Christmas Greetings

to all who venture within the river

Advent candle 2

Advent candle #2

The star begins its journey

and eternity spills

upon the lost.

A lesser light beacons

the greater light

and feeble footsteps

find the way

to eternity.

daybreak

cold crisp morning breaks

gulls gawk their early crying

sad in Autumn sky

personality

Cracked ice,

included amber,

irritation in the oyster,

the splendorous itch.

The last unwrapping

of pass the parcel

and the smile

when it’s all over.

I am

perfectly flawed.

I wonder

I wonder if the distance holds

the wonders of its promise,

if the crawl toward its hiding place

can draw me to its maw.

Or if bruised and bloody-kneed I find

within its hidden grace

a troubled soul

and in disguise a yesterday.

Tomorrow holds no favour

no miracle to change the past

while earth binds me to its bosom

I wait for heaven’s grasp.

For heaven has no walking frames

within its open arms

and praising lips will open

where now they are stuck fast.

July small stones in book form

A River of Sma...

By Keith Wallis

Book Preview

A River of Small Stones ii     (click on the picture above for a preview)


Welcome to the world of concise thought. These are exercises in getting the most emotion from the least amount of words. Some of the pieces are in a basic haiku pattern.
All the photographs were taken by the author at various times but used to garner words during July - one day at a time.

The style of poetry is called ekphrasic which means it uses one form of art (in this case photography) to inspire another i.e. the poetry.

31. Sundown

Goodbye to the sun -

downy pillowed horizon

calling to dreaming.

30. Sentry moon

The moon guards my sleep

and the cloud of dreams

becomes my coverlet.

In strange colours

the day plays memory games

under the duvet.

29. sentinel

Sentinel awaits a battle that will never come,

redundant ammunition lies idly in the sunlight

and blood pulses through intact veins.

The shadow of the dying has passed

to a new generation

with more dangerous toys

and the smoke of death.

28. I will not stay

I will not stay

I will not stay

and face this way

when journey calls for me.

I will take flight

toward the light

and sky eternity.

27. the climb

All is possible

if you’re clever by design

walls – no obstacle.

26. orchid haiku

the peacock flower

a strutting aristocrat

flexes its allure

25. leaving

The carriage nods a tilting farewell -

a rattled cloak of goodbye

and separation follows

like a shadow growing with the sinking sun.

A slowly fading rumble

of the train on the down line

into someonelse’s tomorrow.

24. from a lectern

in ancient ambience

words rise from motionless bird

as on eagle’s wings

with feathered touch 

upon the broken

23. off season

on a lounge of leaves

the redundant wicket keeper

sleeps through a season

a rusting sleep

of no balls

22. lightless

Lightless,

the sea shadow of warning tower

shines in lonely resonance

a slower revolution

following the sun. 

21. footprints in the sea

touching down

making a mark

placing toes

in the footprint of the sea

echoes of life

20. welded grip

You hold my hand in Yours -

a welded grip

stronger than mine.

Salty, tidal, tears

in passionate ebb and flow,

rattle and clank

but do not break.

19. pot haiku

empty and waiting

a dawn before uncaught day

unfertilised eggs

18. ninety and nine

the wool pack prowl

bleating the cover

for the hundredth

17. a line of ink

A line of ink

begins a journey,

there is no full stop

the sentence is unfinished.

16. entrance

eye slightly open

a siren call

for entranced curiosity

the bell tower beckons

15. conductor

a finger pointing skyward
from whence all light descends
a directorial poke
at stormy bursts

14. it tolls for You

born 1616 in fiery birth

a ton of tongue

you rang for centuries

your call to worship

in 1899

voice renewed

you sang your bidding song

today you await

your herald moment

13. quill

a rainbowed quill

writes no codicil

to ancient covenant

12. student

enquiring of touch

eager for discovery

a gentle learning

11. searchlight sun

searchlight sun

splendour in the skies

a smile from heaven

on the Lord’s day

10. Snow white

Snow white

and her seven dwarves:

a water ballet,

fairytale,

cygneture.

9. Ripple

a tidal tickle

licking shore’s unguarded toes

refreshing kisses

8. Investment

industrious finch

feather lining his future

a nest egg - egg nest

7. In transit

the immigrants wait

swapping holiday stories

an annual flux

6. Shoreline haiqu

the tidal ambush

on the beach summer jewels

reflect the sortie

5. Flower Festival

Through ancient window

light settles its smile

upon crimson bloom.

Shining through petals

searchlight rays expose

colour amid the silent stone

and hymns the presence

of the omnipresent.

4. Opus deo

                            

Opus deo:

my opiate

is not the myopic

passing moment

fuelled by the flush

of chemistry.

But constant

cleansing creation

revealing God.

3. Poppy haiku

the poppy applauds

sun and wind in morning dress

a scarlet salute

2. Like a bird on a wire (Haiku)

A bird on a wire,

Cohen’s melancholy song

a passing of time.

1. poppy

Like a Spanish dancer

your dress unfurls

to the song of the sun,

beguiling the attentive caresses

of hectic bees.

July challenge

I'm taking part in the 'River of Small Stones' July challenge.

More details can be found here:

ariverofstones.blog