OF SABLE BRUSHES AND VISIONS

Fine strokes, evoking beauty upon life's canvas.
The Grand Master painting with steady hand
"scapes" of forest trees or sand on teeming seas.
Each dip into the palette He chooses
will not lose its vibrancy or vitality. Scenes
of greens and golds and untold wondrous
hues fills the skies and the beholder's eyes
with life's true majesty. With great Mastery he
fills his brush of fine Sable; in each careful stroke
He is able to capture all that His eye envisions.  

© JPW - 2014

Ravi Walked Away

"He had become
a purveyor of peace..."

Photo by Manuel Lao - 
500px.com

Life became the burden that he carried,
over rocky terrain, through the rainstorms,
that ravaged his land. He had been married
until they had buried his true love; in his soul
she lives still, and he has kept her so.
Ravi’s business suffered through his absence;
his existence hardly felt and it served to deal
a blow to his ambition. His heart laden with
more baggage now, ached – not just emotionally.
His children did not understand how a man
could be so devoted to others. For in his mind,
they were sisters and brothers upon his journey.
Life had sharpened its edge on the flinty surface
of Ravi’s despair, until Ravi walked away. And it was
there that he found what men through the ages
have failed to achieve. Peace. True inner peace.
When all else crumbled around him,
he became the foundation; the pillar upon which
to secure everything he had built. He held no anger,
harbored no guilt. He had been possessed by calmness
the likes of which he had never seen outside of himself.
There was no selfishness in his discovery. He had become
a purveyor of peace; an agent to foster togetherness.
And he found it alone in a happy heart.

© JPW - 2013



Margo Roby's Poem Tryouts: Photos as Metaphors

Mirage

Your eyes are deceiving you
and your heart believes that you
are seeing what it wants you to!

It is her that you see, a vision
in misty faded wisps. You envision
beauty with beholding eyes, indecision

fills your mind, your pulse races
and your can swear her faces is
hidden in remarkable places.

You blame the lateness of night,
you blame your meal, the light
and try as hard as you might,

you cannot erase her.
You cannot replace her
and God forbid you deface her 

memory. You could swear she is there,
her perfume, the smell of her hair
a gentle hand gracing your shoulder to repair

the loss you feel. It seems so real
and you thought you could deal
with it, but you continue to feel

her presence near.
She is right here,
and you’re not clear

if you want this mirage to stop haunting 
you, the task of waiting till mourning is daunting. 
You reach to touch what is not there, leaving you wanting.

© JPW - 2013

Poetic Asides by Robert Lee Brewer - Prompt #237 Illusions

Poets United: Poetry Pantry #168

Fate and Destiny Do Lunch

“Glad you could meet me,

it always works out just how I’ve planned!”

“Oh really? What makes you think

my wish is your command?”

“Why do you think they call me Fate?

I knew you’d be here… and you wouldn’t be late!”

“You don’t control me, no how, no way –

I’ve a mind of my own! I still have a say!”

“I’m not so sure, if I must sound defeatist!”

“Go to hell, you overbearing elitist!”

They sit and stew, as that’s my hunch,

the way it goes when these two meet for lunch!

The waiter arrives, with menus he stands,

but Fate waves him off with a sweep of his hand.

“I’ve already ordered and I know what she’ll have.

She’ll eat the veal (she loves baby calves)”

“You see”, he explains, “I’m planned by divinity,

don’t question my motives, they’re from my mythology!”

Destiny smiled. “Excuse me, nature calls”

and she headed off for one of the stalls.

Fate sat there sipping his drink and awaiting his friend,

a relationship that was a dead end!

They weren’t really connected as far as he knew,

as through the front window a transit bus flew.

There lays the late Fate, now in celestial unity,

since Destiny influenced a great opportunity.

Fate met his fate, his appointment with Destiny,

cards fall into place through a deal of humanity

Now a table for one, but what the heck,

she didn’t even mind kiting the check!

© JPW - 2013

 Poetic Asides - Prompt #236 - Appointment poem

HAVE YOU NO EYES?

The soul has no windows,
as far as I can see.
But the truth has a heart,
and getting to the heart of the truth
takes a lot of belief
and a bit of faith.
Your ears will hear
what your eyes will not receive.
Do not trust your eyes,
for you realize that the soul
of a person rests in the eyes of truth.
Why didn't I see that before?

© JPW 2013


Poetic Asides with Robert Lee Brewer - Vision - Prompt 234

GRANA AD INFINITUM

Granular silica reaching
fully across the beach,
allowing the lake to leach
through every niche
and crevice, it teaches
us that infinity is within reach
in every step we take, each
in silent prayer, we beseech.

© JPW 2013

REFLECTIONS

Clouds billow, broken
by wind and His mighty hand. 
Azure is always preferred,
but the blue is as deep
as the lake's expanse.
Ripples disturb, a turbulent
swipe of nature to provoke
clouds on the water, an image
mirrored from above, below.
A spreading horizon, beginning and
ending as the same breathless view.

© JPW 2013

Also posted at Poetic Asides with Robert Lee Brewer - Vision - Prompt 234