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 Final Storm

I lay dreaming as the yardarms howl with ghosts

upon the wind,

screaming down: “Your crew is lost, it’s mutiny once more”

One voice to dare my choices strong

and shed that bitter sleep,

my past the drowning child of its dark and rocky shoals

As tears release and fall like rain the tiller

begs forgiveness,

old memories drift away in fear and sink within themselves

The time has come, as fate calls out to man the heavy sails

and chart a course into the swells

—one final storm to brave

(Dreamsleep: March, 2021)

Yes-No Continuum

Alone while together,

unringing the bell

The darkness enlightened,

new silence to quell

Permissions refusal,

denial admits

The fusion of oneness

—a hit and a miss

(The New Room: March, 2021)

Trashed & Burned

The fire’s been out for the longest time,

there’s nothing left but ashes

A pathway scorched, escape route torched

—where light now sorely passes

(The New Room: March, 2021)

To The Last

Embattled here,

entitled there

One flag still flying,

the smoke-filled air

Horizons darken,

as blood runs free

The last man standing

—whose will to be

(Villanova University: March, 2021)

Occam’s Retort

Competing infinities,

which one to choose

Existential polarities,

exchanging their views

Superpositioned,

anthropic in scope

The tradeoff endemic,

whose difference elopes

Twin parallel universes

push and then pull

Existing in quantum,

the vacuum is full

Symbiotic in concept,

his razor now sharp

As we search for their meaning

—ever lost in the dark

(Villanova University: March, 2021)

William Tell Remembered

A flash of light,

a cloud of dust,

a joyous moment

beneath the rust

A hearty vision

with silver streaks,

unmasking boyhood

—in memories deep

(Garrett Hill Pennsylvania: March, 2021)

Ghost Writers

Letting the page breathe,

my pen in its well

The letters enchanted,

recasting their spell

Beginning then ending,

beginning again

Rewriting the master

—their magic amends

(The New Room: March, 2021)

Silence

Keep your words close

—but silence closer

(Grantham New Hampshire: July, 2016)

Brush Strokes & Margins

I can’t draw,

but I paint

I still sin,

but a saint

I talk best

when I’m mute

All I’ve lost

in pursuit

I begin

at the middle

And end

at the start

To give back

to the silence

This thing

—we call art

(The New Room: March, 2021)

The Old Woman Says…

“You’ve got more past than future,”

she said without a smile

“The hours lost will not rewind,

your pendulum beguiled

“You’ve got more past than future,”

the hag said one last time

“Your legacy a broken spring

—whose clock no longer chimes”

(Valley Forge Memorial Bell Tower: March, 2021)