Carl Gustav Carus (1789-1869) – Faust’s Dream
ARE WE ALONE?
Friends and family.
Are they with us?
I can feel them.
A thickness in the air.
A soft touch.
A slight breeze.
Is my brother gone,
Or is he still with me?
I feel him beside me.
He chuckles at my blunders.
Laughs at my jokes.
Cries when I’m hurt.
He is with me.
Always.
Forever.
HEARTBREAK
Your blue light pierces my heart,
A glow like a work of art.
I lift my face to receive your kiss.
I knew it would be a hit or miss.
My glimmer pales and grows dim.
But I refuse to run after him.
No one can know my pain
of loving someone in vain.
ICY FURY
A duel to end all duels.
A battle to the death.
The wind strengthens the waves.
No time to take a breath.
The waves tease the shore,
Striking with pounding fury.
The sand is mere dust.
My vision has turned blurry.
Heat flows through my veins,
Leading me to the light.
Human flesh brings love.
I won’t back from this fight.
He rises from the ocean,
A body in constant motion.
His body melts in droplets.
I still yearn for his devotion.
Cold no longer waits for me.
Empty is the void inside.
He cannot leave without me.
But he turns his face in pride.
His fury slices the shore,
His presence felt in the wind.
I can still hear his deep voice,
Calling for me to join him.
THE DEAD GAME
Smoke fills my lungs,
I stand strong.
Petals to the sky,
I fulfill my destiny.
Tears burn holes
never to be filled.
Demons in my soul
leave scars never repaired.
Each sigh forces a step back.
Each storm bends my stem a bit more.
I persevere through the rain,
the sleet,
the snow.
I yield to the sun and the moon.
I take what is given.
I replace when I’m able.
Though dry are my leaves,
I lift them to the sky.
Though parched are my lips,
I face the sun.
Smoke burns my eyes,
but I see clear.
I bow my head.
Color my world in shades of pink,
so long as I don’t have to think.
Brush more color in strokes of blue,
so I don’t have to think of you.
Add a mist of dark green
until I’m ready to scream.
Throw more colors at me,
but I know what I’ll see.
A world faded to black
until I get you back.
I reach for you.
I can’t touch you.
You are gone.
I must accept this.
There’s no coming back.
No second chances.
He stands frozen before me.
A vision too hard to see.
My love is ice cold to the touch.
I’ve missed him so very much.
Who did this to him?
It’s a deadly sin.
Someone will surely pay for this tonight
at the party for a vampire’s delight.
A glass dome for the dancing pair,
twirl past statues with frozen hair.
My kiss lands on his cold lips
as I grasp his frozen hips.
He watches behind still blue eyes
as I bid my hasty goodbyes.
I will come back for him.
I won’t let evil win.
THE DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist
… the inner gauge is rising to its peak …
Anger raises its head
as I thrash in my bed.
The hot flush of pink is flowing.
To my brow, it isn’t slowing.
I remember his aqua eyes
as he retold his many lies.
I watched the grim line of his frown
as he turned my world upside down.
I won’t let him ruin my night.
I need him out of my sight.
No more meetings in the dark
beneath the elm in the park.
No more whispers as we walk.
I know the town loves to talk.
I say goodbye to my fickle love
as the moon bows its head above.
The world is changing.
Forests are dying.
Animals are becoming extinct.
Nature has taken control.
Days are warmer.
Rain falls harder.
Earthquakes rock the planet.
Hurricanes bring the winds.
Ocean waves dance to the deadly tune.
Bow to our new foe, Mother Nature.
Crime does its share,
But nature cleans the slate.
Towns and cities topple
Beneath the rubble.
The salt water hits my face
As I watch the waves rise.
I wait for the beautiful sight
To turn deadly and reckless.
The laps at the shore
Become heavy slaps.
Rocks and debris are
Thrown into the wind.
Soon I am drenched.
The ocean has come ashore
To wreck havoc on our lives.
My eyes tear as I search for
the ocean’s lost beauty.
I search for my old friend.
My old friend who’d soothed my fears.
My friend is long gone.
All is gone.
And so will we.
THE RAINBOW
Some days can be heartless.
Some days cruel.
Bringing sorrow and tears.
Bringing you down to your knees.
Until you give up hope.
Give up on your dreams.
Refuse to lift your head.
Refuse to face another day.
And then comes the rainbow.
