Motherless

 

A darker reality of Mother’s Day.

 

Motherless

bastard’s lament

•

undesired

discarded

thrown away

though whole
sound
and useful

no matter

labeled mistake
misbegotten
unfortunate

left behind

alone
by the side
of life’s road

to endure
the harsh weather
of abandonment

tried
convicted
sentenced for life

to suffer confusion
shame

the sorrow
of the unwanted

condemned

guilty only
of the crime
of inconvenience

• • •

rob kistner © 2008

 

This Jounery

 

This Journey

•

this journey
has been fraught
with wonder
joy
sadness
awe
and tears

it’s carried me
‘cross boundaries
borders
mass of lands
‘cross time
and space

it’s shown me
mysteries
marvels

good & evil

the best
the least
the unfortunate

it’s brought me pleasures
fame
and fortune

to claim them back
with no remorse

I’ve known satisfaction
adulation
a woman’s love
a child’s passing

it’s been true
and faithful

genuine

to turn away
and
break
my heart

it’s been fact
fiction
and fantasy

I’ve been
ignored

I’ve been
betrayed

honored
as a man
of standing

then
left behind
to cry
alone

I’ve traveled
light
I’ve traveled
fast

I’ve stumbled
burdened
weighed with grief

I’ve lead
and followed
lost my way
regained direction
then disappeared

I’ve walked hand in hand
with fear
and death

stared down
depression

to be consumed

then arose
to once again
go forth
without a clue
my destination

with no regard
the fated outcome
nor consideration
of my plight

long ago
I lost my worry
having learned
it’s of no use

I’ve realized
despite
our difference

at the core
we’re all
the same

this realm
we entered
all alone
and here we’ll leave
alone again

but
all of this
is of no matter

foolish so
to dwell upon

of no concern
of no regard
most certainly
not worth the measure

because
in reflection
one sees too late

it was
this journey
that was the treasure

• • •

rob kistner © 2008

 

Faithful (a haiku)

 

 

Faithful

•

time is a tyrant
it will chill the spring blue jay
yet still I am true

• • •

rob kistner © 2008

 

Earth (celebrate Earth Day 2008)

 

 

Gaia Suite

• • •

The Balance

•

mother gaia
you embrace us

carry us safely

as we hurtle
thousands of miles
every hour
of every day

through infinite space

you provide for us
our every need

sustain our bodies
with your abundance

nurture our spirits
with your beauty
and endless wonders

your need is simple

that we live in balance
with your rhythms

with our fellow travelers
on this amazing journey

that we know gratitude

humble stewards
of your countless gifts

for millennium
upon millennium
we lived
in harmony

attentive

reverent

but we’ve grown arrogant

foolishly
we believe
we have dominion
over you

over all in your realm

in pursuit of intellect
we lost our sense

our equilibrium

lost our way

even as we watch you suffer
we cling to our ego

to our destructive delusion
of supremacy

we do not see
do not understand

please forgive us

be patient

do not forsake us
we can learn

we must learn

love for you
is still strong
among your wayward children

this voice of love
cries out

please listen

it resonates
more loudly
with the passing of time

precious mother gaia

grant us time
to again find our way
our humility
our center

the balance

• • •

 

_______________________________

 

Gaia Weeps

(haiku)

•

man seeks dominion

frail balance has been disturbed

gaia is weeping

• • •

 

_______________________________

 

Gaia Yields

(haiku)

•

seeds push seeking sun

sky is pulling with spring rain

gaia yields new life

• • •

 

 

• • •

rob kistner © 2008

_______________________________

artwork at top entitled “Gaia•Evo (earth evolving)” by: rob kistner © 1997
artwork at bottom entitled “Gaia Yields” by: rob ksitner © 2007
_______________________________

• • •

 

True Work

 

 

True Work

•

I bend my back
squat
then straighten at the waist

hunkered ‘neath the weight
I lift clean the load
the warehouseman’s refrain
always on my mind

back straight
lift with the legs

the first test — no result

I try a second
then a third

on and on
day after day
long hours in the lab

the formula must be perfect
only perfect will save lives

drywall must be flush
and plumb
also square and seamless

meticulously
I set each sheet
with the level and the bob

then pause
to wipe my sweating brow

I curse my keyboard

do battle with fatigue

I coax the vision
to commit to screen
the first draft of my design

to then modify
and refine

until — the ultimate creation

these — and countless others

elements of the work I do
or did
or may yet do

and I am you
and you are me
and we are all together
in this constant labor
for our daily bread

but – this is not our true work

to bend to lift someone in need
to help carry their burden
until they again stand steady

to seek the components of peace
to formulate the dialog
that fosters understanding

to measure well my tolerance
to stand squarely flush
with truth and level justice

to visualize a free world
to create enduring possibility
for universal love

this — is the true work
in the final sweep
‘round the face of time

• • •

rob kistner © 2008

_____________________

collage above entitled: “Soul Currency” — by: rob kistner © 2007
_____________________

• • •

 

Kiting

This is a rewrite of a rewrite of poem I first wrote in the Fall of 1997, inspired by the wonderfully consistent Pacific Ocean kiting winds so prevalent on the Oregon Coast.

 

 

Kiting

•

a whispered zephyr
tosses my hair
brushes soft my cheek

hope gently stirs

a promise of breeze
begins to freshen

it wafts
and builds

gathers strength

heartbeat quickens

anticipation
spirals anew

the building currents
draw taut the line

then
an urgent tug

the moment arrives

my kite fills
then billows

it stands and dances

sculpted tight
against the frame

caught full
by this mounting breeze
it lifts with grace

rises with purpose

with deft hand
and careful eye
I guide it
safely airborne

further
faster
it ascends

carried skyward
on friendly drafts

empowered
by winds of good fortune

this day my kite
has taken flight

bold aloft
in the clear bright sky

with a constant wind
my kite

fragile as a dream

soars strong
and steady

a sudden gust

my kite is tossed

but a nimble touch
keeps it skyward

should winds
like fortune
turn

and the sky grow still

my kite
like fate
will falter

weather
like life

makes no guarantee

but such is the thrill of kiting

• • •

rob kistner © 2008

_____________________

collage above entitled: “Soaring” — by: rob kistner © 2007
_____________________

• • •