Graveside tumbleweed blew
In the stones –
Of a thousand years
Yet to come –
 
Primitive, their sculpture
Just as these –
Still a stymied mosaic
Just as we –

Hallowed stone stood
Well-weathered, calm –
Sphinx-like the mass
Here and now –

Graveside tumbleweed ceased
The stones stayed –
Of a thousand years
Yet to come –

We walked along lakeside today
Hand in hand, barefoot in sand
Unfortunately, I had to unfold
My hands to pick up a shell
It was so beautiful, dear
I wish you were there

We played a game of catch today
Kicking up the sand all along
Loping, giggling, splashing
But I fell down on my rear
Too much laughing, dear
I wish you were near

And then in the cove, made love
Just you and I as one my lover
Nature engulfed our bodies
In pure heavenly delight
Perfect rapture, dear
Oh how I yearned

We made a small fire in the pit
Just as the sun began to sleep
We sat there all cuddled up
And reveled in the beauty
It was marvelous, dear
I missed you terribly

We fell asleep on bed of sand
Warmed with gentle breeze
Morning then softly arose
Caressing us with day
A superb morn, dear
Naked, in the sand

Years ago, I bought a basket,
Plain, unappealing –
Weave already unraveled,
I only paid one dollar –

I set the basket on the shelf,
Separated, secluded –
And there it stood,
Unbefitting the decor –

I filled that basket,
With defeated dreams –
My lonely heart,
My deserted thoughts –

I loaded that basket,
With yearning love –
My unspoken need,
My every want –

I found myself gazing,
Often, in fondness –
A beautiful reminder,
For somber times –

My hands may be empty,
My pockets uninhabited –
Aloneness taking its toll,
Privation draping its veil –

The basket stands proud,
Holding seeds of intangibility –
Unfaltering in its stance,
Draped with valor, still –

This Christmas I give you,
An empty basket –
Weave already unraveled,
All I could afford was a dollar –
____________________
The Empty Basket received 4th place win in the March, 2008 PoetrySoup International Poetry Contest.

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Poetry from From "Chronicles of a Sage: Simple Complexities" 

I met happiness one day –
We greeted each other
And laughed a bit
And then departed –

I ran into bliss one day –
We talked of happiness
Floated around together
Then headed off –

I encountered ecstasy –
We shared an exquisite day
Talked of happiness and bliss
Then went our separate ways –

I bumped into aloneness –
We didn’t talk much
Did some reminiscing
And then consummated –

“I love you,” he said
As the bane of a desolate eve churned –
“I love you,” I spoke in return
His response ran blank –

Preparing.

“Today is today,” he offered
Cold fire brushed my inner skin –
“And tomorrow is nil,” I delivered
Through sullen speak –

Understanding.

“Moments are fleeting,” he whispered
Under the shrill reality of day –
“Supposedly,” I jested
With frozen tongue –

Knowing.

“I think of you,” he stabbed
With blades of ruthlessness –
“Lovely thoughts,” I choked
As I crawled inside of me –

Finality.

The falcon swooped through
The blood stained air
Thickened only by the stare
Of teetering eyes –

His wings of authority
Sliced through the reproach
Like daggers of honor
Spitting fire –

Azure blue rods
Shooting out of his eyes
Into the desolate night
Amidst moon –

The falcon rested upon
The unstained branch
Made sturdy only by stare
Of admiring eyes –