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

Actualization (haiku)

Actualization

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

© Alys
14 June 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

Midsummer (haiku)

Midsummer

reigning sunlight ebbs
unequal hours and dreams
moon power rises

© Alys
04 June 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

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

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

Childhood Memory (haiku)

Childhood Memory

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

© Alys
10 May 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

Star (haiku)

Star

twinkling sweet sparkles
like summer night stars glowing
baby eyes shining

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

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

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

Dreaming (haiku)

Dreaming

thunder comes stealing
crashing into fevered dreams
elsewhere kittens mew

© Alys

20 April 2005

Running

Running

simmering ahead

straining eyes rove the distance

finish line in sight

© Alys

06 April 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

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.

Spring (haiku)

Spring

sleepy raindrops fall
like snowflakes float in winter
spring lightning crashes

© ACG
19 March 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

Untitled haiku

Untitled haiku

heat lightning slashes
swashbuckling silver daggers
his torrid smile cuts

© Alys

26 February 2005