MUSINGS OF AN AGING DRAGON

 

 The morning sun glows gold

warming my high stone ledge
where I see the dragonets at play
practicing their flight control
with fluid flaps, timed stalls
quick turns and graceful rolls

To my eyes, this is poetry in motion
the grace, the rhythm, the harmony
the pattern of shimmering wings
youthful energy on display

I have watched over these hatchlings
since they left the nest
taught them to fly
to test the winds
to navigate through the sky

There was a time, not long ago
when I would soar and swoop
amongst them, demonstrating aerial skills
of advance and retreat
plummeting in steep dives
breathing fire like an avenging angel

Now I sit warming my wings
like an old nursemaid whose
young charges are ready to
fly on adventures without me

Before they leave, I will glide with them
and do some gentle turns
but I can no longer enjoy
the exhilaration of spirited flight
wings powerfully lifted, body and tail
ruddering through gale force winds

In the twilight I’ll join the council of elders
where I will meditate on lore and wisdom
until it’s time to move on to the Otherworld

I’ll stay there a millennium or more
until I find my anima hatchling
we’ll merge, be twinned
breathe our fire together
then return to the Outerworld
reborn

Published in Four Tulips Anthology, Fantastic Mischief  September 2025

On Opposite Shores

 

we found each other in the ocean waves

our young bodies sleek as seals

      diving through breakers before they beached

 

we swam with the tides

splashed in the sunshine

   floated quietly on moonlit nights

 

we drifted along with the flow

     that swept us into a river

        where the current was playful

            and the banks were sheltering green

 

at first, we hardly noticed the tidal shift

     the turbulence caught us unawares

            the undertow tugged at our feet

              rough water and rocky shores

                 marked our way with

                    dark days and moonless nights

 

until the joy we had shared was forgotten

at times I felt I was drowning when

            you swam away leaving me to flounder

    

I struggled alone for a while then

     summoned the strength to persevere

            until I found a safe harbour

 

for a very long time we watched

     each other on opposite shores

            until one day you

                     were no longer there

1st Place Winner, Poetry in Royal Canadian Legion District "E" Seniors Literary Contest, June 2025

A CHERUB'S TALE - variation

A CHERUB'S TALE

Did you hear about the cherub who lost her wings

playing some games amongst other things

like chasing through rainbows

dancing with butterflies and crows

She hit an archangel with a halo toss

which ended up being a bit of a loss

for her wings were clipped short

which meant, so it said in the report,

that she got a demotion though

some might see it a promotion.

She was sent down to earth

to celebrate her birth.

Born with cute dimples and a mischievous grin

from the start she fitted right in.

With time she grew up, beautiful and bright

still dances with butterflies when they take flight.

So last laugh’s on the archangel way up high

Cherubs don’t need wings in order to fly 

Published in Quillkeepers Press Mythos and Lore - Anthology of Authors, April 2024

FREEDOM

 

DARKNESS

 

   

   Featured in Mythos Poetry Society weekly prompt.

TRAVELLER IN THE NIGHT SKY

 

Traveller in the night sky
pale reflection of the sun
ghostly presence in the day
bring comfort in the dark
 
Manager of the tides
counting out the months
your blessing on the seasons
grants prosperity to the land
 
Protector of the living
your comforting embrace
provides shelter from all evil
keeps predators at bay
 
Face of the wandering moon
shining crescent of hope
your glowing rays enlighten
dreams are brought to life
 
But hidden on your dark side
where mysteries abound
madness runs rampant
and there, lunacy is found

 Published in BORN OF THE MOON - Mythos Poetry Society Literary Journal, January 2022

Darkling Haiku

born of the full moon
sprouting hair, ears, teeth, fangs, claws
werewolves on the hunt 

Published in BORN OF THE MOON - Mythos Poetry Society Literary Journal, January 2022

Diamente poem - Metamorphosis

caterpillar
plump, striped
munching, growing, cocooning
metamorphosis, transition, migration, change
emerging, expanding, flexing
majestic, colourful
butterfly

Featured in Mythos Poetry Society Parnassus Chapter weekly prompt

Published in Quillkeepers Press Anthology "Harvest." October 2022

Cascade Poem

 

The fickle wind of time

has taken you from me

leaving me lost and lonely.

 

Together, forever, we said

not accounting for

the fickle wind of time

 

You did not deserve

the twisted fate that

has taken you from me.

 

Trying to hold onto memories

that fade and disappear

leaving me lost and lonely.

Featured in Mythos Poetry Society 

BALANCING THE SEASONS

 

Greetings your Majesty, Ruler of the Two Lands

Please accept these humble offerings
      pots of milk and beer to quench your thirst
      a feast of fowl that I netted in the marsh
      and fine incense to purify the air.
It is only you my Lord, the living god
      who can intercede with the river god Hapi
      to ensure the seasons change in harmony and balance.
I implore my Lord, that you make the river run high
      during the Season of the Inundation
      to fill the ponds and flood the fields.
Then in the Season of the Emergence
      the crops will flourish and be plentiful.
When you bless the Season of the Harvest
      the granaries will be filled to feed your people.
We need the Season of the Inundation to be strong, my Lord
      for while the fields are flooded, the people are free
      to labour at your tomb that rises majestically in the desert,
      raising its pinnacle to the mighty sun god Ra.
I beseech you, my Lord, to let the river run high
      for each season paves the way toward
      your celestial journey to the Underworld.

Your humble servant, Chief Steward of the Granaries

Published in Mythos Poetry Society Literary Journal "TALES OF THE CHANGING SEASONS"  October 2021. 

 

Freya's Tears

 

MPS Monthly Prompt - Eros Chapter

TOKYO 2020 - OLYMPIC HAIKU

The diver takes flight
with mid-air acrobatics
Graceful as a bird 

featured in Australian Writer's Centre top 60 Olympic Haiku

THE TEARS OF ISIS

 

                        Featured in @mythospoetrysociety monthly prompt

RAMSES' STOLEN HEART

 

    Featured in @mythospoetrysociety monthly prompt

Ra and the Journey of the Sun

 

Featured in @mythospoetrysociety monthly post 

IS THIS THE TRUTH?

I dreamt once,
long ago,
of warmth and loving,
of gentleness and understanding
and truth.
 
And from the mist
of warmth
I awoke and felt the glow of loving
of gentleness and understanding.
And yet I couldn’t tell; where was the truth?
 
I dreamt again, many times
Faces changed
but not the warmth.
I dreamt and hoped
that dreams were true.
 
And then you.

You asked nothing only offered
warmth and loving
gentleness and understanding
Now I can tell,
this is the truth.

Featured in Mythos Poetry Society Love Letter weekly prompt