The Dove - with audio

audio link

Through many a veil and sandstorm
The scent of myriad desert flowers called out
Seeking passage in the whispering of the wind's
Hot breath blown upon the hills of a Holy Land

Dervishes turned and beggars  gathered around the square's
Source of water to the sounds of rattling old carts and
The crowds of the bazaar, the sun shown down commanding
Beauty to dance in the lines on the faces of an ancient people

There yellowed pages restlessly unfolded and Torah
Scrolls were opened in a place where Moses was not forgotten
The strains of King David's Psalms were expressed in voice,
Plucked out on the lyre, and then tished and tapped on the timbrel

A lone dove caught the rising scent of the desert blossoms
And carried it to the Psalms' expressive songs emanating from the people
There they mingled, aroma and prayer, in the ripples on the surface of a pool
That never ran dry, and the Dove's reflection traveled over the water

Once captured in the Sun's powerful rays, the Dove's descent
Was blindingly beautiful and a glorious vision,  gasps were heard,
And time seemed to stand still for the many pilgrims who had stopped
To refresh themselves with a dipper of the pool's life giving water.

From the moment of the Dove's first appearance, there arose from the pool
A mist each morning and evening,  that lifted with it the sweet savor and song,
It was a mixture of many a soul's longing,  praise and thanksgiving
Ascending into the presence of the Almighty One in the highest heavens above

The God of Salvation held out His Right Hand in mercy and compassion
The rising vapor upon touching the finger of Hashem (THE NAME), began at once to descend
Only now it was transformed, into a falling rainbow broken into sparkling droplets of dew
And within each one's brightness and colors was represented the promises of His Eternal Love

As millennia passed, life and commerce in the noisy market place, continued to flourish
And to this very day - there is yet a point of light reflected down from high above,
Dancing upon the pool in the old square where long ago the scents of  Etrog and Myrtle,
With Psalms of joy, music and prayer were wed together by a Dove in the morning light

The pure water remains radiant in the sun each day and in the moonlight at night
It is a healing balm and a source of life to the thirsty spirit of every weary sojourner
They, together with the hearts of all the many peoples of the old kingdom, await patiently for the Return of the Dove and the coming of the Bridegroom within the heart of Jerusalem, City of Gold.

You - with audio

audio link

When I am afraid
You see the child
A crying man
You hold me
In your arms
You give me
Your hand

You are my candle
In shadows dark
My companion
As I embark
Light on the way
You are my guide
On stormy sea
You are my peace
Among the turmoil
You never cease
You fill my
Lamp with oil

You are my
Health and shield
To your love
I gladly yield

Love Is Not Dependant - with audio

audio link

Love is not dependent
On being with another, what others think,
Vaunted sex, social status, or looks

It is not at once passionate
And then disillusioned, rather it endures
Love is not possessive, but patient and kind

Love leaves room for thought and understanding
Freedom, autonomy, reaching out and compassion
Love is more than just passing knowledge, it is active

Love is a happening from beyond our existence
Apart from our efforts, love lives, touching all
Forgiving, believing, overcoming, hoping

Love is the author of miracles, a courageous spirit
Love brings us pain, sadness, joy and gladness
It brings us together and cares for us when we're apart

Love makes a fountain of an empty heart
It makes sense of chaos, wisdom of foolishness
Loves is healing, building up, renewing, eternal.

When we open ourselves to love
All things good and right are possible
Love watches over and serves all things great and small

Love creates and holds the multiverse together
Light, darkness, creation, and brings us little children
To seek love, help others, find peace, happiness and life.

Holidays Far and Away - with audio

audio link

The glowing red embers were dying away
As the young girl drove off after evening prayers,
With chestnuts, hot tea and short bread cookies
Roasting in the still, bright fires of her mind

The host was gone to bed after offering
The young traveler the dainties of a cozy guest chamber
Her goodnight flew down the stairs
Like a stocking filled with candy

Her thoughts were aflame, filled with snaps of
Images and the ribbon of feelings from her past
Tidings of family, friends and all the persons
Whom she had known and loved over the years

The old clock like one whose mind could not be made up,
Pointed decisively first this way, then again that way
With it's long brass arm and disk, until the rhythmic
Telling became the subtle heartbeat of silent thoughts

The old folks, Nellie and Lynus, lay in slumber
Visioning a more peaceful time and day, like a silent film
Of flowers and the waving of wheat, within which
One might view the embodied freedom of their souls

Kindred distanced from us by time and space
Swirled into dreams with a kaleidoscope of happy memories
The angels marveled at how softly each breath was taken
The fluttering of eyelashes, soft chuckles and rosy complexions

The Eternal One was working miracles this night
Across town, the young miss arrived home,
Took off her shoes and was quickly into her sleeping gown
Then hopping into bed she bade the house pets to join her

After reading a few verses of Edna St. Vincent Millay
To all the curious eyes and pointed ears on the bed
A  ponderous sigh expressed itself on her countenance
While escaping from deep within her gentle frame

Life, she thought, how wonderful and mysterious
As the enchantment of midnight overcame the day's excitement
The girl could no longer feel the room's cold air about her
Only her little friends and the stars above were aware of her quiet smile

The green leather sofa murmured from beneath his form
As the bell in the old clock called the young traveler's name
Sleepy burning coals hissed, sputtered and tap-danced a kindly lullaby
Faintly hinting of the hearth's earlier fire outlined by the room's darkness

Thus, Christmas eve, passed into one with Christmas day
The angels in Heaven rejoiced while the hilltops
Changed from the shadows of night to the pinks of dawn
And merry became the sun's rising as the birds sang with our spirits

So shall peace remain in our hearts and thoughts beyond the fullness of time
We rejoice and give thanks, because the Almighty one has seen to all this,
Awakened his creation once more this day, wrought wondrous things,
And even now continues to bind all things together in the Messiah's love.

Untitled - with audio

audio link

I carry with me always
Something lighter than a feather
Greater than the mighty Oceans
Brighter and faster than light
Older than the universe itself
It grows from the tiniest of seeds
A perfection that cannot be bought
All this and more is given
More than my share
Was given to me in love
The one who gave it was killed
In the process of purchasing it
Yet he still lives with more of it to give
So it is that I Joyfully give it to you
For my supply is endless
There is plenty for you
Your family and friends
Why, the whole world over
Could not exhaust the supply
However, I must tell you
It is not me who does the giving
It is my Father and another
of his sons, a prince most favored
Whose name means
The Almighty salvation,
Wisdom, and eternal healing
Is here among and with us
If you believe in these
And your lips have spoken of it
Then you already have
The gift that is being offered.

Plateau of Peace - with audio

audio link

Sunset balances red upon the hills
Stealthy quiet has reached it's plateau
Somewhere, a train moans out a warning
Long loving thoughts of home return

Fleeting mauves, silence once more
Peace seems to have settled
In shadowy cedars feathery branches
Crescent moon holds up a
Violet canopy of flickering stars

Gaudy streetlight, cars hum by
Confusion among the fauna
Sidewalk whispers telling stories
Revealing wooden heels, and
Voices off in the distance
A child's crying is soothed

Waxen green tendrils warmed
By the buttercup yellow
Of a small window lamp
Upstaged for moment
By the crackling snap and sweep
Of dry Summer leaves caught
With twigs beneath my steps

Strange, the fascination
Of all things encountered
Captivating the imagination
As we behold life
In the reverie of our existence
Gentle, the swaying of spirit
Calm, are the many waters
Still is the soul at peace.

Silent Slumber - with audio

audio link

Sweetly Silent
Is my slumber

With God above
In heavens' chamber

Raging Storm
Outside is heard

Stirring up
Dusty dessert

Hot air mixes
With oceans breath

A dog's bark breaks
The howling night

It is morning
And black as pitch

Tomorrow brings
A day of saints

Violently submits
Sleep to capture

Await dawn's face
Love's light enrapture

Ocean and Orchid - with audio

audio link

Even the mightiest ocean
Soothes the ear and
Humbly licks the shore

Every Orchid
No matter how beautiful
Starts in the dirt

Tiny Dancer - with audio

audio link

There came a tiny dancer
A twinkling in my eye
Kind words were sent a prancing
More comely by and by
The air was light and fancy
Fair music was her hair
Fierce winds her fanfare coming
Her farewell sweet breezes were

Gypsy - with audio

audio link

Gypsy Horse
Shiny silk auburn
Sleek liquid marble
Passing thunder on the earth
Born of a grace and wildness
Pensive, restless, rippling beauty

Fragrant Incense - with audio

audio link

Tired shadows fled away
From the flowering pink Dawn
Dust spores collided and collected
Landing with a deafening silence
On the Venetian blinds and bookshelves
Sunlight broke in through the window pane
To offer a warm coat and a cheery smile
The room glowed as if suddenly alive
Awash in yellow and refracted colors of the rainbow
My soul felt like hot maple syrup
As I read God's words eternal
Outside the wind mocked and howled
Inside a spirit gave thanks and sang praises
Rising slowly upward like a fragrant incense

ALL THE SONGS - with audio

audio link

All the songs in the willful wind
Belong to Him Who created them
All the songs in the willful wind
Belong to him who lets them in

Melodies that play within

Hearts of loving kindness bring

Ringing joyful dances begin

Fiery storms raining precious gems

CAW CAW MR. CROW - with audio

audio link

Caw Caw Mr. Crow
Looking for a bit of cherry,
Perhaps some bread-crust,
Special sun-arrayed foil,
Or a peanut shell
For tender morsels
Sumptuous delicacies,
And shiny relics
Such as these
You always come
In evening dress,
Black Coat and tails
Day or Night
Such stately manner
How very proper
You are sir
Caw Caw Mr. Crow
Caw Caw!

Peggy - with audio

audio link

Peggy Peggy Peggy
Lovely shining Peggy
Dancing for donuts
Smiling for reggae
Turning and twisting
Sunny and smiling
To fun just insisting
Giggly, sweet, beguiling
Jumping with bounce
I love you pretty Peggy
Every little ounce

Social Media - with audio

audio link

I cannot dwell in the perfectly clear
Rather, more like the generally near
Of faded colors and blurry lines
Reverberations of my mind

Though my eyes be weak
And my hand be lame
A kind word yet bespeak
Drop a coin just the same

My cup is empty of glory
You have all the pencils
So tell me a story
A crumb from your stencil

Please throw me a pun
Out the window of your high tower
Shoot the bullets from your gun
I have need of your super power

Please forget the superficial love
In the haunts of electrostatic-pedia
For virtual is the blood
And so cold the ethereal flood

Of magnetic social media

G+

Slipping Sands - with audio

audio link

When slipping sands all turn to stone
When all there is to know is known
By reason that we may not cherish
All in this world will perish
No stone or ground left unturned
Every life, and every home
With crackling trumpet sound
The mighty heavens shall abound
Messiah is come in Glory!

Rolled Forth in Peace - with audio

audio link

The notes
Of the rock-band
Were frayed
And clashed
Until they shook
My whole being
In seeming
Reminiscence
Of the earthquake
Earlier that day
But all the while
My heart
Like many waters
Of the oceans
Rolled forth
In peace

Potatoes and Eggs - with audio

audio link

Potatoes and eggs (big breath in)

Sniffin in a whiff

Breathin in the goodness

Set about my business

Havin more than I shoulda

With my brother as my witness

Sour cream and muffin

One banana, orange juice

Down I am stuffing

Mmmmmm, mmmmm!

Yummy, yummy!

I just wanna say

Thank you mummy!

Wrecking Ball - with audio

audio link

I've hurt someone
Now like a wrecking ball inside me
Again and again each memory
Of the people that I've hurt
Slams and hollows this one out
Like an old abandoned building

What a conceited ass
I have become
My hands reach out
All they find is rubble
My nostrils fill with smoke and dust
Ashes and sulfur are my accusers

Tears lay choking and thrashing
Somewhere deep within
Damn the cold stillness
In the granite quarry
Of a pride cramped belly

A balloon filled with putrid air
A glove with no hand to take it
A cloud without rain

As my silence groans

In the growing darkness

Of empty words and

Broken promises 

Trampled love and

Shattered relationships 

Echos, of what was 

And what might have been.

November Saturday - with audio

audio link

Looking at the windowsill
Candles fluttering warm light
There is great pleasure being inside
Thinking lazy thoughts
On this November Saturday
These rich and drifting moments
Are a gift from on high.

Trust In Love - with audio

audio link

Trust in love
Love in trust
God is love
Give to love
Love to give
Love and live
There is peace in love
A gentle urging to kindness

Pretty Kitty Kit Cat - with audio

audio link

Pretty kitty kit cat

He’s so little and fat

He’s a pretty kit, kitty kit, kitty kit

Pretty kit kitty Cat

Pretty Kitty Kit cat

Orange and round just like that

Friendly purring on my lap

He’s a pretty kit cat

Pretty Kitty kit cat

At the window mewing this way and that

Eats his food then takes a nap

Pretty kitty kit cat

Pretty Kitty kit cat

Long fur upon his back

His tail it swishes and swishes it swishes

He’s a pretty kit cat

See him crouching in the yard looking pouty

Spying out a lizard or a mousy for his mouthy

He’s eating grass, then goes stalking on a sortie

Finding feral felines for a furry garden brawling party

Pretty kitty kit cat

Chasing string and swatting a gnat

Pouncing on a cricket, stopping to chat

Pretty kitty kit cat

Pretty kitty kit cat

Stretching in the sun laying flat

Scratch his neck with head cocked back
Tell him he's a pretty kit cat, 

for

He’s a pretty kit, kitty kit, kitty kit,
kitty kit, kitty kit, kitty kit, kitty kit,

Pretty kit, kitty kit, pretty kit, kitty kit

Pretty kit, kit-ty cat!

Joy - with audio

audio link

Joy is a bunny hopping about
Inside one's breast

Joy is bubbles of laughter
Waiting to escape a smile

Joy is light turned into breath
Shining out with each sigh

Joy is a brightness unhidden
An uncontainable energy

Joy reaches beyond the stars
Unfathomed, is it's power

The Pine Tree and The Lamp Post - with audio

audio link

Tonight I chanced upon a pine tree
Chatting with a lamppost dressed in black
I'm trimmed straight and lean
The lamp post said
I'm somewhat in between
Said the pine tree, and
With that they swayed and chuckled gustily

Encrypted Words - with audio

audio link

Encrypted words
Flew like Humming birds
In the heart of the Louvre,
Aujourd'hui et toujours mon ami (Today and Always my friend)
Ideas like melodies
Kisses spent in kind
Make admiring minds
Want to see
Flower and buzzing bee
La vision de l'art
Vie, amour, printemps a nouveau... ,

(The vision of art
Life, love, spring anew ...,)

NOTE
There are riddles here, hence the name
 - the main one being
to figure out the end of the poem.
Give it a try. It is not that hard - really.




All right already, the clue for the ending is in
the last two (whoops) three lines of the poem.
Other riddles involve a play on the word Louvre,
and in looking at the history of the word and how
it has been used. In old French and English 
it is similar to or the same as the word for lover
and a kind of window - hence this is a play on words 
and we are looking into the soul or heart of a lover here, 
who is also in one of the most romantic places
in the world i.e, the Louvre. The rest is, well 
the nature of art springtime and love. Thanks for reading. 

Q: - what's missing from the poem?  

A:- "e tu" - (and you) is the final phrase of the poem,

found in the last letter of the last 3 lines. 

So then, - YOU - mon ami, are the missing ingredient!

A Book - with audio

 audio link

A book is to be read
With some tea
And some bread

Hid like a crook,
In a nook,
In a bed

With a fire nearby
A tear in your eye
Like a granny

Of wise quiet mind
Then comes slumber
Gentle and kind