Poetry and Prose for any season

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Old Man Looking Back

Lone figure in the distance looking back from a tall hill
Shades of something familiar that gave me a cold chill

A look , a stand , something strangely calm about the man
Even the sky at his back set the stage like an ordered plan

A trancelike state suddenly seized total control of me!
Then it's voice I could both hear and so clearly see

Look back old man, it voiced with such controlling air
Tingles sped up my back and crackled loudly in my hair

Such mellow and measured speaking with a reassuring calm
Raising both hands he showed a big red star on each palm

These are time marks that send me years forward and back
So many thousands of such journeys, I've even lost track

Stare deeply into one in my left palm , you go back to see
Life you lived , the young , very shy youth you used to be

To return just look intently to the red star on the right
Your mind, body and soul will return in the flash of white

Without any hesitation I did as he told me to act and do
Away in a flash of brilliant white light I quickly flew

Back to the boy fishing lazily under familiar Willow tree
Shocked to see the happy little boy was none other than me!

I then remembered that so lucky day, caught a fish so very big
On a cut cane pole so slender and not much bigger than a twig

Next a flash snatched me to another sweeter place and time
At the local store Mary and I bought two cones for a dime

The bright glow of adoration and baby love on her angel face
Brought a stream of joy for that reflection, time and place

Another flash and light sent me into my young married life
Days of contentment , sweet bliss , love of my first wife

She suddenly walked so gracefuly into that large living room
Glowing like the majestic beauty of fair rose in full bloom

Before I could speak to her , my beloved, away I again flew
A clear voice loudly calling out , return now, I mean you!

Back swiftly to the smiling old man, resting on the tall hill
Then I saw his face clearly, O' what a marvelous great thrill

Looking right at me was my smiling so very much older face
Then in a flash it vanished , gone forever without a trace!

Next I found myself looking again at the very distant hilltop
A voice booms out, look forward young man and do not ever stop!

Tyr, 06-09-2014

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Baby's Eyes Shine

Baby's sweet sky glows glitteringly blue.
Beautiful mirrors reflect in her eyes!
Such grace trumps any rainbow that may shine.

That newly born smile casts a rainbow shine,
reflection in those soft crystal clear eyes
decorates her hair and ribbon so blue!

Softest twinkles in her dazzling sweet eyes,
radiates heavenly love that casts shine
upon her birthday dress that is so blue!

Love basks softly as those great blue eyes shine!

Robert J. Lindley , 07/ 15/ 2014

craig cornish
Contest Name , Tritina Challenge
1 original, poem on the theme of .............A Baby
Write a new poem about a newborn and take it where you
creatively will impress me

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Laughing Man, Pain Hidden


A laughing man hid well his pain
our approval he sought to gain
A hope that admiration would pay
force the inner demon far away

Can any judge another man's soul
we can only guess but never know
The mental pains cut ever so deep
hammers preventing needed sleep

No plea, request or loud outcry
no note explaining the why
Answer left to be only a guess
misery now gone, soul at rest

A laughing man hid his pain
so sad but will happen again

Robert J. Lindley , 08-12-2014

note: Tribute to Robin Williams.
A very sad way to go out for a man that gave so
much joy and laughter to others!

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Troy, The Defeat, Odysseus Punishment

Apollo, the archer-god, was quite unfair
Slew Eurytus for a vain archery boast
Mortal lives he had so very little care
Sending Greek ships sailing to the coast

Helen of Sparta, beauty beyond compare
face that launched a thousand ships
She of perfect face , body and hair
Paris stole this prize on his trip

Mighty host of epic fame and renown
sailed away to retrieve this treasure
Oaths given to hunt Troy's Paris down
Sacking the great city for good measure

Tens years , battles history so records
Heroes of brave deeds, tales now told
Great warriors , sworn to mighty Lords
Fought in the style of swords of old

War was long and death was so redundant
Odysseus, devised a very cunning deceit
Pray upon Troy's hopes so very abundant
Victory, the sailing away of Greek fleet

A gift of a horse statue left on shore
Warriors hidden within its outer shell
Planned surprise attack just once more
Sack Troy sending its warriors to hell

Such a success was this devious plan
Troy fell to its most relentless foes
Death harvested wrath upon every man
Brought Odysseus trials the story goes

Odysseus warrior of Troy's epic defeat
Master of the great bow of Eurytus fame
Destroyer of Troy by such cunning deceit
Slayer sailed away, Troy in all in flame

Robert J. Lindley , 05-14-2013


note: Eurytus' grandfather was Apollo, the archer-god,
and was also a famed archer. Eurytus has been noted by
some as the one who taught Heracles the art of archery.

According to Homer, Eurytus became so proud of his
archery skills that he challenged Apollo. The god
killed Eurytus for his presumption, and Eurytus' bow
was passed to Iphitus, who later gave the bow to his
friend Odysseus. It was this bow that Odysseus used to
kill the suitors who had wanted to take his wife,
Penelope.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

When Hell Froze Over


Trees shed their leaves,
the worms dig in deeper
Mothers cry and grieve
woman is the best weeper

Cold blasting each night,
birds froze on the ground
Sad hell was the fight
no hope was ever found

Winter ate their souls,
the keepers of evil hearts
Soldiers fought epic goals
the dead filled the carts

War or cold killed more,
dead is dead, hope gone
Wasted prayers to implore
heroes frozen all alone

Trail, path frozen dead,
winter sent home too soon
asleep but not in a bed
never to sing another tune

Retreat frenchmen knew well,
as their army frozen there
Now germans found this hell
in the frozen land of the bear!

Robert J.Lindley, 09-20-2014


note:
Hitler's armies were frozen out just as was
Napoleon's in the previous century. Russian
winter was an enemy that killed mercilessly.
The winter of 1941-42 was one of the worst in
recorded history. Daily temperatures fell to
40 degrees below zero. German soldiers had not
been issued with warm winter clothing as Hitler
believed that the invasion would be over by the
winter. Soldiers froze to death in their sleep,
diesel froze in fuel tanks and food was in very
short supply. Russian soldiers had been issued
with winter clothing and did not suffer as badly
as their German enemies.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Door Closed, Forever Lost Key

Sitting among the ruins,
in a valley of hollow trees
Mind lost in sad thoughts
raging upon stormy seas

Future hopes stolen now,
as heart refuses to cry
She ran far, far away
hell if I'll ever know why

Sleeping amidst this scene,
where fate laughs at me
Her love forever gone south
door closed, lost is the key

Soul saddened in a lost stand
No pleasure in this evil Land

Robert J. Lindley, 04-18-1976

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Prose written by Carrie Richards..
Usually I am not that big on prose but sometimes I find awesome renderings that impress me..
This is one that did that.. And struck me also because we have a fiery Kathleen here that strikes me as
an exceptional person!-Tyr



Lady Kathleen


She pours the brewed, hot cup of tea, as we relax here in the shade
Honeysuckle vines encircle the posts, of the old screened porch
Webs of daddy long-legs, glisten in the afternoon light, and I listen, intensely
while she nonchalantly chatters, telling me stories,..as if they were ordinary tales

True life adventures, that I can't imagine, but yes......they are real

She crossed an ocean, saw war, in action,
A life of adventure, of hardship, of courage, of fear
Yet, nothing revealed, to hint of the years
that have weathered her crinkles nor dampened her cheer

Inside the house, the counter is a clutter, piled high with dishes
The old floor is sticky, and dog hair floats in prisms of light
One old hound sleeps in the middle of the worn kitchen rug.
Another lame Labrador laps water from a pie tin,
dripping water from his sloppy face across the peeling checkered floor.

Throughout the house, a lingering musky smell of well loved pets,
and a stale, smoky odor of burnt toast from her attempt at breakfast.
Servants, cooks, gardeners, part of a long ago past.
The house is filled with dust covered, belongings
History fills each corner to mingle, along with the dust motes that linger in air

Junk mail, newspapers, dog treats, documents and clippings
prized antiques and artifacts, ......just facts of life, from how she sees them

On every shelf, and on the walls, are sepia-hued photographs
Famous faces I have seen, on the news, and on the screen

A handsome young man, and she was his bride
A commander when the world took sides
She followed him to the ends of the earth.
And soon will gladly follow him to the grave

I sit here now,...with this woman of many lives.
Like one of the flowers on her porch, she wears a tattered, splattered dress.
Today, she is a homespun, country widow.
An extraordinary woman, this grand Duchess,
yet now who bears traits of Ma Kettle
She brought class, dignity, and a wealth of knowledge
to our small country neighborhood,....... to my life.
Here we are, together, so far from the world she once knew.
We sit in the shade of her covered porch
A long haired, grey cat jumps into her lap.
Under the veil of a summer day
I pour her another cup of tea, and a little more for myself.
Tea is served, flavored with lemon....I have much more to drink in.....to savor.


__________________________________________________ ______
A True Character....dear /Friend/and Neighbor (Kathleen Maitland) now deceased
Whose husband was an aviation pioneer
The most amazing couple I have ever known
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_J._Maitland
Revised 10/21/14 For Guatami's Contest: Sketch a Character