September Sea

My escape is blocked by the waves' icy thrust,

the cold hard sand stiffens underfoot,

and the morning mist freezes in my throat;

My boat rocks gently first then rolls with wicked intent,

navigating amidst darting rocks is beyond my skill

when the Sea is dark and coldly crashing;

My escape is blocked, so his chokehold lingers,

and I am weary from the fight;

weary with knowing.

© ACG

01 September 2010

August

After the short bright days of Spring,
Midwestern Summer comes on quickly,
with a heavy hand pressing,
determined to prevail, lasting,
beating down, extending;

Hammering thunder grumbles overhead,
lightning skitters downward
in thinly slicing deadly lines,
late Midwestern Summer weather
stifles hauntingly with cruel rapture;

Sun-bright skies reflecting white heat,
blinding, whilst never-ending airless air
drips with moisture unrelieving,
like a solid wall, the last of Summer slams
with its own mystery of possibility;

An impossible reality of misery,
crashing rain pours furiously,
more unwelcome wetness,
sticky, with no refreshment,
simply even less air left behind;

Cycling along, its marathon event,
weeks passing with no remorse,
thundering nights roll into rumbling days,
or stark sun-hot days and still clear nights,
Midwestern Summer’s constant torment;

Into this Hell,
like a Star in the Blackened Night,
like a Light in The Abyss,
like the first Breath of Fall,
like Love in a hate-filled world,
you came.

© ACG
01 August 2010

~ for Aly

Salt

Salty spray misting

breaking across the ship's bow

America looms

© ACG

30 June 2010

~ for Mom

Happy 4th of July

Untitled

flowing into me
oceans of grave disaster
like beautiful Death

 

© ACG

11 May 2010

April Morning Moon

Full gleaming orb
hangs o'er head;
 Moonlight gleaming
drifts o'er head;

E'er Dawn rises
E'er the World stirs,
April Morning Moon
shines o'er head.  

© ACG 01
April 2010

Elephants

From childhood’s Dumbo

and the baby elephant

in The Jungle Book,

then collectibles in

various woods, stones, metals;

carvings with trunks upraised

for Good Luck;

these have comforted me.

Metaphorically,

they’ve crushed me

at times when my chest

feels a pressure,

a crushing wieght

oppressing heart and lungs;

“feels like an elephant sitting on my chest,”

but really now,

poor elephant;

I don’t know how that would feel.

People say,

“the elephant in the room”

referring to that which

cannot be spoken;

when social convention

dictates silence:

awkwardness and discomfort,

don’t confront it,

don’t talk about it;

as if the elephant can be ignored.

I love my little statues,

and my Disney memories;

I dread the pressure of illness,

when breath comes gasping;

these comforts and pains

I have learned to live with;

they are expected.

I loathe the one who lumbered

into our room,

unwelcome and ridiculous,

is he to be supreme?

perhaps

he will prevail

with his destructive rampage,

and I shall leave the room.

© ACG
24 March 2010

Weakness

Loneliness overwhelms

with the pain of gnawing creatures

within;

darkness is everywhere

and a false light beckons

sweetly;

helpless against the tide

of my lonely nights

extending,

that light feels warm

and strong and lovingly

caressing.

No where can I turn,

except into disaster;

I feel my soul surrender

to Evil.

© ACG

17 February 2010

5:00 Blues

Inevitable Time, you Bastard,

my dreadful reality,

approaching,

encroaching,

killing me inside;

Inevitable Time, you Bastard,

the last call made,

then I surrender

as you head home,

to her;

Inevitable Time, you Bastard,

every day at 5,

suffocating my heart

with your dark hours,

long into my sleepless night.

Inevitable Time, you Bastard,

unavoidable,

irrevocable

reminder:

he’s forever hers.

Not mine.

You Bastard.

© ACG

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras

icy silver rain

Winter’s needles harshly sting

joyous revelry

© ACG

25 January 2010

Blue Moon

Blue Moon

Above the dark sky

looms with sparkling stars,

the earth still damp

with blood, rain, and tears,

while his body lies cold before me.

Dawn will bring the New Year,

but tonight takes my life,

my heart, my soul

with him into Death;

I pray for a miracle.

“One small drop of blood,

one little swift kiss.”

A soft whisper from behind

comes like a caress,

a promise to resurrect,

a small price to pay,

a brief embrace.

“One small drop of blood,

one little swift kiss.”

Under the Blue Moon,

I consent.

© ACG

31 December 2009

To A Young Artist

A painting
Or a poem
Can be as bad as Winter’s icy cutting breath
Or as good as Summer’s first perfect rose,
But always
It is yours.

 

© ACG

17 December 2009

Enveloped

Enveloped

Frozen breath brushes
against my cheek,
his kiss comes like Winter,
lips as cold as icicles
caress mine
gently at first then
with passion;

suddenly enveloped
within his arms,
I am cold as snow,
the Wind cuts through me,
I feel his frozen breath lips skin
melt into mine.

© ACG
01 December 2009

Indiana Moon

Indiana Moon

Running free through cornfields,
escaping everything,
darkness and laughter
under the Indiana Moon;

I know these fields
like the back of my hand
and I find you
every time;

Kisses in the moonlight,
our breath echoes the whisper
of the cornstalks
rustling;

Time disappears for us,
years mean nothing,
decades erase our path
yet always I find you

under the Indiana Moon.

~ © ACG
25 October 2009

Blood Moon

Blood Moon


Nightfall comes
and I awake,

Confusion
and secrets stir;

I almost hear
your voice calling,

From my window,
I see the cornfield;

Bathed in moonlight
drawing me.

Blood Moon rising,
October falls.

Across the veil
spellbound,

Into the field
beyond myself,

Silken stalks cutting
whispering your name,

Running blindly
through the moonlight,

Only the moon and I
remain, waiting

For you.

~ © ACG
25 October 2009

Unbidden

Unbidden

Without warning
his voice comes;
calling through the Wind;

Escape
is a distant dream
of possibilities and chains;

Pain
becomes all within,
piercing my soul;

Unbidden
I call to him:
Enter.

© ACG

03 October 2009

Looming

Looming

As the thick hot Summer
suffocates itself, Autumn breathes,
daylight like a smile warms the skin,
a sigh of deception at night
Autumn sneaks in thinly;

At dawn, a hardworking Sun gasps
with determined vigor
whittled away
whilst Winter's fingers laugh
knowingly;

At dusk, a hint of Winter's breath
descends with the blanketing nightfall,
coolly interrupting,
a bark of comeuppance
harshly warning;

Unsheathed slowly
in Autumn’s trembling hand,
the cut of Winter comes
at once a sharp killing blade
with no remorse.

© ACG

01 September 2009

Under The August Moon

Under the August Moon

Every moment lingers
like a butterfly flitting
at the edge of my sight;

in the stillness of a hot day
I remember a breeze
that kissed my cheek;

a bird softly singing
in the distance
soothes my soul;

sunset sends a wash of color
turning into darkness;

I lie awake.

Somewhere under the August moon,
you sleep.

© ACG
01 August 2009

~ for Aly

July

July

languid moon mirrors
waves melting time together
feral eyes glaring

© ACG

03 July 2009

Outside My Window

Outside My Window

Summer comes in waves
of scented roses
and hot wind, blowing
Spring away

car engines fading,
neighbors off to work;
children running,
riding bikes carefree

midmorning breezes stir
willow leaves and blades of grass,
dancing roses call to me
like a child:

“Come out, come out, wherever you are”

afternoon birds calling,
not to me, yet
my heart answers
through the glass

I watch them flit
from branch to bush,
sweet songs soar;
let freedom ring.

© ACG

30 May 2009

Dreaming

Dreaming

landlocked midwest life
heavy continental air
dream of sea breezes

© ACG

01 May 2009

Memory

Memory

sweet chords echoing
gently brushing timelessness
Susan Fitzsimmons

© ACG
19 March 2009