The mess of love

The under-painting
           was more complex
more contrived
           had more definable colours
occupied the whole
           of the canvas

What’s presented here
           is a stripped back version
paint removed
           by the application of turpentine
and a rub with a rag
           so that the initial gestures
of the first intentions
           are not shrouded by excess

Here the daub
           is actually a disapplication
to leave virtually nothing
           but the bare bones
It’s a messy canvas
           because life is messy
Cadmium yellow
           is the colour of love
and love as we all know
           is messy too

John Lyons

Autumnal ode

September rain
           the pavements
strewn with leaves
           a dampness
that reeks of decay
           the dwindling light
of a year winding down
           after a long hot summer

And yet there is a comfort
           in these relentless cycles
all life and death
           in a nutshell
the lush green fields
           the swollen rivers
the long trails of birds
           flying south
while the rest of us
           batten down the hatches

And she is constantly
           in my mind
her hair the rich colour
           of autumn
her eyes too
           the beauty that lies
beneath the pale skin
           the love
that makes life
           worth living

John Lyons

Love tokens

All from atoms
           the roses I brought her
the champagne—
           she trimmed the stems
of the flowers
           and placed them in a vase
I opened the champagne
           and poured it into glasses

We toasted
           and we kissed
two bodies touching
           and in this way
peace was made
           sadness was banished
and for a while longer
           she loved me

John Lyons

The lover’s complainte

My heart has no complaint :
for the better part of love

I loved and was requited
Now autumn’s dust envelops

all the world along with seeds
amid the flaking debris planted

that will in time bring forth
new life new growth new love

fresh petals to adorn the bed
where every wanton kiss is granted

John Lyons

Lights camera action

Abstract they say
           suggesting devoid
of form or rhyme
           or reason
as though geometry
           were the only truth

Time is occasions
           and they occur spatially
there is no such thing
           as empty space
no such thing as frontier
           we’re all in this together
the welter of events
           energy and mass
and the stillness
           of the contemplative mind

This then is my geography
           a battlefield
an urban woodland
           back and forth
across the ocean
           highs and lows
a little love
           here and there
my DNA written
           in the stars
skin and bone
           of the sun

And as the wind rises
           I lean into the future
it may be a long hard winter
           but I will not be cowed
I carry Hector and Achilles
           in my blood
and to date
           not a drop has been spilt

I was once so young
           I had no memories
the slate was clean
           and there was everything
to play for
           lights
camera
           action

John Lyons

With corrections

My daughter Divina

Sometimes a daughter
           may be thirty years old
but not always
           as in this portrait
based on a photo
           taken when she was eleven
and even today
           she is no longer thirty
the clock having moved
           but she retains
that innocent gaze
           and she is gentle
and kindness itself
           and she speaks her mind
because she minds
           her truth and loves
to sit at a table
           and share a meal
with those she loves
           who love her back

John Lyons

New world

Here is a new world
           created by chance
as all worlds are
           depicted on taut hide
the coloured elements
           of a rare earth
scars in the cosmos
           in which it floats
its geometric perfection
           at odds with its universe

to believe that therein
           bees and butterflies exist
and seeds and flowers
           and what when two
people come together
           is known as love

John Lyons

Seascape

If you appreciate the smell
           of linseed oil then yes
there is a certain fragrance
           to this canvas
that may well linger
           when we are long gone

But what have we here
           a study of sky and ocean
and a glimpse
           of the shore’s anatomy
an imagination bound
           by crude physical dimensions

all of us ultimately born
           out of the sea and the stars
our origins staring us
           daily in the face
the cycles and the tides
           foam on the shores
of the universe
           more questions than answers
a mystery to ourselves
           who want only for love

John Lyons