Samhain

To walk through summer’s final veil between the fractures of our worlds as shrouds of autumn mists escape the dawn; now is the time to tread lightly on dew soaked land to merry meet natures guardian hand for she will guide us to a gate, and by her Hazel portal I will wait in stillness of mind. Slowly, anticipation creeps deep within for to feel the door will soon ajar when once again I’ll pause in her tide as she brings your light to my side, to touch my soul… once again to be my guide.

*Tide as in period of time / season.

©Julian Clarke 2016

Emotional Insanity

Incarcerated by limitations of one’s own ideas, tormented the composer flapped the manuscript about as though swatting lazy summer flies; candle wax dripped as shadows cast danced upon the ceiling. It was not the symphonic sound as notes fell from stave to ground the music maker wished to hear; a crotchet, in fear, lay amidst the quavers, and the rests, of course semibreves heaved a sigh and discordant silence fell across the room, quiet, still . . . the old composer climbed upon the wooden second floor window sill.

Not the fall from bed to floor that woke me, but the shout of Eureka! outside my bedroom window, and there prancing like the devil himself the composer skipped in circles waving the manuscript as though fanning imaginary flames. Eyes agog I watched him reel as he fell to kneel and kissed the dirt with exclaims, I’ve taken by the girth the birth of an idea in celebration of our mother earth, to compose a piece encapsulating the beauty of her four season. I looked to my unfinished painting of vibrant yellow flowers, oh the insanity of that damn fool composer I thought whilst seeking my reflection in the vanity glass; lightly I touched the bloodied image of my right ear, soon the pain will pass.

© Julian Clarke 2016

October

I have been suffering with writers block these past couple of weeks, and so here's one I wrote from 2014.

The dew soaked grass feels soft as silk
Shrouding the valley floats a ghostly mist,
Just for a breath the sun rests on tree tops
Climbing slowly for a new autumn day.

Golden brown leaves fall from the trees
Dancing in a frenzy swirling around
Foreboding clouds sail on blustery winds
A watery sun hides behind one, it rains.

© Julian Clarke 2014

Guiding Light

Woe was the bleakness in my darkest time
Heart leaden grey in gravity of mourn;
The light in your soul a haven of love
T’was your grace, for I found none from above.

Thou sowed my soul in the garden of hope
Whilst balancing our lives in tenderness,
Lavenders bouquet scents warm summer air
Reminding always of true love thou share.

© Julian Clarke 2016

Silken Scarf

Only words
bind us together

emotive, powerful yet destructive
hate you, adore you, you’re so Aargh!

just a sound, shapes scribbled down

intangible, yes, but still

scratch hearts with sadness:

only words I throw at you

not fists nor china cups of

cracked mouldy blue:

words are the weave

that wove our love...

to lose myself in you

to be a silken scarf

to warm your throat

whence words flow true;

oh to close my eyes and

touch a memory held so tight,

let words fall in the shape of a kiss

onto my longing lips this winter’s night.

© Julian Clarke 2016

Yellow Rose

I saw a yellow rose just now
It made me think of you,
Even though the day was grey
Its colour warmed the blue.

I felt the prick of blackthorn tree
As I recalled our crossed words,
And then a Skylark sang so sweet
No longer did it hurt.

I once fell down a rainbow
Searching for a pot of gold
A clattering and a tumbling
Now it's you I want to hold.

I saw a yellow rose just now
So radiant in its hue
I pursed my lips and blew a kiss
For it made me think of you.

© Julian Clarke 2016

Poetry Pantry @ Poets United

The Ballad of Eva and Jack Marella

This is an experimental piece written in the form of a ballad. The inspiration is sourced from, in this case, Germanic folklore; Nixie also appears in Scandinavian, Celtic, Nordic and other mythology's by other names.
The actual story told in the ballad of Eva and Jack Marella is from my imagination.

Note to Poem

Nixie, in Germanic ancient folklore is a shape-shifting water fairy and is infamous for singing enchanted songs to lure human prey to watery deaths. The Nixie is usually a malicious female mermaid, and the Nix is her male counterpart. 

The Ballad of Eva and Jack Meralla

Soft lilting songs from the depths of

yellow and orange sun glazed waters,

Jack’s fishing boat now becalmed

Enchanted by Nixie’s belying charm;

And then the runes were cast so fast

As Nixie sang Eva downed her glass

Eva Marella knows not of sobriety

A raconteur of fables in gaiety.

Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de doo

Oh Fiddle de diddle de fiddle de dowe.

Now Jack Marella sings a shanty

Tied to the mast in a bottle of glass

Never again will he hold his soul

Till Nixie’s paid in doubloons of gold;

Mrs Marella head under her arm

Around her feet they swirled

Eva Marella sways to shanty

In drunkenness on gin and brandy.

Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de doo

Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de dowe.

Nixie why’d you to steal Jack’s soul

You green eyed siren of the deep

Eva she cried, “Oh sing to me”

With all your mystical beauty;

Mrs Marella she danced with Nixie

Never to gaze into her deep green eyes,

Under clear skies that night in June

Vowed she’d win him back none too soon.

Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de doo

fiddle de diddle de fiddle de dowe.

Not brandy, nore gin had been her sin

Since she vowed to win Jack back

For pieces of gold she told old fables

In the tavern round cider soaked tables;

As Eva Marella stowed the boats oars

Over the gunwale went the doubloons;

She woke next morning in marital bed

To Mr Marella kissing her forehead.

Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de doo

Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de dowe

Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de doo

Oh fiddle de diddle de fiddle de dowe.

© Julian Clarke 2016

Posted for and linked Poets United

Raven

Friday night crossed the day and
By dawn, sadly, you’ll be gone.
Mist, translucent in hue drift
To minstrel’s tune in auburn air.

I lay feeling your warmth upon
my spirit. Slowly the change
from young to old complete.

Swimming up through rivers of
Time, not drowning and still
Without one single goodbye
You leave the branching hang
From bough and I watch you rise
Through ragged light as day slides
From the night; majestically, gone.

©Julian Clarke 2016

Blessings

Tis a

blessing

to know ones

own limitations;

for may we then show 

due tolerance towards

Others shortcomings.

Summers Dream

You came to me on a sweet summers dream

Passing through worlds of magic and men,

A dragon fly guarded the gate between

You’d sing and dance in this beautiful glen.

Now most of us find it hard to conceive

Of the parallel world of our ancient way,

Listen so hard and you must believe

Open your eyes let your mind run away.

Do not be fooled by her beauty and charm

Her pretty little nose and delicate wings,

Her mystical magic may well do you harm

If you don’t respect all of nature s things.

You came to me on a sweet summers dream

Passing through worlds of magic and men,

I wonder if you will come here again,

To sing and dance in this beautiful glen.

© Julian Clarke