Poetry and Prose for any season

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Bid Them Return With Knowledge Of Eternity

Send out your best wandering tramps
to the far halls of mortal darkness
Bid them return with knowledge of eternity
and golden words secretly hidden

Beware phantoms will cut and burn
their hides that are soft and tender
Where demonic fires consume each mortal soul
a few hides will there toughen.

Few return but we the living may profit
from dark and deadly encounters
Hercules, half-god more than mere mortal
sowed seeds in man's seeking spirit

Forever we seek the golden chalice
at costs far too steep to bear
Sent courage, blessed gift from the Netherlands
where in darkness, sparks of life blood is kept

Bid them return with knowledge of eternity
Where demonic fires consume each mortal soul
Hercules, half-god more than mere mortal
Sent courage, blessed gift from the Netherlands

R.J. Lindley,
June 19th 1971

Note- From my private writes/journal.
Age 17 and walking through dark corridors..

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Before My Startled Eyes Ink Turned Blood Red


Having left my war hammer on the bloodied battlefield
I found great cause to my poetic pen then stir.
On paper my dark defiant spirit refused to ever yield
if a fighting dog, I'd been one sour and surly cur.

With ink in my heart and sadness in my veins
my hand made strange gestures in scribbling lines.
At first glance, it seemed like odd little stains
If it were trees it would be, gnarly old pines.

Before my startled eyes ink turned blood red
and sound erupted into shadows on the walls.
I had wanted softness but brutality came instead
where each considered word limps and fall.

There in midnight vale, life's agony showed to me
ideas as slimy and rotten fish in dried up old seas.

Robert J. Lindley, 5-08-2016

Note sonnet written today because my muse shouted , "you lazy cur--write thee again today"!
I always grimace,smile and then slavishly obey...
She is a savage master and cunning foe......

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Sky Still Glows With Sunset Hues Of Red


Ancient garden, roses no longer water fed
graves nearby, tombs of the ancient dead
Sky still glows with sunset hues of red
yet barren rests garden's deserted bed

Wind moans as it flies in the night-sky
one can hear the saddest cry
Across the way, ghosts of lost youths lie
war costs, the blood of youth by and by

Where flowers once spoke beauty reigned
now old grow memories of the pain
Small fence separates area where none remain
blotches of earth with tombstones stained

Overlooking hill, there rests a mighty red oak
shadows pass it by, yet none ever spoke

Robert J. Lindley, 5-09-2016

Note- Sonnet just came to me and demanded to be written..

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

In Moonlight She Came, Her Dark Hair Did Shine

Now writing, romantic poem this night
fondly bringing forth memories of youth
Just tweaking to stir far greater delight
no real harm, love lives in passionate truth.

Summoned, thrills of ravishing beauty then
flowers await that first touch of glee
No darkness, no pains of living in sin
Just love, given with romantic hearts free.

In moonlight she came, her dark hair did shine
walking a wide trail between two palm trees
Her everything cried out just to be mine
and her gentle waves foretold pleasant seas.

Beach strolling , holding hands and eager hearts
moon's melody shown for budding new love
Such innocence, so often how it starts
stars in heaven looking down from above.

Years past, my heart longed for her to marry
soon I flew around the world to return
Knowing our love was now, must not tarry
in our souls deepest passion did so burn.

My wife shares our story to one and all
romance that carried her far, far away
We, married twelve sweet years this coming Fall
Depths of joy, such that no words can relay.

Robert J. Lindley, 5-12-2016

Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10
Total # Syllables: 240

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Last Sunset, Each Heart Torn

Each morn I wake to see your lovely, graceful, smiling face
pure joy invades my heart like swift horses in a race
Day starts with your beauty shining to give me light
as I strive to match your love with all my might.

Cruising the day with you like a classic sports car
ever grateful for just being with you as you are
Together facing life's surprises, hardships and delight
passionately making sweet love to heal each little fight.

Onward we travel down paradise fairly won and met
heading towards the glow , a gloriously happy sunset
No regrets for the life we lived and so lovingly shared
you and I forever, forever lovingly bound and paired.

When our sunsets meet, our last love fills each day
I love you, I love you , in unison we both say
Time noted our journey was met with no great regret
as our love raced joyously into the last sunset.

Robert J. Lindley, revised from earlier poem.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Man Walks In Darkness

Sad excuse, not a plus
just ask Simon Cowell
Freedom found on a bus,
words of Colin Powell
Darkness and deceit, joined happily racing hand in hand
Death, destruction and misery follows war's pounding paths
Such cold-bloodied black that it tarnishes even the land
Encouraging follies from man's feeble, indignant wrath
Lies accepted as art
where educations lays
Those blinded do their part
in clouding sunny days.

World brings its hate and pains
hunger aches, no relief
Wicked births aching stains
living with no belief
Fear ye not, saving light sails forth when sincere pleas abound
destroying vast raging seas of poison and rancid brine
Even without heaven's sweetest angelic trumpeted sound
recoveries and miracles bring blessings very fine
Man will fine lit paths true
shielded from temptations
His word reigns over you
Love's greatest sensations.

Robert J. Lindley, 5-19-2016


Syllables Per Line: 6 6 6 6 14 14 14 14 6 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 14 14 14 14 6 6 6 6
Total # Syllables: 208
Total # Lines: 25 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically: N/A
Total # Words: 136

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

The Woodland Goddess

Thy mystic news from out the Invisible
Would save all men, were they but content to dwell
In lowly station, proud to share the power
That shapes the world in secret, hour by hour.

Her rosy fingers touched the ancient words
And lo! they quivered with the ecstasy
Of crimson bloom, sun-glances, caroling birds,
On forested green island waking into glee.

R.J. Lindley,
April 17th, 1973

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Sea Dangers Braved, Sweetest Treasure Found

Great sea-storm surge may eternally faze,
sweet paradise in lonely sailor's dreams.
Seeking paradise, his intrepid craze,
another of his treasure finding schemes.

As the gusting, whipping gale force winds blew
ship's main sails were shredded, ripped apart
Every loss his doubts about success grew,
her pretty vision weakened in his heart.

As night brought his mind new terrors to bear
tragic and dreaded thoughts raced through his mind
Of his grave danger he was well aware,
that his sought treasure he may never find.

Dawn's welcomed rise found his ship still afloat
that long sought distant shore now looming near.
Sunshine brought with it a cheery new note,
forced away all of his previous fear.

Within sight was the island of his dreams
there he saw high cliffs towering in white.
Splendid waterfall fed by island streams
he knew his treasure would soon be in sight.

As his battered ship's prow struck sandy beach
over the rail on solid ground he leaped.
Now he knew his princess was within reach
with Eden found, its fruits soon to be reaped.

Her soft sweet Siren call beckoned him forth,
with fast glowing spirit he raced ahead.
Across a lush forest , land to the North
just beyond a magical flower bed.

Over small hill his princess was waving
he soon fell into her waiting embrace.
All his life for her he had been saving,
now her wet kisses rained upon his face.

Thus no great sea-storm surge could ever faze,
sweet paradise in lonely sailor's dream.
Seeking heaven, in his hot fevered craze,
love rewarded his treasure finding scheme.

Robert J. Lindley, 6-02-2016

Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10
Total # Syllables: 360
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 268

Written for contest, finished version.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Bitter Tears

We are old, laughter and song- memories stored,
Sweetest love and raging desire still burn:
Time- raging bull our souls has now gored,
yet we feel better we have earned.

Soon the darkness will come in to take,
our gold and our memories too.
Yet we long much more to again make-
Sweet love and wake mornings holding you!

Robert J. Lindley, 6-05-2016

Note-- Struggled to write today. Such pain and sadness , as our mother is dying.
She is 88 and will not make 89..
They rushed her from Acute Rehab Center back to the hospital last night.
Heart issues, low oxygen(lung issues) and broken hip have all aided in her rapid decline..

Sadness brought old memories to me this morn...
This poem is about fate, time, death and a lost love from the 70's... Her passing only a few years after our break-up...
And my memories of her loving and kind soul..

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

She Gazes Back At Her Path Of Destruction

Stir-fried, blackened hand that stole many hearts
well-done, the fleshy flesh that tastes so good.
Like a fleeing animal that jumps and darts
love and live forever if only she could.

In fright, scared of stiff, boring boredom
a queen fluffing up for the next throne.
Her smile could win any kingdom
Her cuts gash so deep--down into bone.

She gazes back at her path of destruction
another heart in her black crushing hand.
Misery, depression, pain- her sweet elation
clawed feet in the pit of hell, there she stands.

Let the dead now hear, her anguishing cries
as bolted justice now descends from clear skies.

R.J. Lindley,
1974

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Came To Me In A Dream

Through the golden gates of hope and reprieve
race shadows of storm and restless agonies
Mere fleeting wisps that catch roving eyes
on platters of papers meant to deceive

Stories told of monsters, fools and all the like
melting into a cauldron of darkest spittle
Gouging the eyes with a pointy spike
and sending reprieve but only just a little

Where rests,dreams of gold and wanton lusts
among fallen pines and burnt ash trees
Deceptions taught and broken, shattered trusts
sailing chaotic and blind upon falsely stirred seas

All through such nightmares are stark realities of life
vapors of foul and poisonous clouds belching forth
Frozen beams that weigh the misery in agony and strife
against the harshest chills of blasts from the frozen North

Yet among the dead letters and long anguished cries
rest hearts and seeking minds staying on high alert
For true love and deeply moaned contented sighs
to counter the relentless pain of all the world's hurts.

Robert J. Lindley, 6-19-2016

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

When The Last Grape Withers On The Vine

Soon Fate will diminish my last returns
with all -decaying awaits its fuel
Shall I cry-while my heart still burns
begging reprieve from this last duel?

When the last grape withers on the vine
the last cloud drops its sweet rain
Shall I pray again for me and mine?
Thanking the coming end to my sad pain?

Will darkness merely be groups of long dreams
cavern filled with nothingness and lost desires
Or an endless blue lake fed by eternal streams
of deep love from divinely hot fires?

Soon Fate, wild master and death-slayer too
destroys asking neither the why nor the who.

R.J. Lindley,
Feb16th , 1974

Note- Forty -two years later, --- came and went in the blink of an eye..-Tyr

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Where Vultures Await Victims On Which To Dine

Where darkness reigned, mercy found no home
Life there is but a blood bath and a game
Every mountain , cries out displaying its red dome
Every slave walks alone, with one leg lame.

The whole is an island with no sun to shine
Deserts with wicked thorns and no soothing shade
Where vultures await victims on which to dine
And every traveler is blinded and easily played.

Burning rains, soak into rapid decaying bones
fanged monsters hide in every dark cave
No lights, no television, computers or phones
just false promises greedy fools forever grave.

At journey's end, red-hot fire searing away rotten skin
exposing evil in hidden darkness in hearts of fallen men

Robert J. Lindley, 6-28-2016

Note -Written his morn because my muse demanded I return.
She has her ways to force me to do her bidding.....
I was allowed the luxury to pick the sonnet form but after that very little else..
And I dearly hate when forced to let her do most of the verses with her revisions and LAUGHTER AT MY PREVIOUS FEEBLE EFFORTS....

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

The Mad Dogs Of My Beaten And Lost Dreams

Flung into the ocean of this streaming and sad fate
once such sweet fruit hung low to be easily eaten.
Now memories vanish and are replaced by anchors of hate
of lost chances and battles in which I was beaten.

Have not clouds of pain reaped such stinging scores
in the midst of lost years of gashed heart and wailing?
Feeling every bad mistake deep in my sweating pores
this body screams back and cuts loud in its yelling.

Racing back to restart each journey's futile quest
are the mad dogs of my beaten and lost dreams.
I once was better and then chasing at my best
down the road of fruitful and smooth flowing streams.

Now Time, that greatest savage master of us all
laughs heartily at my echoed and hopeless call.

Robert J. Lindley, 6-29-2016

Note- Sonnet, mixed syllable count
subject = lost time, life wasted and looking back at my youthful follies..

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Only Devil's Own Hears Each Useless Cry

The many that fool the common lot,
overshadow the few that race for good:
I think they know Time takes all they got
yet love to be splinters in the stained wood.

Although short are days of their malice:
Long will be days of burning fire.
No saving reprieve or kiss of silver chalice
can quench the thirst of Justice's raging desire.

In the Time of long laughs and futile treasures
every shadow watches and holds a memory.
All to bequeath cuts in equal measures,
based upon each ones walk in dark history.

When the false Stream finally runs dry
there, only devil's own hears each useless cry.

Robert J. Lindley, 7-01-2016

Sonnet