Word watching

A vision in words
           while the heart beats
all pleasures possible
           but who has lived
without fault
           without regret
without recrimination
           on the path that leads
over the blue hills

there is no time
           just body
mere experience
           nothing more local
than the soul
           which is the point
of being

as I live
           as I die
I am known by
           my particulars
how can I distinguish
           between the space
around me
           and the inner space
of my mind
           there where I feel pain
I feel love
           and have no shell
no notional carapace
           to protect me

I must be open to every storm
           just as I would welcome
any word of kindness
           all things are possible
all things are probable
           and that includes love

John Lyons

A few simple words

When in belief
           you move your limbs
you stir the muscles
           that will carry you
to a place of beauty
           to a time of truth
be it a lone flower
           that otherwise
would not be admired
           or to a person whom
a single act of kindness
           could rescue
from the brink
           of God knows what

John Lyons

A life measured

A life measured in footsteps
           in paces taken
in voices and in gestures
           in kisses given
and kisses withheld
           a life measured in skies
numbered and tabulated
           in the heart
and how the land inclined
           this way and that
with its separate foliage
           and its exotic birds
that flowered all year round
           A life measured in harmonies
in peace at dawn
           and as the sun set
a life measured
           in questions and answers
and in the congress of bodies
           and the warmth of skin upon skin
days lived in the absence
           of anger and discord
and the poems there
           to tell of love
and to count our steps
           to heaven

John Lyons

The red rose

It rises up
           out of the earth
at first a thing
           of frailty
but it grows in strength
           it blossoms
its petals attract
           all manner of attention
the bee gorges
           on its pollen
but the days of its glory
           are short and soon gone
its beauty fades
           its leaves curl and dry
and slowly but surely
           it falls back
to the earth
           love outlasts it

John Lyons

A poetic definition

Words to catch
           your attention
a delicacy
           on the tongue
to give no message
           other than pleasure
and like love
           a private delight
revealed in public
           Love
as we know
           is a law unto
itself
           Some things
are set in stone
           but no true lover
is tone deaf
           there are cues
to heed
           and gestures
to embrace
           and deft love
will preserve you
           in time of need

John Lyons

Shooting the breeze

Life in the particulars
      the magpie bathing
in the cement fountain
      the fox lounging
on the lawn
      sun on the leaves
the stillness of the air
      the sky
an uninterrupted blue
      and in this space
my mind
      the turning over
of thoughts and feelings
      once the child
and all the years
      accumulated
the shaping
      of my sensibility
for what it is worth
      and love
at the heart of it
      what else matters?

John Lyons

Slow fade

You received the gift of love
           along with the beauty of roses
and each day the birdsong
           cheered your heart
you knew something
           of the phases of the moon
and the movement of planets
           but the future remained
a mystery and your life
           took its own course
which you followed meekly
           the trees that cast shadows
throughout your childhood
           will outlive you
the oak and sweet chestnut
           the elm and silver birch
and the space that you occupied
           will be filled by another
the river into which
           you cast stones will flow
down to the sea and your time
           will dissolve into a thousand
faded memories
           that few will recall

John Lyons