These stars have followed me

These stars have followed me
           all my life and last night
in the black sky they shone
           brighter than ever
Strange how they bring
           such comfort just knowing
that they are there
           and all our origins are secure

Love comes from those stars
           the binding of atoms
of bodies and souls
           and all life driven
by their energy
           which is why our hearts
are warm
           when they are loving

Nothing much has changed
           in the ancient woodland
by the railway track :
           thousands of years
marked by the rise and fall
           of the same vegetation— trees mostly
and it was here
           in a small maternity unit
set in a clearing
           that I came into the world
my origins pieced together
           from fragments of universe
and all the time
           through all these years
I’ve yearned to live a life
           of the purest simplicity
to know and live love
           in its infinite felicity

John Lyons

Words are not love

That is to say
           that the sky is blue
with just a few
           high clouds
and barely
           a breath of wind

As fine a day
           as you could hope for
at this time of year
           A birthday approaches
but plans have been
           cancelled

There is no appetite
           for celebration
but this mood will pass
           as all things pass
One should not allow
           the emotions to gain
the upper hand :
           the love of words
can be a betrayal
           when things are said
for effect and do not come
           from the heart

Let us remind ourselves
           that words are not love
and poetry has no responsibility
           other than to itself

John Lyons

A stroll in the garden

Where it is cool
           where the air is crisp
my breath exhaled
           in a mist that goes
before me
           Where it is as though
the first day of a new life
           a new arena
hearing things
           for the first time
seeing things as though
           for the first time
the birds with a new
           repertoire
the squirrels
           ever more defiant
as they leap
           from tree to tree

I hear the rustle of leaves
           see the branches
swaying gently
           as the weight is released
and in the pond
           the fish idle
lurking beneath the lily pads
           Every day is a good day
for them when there is food for all
           and on the surface
my shadow floats gently
           and I am a mystery

I wonder what the fish
           make of the stars
in the dark nights
           or of the moonlight
that shimmers above them
           they have their mysteries too
but how pleasant
           to be without doctrine
to be free of the fixed mind
           that is the root of all evil

In this pond
           perhaps foxes come
in the early hours to drink
           in the peace and quiet
I wonder what they make
           of the flowers
or do they notice the roses
           withered on the stems
or the disarray caused by
           the sharp autumn winds
pots overturned
           and debris strewn
across the lawn
           I know that ice
is expected any day now :
           at my time in life
I have learnt to expect
           everything and it rarely fails
The marvel is
           that anything lasts
but it does
           sometimes even love

John Lyons

Soon forgotten

No reason to be sad
           take it like a man
on the chin
           betrayals
are two-a-penny
           and almost always
a blessing in disguise
           and history will soon
forget her
           whoever she was

John Lyons

In the still fading day

In the still fading day
           rain is falling
falling still
           into the earth
into the intricate roots
           of the mighty oak and elm
I’ve known since I was a child
           their bare black boughs
thrusting eagerly today
           into dull grey air

Down by the river
           through a dense thicket
I see a kingfisher
           resting on a branch
unaware of my presence
           and by the water’s edge
two voles playing catch
           if catch can
living the life of endless
           innocent time

In the still fading day
           rain is falling
falling still
           and a love lurks
in that corner of my heart
           that longs to understand
what cannot be understood
           and I splash cadmiums
random reds yellows and blue
           on a drum-taut canvas
and the rain is falling still
           still falling rain

John Lyons

The delight in human being

To live in love’s timeless space
           that thrives
in the sweet innocence of the day
           that feasts on
the blessed miracle of air
           that delights
in the touching tasting hearing saying
           of human flesh
that carries its impenitent uprooted soul
           with humble pride
through the long descending hours
           until with breathful thrusts
it may penetrate the undying ecstasies
           of the night

John Lyons

*The 40 cm x 40 cm canvas is my largest to date

In the keen pure silence

In the keen pure silence
           I trudge home
as the evening slumps into night
           pieces of the city
still lodged in my mind
           another day
and then another
           and nothing changes

I look up at the sky
           that womb of darkness
out of which time
           and light were born
one time two times
           so many times over
the stars of life and of death
           that blossom into extinction
although their light lingers on
           beyond the grave
just as nothing ever goes
           into never 
just as love only ever has been
           only ever will be

John Lyons