Author Archives: grahamswords1962

With barbed needles of rusty tin, Sew my eyelids closed so I may be as blind as you, Blow torch my ears to make me equally deaf too, Beat my face with a hammer, Slash my voice with a razor, Leave me with senses none. With tweezers pluck each nerve I own, then Dissolve themContinue reading “Sew my eyes closed”

If God made all, and all for man,Why did he poorly measure land?He worked so hard for six long days,But measured not the need for graves.A grievous error, for a foolish man,For he made man to slaughter man.To burn and rape and kill and maim,And all their reasons are his name,And all their seasons areContinue reading “A Grave Error”

When you can’t see the wood for the trees,Then, feel for the wood’s embrace,Look for the space between the leaves,Where the sunlight harvests peace. Stop to breathe in the warmth of lime light,That seeps between the oak, ash and elm,And falls like cherry blossom bright,With the promise of summer’s realm. Bathe in the balm ofContinue reading “Lime Light”

From the top of minaret trees he calls the congregation to peace,And hush is released.The air pays its respects with crystal-clipped tones.They envelope the skies, hold still the clouds and silence man’s hubbub. So gloriously masterful in his art of evensong,A chorister alchemist of exquisite deftness,His song drips oils and balms which soothe and calm,TensionsContinue reading “Evensong”

Every moment of now,Becomes the past,Every moment of now is our last.

Soft, the sound of the steps of the giant’s feet,Soft, like the downy fur behind his ears,Soft, like the steady beat of his lion heart,Soft, like the look of love in his eyes.Soft, like the tears in our own eyes.

Winter’s pillow suffocates the light,Snuffing out desire to move, inThe same way unlit candles,When inverted,Extinguish a flaming match. Spring pokes fingers into eyes,Tormenting the need for sleep, in The same way eyelids,When trying to rise,Stutter like Venetian blinds.

…..Where is the truth here?In my words or in your ear?Legitimate fear.

Why?Why do we do this?Why do we do this to ourselves?Why do we take the ticket to ride on,The Roller Coaster of Wholesale Love, toHop on the Twister of Happiness, toCruise on the Carousel of Cuddles, toJump on the Dodgems of Joy, toEnter the Hall of Memory Mirrors? Why?Why when we know?Why, when we alwaysContinue reading “The Unfair Funfair”

NaPoWriMo 2023, Day 30 Our final prompt of 2023 is to write a palinode – a poem in which you retract a view or sentiment expressed in an earlier poem. I did not know that this is a poetry “thing” which is ironic, as that is precisely what I did for yesterday’s poem! So, toContinue reading “April 2023”