Appraisal

Now that there is
           gold in the trees
and we have returned
           to our winter woollens
and the full moon
           reflects the frost
and we must huddle
           together for warmth
it’s time to take stock
           of every moment shared
since our paths first
           crossed and our lips
first locked and our
           tongues first uttered
words of love
           before our dreams
go their separate ways
           and there is still
a before
           to be lived

John Lyons

Mellow mists

First real fog of autumn
           vision
fifty yards at most
           a redefinition of reality
ghostly trees and houses
           on the edge of space

a temporary blindness
           shared by the community
under a dense shrunken sky
           : but life goes on
and we all go to work
           to school or about our business

and the wind—
           the wind has yet
to stir but when it awakes
           it will clear the air
then the birds will
           recall their song
and my mind
           will move on
beyond
           the last thought

John Lyons

In all things words

Words cut into stone
the glyphs of a modern
civilization
a fish a star a rose
all emblems of life
that roll off the tip
of the tongue

Here the wind rose
raised a storm
before the waters
receded and calm
was restored

We are creatures
of the habits
built into time
and yet we rage
against the moon
We are flames
in the darkness
caught up
in a web of words
how one relates
to another

Questions
my whole life
answers so few
and far between
articulate silence
birth death
and all that lies
in between
one instance
after another
and love
a single syllable
in the blood
that drives us
to heaven
or to hell

John Lyons

Third degree

Before our eyes 
colours change
greens to golds and rust
leaves drying
in the air
cascading down 
to the earth
whence they sprang

Eternal cycle
of life and death
and everywhere eyes 
seeking the light
in one another
the rods and cones
of the retina
and there 
our own image
in the eyes
of the beloved

A many-eyed
city of flesh
the intersections of sight
that sustain it all 
life always doing
always undone
until the last gasp :
in the pitch darkness 
inherent vision
the faithful rose
the kiss
that remains

John Lyons

Second version

Before our eyes
colours change
greens drained
to golds and rust
as leaves dry in the air
and so detach
cascading down
to the earth
whence they sprang

that eternal cycle
of life and death
and how the eyes
have it :
and we look
for the light in another
the rods and cones
of the retina
in the one we love
and there
our own image
the reflection
of that we project

a city of flesh
is many eyes
many intersections
of sight that sustains 
community
life always doing
always undone
until the final breath
and in the pitch darkness
inherent vision
the rose remains rose
the kiss a blissful kiss

John Lyons

Seen and unseen

How the colours change
           before our eyes
greens draining away
           to golds and rust
as the leaves dry in the air
           and detaching
cascade to the earth
           from which they sprang
that eternal cycle
           of life and death

And the eyes have it
           and so we look
to the light in another
           the rods and cones
in the retina
           of the one we love
and there behold
           our own image
the reflection
           that we project

A city is many eyes
           and many intersections
of sight that sustain community
           life that is always undone
until the final breath
           and inherent vision
even in the pitch darkness
           in which a red rose 
remains a blissful rose
           and a kiss a kiss

John Lyons

Before the storm 

These are the days
           of calm before the storm
the dark mornings
           the garden devoid
of flowers and in the air
           one can sense
the fragrance of eternity
           and the beauty
of neverendingness
           birds reluctant
to leave their nests
           lovers their beds
the night trails populated
           with frozen stars

Be mindful of your heart
           and know for whom it beats
Build memories
           to keep you warm
in the winter months
           ahead

John Lyons