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

Twins Of Siam

You stir it one way, and they the other,

  but the mixture stays just as hot

 

You attack their motives, and they attack yours,

  while the contents boil and rot

 

“It needs to be this way”… the other side revolts,

  “Your mind’s faulty with avarice and greed”

 

The pot has simmered; the broth is thick,

  and its bottom not easy to see

 

A mutual exclusion, first left and then right

  a feast—all soul’s consumed

 

With spoon or fork, its offering slick,

  when the bowls come out at noon

 

In single file, day turns into night,

  pointed talk with nothing said

 

Both cupboard’s bare, two rat’s within,

  guarding their last crust of bread

 

When the final story is written and told,

   of what in concert you destroyed

 

A drum will beat, zero-sum complete,

  leaving you soulless—but still conjoined

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: June,2016)

Daniel

Remembering my Grandfather,

  forgetting my Dad

 

Wanting to be near him,

  paternal influence bad

 

He loved without question,

  his smile blocked the sun

 

And without his embracing

  —my life on the run

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: June, 2016)

Glass Houses

Stopping just short of judgment,

  his mind took a leap

 

Whose soul rose as substance,

  now ready to speak

 

Words before never uttered,

  or spoken in vain

 

This acknowledgement followed,

  crying out in refrain…

 

“The joy in the brotherhood

   all torment by choice

 

 “To share in celebration,

   we alone can’t rejoice

 

 “The critic inside us,

   the judger of sins

 

 “Is best left in silence,

   till it targets within”

 

As time will remind us,

  and these words will recall

 

All biting reprisal

  —the coward’s downfall

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: June, 2016)

 

Lies To Withstand

Journalistic integrity…

  give me a break

 

Your lies are on fire,

  there’s hell at the gate

 

Journalistic integrity,

  the wages of sin

 

All truth has been twisted,

  your speech has worn thin

 

Journalistic integrity,

  oxymoron disclosed

 

Two words now in conflict,

  their corruption exposed

 

Journalistic integrity,

  death by your own hand

 

All blame you relinquish

  —your lies to withstand

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: June, 2016)

The Elusive Ghost

Can you be conscious

 without being self conscious,

 philosophers disagree

 

Being aware of your

 awareness,

 seems logical to me

 

But logic has its

 failings,

 as we pierce the inner mind

 

Perception,

 the most elusive ghost

  —and hardest to define

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: April, 2019)

 

The Open Door

Death at its zenith,

 the other side of life’s goodbye

 

Eternity waiting patiently,

 to welcome us inside

 

Always the dark misnomer,

 we hold in dread and awe

 

When really it’s an open door

 —to all we’re searching for

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: April, 2019)