Do words serve the meaning,

or meaning the words

 

Simply delivered,

complexity heard

 

Muddled presentment,

the message undone

 

Brevity pointed,

to pierce zero-sum

 

(The New Room: December, 2021)

 

From the beginning

we shake hands with death

At first as a stranger

when caught in its net

 

And last as a friend

bearing gifts from beyond

A bridge for one crossing

past futures begone

 

While leaving behind

 the measure of fate

 Transcending tomorrow

  we unlock its gate

 

What’s last becomes first

closing open interred

a singular journey

—not shaken but stirred

 

(Watching 14 Peaks: December, 2021)

 

 

Spiritual commerce

Poetic lies

Phrases for sale

Proselytized

Prescience begins

Necessity ends

Words given freely

—tomorrow defends

 

(Dreamsleep: December, 2021)

In the poverty of sound

hides a final goodbye

Mortgaging the silence

with debt to decry

 

A tenancy of sorrow

with melody banned

An orchestra homeless

—foreclosure at hand

 

(Dreamsleep: December, 2021)

You can’t think your way to faith,

all reason unadorned

 

Or speak to what is felt inside,

self-knowledge most forlorn

 

For those invested time must bow,

a legion unto one

 

As seas will part and bushes burn

—in rapture’s kingdom come

 

(First Book Of Prayers: December, 2021)

If I could trade my pen for flutes,

the ink would disappear

whose harmony no page beholds,

a rhapsody so clear

 

If I could trade my thoughts for sound,

an orchestra of one

my heart would fly inside my voice,

the searching all but done

 

If I could trade my words for notes,

and lettered verse for scores

celestial choirs would sing on high

—in tribute to my Lord

 

(First Book Of Prayers: December, 2021)

Too wise for anything

but faith…

to be carried by angels

in love’s holy grail

 

The light in her eyes

to reign majestic

illumined by heavens

flowering dale

 

(Dreamsleep: December, 2021)

The house is quiet,

as Knothead’s asleep

 

Hershey Kisses in place

on the staircase to reap

 

There’s snow on the roof,

with the chimney unblocked

 

For Santa to enter,

new soot on his frock

 

The cookies and milk

on the hearth reappear

 

With Rudolph’s one favorite,

chocolate chip to endear

 

The sound of his footsteps

arrive on the roof

 

As Knothead awakens

to Santa’s reproof

 

“Get into the sleigh

as I’ve told you before

 

“TC and Melissa

deserve so much more

 

“Your mischievous wandering

has caused quite the stir

 

“Mrs. Claus is upset,

the good Elves much deterred

 

“And clean up your mess

before we move on

 

“Those wrappers a danger

to those woe begone”

 

But as they departed,

the naughty Elf smiled

 

Two silver reminders

ensconced to beguile

 

Both hidden in cupboards

for children to find

 

Christmas 2021

—to forever remind

 

(Christmas Poem: 12/24/2021)

Backstory:  Knothead is the naughty Elf who has plagued the Behm household for over 40 years at Christmas time.  To catch him, you need to put out Hershey Kisses, so that Santa can follow the trail of wrappers, capture him, and take him back to the North Pole.

 

 

Tumbling down the stairs

of misfortune 

 

Slipping on the banana peels

of time

A curtain came down

on his opening act

 

The Fat Lady singing

—unrhymed

 

(Dreamsleep: December, 2021)

Memories of a summer day,

chasing colder winds away

 

Lasting treasures so defined,

lace the corners of my mind

 

Zephyrs of a distant past,

breath unto my soul’s repast

 

Every hope and wish redeemed

—melting fast this winter freeze

 

(First Book Of Prayers: December, 2021)