Lake Country

Photo Courtesy of Sonja Bingen

Dark line, thin divide

sky and lake face,

gaze upon 

cloud and ripple, 

flush of fading sun,

in cold depths unseen

but deeply known,

night

stretching

to ancient space.

Travis Moonrise

Over barren trees

the tattered moon 

ascends, barely clearing

dark hills

pausing, unwilling

to fall back 

into cold, delta fog,

like the lumbering C-5 

through the gloom 

rising on bright thunderbolts

to December's

bleeding moon.

Uncertain Night

Uncertain night,

cold lamp-light

pitches misty tents,

meager respite

from December's blight.

Winter fog softens

both pain and joy,

consigns hot youth

to sterile void.

**

Неопределенная Ночь

неопределенной ночью,
холодной лампы света
смолы туманной палатки,
скудные передышку
от ожога в декабре.

Зимний туман смягчает
боль и радость,
предает горячей молодежи
в стерильной пустоты.

Asphodel

Dry grass is shifting

in chill autumn wind

soft hills once green

are brown once again

I yearn for the rain,

winter's blessing to fall

and spread wide white fields

of asphodel.

Gray stones mark my

resting place

deep in the earth

where I lie by dark lakes,

but in winter I crave

the fruit of the pall

Oh, spread wide bright fields

of asphodel.

___________

 Author's Note: Asphodel, in Ancient Greek mythology, is a favored food of the dead and is often planted at grave-sites.
*


Aсфодель

Сухая трава смещается
В осенний ветер холод

мягкие холмы когда-то зеленый
коричневые раз

Я жажду дождь,
Зимой благословение падать

и широко расставив белые поля
из асфодель.

Серые камни помяни мое
место отдыха

глубоко в земле
где я лежу на темные озера,

но зимой я жажду
Плод покров

Ох, широко расставив яркие поля
из асфодель.

Advent Song

In the cold, hard dome

of December's sky,

distant stars carelessly glide

above our dark, bewildered lives

as we search heaven

for one, perfect  star,

but despair that, for us, 

heaven's too far.

What gift can we give you, 

O Bethlehem's son,

to help save the children

of faithless Eve and bold Adam?

Knowing

Knowing

would be like

dying

over and 

over.

Seeing how it all will happen

before it happens

would be the final blight,

a leaden pall falling

on your joyful life.

So much better to live

in ignorance,

in hope that tomorrow

will be better

or at least the same

as today.

Morning Means More

Morning means more

than it did before.

Back in the heady days

when night throbbed

neon-full, flashing

marquee-music

surging through moon

soaked skies,

I thought it all

was mine!

But now in the morning,

rising before the sun,

pouring strong coffee

into my steaming mug,

the old cat on my lap,

silently I watch

as the sun rises,

and wonder as  I see

how He fills the land

most generously.

Waking to Darkness

Reaching to turn off the alarm, 

I look out dark windows 

and see the dreaming moon, 

high in the tree, 

filling the sky with 

unfinished sleep.

Better to wake 

to the morning's light,

to roll on my side, glance 

out the highest pane 

and see the sun 

fill the world again.

Liar

Dark spirit

seals my eyes,

hides from me

how wise trees

recall lusty

summer green, 

says

they're dead,

and when I die

my pain will also end

with his dubious gift

of nothingness.  

But I don't believe

this lie

of passionless 

eternal night,  

for in my core I feel

searing tongues of flame,

lifting me,
like spring,

from winter's grave!

*

лгун

Темный дух
уплотнений моих глазах,
прячется от меня
как мудрые деревья
Напомним похотливых
Летом зеленые.

Он говорит,
они будут мертвы,
и когда я умру
моя боль закончится
с его сомнительным даром
небытия.

Но я не верю
эта ложь
от бесстрастного
вечной ночи,

ибо в моей основной я чувствую,
языки пламени,
жгучая благодать
подъемные меня, как весной,
с могилы зимний!

Lament for a Cop

Helicopters hover,  searching

for the one who shot

the man who served,

who held a thin shield

between us and the chaos

of violent minds, reckless desires

born of poverty, 

ignorance, 

greed.

He coached our kids

showed them how

to hit three-pointers, 

be safe, 

live

without fear.

Fearlessly, he pursued the robbers,

slammed them to a firm

stop, and followed them

down an ally

to his death.

How can our city, 

our state or country, 

our culture survive

when ignorance wins

and heroes die?

dedicated to Officer Jim Capoot, Vallejo PD, killed in the line of duty on 11/17/11

Pagan Moon

Pagan moon, 

solid rock, hanging

low in the eastern sky,

southern curve

cleanly slices

through the 

silk of night.

But north

of the winking eye

a bite gone

from the lunar pie!

Was it blown away 

by some 

stiff

solar wind?

or just a snack 

eaten by a 

famished, 

smackin'

dragon?

Even the Wind

Even the wind

in high, silent trees

waits for motion.

Leaves hang, eager to drop

into cold sunshine

as empty chairs 'round the small table

wait for the conversation to begin;

but fern and rose

have nothing to say.

Shadow fills this still

autumn day.

Advice to a Madman

Look into the sun

and you'll sear your brains.

Deep truth burns,

sets tender nerves aflame.

Better to look

at the dispossessed moon.

With reflected lies

she'll comfort you.

________________________________

image http://myscifi.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/sunshine-13.png

Wilma's Welcome

He sat the table, fresh kid,

waiting for his dinner, 

pushing back the war 

now so far away.

His big brother smiled

glad to see him safe,

when she walked in, 

carrying a steaming plate

of the best fried chicken

either had ever seen.

The aroma awoke in his memory

soft Ohio nights,

God's righteous thunder rumbling  

gentle rains cooling the hot August sky, 

when Mom carried in our dinner, 

fried chicken and mashed potatoes, 

safety and 

love.

And looking at his brother's new wife, 

he smiled and at last said, 

"welcome to the family!"

Bezetzen Oakland

Schreit in der Nacht, Singen
Straßen, rote Bäche, weiß
Gas sickert durch die Haut,
Ihre Ohren explodieren mit flash-bang
Einschläge hinter dem Zittern Kamera
auf, wo er liegt, gefallen Marine, mit weit aufgerissenen Augen,betäubt,
Schädel-split Opfer dieser amerikanische Nacht.

Folgen Sie einfach ihr Geld
zum Oberlauf der Gier
und Sie werden sehen, wie sie vor Wut
gegen Ihren Bedarf
bis endlich
es ist dein Blut
sie wollen
zu trinken.