Introduction
I've been writing poetry for as long as I can remember. I write for many reasons, sometimes to sort out emotion, sometimes to relate a memory, and sometimes just because I like to. Some of these poems have stories behind them, things that acted as their inspiration, others are just because. I hope you enjoy.
Kenn
The Nature Of Love
9-17-00
What heart mends even with time's passing
surely a love ripped away in it's flower
cannot be put behind or forgotten that easily
even when allied with time's eternal nature.
So once, and many times before, I believed
ready to join my world to another
only to find sorrow and tragedy in the end
and a broken heart turned black from pain.
That there is even an ending at all
caused my faith to falter, then cease
and spurn love's offer as I would a curse
this coldness, though not my fault alone.
I've watched it wither on the vine
in other hearts, and in other lives
decayed by dreams left unfulfilled
I learned that we have poisoned love.
What nature holds is the belief in real love
born of her leafy bosom love is offered
and then placed in the hands of mortals
who abuse love, taking it for granted.
Why such a given treasure we misuse
We soil it and treat it as passing fancy
By word and deed we trample upon it
and cast the word from our lips too freely
Why for greed and the feeding of ego's
when having love itself should be enough
when the giving is one-fold so the love
a rotten and wasted thing to be despised.
But from her bosom of verdant green
nature continues to stretch out her hand
and bless those who have destroyed love
by giving to us selfless and unconditionally
Such is the meaning of love...
We have failed to see.
The Meaning of Spring
9-3-00
I see Light.
That shines in the dark of night.
From the heath and the hill-top
In Meath of the High-King's might
Over land.
the hearth fires are banked with sand.
One by one all are re-lit
As if by young Lugh's own hand.
Loch to shore.
Whether rich or plainly poor
The Goddess will give birth
So all may live as you are.
In the spring.
The people dance, bells ring.
The may pole and songs galore
pipes play and the new earth sings
The Tryst in the Glade
9-3-00
A maid in braids, the sun fades
her face surrounded by lace.
My blade, I laid in the shade
I pace in this holy place.
Sweet the mead, and wave the reed.
Her ear, I speak words sincere,
our need we plead, fertile seed.
Nor shed a tear for our fear.
And thou allow my plough
to plant your field and be healed.
now, with a vow my love allow
and sealed, my heart I yield.
The Lady Of The Lake
9-18-00
I rowed my boat out onto the lough
quickly caught by the deepening gloom
a storm blew in and tossed me about
the lightening strikes I couldn't count
The water seethed and the winds blew
it was the strangest storm I ever knew
a silvery light came up from the deep
and a lady dressed in linen filled my sight
She was golden of hair and white of skin
a more beautiful maid there never has been
She asked me to join her at the great dance
and I could say nothing but nodded "yes"
She took my hand and down we went
into the depths of the lake but didn't get wet
then all of a sudden we were in a great hall
and we danced for hours at the magickal ball.
Then she took me back to the surface world
and I swore I'd never before kissed a girl
she laughed and she smiled and kissed my cheek
and I haven't washed it for nearly a week
And if you doubt my truthfulness or this tale
Go row your boat in that threatening gale
and the lady will rise and ask you to dance
and you'll be surprised and have me to thank
She'll wine you and dine you, then take you home
and you'll gladly give away all that you own
hoping that someday no excuse could you make
to go dancing at night with the Lady of the Lake.
Ships of Dreams
1997
Beloved, I have stood on the hill
Overlooking the quay
And watched the old ships
With great sails of gray
No cargos of treasure
Will they take to their holds
Nothing made from silver or gold
Only dreams and desires
That were born in my soul
I have stood and watched them
As they sail out to sea
Blown by the West wind
Who takes them where it may
Across the horizon, out of sight
To the world's center
Where all the winds meet
It is there with cargos of dreams
The old wooden ships flounder and sink
I have stood here and cried
As each would depart
Carrying things I only dare dream
And sending them out, whatever they be
To be tossed by the waves
And eventually lost at sea,
The shipbuilders keep building
The transports of woe
And sending off; sadly
The desires of my soul.
Death Rehearsed
1996
Old hands reaching for the stars,
in a plea for sanity.
I set my sights on distant lands,
as I sail out to sea.
Cast adrift in a burning boat,
has my passing come so soon?
The current takes me forward,
To a home I've never known.
The flames have burned the wood away,
but still the boat sails on
somehow through a different sea,
than the one I started on.
Ahead the sun is setting,
with a strange and different light
Stars behind are twinkling
as I sail on through the night.
Who knows were dawn will find me
A new life - a crying babe
Or, thrones of gold and reward
for the lives I have lived.
All is just a mystery,
as I float through the mist
What will I find of the other side?
I guess I can only wait.
But the boat's rocking has stopped
that which caused my slumber
I awake at the sound of crashing waves,
my journey through death rehearsed
Dance of my Muse
7-13-00
I listened to her enchanting tune
as she danced around the silver moon
I lay in silken cords spell-bound
rapture in the night I've found.
Witch and Goddess of the night
twirling in and out of my sight
She dances on soft toe shoes
watch my daintily clad muse.
Inspiration to me she brings
as she dances she softly sings
tunes full of love and life
melodies of death and strife
Poems she sends to my hand
stories of timeless olden lands
I'm spell bound there is no lie
Her spirit carries me up high
To bright stars and to the moon
parting with her is always too soon
my shining goddess of night
my bright angel of the light
I pray to the powers to not forget
she danced for I me do not regret
my noble Lady of the great sky
I know our love will never die
Babes Cry for the Ending
8-21-00
Death settles upon you as you draw your final breath
Knowing when it calls for you has been a mystery
Since the world of man began to fight mortality
Older is the wiser yet they all cash in their chips
finding out their destination is to lie with sunken ships
searching for the answer to the questions that remain
Death and life are part of some divinity's game
Life rushes upon you as you draw your first breath
Knowing when it calls on you it ensures your future death
The wheel keeps getting larger as the cycle rushes on
when will the end come will there be a final song?
Covered in innocence you don't know your own fear
as your mother wipes away your first begotten tears
Babes cry for the ending that they all know is near.
A Wakeful Night Among Many
8-21-00
Blind my fingers wander
from word to word
clear my mind remains tonight
except for thoughts of sleep
The screen begins to flicker
between my tired eyes
sleep would be a blessing
but that means dreams on the way
So I'll sit here instead knowing
I've run out of things to say
inspiration is the heart of the soul
poetry is the blood to make it whole
yet, I remain without a poem
for my night's lofty labors.
The Guide
6-18-00
I woke up on a rainy morn
Sky blue eyes into me burned
Caressed a cheek I'd always known
Oh, Irish girl, Lady Sea
Please don't leave me
I walked out beneath the trees
A tiny soul surrounded by majesty
And lived a life I've lived before
Ever sweetly, Mo Chroi
My Lady don't leave me
I stood beneath the ancient oak
guarded by a coal black crow
And she watched me, I know
Oh Fairy Woman, fair Bandroi
Don't leave me....
