Wednesday, May 31, 2017

The Glowing Hour...


Post by AquarianM on Oct 8, 2007 at 10:31pm

The Glowing Hour...

I suppose it's as close as the sun can get,
To casting its own shadow,
That hour when it's fallen below our horizon,
But it still paints the sky,
When the planets and then stars begin to emerge.

We walk the twilight,
Searching Halloween decorations,
Every rustle in the cornfield a hair-raiser,
Every shadow fresh and new,
The charge runs up my spine.

Halfway between day and night,
I wonder what is stuck there,
Lurking in the glowing hour?

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 10/09/2007

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Seeing God At Night…


Post by AquarianM on Jun 2, 2007 at 2:06am

Seeing God At Night…

Some might think it a lonely walk,
Chicago at 2:30 in the morning,
Quiet while the wind gently whispers,
Twinkling lights across the river,
A quiet soul or five far down the street.

I don’t feel it lonely,
The ants all left the hive,
A beautiful city so few see like this,
Windows in the distance – some few with lights,
The art of the night-lit buildings and quiet little spaces I see.

Restaurants with chairs up on tables and empty,
Glowing neon like a morning invitation,
Or glass plate sculpture of backlit dinner plates and glasses,
The Chagall tiles at the fountain plaza near the bank,
Stained glass windows near the church tell a story.

A million zillion little wonders,
Never seen in daylight,
It might be the hand of man,
But any fool can look up and realize,
There’s nothing gentler than seeing God at night.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 06/02/2007

Author’s Comment:
I feel a sense of quiet reverence when I get to go out for a walk on break at night. God crafted so many different and unique souls, and some of their prettiest works surround me when I walk downtown Chicago on summer nights. Most people would find the big city frightening late at night in their six o’clock news imaginations, but in reality it’s peaceful and quiet down here, mostly utility workers and street crews doing clean up. There are many, many little and large points of interest in the architecture and lighting of Chicago’s buildings at night that are rarely if ever photographed. Most picture books of the city will show you everything of daylight’s marvels, but there is a whole other side to the place they’re mostly missing.

Monday, May 29, 2017

Sweet As Soul Stone...


Post by AquarianM on Jun 4, 2007 at 11:52pm

Sweet As Soul Stone...

Mmmmm….Baby that voice,
AwwwWWW!!

Honey you blow my mind,
Just a little or a lot,
Note by ohhhh – whoa YEAH,
By note.

I don’t need to see to believe, Sugar.

Just sing it at me.

Super, duper, ohhh yeah.

Chills little sweet bird,
Right up and down my spine.

Sing it again, Joss –

That Chokin’ Kind.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 06/05/2007

Author’s Comment:
I’ve been a huge fan of Joss Stone’s music since the first second I heard her album Soul Sessions. What an amazing and powerful voice, and just 16 when she accomplished re-raising Soul music. www.jossstone.com/

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Frisbee Trucker...


Post by AquarianM on Jul 3, 2007 at 12:23am

Frisbee Trucker...

They’re flying through the night,
Multi-colored saucers chase the moon,
The open road is calling,
The Great WHAMO has laid ten thousand eggs,
And the Frisbee Trucker is about to rock,
A whole town worth of kids tossed into flight,
What a crazy-cool job,
Breaker one nine,
Flying fast,
One of those is mine.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 07/03/2007

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Harmonica Summer...


Post by AquarianM on Jun 30, 2007 at 1:30am

Harmonica Summer...

I’ll never forget that cracker barrel day,
A little breakfast of biscuits and gravy,
Marion blueberry pancakes and coffee,
Laughing with my Honey.

Passing the counter to pay the bill,
I saw a large pile and my thoughts quieted,
Red white and blue boxes full of silver,
Entitled Bluesband and made by Hohner.

An idea sprouted pretty as a dandelion,
I bought one up and walked out smiling,
Little boy big and blowing sweet tunes,
I’d found a harmonica come late June.

So much fun I had since that day,
I went back with money and ideas,
Bought up five more with a gleam in my eyes,
The gift of music was something I’d play.

I gave two to the neighbor boys next door,
After asking their daddy of course,
I gave one to a friend and to a bum,
Now begging is tuneful and entertaining for sure.

I gave the last to the gal down at the desk,
It turns out her nephew loves it quite dear,
Or the gal who sold them her little brother did play,
When he was little played himself off to sleep.

For the price of a nice dinner for two,
I can buy seven seven-year-old Christmas smiles,
The kind that go on in the heart forever,
Like Gabriel releasing the seven horns - but much nicer.

I’m going back every pay day,
Buying up gifts,
I’m looking forward to a city full of riffs,
By the end of Harmonica Summer.

AquarianM

By Daniel A. Stafford
© 06/30/2007


Friday, May 26, 2017

Flight To Cupid's Castle...


Post by AquarianM on May 26, 2007 at 6:23am

It's been months since I've heard from our friend Janine Daniel, our Faerie Princess from Down Under - so I thought I'd send her some "thinking of you" vibes by re-posting one we wrote together way back when.

Flight To Cupid's Castle...



I am the Faerie Princess Miriam,
From the land of Zillmere,
I feel confused and scared ,
Of the task facing me,
A curse has been cast across all the land,
I trembled with fear ,
When the witch Zarinda raised her hand,
"Let it be heard", screeched the crazy old crone,
"No more will I be cast down and spat upon by man,
A blight will pustulate across the earth,
Then all things will perish and rot unto death,
And only true love can stop the plague!"
So now I must journey,
To find a solution,
To vanquish this curse,

I am the poor Prince of Elves of Ellendae,
Aeronel, child of Elven rulers am I,
And upon our beautiful kingdom is an ancient covenant,
True love only may be the reason a ruler takes a royal spouse,
Or down will come crashing the kingdom,
'Twill be sunken beneath the sea,
Leaving only the Emerald Castle upon a lonely island,
Surrounded by an ocean of tears from sea to sea,
And upon my majority of yesterday,
I have one week to be upon my journey,
For I must travel the world in search of love,
And never may see the Emerald Castle should I fail,
And upon this Friday I must set my course and sail.

I've been travelling across the dying land,
I'm very tired and my wings are cracked and dry,
I haven't seen any living creatures for hours,
I've seen devastation all around and I can't help but cry,
For the last three hours I've been following some tracks,
Of man, beast or elf I know not what,
Now I'm lying prostrate and hidden behind a rock,
And I think I'm going quite out of my mind,
For up ahead resting under a tree I've spied,
An Ellendae Elf..... I can't believe my eyes,
He's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen,
And that's why I think this must be a dream,
If I wake myself up will he still be there?
I will approach him then if only I dare!

I've sailed my magic balloon o'er the Ellendae sea,
And touched down at it's shrinking edge,
'Twixt dried out creatures out of water I'm wandering,
And I've cried out my tears at the land's condition,
Not a living thing to sight nor sound,
The sun's heat is all pervasive in shimmering waves,
Ahead is the remnant of a mighty white oak in a ring of rocks,
A place to rest my weary bones after battling currents of air,
And sip a few draughts of enchanted Elven wine,
From a golden rune covered flask,
And carry on to the sight I see before me,
For might it be the answer to the world's prayers,
It's Cupid's Castle standing dancing in the heat shimmers,
And what is this, a beautiful Faerie hiding behind a rock?

I don't think he saw me hiding behind my rock,
I felt shy, nervous and excited all at once,
Should I trust this stranger with the beautiful smile?
Can I know someone just from the gleam in his eyes?
I pondered on these questions and became dismayed,
When the Elf left the clearing and quickly disappeared,
I cautiously stepped out and followed along the track,
He led me to a castle and I watched him enter a door,
What do I do now I wondered and I could feel my heart beat race,
My curiosity got the better of me and I decided to have a peek,
I opened the door slightly and surreptitiously looked inside,
He was waiting right there for me and he held out his hand,
For the first time that day we were standing face to face.

The Faerie lass has followed me in,
It was time we were introduced in close to proper manner,
We seem on the same path here in the blasted land,
So I think I will greet her and offer friendship's hand,
She is a sight to behold of great beauty,
Though her travels have been difficult it's plain to see,
"Dear Faerie lass I am one Aeronel Ellendar by name,
and the Prince of the Elves of Ellendae,
I can see you thirst and have travelled far,
Care you beautiful lady for a sip from this golden jar?"
"'Tis Elven wine and magic, too,
For it will restore your strength to you,
And I would not see harm come upon you,
Even though I have a quest I must see through."

"Sir Elf I shall if I truly may,
For a long flight it was to come this way,
And while we are sharing names so politely,
I am Miriam of Zillmere and Princess of the Realm."
I curtseyed in greeting and took a sip,
My wings gained back their shimmer and shine,
And all in all 'twas a pleasant find,
Here in this strange castle that looked so lovely,
Amidst a blasted blighted land that needed a tender hand,
Yet I wondered how could it be I would find,
A true love in the midst of this place and time.
"Do you know oh Prince of Ellendae,
The name of this castle of such good cheer,
And precisely what it is doing here?"

"Why, 'tis Cupid's Castle we are in this day,
And the reason for my quest leads me here,
Though I can not speak of it's nature until it has been fulfilled,
I think to speak with Cupid I will be thrilled."
"This land has suffered greatly it seems,
And I should love to see this awful blight gone away."
I thought then again how strange to find,
A Faerie of such beauty in a land so ill and awful,
And I wished not her company to lose,
For there was a terrible loneliness in even this place,
It struck me strange that such should be,
For this was the Keep Of Love in which we stood.
"Might we go, sweet Princess,
And find the master of this castle without delay?"

I held my breath and held my tongue,
For if this truly was the Keep Of Love,
I should seek it's master at once and without delay,
For He would be my best hope of vanquishing the curse,
For the crone had declared I must find true love,
Outside the borders of sweet Zillmere,
Or the blight would pox the world entire,
And only death and lifelessness would endure,
And I could not speak of the true nature of my quest,
And like the Elven Prince I could not dally,
For many lives hung in the balance,
So willingly I took his handsome hand.
"Kind Prince please lead on,
For I seek also to speak with the castle's master."

I walked towards the center of the keep,
The Princess's hand held within mine,
And somehow I was unsettled and felt unsure,
A feeling I'd never known before,
I had her constantly on my mind,
Though I should be thinking of the task to hand,
And the thick and stout walls as we walked echoed each footstep,
And with each step the hanging plants grew more flowers,
A lush array in which butterflies danced riots of colors,
And we quietly marvelled as love birds flew in sweeping arcs cooing,
And nightingales sang in sweet duets of birdying notes,
Small creatures in pairs of many kinds,
But not a single person did we spy,
Until at the central fountain did we arrive.

I walked along with the handsome Elf,
And it seemed as if I was falling under some spell,
For the castle had a sweet beauty and cheer,
But the butterflies in flight had cousins in my stomach,
And I felt nervous at every step,
And I could not ever remember feeling this way,
Even as I noticed the Elf looking my way so strangely.
Then we came upon the central courtyard,
And four great eagles stood at the compass points,
And a beautiful fountain rose at it's center,
A soft rosy marble and filled with pink light,
It's plumes misting to incredible height,
And rainbows danced in amongst the spray,
And it seemed at first a dove was flying our way.

"Hold fast ye two and move another step not!"
A great voice rolled over the pretty Faerie and I,
And I saw a white winged man settle upon the ground,
A great bow in his strong hands and quiver upon his shoulder,
And all set in gold and rubies and white roses,
And he held out his hand in a halting gesture,
And at this Miriam of Zillmere gasped a single word.
"Cupid!"
I found my arm around her shoulder,
And I knew fear for her safety in great measure,
As Cupid stared at us with a rose red gaze,
And then he spoke in a quiet yet powerful voice.
"You may not come near the waters of my fountain,
For 'tis there my arrows are dipped!"

"I am Cupid, Eros, Cherub of Love,
Son of Venus, child of Aphrodite,
And you walk my grounds uninvited."
I knew of course their names,
And yet these two beings walked my grounds,
A halo of mystery surrounding their purpose in my domain,
And never have I been denied sight,
Nor knowledge of every corner of any creature's heart,
Save this time with the Elf Prince and Faerie Princess.
I drew my bow and strung an un-dipped arrow,
Prepared to strike if some evil was afoot,
And quite confused at this entire scene.
Being a God of Love is a lonely position,
For one can never see with clarity,
When one's own heart is involved,
And could not give a magical love away on one's own behalf,
Knowing that such had been induced rather than earned,
Yet this was the only unclarity I had ever seen,
And of these twain I was most wary.

"Speak now and tell me your purpose in this castle,
Beginning with your royal highness of Zillmere!"
Cupid said unto me with great power,
Eyes flashing rose-colored daggers our way
"I am told Lord Cupid that I cannot say without ruin,
Yet a God I may not disobey so you shall hear."
"I am charged by the evil witch Zarinda to find true love,
Outside the bounds of sweet Zillmere in the barren lands,
And within the span of one month or the blight will spread,
Engulfing all the land and ending all life upon the world."
At this news Prince Aeronel gasped and looked wild,
As if some great shock had struck him like an arrow.
"Now yon Elf please speak your tale."
I heard Cupid's velvet and power voice say.

"Lord Cupid I find this quite strange,
Especially on the heels of Princess Miriam's revelation,
For I am charged to find true love outside dear Ellendae,
Or the seas will swallow the world within the month,
Leaving only the Emerald Elven Castle Eadaeling to stand,
And nothing left living in all the world,
Just the dead floating in a sea of tears."
I heard the princess gasp in shock at my revelation,
And Lord Cupid looked both perplexed and ponderous,
And I could see he was deep in thought.
"I can see no lies in either of your hearts,
And these secrets you reveal are unknown to me,
Which has never before come to be."
"Stand fast and move not lest you destroy all." said Cupid.

These magic folk of royalty posed quite the issue of the age,
For if they truly were charged to seek true love,
It could not be bespelled from a magic arrow,
It must arise of it's own accord within their hearts,
Lest all the world be blighted, flooded, or both,
And somehow I must make them understand that I could not,
Should not and dare not give them the arrows,
And surely that is what they sought here upon my grounds,
'Twas plain to see they'd hoped a God of Love come to rescue,
An avenue from peril to be saved.
'Twas then I spied a glimmer of hope,
For in revealing their secrets to me the veil was lifted,
I could again see within their hearts plainly,
And knew my mother had granted life back to the world.
It was upon me to make these twain see their salvation.
"I shall be forced to kill one of you twain,
For in so doing I can end one curse and help the other,
And save the world from devastation."
"You must choose among you which it must be."

I gasped in horror at the God's proclamation,
And an awful feeling stole my very breath,
And I, Princess Miriam of Zillmere wept crystal tears,
For I did not wish to die while so young and hale,
And then the terror invaded my brain in white agony,
For when my thoughts turned to the death of Aeronel,
I found that this I could not face nor bear,
He was kind and handsome and young and brave,
And had done his best to save the world as he was charged,
And in that moment a realization stole my sight with tears,
For I knew then what love was in truth,
And what the threat of loss of love was in horrid truth,
For I had fallen in love with Prince Aeronel!
"It must be I, oh Cupid, hurt Aeronel not!"

"Nay, 'twill be I and not Miriam!"
My brain had gone to white fire,
I, Prince Aeronel of Ellendae,
I could not let this beautiful creature that I,
That I loved?!
I could not fathom a world denied her beauty,
A world where such a kind heart was laid waste,
And dearly as I wished to live I could not let her die,
So I leapt forward ready to throw myself in combat,
Willing to face an armed and angry God for her sake,
And knew I would die upon the moment,
Yet Miriam and the world would have a chance to live,
For my death would negate my duty,
Giving all else a chance to live including beautiful Miriam.

When both these royals flew at me,
Showing their nobility in truth,
And revealing the truth I had seen in their hearts,
I knew the day was won,
For they held true love right there in their hearts,
Beating strong and true,
So I froze them still in mid spring,
And called them each by name,
"Miriam, Aeronel, can you not see now clearly?"
"Has love so blinded you?"
I waved my hand and conjured us clear of castle and fountain,
And we all stared in awe as tiny green shoots rose all about,
And the land slowly came back to life.
A great bush of white roses grew in half circle round lovers twain,
And I placed a white rose in Miriam's golden hair,
And another upon Aeronel's chest,
And with tears in all our eyes I made them husband and wife,
And thus terrible Winter was held at bay,
For in their loving was birthed young Spring.

Spinny; AquarianM

By: Janine Daniel & Daniel A. Stafford
(C) 09/10/2001

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Daniel and I and our poem have been chosen for "Feature Poets" (October 15 thru November 15, 2001) by Literary Angels for their website at poetryclub.com



*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

This poem was given an award by Mystic Wings from
Flowing Quills Poetry forum called
"Mystic's Award for a Magical Moments Poem" 13th September 2005

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Caught In The Battle Of Hearts And Minds...


Post by AquarianM on Jul 28, 2007 at 4:16am

Caught In The Battle Of Hearts And Minds...

Summer weighs over us,
We are grasses on the prairie,
Wind-swept in waves and dancing,
We struggle for the capture of cooling rain,
Helpless when thunder rolls and rumbles,
Some burnt by the heartless lightning.

We whisper and rustle and lean with the wind,
Holding to our roots for all we’re worth.

Yet if our seeds take Earth’s embrace,
We may yet cover the world in our life.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 07/28/2007

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Who Will Fill This World?


Post by AquarianM on Aug 18, 2007 at 12:40pm

Who Will Fill This World?

I sit in the grey rainlight wondering,
Amidst clouds of pillowed steel,
Reading my peers and feeling,
I breathe in the angst like burned steel in this air,
Feeling a tentative green ghost waiting to be born,
A future we might yet bear to fruition,
A whiff of hope drifting up from my cup,
Of ginger-peach iced tea.

When you remember everything good in life,
Isn't it the moment someone you cherished cradled you,
Stroked your hair or hummed gently holding your hand?

What I know is that using anger like a tool burns you,
From the inside out it eats you alive,
It doesn't matter if you're an entire culture or a lonely heart,
It will make you its breakfast lunch and dinner,
As surely as this world spins 'round the sun -
I've seen it happen with my own two eyes.

We were great as a nation and as a people,
At those moments we were most filled with these things -
Dreams, hope, inspiration, compassion, vision.

What I know is that love fills you,
Feeds you and nourishes you and gently guides you,
And if you want to revere the past and those who went before,
Let their angers subside and yours as well,
Get closer to your ghosts in the memory of those moments that glow,
When they dreamed and loved and accomplished,
Give your ghosts a real future -
By dreaming and loving and accomplishing.

Tearing down takes moments,
Building up is always the real work.
What is it you birth?
Who will fill this world?

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 08/18/2007

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Cherry Moon Prayers...


Post by AquarianM on Jul 29, 2007 at 10:57pm

Cherry Moon Prayers...

Tall in the full moonlight,
Leaning the heartwood cherry staff upon his own ground,
Centered under a red star and white,
The moon-glow fell through into the land,
Words flowing.

"Let light flow through this wood and I,
Let love be the color never denied,
Let fear fade like a distant dream,
Heal us now - love life,
Let us live beside you and in you,
Let us live beside and inside one another,
Let life love,
I will so serve."


The night answered in crickets on the breeze,
In rustling grasses and firefly flashes,
In the twinkle of the stars glinted off his watch bezel,
Simplicity in the passage of time,
The night is filled with shades of grey,
For color there is little light.

The day will surely come.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 07/30/2007

Monday, May 22, 2017

Totality...


Post by AquarianM on Aug 28, 2007 at 5:00am

Totality...

I reached for my cherry staff and walked,
In the whispering subconscious of pre-dawn,
Intent on seeing the Blood Moon,
Totality - the Earth's shadow eating Luna.

Sadly the fractal clouds hid her demise,
She would be reborn on the other side of Earth,
Child of our mother-world that she is.

I had to satisfy myself with another rare view,
Earth's brother Mercury tucked between two rosy dawn clouds,
I whispered to the Messenger,
Playing notes softly at the Crossroads,
Just a few whispers of harmonica.

The un-finished cherry staff stands as tall as me,
Filled with the un-seen energies of the Blood Moon,
And the visible energies of the Messenger,
Still wearing its rough bark and un-capped,
A sphere of Brazilian Amethyst awaits to crown it,
Once I find the runes true,
I will focus the sun-glass on the bare wood,
And burn its true name in Rongrongo.

Then and only then will I finish it,
Give it its foot,
And walk with its totality.

AquarianM

By Daniel A. Stafford
© 08/28/2007

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Beach Glass...


Post by AquarianM on Sep 1, 2007 at 8:53pm

Beach Glass...

Softened bauble tossed by waves,
There in the tumble of my favorite lake,
You dance with pretty stones and driftwood,
Washed up and old but elegant.

It's something gentler the waves bring,
Walking down the sand with the gulls,
They float and they dance,
The waves break and break and break.

A soft roar and a driftwood stick,
Footprints and foam and green and blue,
Sunshine and yellow-tan with glints all about,
Looking for shells and other treasures,

We drift along in timeless reverie,
Until it's time to just lie still,
Sun-baked and wind-washed,
Filled with the beach-scent of the lake.

We take one shell,
Soft violet tinge inside,
And four colors of beach glass,
Green and amber and white and faded blue.

Treasures to set in a cigar box,
Children at play in endless time,
Tokens and omens and wishes of fishes,
An art of life that's sublime.

I turn it in my fingers and see all the beach glass colors,
Softly in my mind summer is ending,
Sharp edges gone and nights just beginning to cool,
Tumbled at the edge of Lake Time.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 09/01/2007

Saturday, May 20, 2017

12 Years Old And Waiting For Christmas...

12 Years Old And Waiting For Christmas...


(Image copyright Electra Bicycles [ www.electrabike.com ] - do not copy.)

I saw it right after the Ghost Rider movie,
A blast back into childhood,
Visions of cruising down to the corner store,
Transistor radio strap dangling from my wrist,
Headed for the beach or the swimming pool,
All towel and wind and sunshine,
A gleaming simple dream,
I could recover forever,
If I could just have one for Christmas,
Every friend I ever had riding with the pack,
Maybe in Christmas future,
Maybe in gleaming dreams,
Ride in the sunshine,
Ride like the wind,
Ride like you'll never stop.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
(C) 02/20/2007

Friday, May 19, 2017

Atlantis...


Post by AquarianM on Sep 2, 2007 at 12:11am

Atlantis...

We lost her,
Slipped between the waves,
Magical and mythical,
Or maybe not.

Was there a time before time,
All men and women spoke a common language,
All colors were equal and equally needed,
Magic was more than a dream?

The Earth rocked and volcanoes rolled,
Sea rose and land fell,
Knowledge became only dreams,
Mist and steam fogged history.

They say Atlantis was beautiful,
Grand and accomplished,
A wistful grace and strong face,
Everything we could have been.

I wonder,
Deep and blue I wonder,
What lies below,
What is under the sea?

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 09/02/2007

Thursday, May 18, 2017

A Lace Of White Light...


Post by AquarianM on Jan 5, 2007 at 11:41pm

A Lace Of White Light...
I had a vision once,
Saw what's underneath everything,
Or maybe inside everything,
The floors - the walls - the ceiling - the sky,
The birds - the bees - illusions of you and I.

It was beautiful,
Graceful and gracious,
Something to fall back on in darkest hours,
The greatest composition ever recorded.

Everything effervescently interconnected,
The most beautiful knots ever crafted,
Knit and tied in the finest structures,
A fountain of laces,
In an energy field of pearly gold-flecked white light.

I blinked...

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 01/06/2007

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

I Can Hear Why They Speak Of Soul...


Post by AquarianM on Mar 9, 2007 at 6:05pm

I Can Hear Why They Speak Of Soul...

Those saxophones will wail under your skin,
Grab you by the heartstrings and pull your hackles up to Heaven,
And when Coltrane has A Love Supreme,
Divinity gets a gift,
Uplifting even my poor freshman efforts,
I am one with the brass for a few minutes after listening,
Grafted into the mother of pearl that tweaks sculpted air,
The springs fall with precision,
And if I reach for the distant stars and barely touch clouds,
It's because I've yet to find the Rainbow Bridge,
But I can hear the soul light across the horizon,
It gleams from their footprints,
Harp - Koz - Hawkins - Alexander,
I am pulled in their updraft,
Wishing for flight.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 03/09/2007

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Set In Stone...


Post by AquarianM on Jan 17, 2007 at 11:06pm

Set In Stone...

Tiny hammer and intricate chisel,
Needles of brass and copper,
Walls of paper and cherry blossoms falling,
Silk upon my shoulders,
I set the world in stone for a calling,
Pictures of everything for a perfect price,
Years or weeks in the making,
No consequence in time,
Regardless of difficulty it is the art,
Always the art.

One must have patience to achieve the sublime.

AquarianM

(C) 01/18/2007

As I was writing this, I was thinking of the artisans of long-ago China, and the exquisitely detailed works they'd render in jade and white ivory. Stunning examples very ancient can be found in a small museum called the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in Elmhurst, IL I believe, and in the Jade Room at the Chicago Field Museum. This poem is for those who work the stone.

Dan




www.lizzadromuseum.org

www.fieldmuseum.org/exhibits/exhibit_sites/jades/index.html

Monday, May 15, 2017

Sunshine And Barefoot...


Post by AquarianM on May 8, 2007 at 9:11am

Sunshine And Barefoot...

Sweet soft old songs ring through my mind,
A maybe we remember it kinder, simpler time.

Gone fishin' - there's a sign up on our door.

The foundations of hate down low and dug up dirty,
like the roots of a poison vine to burn inside-out.

Gone fishin' - we ain't a-workin' anymore.

There's a whole lot of sun just shinin' cross the country,
And I love to go barefoot where the green grass grows - slow.

Gone fishin' - we're only havin' fun.

Under a shady tree I dream of my brothers being there with me,
Black - white - red - brown - yellow laughin' and tugging on taut string.

Gone fishin' - by a shady-wady pool.

We'll sit and joke and watch big cigar clouds change shape,
That blue sky we share full of visions.

Gone fishin' - glad we're that kind of fool.

I see an image of screaming meanies in the news and point it out,
We stuff their mouths with sweet potato pie as a big blue heron flies from the South.

Gone fishin' - our hound dogs by our sides.

An army of gentle clouds rebuilding everything everywhere together,
Cloud guns raining down to soak away in the ground.

Gone fishin' - the fleas are biting at their hides.

We do it better than before in ways that heal the land,
Side-by-side Mother Nature and every shade of hand.

Gone fishin' - instead of just a-wishin'.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby
© 05/08/2007

Author's Note: The single-line "gone fishin' " refrain is from a duet sung by Louis Armstrong (Satchmo) and Bing Crosby. The rest of the lines with it are mine.

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Houses Unholy…


Post by AquarianM on May 10, 2007 at 12:03am

Houses Unholy…

Double-dipping mortgage Queens,
Sucking energy sight-unseen,
Death traps down in New Orleans,
A self-imposed case of ball-n-chains,
Phosphorus fountain spewing into the Gulf until the fish all gel,
Artisan crafting a red-tide Hell,
All due to demand for that elegant classic design,
We can’t seem to trip beyond the status of Grandpa’s time,
Architects - the Energy Hog loves your sign,
I’m desperately trying selling mine,
Of solar panels and hot water I never found the time,
Still working off toeing Com Ed’s line,
Sucking on the Nicor straw like a buzz saw,
Chewing up my wallet in a Home Depot maw,
Created by a now-enriched demon spawn,
At least I refused chemicals to poison up the lawn,
A sweet little picture by the online for-sale sign,
God please help me – it’ll again be moving time,
Sweep and mop and paint and hammer,
If we don’t pay up it’s the Poor Man’s slammer,
And we laugh at the ‘fools’ begging in the streets,
While these houses unholy commit a third of global warming deeds,
So kill some more oceans with that brand-new key,
Turn up the lights and feed the fish more mercury,
I’m making save-me-from-the-evil-eye signs,
Wishing I’d hired a master architect with a really green design,
But at least the sheets are washed and we’re all appropriate,
Fully decked out in the stealth commission of Halloween,
Oh – my lord – there’s a hole in the screen,
Shouldn’t have bought it sight un-seen,
But our household devotion,
Is sinking island nations under the ocean,
Holy oblivious, Batman, we're aggregate and solely,
Idiots chained to houses unholy.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 05/10/2007

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Sultry In May…


Post by AquarianM on May 9, 2007 at 11:00pm

Sultry In May…

The ceiling fans are a brown swirl down,
Windows open breeze rush through the house,
TV droning lazing on the big plush green couch,
Cats are panting off in their curled up spots.

Outside it’s shirtsleeves and sparkling stars,
Flowers in the dark and leaves on the trees,
A hint of rain scent like a held-back promise in the air,
The grass is creeping ‘round my ankles awaiting a fresh mow.

Cigar lighting and stereo tuning,
Thinking of saxophone riffs as I drive off to work,
Truck window partly down,
Reveling in summer’s preview.

One could fall in love with these sultry nights in May.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 05/10/2007

Friday, May 12, 2017

I Can’t Speak…(But I can Still Feel)


Post by AquarianM on May 11, 2007 at 11:13pm

I Can’t Speak…(But I can Still Feel)

Faded,
Lost,
Replaced,
Chased,
Was,
Because?

Hidden,
Suppressed,
Repressed,
Squashed,
Ignored,
Like a pink elephant.

Time,
Ticks,
Tocks,
Nothing,
Done,
Undone.

Cheerful,
Perfect,
Faded,
Jaded,
Persuaded,
Touched,
Hushed.

Cinnamon in my blood.

Another night dawns.

Question,
Living,
Dead,
Happy,
Sad,
Here,
There,
Where?

Forever,
Never,
Ever,
Hush,
Shush,
Off,
Close,
Dry,
Eye,
Lie.

No matter,
Not after,
Just remember,
Purple and auburn,
A night,
A scent,
A sight,
A vision,
A decision.

It’s not regret,
Just inevitable,
What fire does to fuel,
Supernova,
Dazzled,
Disgraced,
Replaced,
Forget,
Forever,
Never,
Helpless,
Ever,
Heart.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 05/12/2007

Thursday, May 11, 2017

A Crown Of Straw And A Starry Sky...


Post by AquarianM on May 22, 2007 at 3:40am

A Crown Of Straw And A Starry Sky...

He saw the Sun slinking out of the hot pink sky,
Fading down to indigo with Evening’s delectable satisfaction,
Tears of joy dribbled across her cloud tresses,
Companion Moon out to chat with the comets.

It was the luxury of a balmy not lurid night.

Aurora played light-footed across Heaven at his wish,
The straw hat crown upon his head slightly tilted,
A blue heron gliding home to roost like a marsh ghost,
Street lights glowing in the distance.

Cicada violins screeched out a lonesome tune.

He was the king of this field,
Minions by millions fireflies danced their sky,
A tom cat yowled off in the distance,
Somewhere off across the tall grasses a stereo played.

You could forget you weren’t a child on a night like this.

Leaning back in a blue and white lawn chair throne,
His cigar of cherry signaled for peace,
Brought it down in waves,
A satellite dimly raced over the horizon.

A king of grass with summer just begun.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 05/22/2007

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Call The Heart Into It...


Post by AquarianM on Jun 5, 2007 at 2:28am

Call The Heart Into It...

If I could bend a ray of starlight down to Earth,
Touch it to breast like a mirror,
Angle it just exactly soul,
It would touch every heart on Earth at the speed of light,
Connect us all as visually as we already are,
And just once everyone could feel and see the same,
Even for a moment,
All superficial differences forgotten,
The perfect work of art finally complete,
All I’d need is just the right note,
To call the heart into it.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 06/05/2007

Tuesday, May 09, 2017

Quicherbichenenwhinin...


Post by AquarianM on Feb 9, 2007 at 10:24am

Quicherbichenenwhinin...

I was listening to that old disco stuff the other day,
Pumped and hiking and feeling strong,
Upped and ready to steamroll my way anywhere,
And I thought about why it went like that.

The music was UP,
The lyrics were UP,
The volume was UP,

Something you mostly find in 50's n' 60's -
Or under a sequin globe with strobes and blacklights,
Stacks 'n polyester wide-collars.

Quicherbichenenwhinin,
I'm tired of sad whiny and angry effeverbody muzak,
Lazysorry gangstasrapp.

Get out the can-do,
Get out the get-go,
Get out the strong self,
Pick up yoassis 'n move um,

Quicherbichenenwhinin cuz it's never gonna go UP,
Get dat tunepower back,
Lift da monkey off yo back,
If you don't see it 'n do it no one will,
U can cry an holler all ya dang want to,
But if all you vision is da bad 'n da ugly,
Yeah, well, U gonna be all THAT.

I wanna go where da action is,
I'm gonna SEE it,
I'm gonna HEAR it,
I'm gonna FEEL it,
I'm gonna ACT it...

I gotta boogie,

Cuz I am deaf dumb an' blind ta allyerbichenenwhinin,

I am up and outta da cloud,

Kiss off Clearchannel and stuff it Carlisle,

This mind-game down-sukin' da mood black hole is gone,

I am UP with my old dusty but trusty tunes,
Cuz I got control of my choice of mood and ...

I ain't one a da fools.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 02/09/2007

Currently listening :
Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track

Monday, May 08, 2017

A Gentleman Of Every Color...


Post by AquarianM on May 18, 2007 at 7:12am

A Gentleman Of Every Color...

In the distant space of a colorblind whirled,
Flags are anachronisms best kept furled,
Something of darkness missing and away,
All we need is sunshine to spend happy days.

I'm not sure where the words come from but I know truth when I feel it.

Slanting by decorations is so utterly silly,
Foolishness slapped about all willy-nilly,
If sunshine were blue,
Could you still be all-white and believe it true?

Forget it man, halos are in rainbows...

A dash a dot and an old mahogany fiddle,
Answer me quick one simple riddle,
Was it lack of soul,
That kept so many packed in the Bowl?

I'll call my friends from everywhere to watch the stage.

It's a simpleton idea whose time should end,
Open your hearts and find good friends,
Dance in the streets and jump for joy,
Life is a place where a kind word is more than a toy.

A dashing figure was split through a prism...

A gentleman of every color.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 05/18/2007

Sunday, May 07, 2017

Sunshine And Silence At The Green Leaf...


Post by AquarianM on May 19, 2007 at 11:53am

Sunshine And Silence At The Green Leaf...

The karaoke machine is dark and dusty - un-plugged,
People in the corner reading have no idea poets exist,
The sun is streaming down just out the window,
A palace of birds and butterflies.

The wooden chairs and tables out front bleaching,
For lack of shade from a bum -
I eat my organic hummus plate,
Sipping ginger-peach iced tea.

Conscious Choice looks fun this month,
A big green leaf on a black and white backdrop,
Something beautiful waiting,
Waiting in a colorless world.

Everyone loves an audience,
Even and especially poets,
The audience is us my friends,
Because poetry is OUR love.

A tree grows from its roots,
Persistent and strong,
Yet without each leaf and branch,
A hollow trunk it becomes.

It takes consistency to build a venue,
They never come already-made,
Someone sat through quiet days and nights,
Before the poets all stayed.

I'll come here after working all night,
A sunny day inside a quiet space,
Waiting for all my friends the leaves,
I know they're blowing on the wind.

Someday Spring will come,
The dawning leaves will bud,
I'm enjoying my tenure in peace of place,
Sunshine and silence at the Green Leaf.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 05/19/2007

Saturday, May 06, 2017

A Great Time To Go Green...


Post by AquarianM on May 24, 2007 at 1:42am

A Great Time To Go Green...

Grass blades blowing tall sway over -
Short ripples on the ground -
Waving branches laugh above.

The Earth is tender-loving her worms,
Sun-soaked and lurid,
Flower bursts sail the wind,
Faerie dust sprinkles on each gentle breeze.

Eyes completely full with lush,
Birds joyful of song everywhere,
If we could just hold our foul breath,
Exhale love and walk - walk - walk amongst all this.

Green reaches in and grabs your soul,
Imploring for barefoot on her organic best,
Reconnect and revive and survive,
Even though it's lovely swimming in true blue...

It's a GREAT time to go Green.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 05/24/2007

Friday, May 05, 2017

Beneath These Stars…


Post by AquarianM on May 30, 2007 at 11:23pm

Beneath These Stars…



It’s summer and the haze lingers as twilight falls,
Out over an open field with grasses and cornstalks swaying,
A hot gentle breeze touches our faces upturned.

I see a falling star streak by brightly,
A novelty jading can not diminish,
I see lovely jewels fading in and out of fuzzy night.

What’s never been reached is something to dream on,
Stars so far and calling across the lonely void,
Filling us with wonder and dreams of all sorts.

Walking slowly through this season,
Soaking up the warmth and sheer life of it all,
Our summer friends come out and dance their sky.

Stars hovering and darting all about the fields,
As far as the eye can see they’ve come to Earth,
In the soft yellow-green glow of the lightning bugs.

If the wee folk could dance a summer jig,
Why wouldn’t they do it right here,
Among our flying lanterns the fireflies?

I tilt my glass of ice water to you,
Hat of straw upon my head,
Gravel touches my toes in the whispers of glowing night.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 05/31/2007

Thursday, May 04, 2017

Across The Sea...


Post by AquarianM on May 31, 2007 at 1:12am

Across The Sea...

Whispers barely heard,
Storming waves of white noise,
Prayers on the wind,
Faerie princess tea-cup riding the tempest.

If the Albatross glides over your heart and leads you to land…

Wave hello from the sunshine, won’t you?

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 05/31/2007

Wednesday, May 03, 2017

Whisper Simple Secrets...

Post by AquarianM on Nov 10, 2006 at 12:20pm

Whisper Simple Secrets...

If you stare into the flickering brilliance of the candle flame,
Watch it until you can see the vanishingly small,
Somewhere in the back of your mind,
You might just understand.

A picture of the world rests behind your eyes,
That thought gleams as a fraction of the energy,
The same field that is everything's essence,
The web of white light it takes imaginary eyes to see.

Hold the world like a Christmas ornament,
Floating in a golden glow tinged with soft green,
There in the cupped palm of your hands,
Gift unto it a sweet gift.

Call the white light down from Heaven,
Do it with all your heart,
Let it flow through you,
Wash over this tiny blue globe of life - healing.

God gifts us each a spark of his everything,
Else we couldn't be here at all,
His children yet to mature,
Still in school.

If every thought you had was of something joyful,
Never would a hurtful day enter your life,
You have the keys to the Universe,
But Mother and Father say you must be a passenger first.

Think of pain and painful things come to you,
Drawn like flies to a rotting stench,
Think of joy and joyful things will come to you,
Drawn like light into the empty dark.

Call the white light down from Heaven,
Do it with all your heart,
Let it flow through you,
Wash over this tiny blue globe of life - healing.

Let's do it together.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
© 11/09/2006

www.thesecret.tv

Tuesday, May 02, 2017

Never Go Widdershins...


Post by AquarianM on Oct 19, 2006 at 11:39pm

Never Go Widdershins...

In the sacred circle you walk sunwise,
Dress the honeysuckle Prince a prayer,
Eyes closed at the font of each direction,
Feel the pull of the mountains call you home.

In the seat of mad kings comes three choices,
Insanity aught death or vast visions,
The wheels of fate turn on the dancing wind,
Awaiting the lark of those who chase the Fisher King.

Drinking of Love's Cup will take you down all roads,
Yet can your feet dance you across the stones of home?

Never go Widdershins and call on the blackness,
a blot on your soul and poison in the well,
Dance like the grasses softly bending,
Away to the stone circles sunwise.

Under the stars of Beltaine's hollow Moon,
All the wonders dance before your eyes,
It is here we hope to find the Mother,
The reason the knot always closes.

Live naught by the sword and it will break,
Live naught by the plate for it will shatter,
Live naught by the spear as it goes blind,
Live naught by the chalise shall it die.

Unto the center of these things,
each apportioned gently,
Here the trees grow grand and old,
The Children of Llyr wed Danu's kinder brood,
The font will then spring again forth.

How the endless forest will weave its green so then,
How the birds and breezes softly sing.

AquarianM

By: Daniel A. Stafford
(C) 10/20/2006

Monday, May 01, 2017

Corn Maize...


Post by AquarianM on Sep 23, 2006 at 3:17pm

Corn Maize...



It happens at the farm just down the road,
You can defeat a dragon or kraken,
Meet up with Lincoln,
Even watch mama and baby mastodon.

The corn is tall and not yet yellow this year,
Near nine feet and dense as can be,
No peeking through - only hints,
Flashes of a jacket or cap glimpsed through the leaves.

The orange T-shirts guide and guard,
Young sages of the maize,
They change the color every year,
In case some mischievous clown bought one last year.

In the spring the tractors plant by G.P.S. light,
Setting the seeds of autumn delights,
September is the green month - could be muddy,
October brings a maize of gold - last warm sunlight.

We walk between the stalks,
Twisting maps this way and that,
Follow the black lines to punch each check point,
Wondering if we will get cheese for all this.

AquarianM

By Daniel A. Stafford
© 09/18/2006