Frost Bitten

tremors

Festival

Even when the butterflies
reached us on the breeze
Even though
I thought I was a man
Even though the sun
was on our backs
Even though the summer saw our youth

I never could pitch a tent

Even though
I barely even knew you
Even then I knew I'd always love you
Even though I didn't know what
Shadows you would bring me

Even though
I knew
I'd trade it all to reach you
You know
I would trade it all again

Even then
I never could pitch a tent

Even though
the canvas nearly smothers you
I know you'd always rather
curl around a tentpole
than outright risk in reaching
for a young man,
another yearning soul

Even now
It will always be forever
Although
always yesterday
Even now
You know right now for certain
That I will always hear the rain

tremors

'Meet you in the outside world'.
Thursday
You know me inside out
Will you recognise me
outside in?
I feel you have a
piece of my soul
piece of my mind
tucked in your backpack.

You helped me
I trust you
I hope you
go easy on me

tremors

Ghost

Objective reality
a cold pale sun,
chill wind
I take refuge
amongst the shelves
scorched; shade in
soft black plastic
tight t-shirts
lavender,
warm my bones

tremors

Drowning in Sound

A tunnel of love
tunnel of fidelity
Almost swamping,
losing myself, losing
what's left of me
Drowning in stereo
from my 1980s
Sinking with swamped
steaming cicadas
Dissolving in quicksand
dissolving as whirlpool
Drowning in trust.
Don't even try
and pull me out.....

tremors

Count your blessings

One by one
Will you ever see her?
Will you ever see him
You will know you
When you find it
You will know it
By the sinking,
the release

tremors

The black coats
The cars
The headlights
The frost at midnight
The black coat
The car
The headlight
The frost at midnight

This room
That conversation
The briefcase
The briefcase
The papers
The shouting
The pleading
The screaming
No goodbye
Being driven away

tremors

frère

My story
Dragged out and out to sea
Your story
Solid solid at the shore

So much more to say
that nothing can be said

mysticweed

tremors wrote:

The black coats
The cars
The headlights
The frost at midnight
The black coat
The car
The headlight
The frost at midnight

This room
That conversation
The briefcase
The briefcase
The papers
The shouting
The pleading
The screaming
No goodbye
Being driven away

tremors
this is so good
and i almost didn't see it
peace, brother

tremors

lettinggo wrote:

tremors wrote:

The black coats
The cars
The headlights
The frost at midnight
The black coat
The car
The headlight
The frost at midnight

This room
That conversation
The briefcase
The briefcase
The papers
The shouting
The pleading
The screaming
No goodbye
Being driven away

tremors
this is so good
and i almost didn't see it
peace, brother

Thanks, a lot.

This one is probably more in the category of 'flashback', or 'therapy' than it is poetry. It's like there are some things that almost stain your soul - and whichever way you look at them afterwards, they are still rotten, from any angle.

I find it's probably a good sign when I can write some of them down, since otherwise they are just floating around in me somewhere, and stuck. This one just came out staccato - like I had to creep up on myself. I found myself looking at the room, getting oh too vivid memories, and the first words came into my mind, so I sat at the computer, but didn't know quite what would come out. Some of the stuff I've written on here which I value most I think may not be the things that others value, because they aren't really great 'writing' - just fragments of memory - usually with a key to unlock them that I've left lying around elsewhere. They are useful to me though, because I know all the keys! Anyway, at this point I usually say 'what am I trying to say?' and the answer here is probably 'thanks' and 'thank fuck'

acrossssSsssshittt

tremors... you've written so much here that honestly I find it hard to keep up... but whatever i do read of yours, whether it's a poem or the words behind a poem... I really appreciate it... you write with utmost sincerity and humbleness... and you're a good man for that... good writing man... as always

mysticweed

tremors wrote:

lettinggo wrote:

tremors wrote:

The black coats
The cars
The headlights
The frost at midnight
The black coat
The car
The headlight
The frost at midnight

This room
That conversation
The briefcase
The briefcase
The papers
The shouting
The pleading
The screaming
No goodbye
Being driven away

tremors
this is so good
and i almost didn't see it
peace, brother

Thanks, a lot.

This one is probably more in the category of 'flashback', or 'therapy' than it is poetry. It's like there are some things that almost stain your soul - and whichever way you look at them afterwards, they are still rotten, from any angle.

I find it's probably a good sign when I can write some of them down, since otherwise they are just floating around in me somewhere, and stuck. This one just came out staccato - like I had to creep up on myself. I found myself looking at the room, getting oh too vivid memories, and the first words came into my mind, so I sat at the computer, but didn't know quite what would come out. Some of the stuff I've written on here which I value most I think may not be the things that others value, because they aren't really great 'writing' - just fragments of memory - usually with a key to unlock them that I've left lying around elsewhere. They are useful to me though, because I know all the keys! Anyway, at this point I usually say 'what am I trying to say?' and the answer here is probably 'thanks' and 'thank fuck'

This may sound silly, BUT, what you have written here is cool, too. I also have to creep up on myself from time to time

tremors

In the garden gone midnight
smoking, a moving shadow
gives me fright
My own shadow

tremors

acrossOceans wrote:

tremors... you've written so much here that honestly I find it hard to keep up... but whatever i do read of yours, whether it's a poem or the words behind a poem... I really appreciate it... you write with utmost sincerity and humbleness... and you're a good man for that... good writing man... as always

Thanks acrossOceans - I feel you are a great spirit, sometimes without even reading your words - if that is possible. Is it possible to feel good energy apart from any medium? Maybe it's because you have a nice face.

It's true, I am generally a decent, humble man.

A humble man with a massive ego!!

tremors

lettinggo wrote:

This may sound silly, BUT, what you have written here is cool, too. I also have to creep up on myself from time to time

I think of you as one of the best poetic writers around here. Creeping up is a good technique - maybe the best way of getting the truth out of ourselves without pride and self-consciousness getting in the way.

Jesus said not to 'let the left hand know what the right hand is doing'. In Zen archery and swordsmanship - the beginner can hit the bullseye dead centre after one lesson, since they are not tripping over their 'selves' - the swordsman is at one with the sword when they forget themselves and just be. In Zen there is also a story of the butcher whose knife stayed sharp for 30 years, because he slid effortlessly through the meat, flowing with the bones. As a vegetarian I find this an unpleasant image, but the truth in it is again, that when we can let go of ourselves, we can slice through tension effortlessly and cleanly. It's very difficult though, which is where 'technique' helps - it gives us structure to fret over rather than the outcome. Which is why I admire your poems; very strong technique, revealing hidden truths -and strong enough to move towards them

mysticweed

tremors wrote:

lettinggo wrote:

This may sound silly, BUT, what you have written here is cool, too. I also have to creep up on myself from time to time

I think of you as one of the best poetic writers around here. Creeping up is a good technique - maybe the best way of getting the truth out of ourselves without pride and self-consciousness getting in the way.

Jesus said not to 'let the left hand know what the right hand is doing'. In Zen archery and swordsmanship - the beginner can hit the bullseye dead centre after one lesson, since they are not tripping over their 'selves' - the swordsman is at one with the sword when they forget themselves and just be. In Zen there is also a story of the butcher whose knife stayed sharp for 30 years, because he slid effortlessly through the meat, flowing with the bones. As a vegetarian I find this an unpleasant image, but the truth in it is again, that when we can let go of ourselves, we can slice through tension effortlessly and cleanly. It's very difficult though, which is where 'technique' helps - it gives us structure to fret over rather than the outcome. Which is why I admire your poems; very strong technique, revealing hidden truths -and strong enough to move towards them

Jesus said that left hand/right hand thing? I did not know that.
Your words are kind, but please, please do not put me in the same hemisphere as the truly good and prolific poets here (or anywhere). Good and prolific poets such as yourself, for one example.
i get the zen archery and swordsmanship reference, and also cringed at the butcher imagery (i will eat the hell out of seafood tho)
afw
peace brother

tremors

lettinggo wrote:

Jesus said that left hand/right hand thing? I did not know that.
Your words are kind, but please, please do not put me in the same hemisphere as the truly good and prolific poets here (or anywhere). Good and prolific poets such as yourself, for one example.
i get the zen archery and swordsmanship reference, and also cringed at the butcher imagery (i will eat the hell out of seafood tho)
afw
peace brother

Jesus said so many great things - great things that are obscured by the Church - the Christian church which is actually based on the unpleasant teachings of Paul. How many times did Jesus refer to his own death in the Bible? probably about three times. How many times did he mention blood sacrifice and crucifixion? probably never. How much of the Christian church is based on guilt, death and crucifixion? almost all of it. No, you can read in the gospels with almost 100% positivity - the teachings of an enlightened healing master in touch with heaven and earth - almost every word is this. The few exceptions bear the hallmarks of careful editing - I think everyone should read the gospels, especially the original gospel of Matthew with an open mind [or is it Mark? actually all 4 are good, and cohesive and consistent with this view of Jesus] - I would get shot in your country for saying this, but Jesus can be seen as an authentic tai chi or zen master - a profound teacher with amazing healing and inspiring powers. He refers to himself throughout the NIV as 'the son of man' - check the definition - could be either a messiah or simply 'the son of humanity' - the second reading seems more accurate to the rest of the text. great inspiring stuff. don't shoot me though!!

Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!

If you don't want to be in the bracket of great writers here, then that's fine. There are a lot of great writers. CateF is pretty prolific - prolifically great!! However I always get a massive amount from your writing, and it always hits home, and you have very strong words, that stick around for a good long while. I would like to read more. Have to get more out of ostrich mode here!

This has all the hallmarks of a private message - hope noone else reads it!!

tremors

Fall

fall
like me
fall to the ground
fall with the leaves
the earth turns around
heat finally sinks
from the outer to the core
never mistake
such waning
for an end
don't pretend your life is now through
simply ease back into sinking
the sinking, the drop
sadness
the energy is fading
the leaves turning brown
bed down for winter
begin avoiding the town
gather the chestnuts
store them away
squirrel provisions
the fight - another day
shelter from frostbite
get neither too hot nor too cold
just feel the tradition
from the new to the old

josevolution

Not only do i like your writing but that avatar is the best ................

tremors

josevolution wrote:

Not only do i like your writing but that avatar is the best ................

hahaha - my favourite reply of recent weeks - thanks!! One day I plan to stick with the same avatar for more than four weeks. again. This one (with variations) might be the one. Thanks for your support. Every time I post something about sweet holy jeebus late at night I wake up with a sense of regret and a feeling that I might drive someone to violence (good job I know a lot of kung fu eh??)

Was reading the new testament last night. I have read the NIV at certain points of my life - the hardest parts - and I can now really hear the words of a real human being - with powers to forgive or transcend. Have you noticed how Jesus rarely takes credit for his wonders, or his 'messiah' status? He says - 'it is your faith that has healed you', or something like as strong as your faith is, this is from which you will be healed (ie it is in YOU not me). When people ask if he is the son of god he answers indirectly such as 'it is as you say'. You can see this most clearly when John the Baptists asks if Jesus is 'the one' or if there will be another.

After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"

Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."

As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.....