

 

I tell you what

you ask me why

Inside this ring

of time disguised

Two hundred reasons

passing go

Retracing steps

— of long ago

 

(Dreamsleep: March, 2024)

 

 

Forever Now

 

Make your bed with today

no one’s promised tomorrow

The present is visceral

its moment at hand

Repeating itself

in joy and in sorrow

The instant eternal

— forever Divine

 

(Dreamsleep: March, 2024)

 

 

Lost To Oneself

 

What do the years mean

when they come to an end

Their number a folly

if hearts cannot mend

A month or a decade

results but the same

‘With feeling abandoned

— a life spent in vain

 

(Dreamsleep: March, 2024)

 

 

 The Moment Blessed

 

The future

can be avoided

the present cannot

 

The past but

a door prize

to what you have not

 

To live in

the moment’s 

eternal refrain

 

A blessing

self given

— again and again

 

(Dreamsleep: March, 2024)

 

 

 Calling Us Home

 

Drawn into the light

arms open wide

to hear

that song again

 

Which ushered

us here

replaying clear

— by Angels from within

 

(1st Book  Of Prayers: March, 2024)

 

 

A Choice

 

The grey winter

of dismal intention

recurs with a vengeance

— until you say NO

 

(Dreamsleep: March, 2024)

 

 

 

 

Running For The Door

If you use the word languish

I’m stopping my read

When you speak the word nurture

 I’m far from intrigued  

If I hear you say milieu

I run for the door

Or when you spout genre

my ears to abhor

They’re chosen to impress

when the meaning is weak

Concealing the emptiness

of all that you speak

‘A labyrinth of dilettantes’

penning your verse

Can’t hide what is missing

— with these words you assert

 

(The New Room: February, 2024)

Thinkful Wishing

Thinkful Wishing

 

“Age but a number”

if only that were true

Yesterday reborn again

— memories renewed

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024) 

 

 

Moments Beyond Time

 

In search of fresh meat

the future will come

Hour predestined

the hunt zero sum

 

As seconds approach

impending attack

Free every moment

—time dead in its tracks

 

 

(The New Room: February, 2024) 

 

 

Why

 

Why isn’t God

transcending

my doubt

Each day more distant

the louder

I shout

Why can’t the Lord

 acknowledge

my pain

The light

growing dimmer

— the more I proclaim

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)

Present Unwrapped

Present Unwrapped

 

Plan for tomorrow

live for today

the moment redeeming

 future caches

 

Say what you mean

do what you say

the circle enclosing

— truth on display

 

 (Dreamsleep: February, 2024) 

 

Palace Rules

 

No worse enemy

than an ex-friend

No better friend

— than an enemy turned

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024) 

 

 

 Empty Promises

 

Caring not much

for what I haven’t seen

Deaf to those voices

still trapped in between

 

Caring not much

for what I haven’t been

Each promise stays empty

— not kept from within

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024) 

 

 

 White Buffalo

 

Can you …

Know

without thinking  

Win

without beating

See

without judging

Cry

without pain

Speak

without stricture

Come

without staying

Wish

without hoping

Share

without claim

Hear

without language

Curse

without malice

Hunt

without preying

Rule

without reign

Fly

without plumage

Dance

without music

Love

without taking

Die

— without shame

 

(Dreamsleep: February, 2024)