Drapeless Windows

Midnight moments melt
finding purpose in sound
fatigued fascination is felt
hesitated connection is found
speak. pause. glance.

minutes become miles walked
thoughts pedestaled tall
like elongated morning-shadowed
immovable posture while analogs crawl
pause. glance. speak

abrupt morning caused quiet
forces dream to translate time
emotion enhances mortal sight
smile becomes silent mime
glance. speak. pause.

~DaLe 11/30/08

Soldiers of a King

Will I shrink from fear or join the cause
Of the battle that goes on each day?
Will I give way to defeat or protect myself
And arm myself as I pray?
I will shod my feet and gird up my loins
With truth and the preparation of peace
I’ll place a helmet on head and a
Shield on heart as his righteous and salvation I seek
I’ll study his word and take up my sword
And fall in ranks with the meek.

Then when my call will come
I’ll stand prepared
Ready to do my part
I’ll stick my name tag on my breastplate
And imprint his name in my heart
Many are called but I’ve been chosen to go
His love and good tidings sing
Whether the battlefield or the mission field
I am a soldier of a king.

~DaLe (October 2007)
Written about 8 months ago

Dear Janis Ian,

Little girls often dream
Of the beautiful age of nineteen
When they reach it they’re surprised
To find imagination was full of lies

Daddy’s girls believe in knights
That magic is what holds up kites
Every knight’s armor will fall away
Like cut kites covered in clay

Grown girls still want fairytales
To know that goodness always prevails
Dreams live in clouds, girls in reality
But its cloud watching that gives clarity

~DaLe 11/17/08

Silent Opus

This poem is dedicated to one of the greatest women I have ever met:
Gwen Denton (March 7, 1942-April 3, 2008)

Careful tiny fingers fall
Slip on black and ivory meter
The scaled curls learn to recall
Perfect practice the teacher

Dead men come trilling into breath
Soft clicks echoing step
Softer touch marking depth
As ten stir the dust that slept

Hours compose degrees
Trained lullabies as company
Yet, worldly grandeur flees
Traded for a tiny curtsy

Careful tiny fingers fall
Slip on blackened ivory meter
The scaled love allows my recall
Silent music--still the teacher

~DaLe 11/11/08

La flaque d'Éponine

Dark slick slabs echo
Lonely laughter of light poles
Buried passions let go
Fall into canvassed souls

Patterned painted lines
Force forte ed thought
Cold cinderblock resigns
Into star-reflected clocks

Breath hurricanes into being
Clouding calculated silence
Twilight’s fingers allow seeing
Coupled with soothing fragrance

~DaLe 11/09/08