Jemfyr

2011-11-15T18:53:00.001-05:00

Backless Maroon Dress

If you could only see into me
from the inside out

Swaying to the ode that I wish to sing to thee
Wind whispers at my back

Curling around my skin like crafted paper edges
Fingers tickle my spine, seeking the smallest spot

Trailing my tender bows, wrapped loosely with design
Maroon lines with a satin smile that gleams

Leaping legs making love to wild flowers, gallop here…
Skip there… slow, nearing the bramble bush

Jumping off the flat gray stone to flee
Into mystical woods of aromatic apples leading to a magical stream

Leaning to dip my fingers wet, raising the water to glide
To elbow, raising to reach the sky… droplets under my arm

Opening myself to your winds, licking dewdrops down my side ~

First Day of Autumn

2011-09-23T20:58:00.000-04:00

Lay your soul in the grass

washed away yellow or young green

streaming stars over

a storm of skies

silent the crow

settled upon a withered branch

an autumn evening

he cries not alone

black-marbled eyes

fly… fly

flown

"Yesterday's Bookmark"

2011-06-18T22:07:00.000-04:00

            Wearing shades in a paperback used book store, nothing dressed me up more than running my fingers through the light, dusty paged edges. Titles, cover illustration, colors running the lines of the first paragraph before opening the book to page one. Immediately, my mind trails off like a lost kite without a string. The why’s and who’s surely to be unmasked within this $4.00 marked down edition on this “FINAL SALE” day.

          I barely noticed the plaid shirt standing behind the counter with a bent collar from years of “I don’t get to ironing, just throw it in the dryer” look. I imagined him as having been the local high school’s Science teacher who was only too happy to sub for English 101, now newly retired. Signing the lease to this store front was his latest gig and boy was he proud to announce that today was certainly the “best” day for a deal on used books, holding his chin up as to speak above and over the shelves that would deliver his message to me. After a brief utter of acknowledgement, I shuffled my feet to give up my remote location in the Arts section. A section so clearly labeled with black permanent marker beginning with an italicized “A” on a sticky note taped for good measure. He questioned, “Have we seen you in here before?” I wanted to answer you, and the books you mean?

          It was here I stammered, hemmed and hawed, reluctantly replying, “No, not my first visit, it’s been awhile.” Clearly, I did not want to say it was before he became the gatekeeper with his stylish bent threads. The truth being, I was a regular Saturday stroller and at times a midweek “just stopping by” when I wanted to step in to escape from the pages of my own life. You see, Charlie had owned the skeleton key to this paper castle before bent collar guy. Charlie was also known as the town crier. He was born and raised here in these rural parts of the southeast and if he knew you, he knew your neighbors and the dog who got hit by the car down the street. Charlie was not what I would call a ladies’ man, but a sweet, caring man. You know the type, great personality with a nice face. Charlie was always asking all sorts of questions as one would try to browse in silence, but good ‘ol Charlie was chatty.

          It was the chatty in Charlie that earned him his toe tag and gave bent collar guy his dream job… the key to the door that is rightfully his as the oldest brother, kin to sweet Charlie.

~ Padi ~

2011-02-22T22:41:00.000-05:00

Rice paddies in
cocoa muddy shores
center heart of shallow puddles
pressed and steeply sloped
where brown eyes smile
are sunken deep into hillside hopes

~ Ruby Jewel ~

2011-02-06T19:29:00.001-05:00

Seeded black ruby jewel~ juicy bits of wild strawberries, red… more than red… from a forgotten farm overgrown with yesteryear. If ever a fruit spoke, your voice would be sweet when nibbled upon and deceptive when drawing one to devour. I come hither and surrender to your fleshy, heart-shaped cape of sugared flame. I will engulf you straight from stem… red, more than red.

~ The Unspeakable Bloom ~

2011-01-30T14:41:00.000-05:00

What ravishment behold a beauty say thee? Where you stand on stem and bloom? Lest I reason with wild stain and creasing folds of fragrant breeze… say your name, speak your colour, must I wither with hair askew? Now, what flower bears the fruit before me dressed in petal dew?

~ An Early Song ~

2011-01-24T20:22:00.000-05:00

An early song of savory green

flutes of pale primrose and tulip cymbals ring

sift the words softly as winter’s scape

stilled the budding scene

cup a whisper in your hands

an early song of Spring

~ No Other ~

2011-01-20T20:50:00.001-05:00

Does the sod not need the sow ...
Does my heart not heed your know …
I will always love you and never it be told

~ The Crease in Ink ~

2011-01-18T13:36:00.000-05:00

As ink recedes back to well, I lay me down to sleep ~ your words scent my pillow crease... folding, in my dreams // *Inspired by Photographer Marc Hauser's upcoming book on tattoos*

~ The Sterling Rose Sky ~

2010-12-31T22:10:00.000-05:00

Tender the vine that clings to ringlet

Deciphering rapture riddled with sapphires

My heart lengthens in pale solitude

Not the dance nor the moon

Or shoulders covered by swoon

But lavender clouds that simmer

Stammering shimmer

Bearing gifts of silver on pond

Where forest nymphs dip their wings

Exclaiming gossamer reflection at dawn

~ Dreaming Halfway ~

2010-10-30T19:28:00.000-04:00

Flowing white gown cascades
Illusive nights stained as wet glass
Emotions circle a deep well gaze
Leaving trail marks ingrained

Vermillion mouth prohibited
The golden harp from play
Red marbled agate bench
Sat only as display

Nikko blue streaks slate and jade
An elegant hummingbird swings
On budding hearts caged
Skeleton key dangles in daunting dismay

Leaning nightstand nudged
Half-closed amber tilted sway
Shift almond eyes, sultry smudge
My waking rose to rain

~ Searing Cymbal ~

2010-08-27T00:38:00.001-04:00

tinkling desire
burning withers
dripping…
teary pearls of laughter

my marrow famine
as hunger melts
covet feasting
wanting is sought after

~ Ode to Olive Tree ~

2010-08-14T14:03:00.006-04:00

Ode a di olivo

In Southern Italy
lining the orchards
along the Ruins of Pompeii
olive trees have branched for centuries

Flourishing on limestone slopes
across fields of flowing wheat
adjacent raisin plums
purple honors the oily beauty

Under buttery skies silky breeze
olive trees have tolerated drought,
fire and are disease free! burning
an eternal flame in abundance for peace and glory

Roman poet Horace dined on olives
pure sustenance although bitter to swallow
was cured of brine before the after his feastful glee
as priestly kings were anointed on royal blue knees

Gnarly trunk wrapping at twisted base
rooted deep in the Garden of Gethsemane
Athens stated you rose here first!
…with your polished silvery green leaves

Fragrant Amalfi coast scented rows
of sisterly lemon and orange trees
little towns built on the steepest of time
where quaint houses sat upon mountainous climb

Mediterranean fruit of small drupe
your fleshy surroundings pitted pyrene
harvested in autumn and winter
finds you dressing a table top serene

Tugging to pull warm infused herb bread
as rosemary kneaded thyme, torn into tears
dipped and dredged, bathed in oily wine
moist lips savor Positano’s memory of tasty divine

~ Brazilian Bloodstone ~

2010-08-09T22:36:00.001-04:00

Opaque green speckled flecked reds
oxide-spotted dominating masculinity
semi-precious appealing amulet
crucified sun reflected earthly bled

Legend spoke your healing abilities
reputedly predicted purification
ground to powder and mixed with honey
potion perseverance, sweet anger dispelling

Jeweled heliotrope rendering
invisible yet alluring combination
as reproductive organs detoxify
lightning and thunderstorms blaze cracked skies

Guerillas trampled terrain in forest rain
tropical savannas called her Amazon
where pumas and jaguars paw proudly
lashing out Portuguese penchant slang

Digging to palm this deep green jasper
charming chalcedony amongst tribal banter
energies link root to bleeding heart chakra
India chants, my aphrodisiac lover

Tree for Yojinbo

2010-08-07T02:33:00.000-04:00

~ Unraveling the monk’s robe / his Ariadne Thread a gift to us / “come follow when ready, I have written a poem for you…” he says
~Trace

~ Embracing his Spirit ~

He explored many paths of ancient roads... some traveled, some lone
He spoke clearly in balanced tones... seeing with his ears and sight by his nose
Rooted in great silence between graphite and sage ~zen mode~

Yojinbo was many things to many people~ to me he carried the weight, marched the walk
He was our warrior on mountain... leaving his scribe on each of our hearts
My precious memories of Jinny's origami folds
~ Jemfyr

~Aphrodite~

2010-05-24T01:32:00.000-04:00

cut and cast waving aquamarine
Aphrodite rose with foamy hair
floated on scallop shell dreaming bare

Greek Goddess Roman Venus
mated manifestations
originating genus

most beautiful to many stares
delicately dipped fingers
lapping latholemono flaunting flair

lady of two, Cythera and Cyprus incited war
as kithara mused paean sung
not I started any bloodshed, Trojan folklore?

poised pretty in the pantheon
one of the Canonical Twelve, art and poetry
orchestrating scenes as she ruined men

rather draped than in nude?
footstool poor pedestal
tortoise queried which Aphrodite is she?

anger bickered Persephone pleadingly
‘Adonis belongs to me’ spewing to Aphrodite
Zeus intervenes six months each, Haptein

often depicted quite malicious and vindictive
this bathing beauty belong to the sea
loving both dove and swan most sacredly

orchard peaches

2010-05-16T21:40:00.004-04:00

clouds of cotton stretch across sun wavering sky
i imagine tangy taffy sticky sweet
melting, rising horizon eyes

barefoot in espresso grainy orchard
nature’s homemade nutmeg hearth
meadow pitter patter dampens, scampered heard

in the midst of golden leaf corduroy
heavy-laden boughs weigh
succulent nectar dressed in downy guise suede

grasping, pluck and pull to bosom
palm rolling finger stroking
inside bliss awaits

i imagine days where daisies grew
upon dawning view
sun and wet by raining dew

where spring sprang at summer’s sun
weaved wooden baskets wave adieu!
season’s harvested crop begun is done

but the wooden table outside…?

core paring halves, halved…quartered
dredged in fresh morning cream
turquoise bowl…swirl tango swish dance bathing…?

bits of princeton orange peach mash
persian red pit, stringy threaded meat
fair maiden’s envious staff

hands to hair, breeze-free cares
tilting bowl over tendrils gaping glare
neck funnels path to midriff bare

fair maiden bathes at last…

reign in copper lamè

2010-04-30T01:37:00.009-04:00

words on my mind
paint promises of play

photograph of what we had
framed me a memory

poet grab me a couple lines
to unlock this piece of time

he wears a skeleton key
engraved with a different name

standing in copper rain... both
stained in peach downy waves

APRIL 20TH! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRACE.IMAGES!

2010-04-20T02:37:00.000-04:00

Image~Maker... you create visionary dreams and share with all!

Thank you for your continued inspiration as we journey and explore the marbles of life!

~J~

~ Sphinx ~

2010-04-14T23:59:00.024-04:00

would i walk my mind in wonder
sitting on banks of the Nile
close my eyes wide asunder

what secrets lie beneath her limestone-riddled belly
sprawled, tawny-throated Giza Sphinx
where sands of time and lips are tomb deep

queens adorned with golden combs
lapis lazuli and carnelian
dangle hoops piercing ear jewelry

i imagine Cleopatra’s roaming sashay
queenly rights rose to power
claiming fame to Egypt and bedfellow mates

tell me stories of polished red jasper
stone embedded names in hieroglyph
in the scroll of the dead life after

Anaksunamun and beloved Imhopte
her husband pharaoh did not agree
scarabs replaced ceremonial blessing

staring across lotus lily desert land
Sphinx! declare who was your paramour
lidless you lay crouching evermore

whose pomegranate mouth cried in vain
hawk-faced winged or azure painted eyes
ruling crowning glory did you deny?

who stood before you fair in despair
as you flicked your baited tail
and cast them aside ancient stares

did Ra and Osiris glaze in horror
as you turned your nose to spite your face
bewildered obelisk leaned in shadow terror

sunsets in Cairo aromatic spice breezes
lining horizontal almond vanilla skies
diffuse jasmine oil reeds

as i lay beside~ Giza Sphinx

Leave your mark

2010-03-21T21:13:00.006-04:00

your pyrrhic victory

a shameful loss

hearts you claimed

at greedy costs

pleading souls

cried in terror

resonating corridor

prism shattered mirrors

jagged crimson rock

stark stygian halls

love story scripted

edit scaled walls

Ode to Moon

2010-02-20T18:26:00.000-05:00

what is it about the moon that
both wake and slumber seek
where glistening leaves
and shaded trees meet?
lunar sings a song
with low tones and
heightened peaks
cerulean frosted symphony
rooted branches lean to listen
while the world pretends to sleep
nature beckons sweetly
through chirping and scampered feet
where lovers embrace in the
heat of night ~
soft kisses, firm promises
entwined each other tight
shall we dance for you
as our bodies reach
and our minds free
in your gracious, shimmering light?
unveil me
slowly
my moon
my knight

Heart of Obsidian

2009-09-09T02:31:00.003-04:00

Hard green flint
sacrificial knives
emerald blood ran deep
Ancient Egyptian polished
properties preserved
black and white magic
Drought and famine abound
dual power talented
cut and knit together again
Contrasting functions
volcanic rock envy
your twin jealous heart

Safari Life

2009-08-30T16:23:00.004-04:00

Safari life is tribal toned
tall grass swaying
while paw and hoove roam
Fires built where no embers burn
flame, quick and the wit, verses
young and the naive dip at cool lake’s turn
Safari life is outside your front door
passerby greeters with furrow looks adorned
rather be judged by your leather-bound cover cure
Scale me a wall windowed each footed step a seed
our jungle can moonlight as a garden dream it to be
step out from behind the rooted safari reeds

Cobblestone Tuscany

2009-08-15T23:42:00.003-04:00

Seven o’clock in the morning
solo espresso paired with almond biscotti
She walked curt edges of
quaint chair and table settings
The natives adored their Apollonia
tourists would rage who was she?
Tagliamonte cameo strung ‘round her neck
landscape nape Sicily
Del Gatto jewel pinned at heartbeat
porcelain fingers touch delicately
Conch shell secrets
salmon hue smooth
Jealous sun racing to rise!
horizon beckons compete
Behind Opus One splashed nails
pouty, covert lips speak
Who will love me today?
tomorrow is nearly here …

Cherish

2009-08-09T07:17:00.004-04:00

Glim glam world speckled glitter and gloom
everyday oxygen impending dioxide and doom
hand-me-down worn, loose looms
Cherish see-thru moments, sheer liquid desire
appetite for menu, no black tie or formal dress required
you skip the scale and weigh in favor of naked attire
Debate neither perception nor preconceived notion
rather lather in the self-absorbed, self-righteous
pedestal, rise above all commotion
You articulate a story in verbose
entertaining to some, educational to others,
hard to correct for most
Are we mere pupils, student eased?
You offer not the frosty, rose colored glasses
your presence is recognized and message well received
Your passage is harmony to a soul behold
stand wounded or healed, we are ages old
the ground encircled, scent familiar
Let your origami soul unfold…

Velocity

2009-08-01T07:04:00.002-04:00

Show me Velocity
and I’ll feed you adrenaline
Sculpt me a landscape of fire and ice
and I’ll teach you how to drown, not swim
Take my breath as yours
shed your shoes of leather and skin
dance with the flames that beckon you
there are no lessons to begin, no nuns to grade your sin
The angels would hide their wings
if they could see us now
the curtain has fallen, my colors shown
and we’ve forgotten to bow
Tip toe back to me when reality
want to bind you from seeing
for I will sacrifice all that is lost
to find you and ravage your sense of well-being

Longitude Latitude Attitude

2009-07-26T15:54:00.003-04:00

Where horizont and diagon meet
Linear points of time and measure
But you don’t know me
Key code familiarity
Easy-to-find places
But do you know where to find me?
Spin the globe gleefully
Close eyes and point
Slowly peek at index tip
Quest not, fire map
Finding me is easy
When you find you…
That is where I will be
Red line meets blue line
Attitude harmoniously

Calling You

2009-07-26T15:46:00.003-04:00

Hello?
I’ve been calling
No numbers dialed
Electronics none
Fiber optic
Don’t run that cable
No service in this area
I’ve been calling
Heart digital display
Hear my own ringtone play
Arms reaching
Ears strained
Pulse, beat goes my brain
Fingertip pulse away
Calling you …
Will it feel the same way?

This Day

2009-07-26T03:06:00.003-04:00

You remind me of this day
Bluish-green feelings along the way
At first I remember and the smile eases the sun’s ray
But I told you last, I didn’t love you anyway
Seagulls calling on misty breeze lane
Daylight becomes nightfall in plain clothing shame
Sapphire waves claim loyalty to the gentleman caller game
Even a tippy-toe juvy knows the rules of the lion’s mane
You remind me of this day
Butterscotch afternoons were hazy with malaise
I can still recall the glance from the second store yesterday
Wrought-iron visual, callous facial display
Ah, the stars are twinkling and winking just for me, I say
I play fool to their wicked heart-warming disarray
I carved your name in soft petals, metal gray
But I told you first, I’d love you always

Pale Pose

2009-07-25T04:38:00.003-04:00

If I could touch your mind,
the hands of clock would never change…
I’d sew seamless lines of patterned color,
and silk ribbon between threaded lanes…
If I could lift the weight ten thousand times,
your shoulders would be free…
Lean now into the wind,
there is no need to refuse the breeze…
The sun has set upon you,
and the moon saved that last dance…
Inhale night’s breath, posture pale pose,
shaded silhouette shadows of romance…
“Just this once” chanted the clouds,
trust her heart to guide your soul!
My promise to you is void,
but lend my body and mind relentless…
Yours to behold~

Corridor

2009-07-05T06:08:00.004-04:00

As she walked down the corridor, fingertip trailing circles passing each door. “Svelte silouette” snickers the whimiscal wallpaper decor`. Her gait changed just before the end of the unguided tour, pausing slowly at the opened, naked red door.
A slight tilt of the head, eyes gazing left and to right, as if traffic were passing thru her soul, caution the yellow light. Stealth Prada heel beckons the next move, ahh the difference between corporate carpet and tile groove. Such emotion, so little, so huge.
Photos of faces from unfamiliar places, neither here nor there. Glancing self-assured through the passing flair. I imagined the woman in black silk did her own hair. I toyed with that notion as if I really cared.
Whispers of “Did she come alone?” was the page in chapter. Saunters to the bar, noting the importance of jagged ice as a point of reference only after. Was she nervous? Came not a chortle nor laughter.
Drinking first sip, eyes lifted as if taking a head count would matter, smiling softly, barely a laugh, imagining the room in prisms of shatter. At a muted, yet agreeable point, take solace in a Chintz chair, collectively remembering why I am justifiably unmedicated here. Makes a mental note that the buffet was quite bare, accepting if it were there.
Tick tock, tick tock, time flies when you are having fun. Shutter at making that mindless, simple pun. Slowing gasps in, exhales a small whine, oh people, this party, sigh sigh sigh.
From the photographs dusted with grace, a mutual glance is received; how I did notice they were framed in 5 x 8 brass leaves.
The unmentionable ’party was delightful’ was said by not heard. Yet fleeting thoughts of ‘thank you for coming’ and kissing the temple was the cure.
Stealth Prada heel beckons the curtain call, walks the runway, catwalk and all. The corridor welcomes me with opened arms, my soul enchanted, as such I am charmed
Has the weather cooled?… pulling up my houndstooth collar, questioning with each step.
How I do prefer the evening and the secrets kept. *a pink petal drops…*

Read, Right and Blew ~ Flag ~

2009-07-04T12:28:00.003-04:00

I was reading, Betsy Ross, wondering how the colors of red, white and blue were threaded through nimble fingers…the canvas of color, the history she made.
Was I right in perhaps she performed tailoring tasks for George Washington too? …who at the early age of six, he cut that beautiful, young English cherry tree …his father was not happy, the history he made.
Blew my mind when I read about flag desecration …the flames they burn …the heat, history hurt, walking on the graves…stop the history blaze!

Racing Droplet Play

2009-07-03T19:17:00.004-04:00

*giggling with friends…* Really? Sure you can’t come for a Latte` and sit with me a while longer?
*puts on a pink cottony artsy, t-shirt..random with flashes of color; mix of hard, bold black and beckoning pink come-play-with-me swirl* It’s so poppin’ with my black split with gray Prada sunglasses. Applies fuschia lip color, smacks lips pop pop…shimmer shimmer body bronzer, Tahitian Tease-Me-Not Level II, nothing more on the canvas.
*giggles at rain…* rolls eyes at umbrella, bore me bore me ~~skips out into rain while racing droplets play hopscotch on my hair..shakes it loose, jumps into black Jeep with Pioneer on, basses pumpin’, tweeters screamin and rockin my seat before I scooch in..*slides hands over wet hair..sleeking it back, checks mirror…ahhh…it is as it should be* Taps neon green, pearly selector…tap taps to blue-zie, zippy, ooh me jazzy jazz jazz me muz me.
*sees rolling, periwinkle clouds winking at me…gray trying to be the big man cloud and cover her peri-ness; ahh there’s a rainbow in the making just..over….ovverr there, yes. Gray meets Periwinkle, harmonize for spacious skies, gray/periwinkle makes one, blushing full iridescent memory cottony foo foo puff..* If I can only crawl up there, I would never need a pillow or blanket…* Imagines a flightless feeling in a soundless journey. Pink, Blink, There…*
All these colors of life; I have traveled less than a mile on four tires but a loving, tender journey of a lifetime to Cloud 9.
Wonder what the Latte` will taste like?

Embrace

2009-06-27T21:54:00.004-04:00

Embrace the thoughts I imprint on your heart
Love and allow yourself to be loved
Even warmth can melt the most exquisite fortress of ice and snow
It matters not the yesterday, neither the morrow…
~ Love Today ~

Tropical Breezes

2009-06-21T14:49:00.003-04:00

Pineapple chunks in a lime colored scheme Look, citrus segments! Boldly tart, sweet and shine!
Palm tree swaying
In the distance, a pan flute playing
Shish kabob fragrant air, curling smoke from the fire’s whisper, dance like a gray ribbon fanfare!
Hint of salt in the air
My smile says, pull up a chair
It was my pleasure to take you there ~

Speak to Me

2009-06-14T01:44:00.007-04:00

O, Speak to me your lover’s tongue…
I yearn to hear the passage on which you withered and hung.
Show me the face of praise, each time you gave, when she sang out in words unsung.
Can you still hear her silent scream in a language owned by one?
Did you know she’d rather pick the scab than heal the need, your script…her outcome.
You see, I can never be,
that spade, your lover’s tongue…
For she lives within me, a cursed chameleon.