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

The First Cut …

Avoid needless

complexity

Say it

straight out

Frost and

then Hemingway

Set the rules

down

Between meaning

and verbiage

The idea

is king

Sharpen

the point

The message

— the thing

(Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania: January, 2024)

My Advice To Poets

When you find your true voice

marry it

— never to divorce

(Deamsleep: January, 2024)

K2

Show me a man

without a dream

And I’ll show you

— no man at all

(James River Writer’s Conference: October, 2016)

Black Rain

I have zero regard

for structure and form

if the words as written work

A poetic outlaw

to ruled acceptance

in search of what may lurk

Critics and enemies

seed the cloud

that overflows with spite

To rain upon

my chosen path

— of radical delight

(Bryn Mawr College: January, 2024)

Contrasting Similarity

The difference between

poetry and prose

Whose words live together

under your nose

With prose you can finish

last page period end

But poetry boundless

— to forever extend

(The New Room: January, 2024)

Rebirth

Basking

in tomorrow’s shadow

Transported

on yesterday’s whim

Open

to the moment’s calling

Born

again, again — and again

(Dreamsleep: January, 2024)

Home On The Range

Letting up

provides

the tightest

grip

Creating

space for

credence

to stick

Room

to wander

room

to grow

Space

when sacred

truth

— to know

(Deamsleep: January, 2024)

Kill Shot

When Freedom itself becomes politicized

that

— is the death of America

(Dreamsleep: January, 2024)

Failing The Muse

Have I let

her down again

Have I failed

once more

Have I jumbled

up the words

Have I graded

poor

Have I taken her

for granted

Have I missed

the mark

Have I disappointed

one

—who pulled me from the dark

(Dreamsleep: January, 2024)

Tears Wait

Soulless

Dissected

A heart turning back

Jilted

Rejected

Last stab in the back

Mourning

New morning

The day unatoned

Nighttime

The verdict

Whose sentence disowns

Lovers

And lizards

The swamp but the same

Feeding

On hunger

Starvation the game

Cursing

each blessing

with heartache reset

Dying

While living

— new tears wait unwept

(The New Room: January, 2024)