The poem as a celebration
of the occasion
when minds meet
where words on the page
become the interface
between you and I
Whatever joy or sadness
I am feeling
my thoughts are laid out
in these lines
for my reader to follow
what catches my eye
what impinges
on my consciousness
here in my breath
captured for all time
John Lyons
Though I live
in the shadow
of your light
my flesh does not
grow dim
The days grind
down the hours
but in your life
roses and gladioli
and orchids abound
and autumn holds
no mystery
as music sustains
your breath
each noted syllable
a joy
your song has many voices
your voice many songs
but all that issues
from your lips
is love
John Lyons
Though I live
in the shadow
of your light
my flesh does not
grow dim
The days grind
down the hours
but in your life
there are roses
gladioli and orchids
and winter holds
no mystery
and music sustains
your breath
each noted syllable
a joy
my song has many voices
my voice many songs
but all that issues
from my lips
is love
John Lyons
City shrouded
in early morning mist
stillness in the grey air
not a leaf or branch moving
the landscape through which
I’m travelling
inert
Train hurtling down the line
into the future
but life immobilised
alongside the track
Two things might change all this
work and love
both require energy
and belief : it’s
a real piece of work
God help me
John Lyons
Through woodland
trees fallen
others rising
most standing
in splendour
The sun on our backs
so we stroll
along dirt paths
bushes heavy
with ripe berries
red and orange
air filled with autumn
and leaves tumbling
a slow swirling cascade
Sunlight and the taunt
of time and the steps
never to be retraced
restless love
never still
moves forward
through the day
sweet repose
comes at night
John Lyons
The pen and ink of it
the physicality
Shakespeare wrote
with his fingers
leant on the desk
knew the blank page
and moments of frustration
Stumbled though he had eyes
lived through the mutability
of the imagination
smudged days of passion
and at the end
perceived the vanity
of immortality
died beset
by the wilderness wish
John Lyons
Out of chaos
this composed wonder
a world framed
in your image
Time is a fool
to leave so much
behind
John Lyons
What life teaches
if we are prepared to learn
is to be simple
to tear away all
that is unnecessary
and cut to the quick
to the marrow
Life pared to the bone
unembellished life
in all its beauty
first seen in the breath
of innocents celebrated
in the breath of lovers
who value another
above all else
The purity of the rose
can never be defeated
lips locked in a kiss
can never be outdone
not by poetry not by painting
we are here to give praise
and when we remember
to give thanks for the love
that is shared in our time
and in our space
John Lyons
So the doctor said to me
it’s all in your head
it’s just your imagination
everything you see
everything you feel
everything you know
it’s all there inside you
you may count yourself
a king of infinite space
but I’ve no time
for your delusions
it’s all in you head
you carry your tight
little world around
with you day and night
rain or shine
every fear or fancy
locked inside
and language
words words words
is the only place
we ever meet
language and love
one and the same
John Lyons
How the rails hum
as the train approaches the station
and so announce its arrival
before it is even seen
the sound a harbinger
that brings good news
and a sigh of relief
from the travellers waiting
Poetry in all things
in sound and in silence
the flat line of the sea
two sailing boats far out
on the horizon
white canvas floating
in liquid turquoise
and the clamour of children
playing on the beach
a song out of their voices
and near-naked bodies
stretched out on the sand
soaking up the sun
whence they came
John Lyons
johnjosephlyons 