river

dawn of an orchid sky

flowing through dreams of petal rain

cerulean chant of birches

bowing to zephyr wind

subsiding into an inland sea of silver flames

embraced by wistful wildflowers

stream of gentle salt, myrrh and golden domes

giving life to colours sleeping in desert sand

incense of chamomiles in ancient walls

seer of magic, painter of soulscapes

benevolent orchard beneath a truthful constellation

where elanor and niphredil

still find a home.

(for Yelena)

Autumn's demise

In this enclosed valley

with serene view of sea
filled to the brim
with autumn's golden light

My heart was led to your well
deep as the ocean's blue
source of the brightest flower
in all lands far and wide

Into its depth I gazed
into its purest shine
beheld a river flowing
beneath the moon's reflection

A song rang in the river's rush
spun of a glistening silver yarn
entwined with black from ancient caves
from where the waters fled

Into the meadows mild
into the sunlit bloom
into the flower-scented pool
beneath a dream of shielding leaves.

Night came, and boreal wind approached
clouds hid fair lunar face
swept leaves and flowers towards sea

The pool lies bare beside a naked tree
with view of pewter sea
lit by a slice of moon
upon a raft of leaves.


(for D.)

   ❧

Avishai Cohen - Live in Leverkusen 2009

karmesinrote segel / crimson sails

dein lächeln
öffnet die flügel der möwen
in die weite des himmels
in die sich das herz wölbt
purpurrot und golden

die sterne
zieht es zu dir
horizont deiner gischt
schaumgekrönt ferne gestade küssend

der mond
senkt seine wange
in den arm deiner strahlen
wogende wiege
wahrender wärme

unter den flügeln der möwen
flüstern die wellen von deinem strand
träumen verzauberte gärten
das perlmuttlicht des morgens.


(für D.)


        ❧


your smile
opens the wings of seagulls
into the extent of sky
wherein the heart arches
purple and golden

the stars
are drawn to you
horizon of your spray
whitecapped kissing distant strands

the moon
lowers her cheek
into the arm of your beams
billowing cradle
of preserving warmth

beneath the wings of seagulls
the waves whisper of your beach
enchanted gardens
dream the pearl light of morning.

(for D.)

#103

Rare is the love

that knows no past tense

sometimes just sleeping

like spring 'neath winter's ground.

#102

es herbstet
an allen zweigen
lauert der fall

in den kronen
grün der erinnerung
träumt noch etwas sommer

im wind weicht das licht
lauschen die ohren der dämmerung

wohin flogst du,
einsame schwalbe?

autumnal dusk

misty light over the autumn lake

sun of melancholy abiding behind cloth of sky

a reddened leaf in tender touch of water's skin

adrift in soft chime of the piano's flight

into a blurred horizon of snow's whirling flakes

where forest's dreams abide in sight of moon

born from a sea of crimson and lavender

where faeries in the purest white

of angel wings outpour from lily's chalice 

water from holy spring, 

wine of your love.

(for D.)

sensible

tongue of the wafting breeze

over a sea of ripened wheat

arcadian flood of light

beneath the hands of summer

our sunrise rivers

grazing flowering pastures

birthplace for liquid moons

coalescing in starstreams.

(for D.)

3 a.m.

sometimes

from a mere thought of you

springs a clear well of bliss

flowing from mind to chest to veins

expanding into lotus skies

to glint of heaven's light.

(for D.)

Quiet

in the hour of silence

nature speaks for us:

in the soothing sound of rain

tenderly touching leaves of green

in a dark storm cloud from sea

to which the waves and soul open their sails

in the quiet gleam of the flowering moon.

❧

(Will we ever be more than silence again? ...)

waterfall

this dance of fireflies

over the ancient meadows of the heart

filling the waterfall with glow

of embers that the moon

once gifted to the dusk

just feel the water stream

touching stone by stone

a melody of liquid light

from pond to mind to sea

her lotus' flowering moon

risen from waters dark

vine trailing around the stem

of souls expanding to the sky

be flower, moon and tree

immerse in secrets deep

of nature's sparkling wheel

feel light flooding your leaves.

(a favourite place of mine)

gloaming

we're sky and sea
boundless to hearts' expanse

each night your moon
touches my skin
sailing its shimmer across the waves

each night a scarlet bloom
unfurls its tendrils
feeling you melt
in waters deep.


(for D.)

#95

in the moss-clad hollows

of the wood i find you,

in lightbeams falling through

the canopy's shadow,

in the violets freshened

by the woodstream's song

so i walk on the forest floor

yet wander in heaven

by the faeries' chant

in the glow of her moon.

(for D.)

elements

if i were wind

i'd settle in your hair

fan goosebumps to your skin

entice a butterfly to linger

on the pastures of your collarbone

if i were rain

i'd thirst to soothe

you with a rushing song

washing day's dust off your soul's skin

and sweetly fall in your cupped hands

if i were fire

the stars would melt

upon our lips

the moon sink deep into your womb

bougainvillea flame

around the hearth of hearts

i am but evening breeze, a drop of morning dew, and spark
ingredients for a storm
brimming over a teacup's rim


(for D.)

#93

On a bed of moss she lay

stretched beneath the morning sun

cradled by lavender wind

sailing from the sea afar

And my hands go with the moss

and my eyes shine with the sun

and my thoughts are wind-swept grass

cradling my flower the sea has born.

(for D.)

A Wish

Behold the rushing quest of sea

exuberant tide of life

the sailboat that comes beaching once

with crimson blood against your shore.

Then may your path be petal-strewn

in a realm of joyous bliss

may be your sky ever fulfilled

with roses to the moon.

(for D.)

#91

poetry sings

of purple bloom

on snow-clad branches

of bees collecting stars

as pollen from her eyes

sings of the moon untouched

embraced by shoreless sea

O Elbereth Starkindler ...

A Elbereth Gilthoniel,
silivren penna míriel
o menel aglar elenath!
Na-chaered palan-díriel
o galadhremmin ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
nef aear, sí nef aearon!


(J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings)


For my dear friend Yelena — may this light never leave your heart.

#89

no star

no moon

just voiceless dark

between there

and nowhere

and beyond