'To Give Painless Light' – A Selection of Poems by LJS

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Poem 28: The Bridge

from below
the sky divided
into silent parts,
a master staple
holding the rivers width
and in regret fastens
the land apart
and the day
into hiding,
until passing upward
and from above
sees the evening
in hooped pairs
as the dusk children
steeped in whispers
hold the night
at … Read the rest


Poem 27: The Companion

no imagery

conceals the pathway

of boundless light

contrasting metaphor

in brillant hues

to sharpen

the crystal

as light in silver

quickens

the shadow

endless

now changing

soft light

whispering gold

embraces

the void

and draws my heart

to its centre

and in stillness

the companion

shines, I am.… Read the rest


Poem 26: Maid of the New Hills

the pewtered hills
shine out the morning
and night folds
with tired eyes
as Iron colours
plead for the day
how long, how long

a bowline sky
in stencilled blue
corrects the shadow
of cancelled leaves
as velvet colours
plead for the night
how long, how long

a web of … Read the rest


Poem 25: Epitah for Sarah

why is it

that the movement

of your hand

in water

disturbs me

more than

the death

of our child.… Read the rest


Poem 24: Freedom

because beautiful people

should not be seen to cry

promise, you will never ask me

why I prefer the freedom

of living with words

to the freedom

of living with you… Read the rest


Poem 23: December Fields

winter snow
against my windows
falling softly
thoughts of May.
________________

Christmas morning
and melting
into laughter
the snow
on your tongue.
________________

shading your face
night and day
the haloed moon
draws you
from my fire
________________

Shattering the stillness
of December fields
the jealous crow
shouting our approach.… Read the rest


Poem 22: The Sons of Legion

and in his eyes, reflected
the childhood gifts
of kingdoms present
and later the sun
saw its true image
for the first time
while the fields
played themselves
to sleep,

in his eyes
the shepherds
gave their name to reality.
temples were glad
to loose their seals
as compassion
moved … Read the rest


Poem 21: Christmas Carol 1945

Oh little town

of Hiroshima

how still

we see thee lie.… Read the rest


Poem 20: Maureen (2)

in a time apart
from time
you asked me
for nothing
and I gave you
a burning field
in bright sunshine
a warm shoulder
of sitting grey
and so far away
a place
without reason

in a time
apart from time
you asked me
for nothing
and I gave you… Read the rest


Poem 19: Slave

african friendship

bonded the night

and jungle cries

defy the hammer

as the slave child

in fear and trust

walks hand in hand

with the primeaval right

to beckoning shapes

that bleed

for release

in the freedom

of your acceptance… Read the rest


Poem 18: I Have Knelt

I have shaken the tree
and from its roots
felt the earth tremble

I have heard the waterfall sing
and seen the mountain
divided by its song

I have danced with the flame
and cried for her
absence in the morning

I have called the night horseman
and did not … Read the rest


Poem 17: Rainbow

a field of dark sky

reaching out

its hand

to the streets

in brightness

held an arc of soft fire

gently raised

as the sunlight

touched rain

stretching the spectrum

from creation

to the child

as the infant played

the coloured light

settling on his palm

and then reflected

to … Read the rest


Poem:16 George

on a shifting
pillow of dreams
child like, my child
harp like, my love
curled light
and singing
see how the angel
brings her
the world
on a pillow
of shifting dreams.

___________________

how should I paint
the day
that you left
as leaves
that dance
against the wind
as … Read the rest


Poem 15: Trafalgar Square to Hungerford Bridge

wednesday
is a square whitened
by a reachless
blue sky
as we followed
the sun
behind the column
as a shadow
in single file
pursued
the empty fountain
past children
in still life
and a cripple
amongst pigeons
to the river
by day
high and unclean
to the river
by … Read the rest


Poem 14: 6 Alexandra (2)

on a shifting
pillow of dreams
child like, my child
harp like, my love
curled light
and singing
see how the angel
brings her
the world
on a pillow
of shifting dreams.

___________________

how should I paint
the day
that you left
as leaves
that dance
against the wind
as … Read the rest


Poem 13: Trains

as you passed

my window

had you noticed

how lovingly

trains

hold each other

as they meet

in the night

and how

we in them

share

the same light

same journey

or were you

asleep

when you passed

my window.… Read the rest


Poem 12: October 4

show me the fold

and I will pull aside

this curtain of rain.

______________

October days

falling

turning

over

and over

forever

and ever

and ever.

______________

I burnt a candle

that called down

the night

and prayed

for the silence

to stop

using your name.

_______________

silently watching

the … Read the rest


Poem 11: Maureen

   do not attempt

to brush away

the raindrop

from the

butterflys wing

for only

through this

can you see

his colours.

______________

on my Lady Marquesite

a fleck of silver

her eyebrow finds

a diamond tear

the corner collects

and runs

the strand

of sadness

for my Lady Marquesite

______________… Read the rest


Poem 10: Mark

say nothing

hold my hand

no

that’s the glove

try again

believe me

its important

______________

hesitant

failing to kneel

moth winged

unseeing

dry eyed in sorrow

patterned in the

lost mosiac

of our love

struck with the colours

of our island

sealed past… Read the rest


Poem 9: 6 Alexandra

with the early morning rain
came she
and gently
called my name
now this morning light
so soft
and clear
in the early morning rain

_____________

with the movement
of your heart
dancing, dancing

in the corridors
of your mind
smiling, smiling

in the colours
of your life
loving, loving… Read the rest


Poem 8: Footprint

now tread
my footprint
on this
disappearing
beach
walking
I leave
another
trust me
I will not
lengthen
my stride
and there
can be
for us
eternity
between
each step.… Read the rest


Poem 7: Turn and Turn

turn and turn and turn to me
tell me love if you can see
the sparrow watching thee and me

turn and turn and turning higher
tell me love of old Jeremiah
dancing blue in our bright, bright fire

turn and turn and turn again
tell me love of the … Read the rest


Poem 6: Only Smile

only smile into my eyes
if you think me real
only approach my sadness
if this sadness you can feel

only walk into my mind
if you are prepared to stay
for I believe I can see your face
and cannot turn my eyes away

but if you do not … Read the rest


Poem 5: A Thousand Smiles

a thousand smiles

in those precious quiet eyes

a thousand words

sustained this loving glance

a thousand hesitations

before- and now

a thousand steps

in this wonderful dance.… Read the rest