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

Unbaptized Words

Certificate unsigned

  pen firmly in hand

 

The bliss not for barter

  its insight free-stands

 

Faith and acceptance

  may go where they please

 

To my grave and beyond

  the verse teaches and frees

 

No savior I ask for

  forgiveness I shun

 

Redemption unspoiled

  new ink on the run

 

Till one day uncovered

  hidden deep on the shelf

 

A message unchristened

   buried dark and unfelt

 

Where the voice I was gifted

  and the music I heard

 

In themselves live forever

  —free unbaptized words

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: June, 2016)

Its Reckoning Comes

Is God to interpret

  and religion the why

 

Is forever too heavy

  to pledge bye and bye

 

Does the Devil provide balance

  to a concept in stone

 

Is he laughing inside us

  mocking all that we know

 

Is God left to children

   and those purest of heart

 

Is all truth chained to symbols

  has its lock come apart

 

Are the years there to change us

  is each day meant to count

 

Are the scriptures worth hearing

  if belief has to shout

 

To those fanatics among us

   yes, you know who you are

 

A power looms distant

  beyond testament’s scar

 

Its claim staked by no one,

  its icon’s unseen

 

And its reckoning comes

  —when you wake from this dream

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: June, 2016)

Yes

Waiting for the final ticket out,

 I would write that ending word

 

And bid goodbye to all I’d said

 both ignored—and often heard

 

I asked the conductor about the fare,

 he said “How much can you pay”

 

As I held my pen, three letters  

 came together—so arranged

 

A moment lingered, a lifetime flashed,

 the past and future caught

 

And with voucher punched I climbed aboard

 stamped YES—salvation bought

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: September, 2018)

First Breath

Jumping in

  I shut both eyes

  my heart lay open wide

 

A first hello

 my last goodbye

 to logic ill applied

 

Choosing an entry

 frees all to move

 the first breath to a song

 

Getting out

 my mind rejects…

 forever pushing on

 

The ending shatters

 once breaking through

 as time cuts loose its grasp

 

That first step forward

 past my fear

   —a die forever cast

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: September, 2018)

Life Or Death

Does your good

 outweigh the bad

 

Is the balance

 happy or sad

 

Is your intention

 right or wrong

 

Does your prayer

 turn into song

 

Does the blame

 weigh down your heart

 

Can your light

 outshine the dark

 

Can the joy

 exceed the pain

 

Does one word

 your soul reclaim

 

Will His grace

 forgive your sins

 

Will new life or death

 —begin

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: September, 2018)