Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Demeter's Run (haiku)



Demeter's Run

her frozen tears drop
frantic runs the icy wind
wind chimes sing of hope

© Alys
27 December 2005

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Christmas Wish


Christmas Wish

Icy heartbeat stops
Evil stilled ‘ere Christmas dawns
Baby Jesus smiles.

© Alys
22 December 2005

Scents of Christmas



Scents of Christmas

A wondrous wafting
Lingering,
Like pie freshly baked or
Steaming cider;
Perfection:
Icy outside,
Cuddling within;
Everyone laughs.



© Alys
22 December 2005

Monday, November 28, 2005

Winter (haiku)




Winter

dense winter snowfall
blanketed over my dreams
roses sleep again

© ACG
23 November 2005

Sunday, November 20, 2005

In The Morning Fog




In The Morning Fog

Ghosts linger until dawn,
Loathe to say goodbye;
Desire drifts closer still,
Will fade into day.

Before Apollo rides,
They wander through mist;
Silent moans echo,
Sighs of time long passed.

"Hello?!" I cry out,
"Is it you?" I strain;
There is naught but fog,
Rolling back, again.



© Alys
20 November 2005

Untitled (haiku)




Untitled

waxy brown wrappers
stuck in Christmas stocking-toes
peanut butter chews
© Alys
20 November 2005

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Birthday (haiku)



Birthday

dead leaves swirl and fly
up within November's chill
old lyrics scatter


© ACG
11/17/05

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Sky (haiku)




Sky

darkness swirling low
impending doom rides the wind
an old man's joints ache



© Alys
10/11/05

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Garden (haiku)



Garden

glorious roses
lush from a hazy distance
close up, beetles win

© Alys
27 September 2005

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Hurricane




Hurricane

here, drips and drizzles
falling into summer's heat
there, destruction reigns
© Alys
31 August 2005

Monday, August 15, 2005

Candlelight (haiku)


Candlelight

candlelight ablaze
like oceans of loving light
an altar's comfort




© Alys
15 August 2005

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Some Days




Some Days

Some days I can't crack a smile:
Life's too tough, it's been a while
Since I felt my face reveal a smile.

Some days I'm too tired to think:
I almost wish I took to drink,
Some drunks smile, though some just stink.

When smiles won't come I close my eyes:
I picture eyes as blue as skies,
Their laughter and hugs - no compromise.

Before I know it, I feel a grin
Stretching from my hair to chin
As a smile comes: I begin again.
© Alys
13 August 2005

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Lightning (haiku)



Lightning

a silent crash falls
down from humid dark clouds
slash of tomorrow

© Alys
05 August 2005

Monday, August 01, 2005

Queen Mystery


Queen Mystery

Deep in her Heart, her Mystery,
ever Strong and True,
unbending Oak, a Lionheart,
like a Phantom's Muse;

Deep in her Heart, her Mystery
has forged an Iron Will:
that Beauty's Grace cannot erase
nor Evil ever still.


© Alysfor Aly29 January 2005

Saturday, July 30, 2005

Peace (haiku)



Peace haiku

war ever raging
conflicts crashing like old storms
a feather dances


© Alys
30 July 2005

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Hope



Hope

Through the dark and cloudy sky
A single shaft comes lit;
In the tempest of the sea
Blows a moment of respite;

In a crowded throng of strangers,
She hears a gay “hello!”
A familiar face so dear comes near;
She walks no more alone;

When the sun has parched and hurt him,
He cannot go the other miles,
Somehow his feet keep moving,
He crosses the Finish Line and smiles;

I feel alone, Life's burdens,
With stress and worry weighing,
Ends to meet, kids to raise ~
“Let me help,” his voice is saying;

Far away, the soldiers lie
Within a battle-raging hell,
Through the haze of bullets fired
Comes a vision loved so well;

When pain and fear are winning,
No matter when or where,
Into each moment can descend
The Hope of answered prayer.

© Alys
26 July 2005

Friday, July 22, 2005

A Mother's Kiss



A Mother's Kiss

She held him, just a baby,
As all good mothers will,
Reveling in his tiny self,
Sleeping soft and still;

She watched him, just a child,
Toddling 'round the yard,
Laughing at his early falls,
Her joy, tho' life was hard;

She heard him, just a simple man,
Preaching his vision true,
She saw the others mark him,
And she knew what he would do;

She saw him, smiling down to her,
While crucified and crushed,
For all mankind he sacrificed
To feed their angry lust;

She held him, just her baby,
When him at last they lowered,
A single tear fell from her eye,
Its crashing echo heard;

She kissed him, on his bloody brow,
In this moment, grief was lost,
A mother's love understood,
His gift and its fated cost.

She placed him, just a broken shell,
Into his tomb so dark,
There she left her heart with his,
Forever one, to never part.


© Alys
19 July 2005

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Rainstorm



Rainstorm

icy stings piercing
sheets of sleet whipping, whirling
soaking tempest, falls

whispering wildly
a flood of drenching madness
raining memories . . .


© Alys
19 July 2005

Monday, July 11, 2005

Sweet Music


Sweet Music

He sings a little sing-song tune
As he plays with favored toy,
A little hum, sometimes words,
This sweetheart little boy;

With happy heart, 'tis written,
His tune, so softly sung,
Like a gentle flowing river,
Life's melody begun;

Imagine as the years pass on,
The sing-song tune will grow,
Throughout his life, with love,
May his happiness ever flow.

© Alys
11 July 2005

Saturday, July 09, 2005

First Love (haiku)

First Love

electricity ~
like lightning strikes an old oak ~
hearts cracking open
© Alys
09 July 2005

Friday, June 24, 2005

Paradise (haiku)



Paradise

warm rain sparkalling
diamonds brightly cutting through
~ walls of worry fall ~


© Alys
24 June 2005

Parted Ways


Parted Ways

I see her, standing strong,
Always laughing, filled with song,
Long before her world went wrong . . .

I see her, battling life,
Embracing choices bringing strife,
With heartache, her years were rife . . .

I see her, hanging on,
Singing now a different song,
Between us, a road too long . . .

With mixed emotions
I cry out “Farewell ~
May you end where Angels dwell.”

© Alys
24 June 2005
for my sister

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Actualization (haiku)




Actualization

summer storm sketches
blossoms past and yet to come
life ~ nature's portrait


© Alys
14 June 2005

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

The Universe of Man



The Universe of Man

This bloodstained Earth cries out the tale
Of War and Strife where naught prevail;

Neither sky nor land nor stormy seas
Will e're reveal Life's mysteries;

Why then fly or march or sail?
Boundaries of Man; beyond the pale;

Why need to conquer, rule, or lead?
All mankind the same will bleed;

Within the wind's wails and moans
The Weight of Sorrow e'er groans,

Its mantle dark descends like ash,
Volcanic destruction, ne'er to pass;

What will be left of the Galaxy great?
What will be its eventual fate?

From Age to Age, from dark to light,
Then back again with blackest strife,

The Universe stares with Unblinking Eye
Stoically watching as Time goes by;

In the end, no one will win ~
War and Strife again begin.


© Alys
14 June 2005

Sunday, June 05, 2005

Midsummer (haiku)





Midsummer

reigning sunlight ebbs
unequal hours and dreams
moon power rises



© Alys
04 June 2005

Saturday, May 28, 2005

The Clootie Tree





The Clootie Tree

An ancient path still beckons,
A weary soul moves on,
Each step destiny reckons,
Priced in prayer and song;

In the mist atop the hill,
A shrub-tree stands forlorn,
Ragged ribbons for the ill
Weigh each thin branch way down;

Sliabh na nDée Dána, this mound
Of three ancient Eire gods ~
Cermait Ogma, honey-mouthed;
Of a Hundred Battles: Conn;

Last, the Dagda, god of good,
His daughter’s worshipped still ~
Noble Brigit’s stone head stood
Upon the misted hill;

Here she mourned a grievous loss,
Ruádán, her own best son,
With wailing cry, her anguish ~
Eire’s first keening echoes on;

Prayers hang upon the tree,
Offered with heartfelt song
To Brigit and the ancient Three,
For relief from ills and wrong;

The breeze blows the Clootie Tree
And tattered prayers wave ~
She sends us ease, in memory
For a son she could not save.
© Alys
28 May 2005

Friday, May 27, 2005

R.I.P.


R.I.P.


Long our battle raged,
Through your icy grasp
Many times, I slipped;


Magnificent Death -
Thou hast me, at last.


© Alys
27 May 2005

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

My Friend



My Friend

When sadness comes, I call;
Our tears fall down like rain,
A flowing river, healing all
While gently easing pain.

When laughter comes, I call;
Our stomaches ache with joy,
Down our happy tears fall,
Life's jester, our employ.

When anger comes, I call;
Too many times of late,
Our tears of rage a pall,
Blanketing all, our hate.

When Death comes to call,
With sorrow'd souls we'll part,
As our tears remember all,
Yet always, with one heart.


© Alys
10 May 2005
for Lorraine

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Childhood Memory (haiku)



Childhood Memory

Still as death I lie
Through torrid fever'd nights
Cool hands ease my brow



© Alys
10 May 2005

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Cotton

Cotton

Comes like silk a memory
Of lightning and of storm,
Thunder seals solemnity;
Two hearts beat as one ~
Our love an echoed promise
New, ’tho old as time . . .


© Alys
04 May 2005
~ for Cris

Friday, April 29, 2005

Star (haiku)

Star

twinkling sweet sparkles
like summer night stars glowing
baby eyes shining



© Alys
29 April 2005
~ for my baby nephew, Jimmy

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Render Red

Render Red

Ruby roses reluctant rest,
Retched thorns rip and rend,
Rubbing 'round and 'round,
Relentless, repugning recline;

Render red the roses,
Render red the right,
Render red reposes,
Render red respite.



© Alys
27 April 2005

Thursday, April 21, 2005

The Infidel

The Infidel

Years ago, I met a man
I thought was strong and true,
Trusting what I thought I saw
In his eyes of blue;
Years ago, I married him,
And thought that all was well,
Two babies came and then he left,
And we were left in hell;
Years ago, in hell I burned
Unsure of where to turn,
Betrayed and hurt, tired to death,
Feeling ever so alone;
Years ago, far from him
Peace came to us at last,
Better off, with happiness,
Glad the past is past;
Years from now, we'll look back
And remember days of hell,
When once we were subjected to
The hideous Infidel.

© Alys
20 April 2005

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Dreaming (haiku)


Dreaming

thunder comes stealing
crashing into fevered dreams
elsewhere kittens mew



© Alys
20 April 2005

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Running

Running

simmering ahead
straining eyes rove the distance
finish line in sight

© Alys
06 April 2005

Friday, April 01, 2005

The Knight




The Knight

Like a Knight of old, he stands,
Like a fortress battle-ready,
No gauntlets grace his hands,
No sword nor weapon steady;
Just he, alone, to ne'er yield:
A dragon's heart, his shield.


© Alys
29 January 2005
~ for Johnny

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Road (haiku)



Road

simmering ahead
unknown stretching road beckons
my fever burns on


© Alys
24 March 2005
Commemorating my 46-hour drive
from San Diego, CA to Noblesville, IN
made July 2002.

Saturday, March 19, 2005

Spring (haiku)

Spring

sleepy raindrops fall
like snowflakes float in winter
spring lightning crashes


© ACG
19 March 2005

Friday, March 11, 2005

Loss

Loss

Moonlight sheds -
like a blanket falls -
Light descending;

Secret dwells -
like a corner hides -
Sorrow crouching;

Darkness yearns -
like blindness grasps -
Ever missing;

Moonlight sheds -
like a blanket falls -
Light is failing.

© Alys
11 March 2005

Monday, February 28, 2005

Untitled haiku

Untitled haiku

heat lightning slashes
swashbuckling silver daggers
his torrid smile cuts


© Alys
26 February 2005

Saturday, February 26, 2005

Untitled


Untitled

wintry echoes ring
softly as a cat’s meow
happy birthday, john

© Alys
26 February 2005
in memory of Johnny Cash

Persephone's Return

Persephone's Return

Through winter's white, she waits alone
For Persephone's returning,
The wailing wind, a softened moan;
A mother’s yearly yearning.



© Alys
29 January 2005

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

haiku for Organ Donation

(haiku for Organ Donation)

Tragedy visits;
One mother releases:
Miracles arrive.

© Alys
23 February 2005

Thursday, February 17, 2005

The Vampyre

The Vampyre

The Vampyre's dangerous darkness
A sweet seduction seems;
A stillness burning passion,
Delicious draught of dreams;

His power overwhelms us,
His glittering eye consumes,
We hear his sweet enchantments,
And eagerly embrace our doom;

The danger doesn't find us
Until it is far too late,
We fall into his sinful spell
And then must live our fate;

Sweet seduction ends, like death,
Yet on we live in pain,
With a burning yearn for blood,
We, shadow'd undead, remain;

Too late, we see the evil,
Too late we taste his lies,
Too late we ceaseless dream,
As Eternity slowly dies;

The Vampyre's dangerous darkness
Seduced us with his charms,
Glory fades with each dawn;
Forever trapped in his arms.



© Alys
17 February 2005

Monday, February 14, 2005

If I Could Travel

If I Could Travel

I'd take a ship across the Sea,
To the place my mother was born,
Beyond the borders of other lands,
To see the sunset, and then the morn;

I'd see the rocks and dirt and trees,
I'd see a small house, and town;
I’d trace her mother's braveries,
Echoes of Alexander's renown;

To see the Church, to see the Lake ~
My vision blurs with tears;
To think they trod upon this ground ~
My journey’d erase the years;

In my hand, I'd hold some earth,
And like an ancient priestess pray,
Whispering words of time and magic ~
Our mitochondrial DNA;

In my dreams, I take that trip
With ease and never a care;
In my dreams, I linger still,
Part of me lives ever there.


© Alys
14 February 2005

Friendship (haiku)

Friendship

arm in arm they stand
like stones in Hadrian’s Wall
keeping secrets shared


© Alys
14 February 2005

Sunday, January 30, 2005

Summer Days of Old

Summer Days of Old

 The dew dried up at daybreak,
The plowing raised a cloud,
The air was still and heavy,
No breath of peace allowed;

Into the forest gladly ran
The children after chores,
Chasing after shady spots
And fairy rings and mounds;

Through the trees, the summer dimmed,
Sparkling sky-specks flickered,
’Mid humming wings and trills of birds,
Upon the moss they rested;

Who knows what dreams those dreamers dreamed?
Who knows what happened to them?
Who knows if e’er their dreams came true,
Or vanished without requiem?


~ Alys
30 January 2005

Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Grandmommy's Robe

Grandmommy's Robe
 
A silken robe of palest blue,
Wound 'round its hem was creamy lace,
It wrapped me like a kiss of dew,
Like love reflected in her face;

I trailed around, a child too small,
Pretentiously properly grand,
A Cinderella at the ball,
Waltzing with no visible band;

I postured up and down the halls,
As melodies rose from below -
My arias with La Callas -
Deafening off-key crescendo;

Indulgent accolades followed
My dramatic operatics,
Her sweet embrace – ah, Emeraude –
In that robe, love’s lingered fabric.


© Alys
25 January 2005

Saturday, January 15, 2005

Red Rose (haiku)


a red rose budding
petals offer velvet love
sacrificial life


© Alys
15 January 2005
Posted by Hello

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Winter Moon

Winter Moon

Yellow moon mellows
Like a fine filter smudges
Harsh midnight shadows . . .


© Alys
12 January 2005

Saturday, January 08, 2005

In My Solitude

In My Solitude

“You haunt me . . .”
An old refrain
Plays;
Starlit darkness
Falls.

Half of my soul
Drifts;
Eternity
Ends.

I am alone,
With echoes.

Another life
Calls;
As if the sea
Knows.

Waves caress and
Kiss;
Embracing me
Less.

I am alone,
With echoes.

My solitude
Sings;
As our heartbeat
Slows.




© Alys
22 June 2004

Wednesday, January 05, 2005

Tempest Tossed


Tempest Tossed

Tempest tossed, through stormy seas,
Wind and rain abound,
Like a sailor out upon the waves,
With no peace ever found;

Driven on through day and night,
By fierce compelling fire ~
Create! Burning passionate,
Crashing with desire;

My ship, a-battered to and fro,
My helmsman's the devil's own;
My fevered-brain first high then low ~
Create! Ah, had I but known . . .

Tempest tossed, battered down,
Suddenly skies shine clear,
Land ho! My work is done ~
I drift - the shore is near;
Gently rolls the tide,
Gently sails my ship,
A respite, like cool water,
Upon my parched lips.

A cry from my devil-helmsman -
"Aloft!" - the sails snap;
Driven out to sea again,
My creativity a trap.
~ © Alys
22 February 2004

Tuesday, January 04, 2005

haiku For My Sister


haiku For My Sister
She was a goddess,
Always taller and faster;
There goes my sister.

© Alys
05/22/03

Sunday, January 02, 2005

Naked In Wonderland (haiku) and As Breathing

Naked In Wonderland

Naked, I pass through,
Like Alice in Wonderland;
A mirror of life.

© Alys
01 January 2005


As Breathing

Sometimes I inhale;
an intoxication of sensation
lifts me lightly
as a boat is lifted
by sweet swelling sails aloft. . .
filled with perfumes of spring
and summer, fall
and winter, past
and future. . .
crushed and broken grasses,
berries swollen-ripe and oozing
flavored scent. . .
chewing the thickness of fragrant flowers,
then suffocating humidity
until
rain coming
and then rain gone. . .
sneezing in the dust of fall and the first
scent of burning turning
into cold-penetrating stabbing
thieving furious icy air. . .

Sometimes I inhale;
an intoxication of sensation
choking in the smell of death
decaying drunkenly in darkness,
gasping, grasping
no hope
just a searing
that suddenly subsides,
leaving me shaking. . .
then ethereal eucalyptus –
not a cure
just a comfort. . .

Sometimes I inhale;
without thinking, without smelling
any particular particle;
automatic breath of life,
the pedestrian transformed
into being,
existing mindless
thoughtless effortless
yet crucial
to bring into me those
intoxications of sensation. . .

I have begun to think of you as breathing.


© Alys
1996
~ for Cris

Saturday, January 01, 2005

My Heart As One

My Heart As One

A world of pain and darkness
has now imprisoned me
but your peaceful world beckons
with the light to set me free . . .

Across my world and into yours
you have made the bridge appear,
no prison’s pain can hold me back
when I know your heart is near . . .

Your voice is crashing thunder,
and gentle falling rain,
it is a quiet lullaby at dawn,
and the rolling of the waves
I hear you in the whistle-blow,
I feel you in the sun –
and the softest stirring breeze that blows –
isn’t that the echo of your soul –
a caress of love forever mine
that mends my heart as one


I will run into tomorrow
a smile upon my face,
I will find the stars in heaven
and at last will know my place . . .

Your voice will always find me
and guide me on my way
as I cross the bridge divine
till we meet again, one day . . .

Your voice is crashing thunder,
and gentle falling rain,
it is a quiet lullaby at dawn,
and the rolling of the waves
I hear you in the whistle-blow,
I feel you in the sun –
and the softest stirring breeze that blows –
isn’t that the echo of your soul –
a caress of love forever mine
that mends my heart as one.

~ © Alys
23 December 2003
in memory of Johnny Cash