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

Freeing The Kobold

Escaping the prose …

I hid in the verse

My mind to compose

instead of converse

 

Defying description

I sang through the notes

And placed my inscriptions

in lyrical rote

 

I chose to hear music

over reasons again

To dine with the mystics

where forever begins

 

But when forcing my pen

back to stories untold

The Muse through the darkness

— sets free the kobold

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: December, 2016)

El Gran Canon

She is not

lonely

But makes all

who smile upon her

— lonely indeed

 

She is not

mournful

But makes all

who implore her

— cry like a child

 

She is not

boastful

But makes all

who look upon her

— beat on their chests

 

She is not

faithful

But makes all

who desire her

— pledge from the heart

 

She is not

vengeful

But to ever

betray her

— the gravest of sins

 

She is not

quiet

But from the depths

of her emptiness

— silence is born

 

 

(Dreamsleep: October, 2025)

Kindled Lies

Is the artist in me a liar

or the one who lives proscribed

Are my words and deeds in conflict

which to breathe and which to sigh

 

Would King Solomon have an answer

to this split I often feel

Would salvation hold my name in check

or today my soul to deal

 

Do excuses, like intentions

pave the way perdition shown

Do the reasons then abandon

idle hope when left alone

 

Can the spirit claim what time has lost

in its quest to stay inspired

Can the truth once lit inside my heart

— keep all kindled lies afire

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: October, 2016)

Your Shadow Remains

One day beyond mourning, a new sun to shine

a promise remade — not a cloud in the sky

 

One day beyond mourning, your spirit still warm

your flesh now at rest — on the hill past the barn

 

One day beyond mourning, the bed sheets unfold

your shadow uncovered — a gift mine to hold

 

One day beyond mourning, the sun in my eyes

new words in my heart — a mockingbird cries

 

One day beyond mourning, my soul free to roam

your paintings surround me — among them I’m home

 

One day beyond mourning, I walk to the field

our blanket still hanging — the oak that concealed

 

One day beyond mourning, I reset my sights

the day I’ll rejoin you — that heavenly flight

 

One day beyond mourning, all grief broken free

my name on the wind — as you call out to me

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: September, 2016)