Wind on my hair,
Sun on my face.
I'm looking at the sunset.
I am at the beach,
Feet in the sand,
Toes are getting wet.

The sky fades from clear blue,
To green,
Then pink,
Then purple.
The darker it becomes,
Stars begin to pop.

the sky is lit by them,
It is now a soft clear black.

All of this I watch,
As I lie on the beach
In the sand
On my back.

The wind blows to the south
Carries with it sorrows untold
Another one blows over the calm of the sea
Brings with it love and happiness on the little islands
Sometimes it brings sadness
With all the Katrina’s and Tsunamis
But the arrogance of choice
Makes us rejoice in the times
There is peace over the waters and sunshine over the trees

Sometimes my heart hurts
Cries over the mishaps of this world
I could cry all I want
Scream at the top of my lungs until Im breathless
Or I could laugh so loud until Im breathless
Laugh to stop me from crying
Yes, that shows that…
I have the arrogance of choice

In this life, being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect
Happiness has never equaled to perfection
It is deciding to see beyond the imperfections
That decision is the choice I make
Choosing to be happy as imperfect as I am
I was never promised days and seasons without pain
I was never promised laughter without sorrow
I was never promised sunshine without a cast of cloud nor rain
But amidst all that, I have the power to choose
The arrogance to choose comfort over tears
The arrogance to choose light over darkness
The arrogance to choose a heartwarming song over throat splitting cry
The arrogance to choose to soldier on with hope
Instead of looking back with regret
I have the arrogance of choice

Oh I know that there is a fine line between love and hate
Between confidence and arrogance
Between happiness and sadness
Between north and south
Setting off on life’s journey
No matter what trials and tribulations
I choose
Therefore I have …
The arrogance of choice…

Watching the clouds form
On a quiet, sunny day,
The calm before the storm,
At least, that's what they say.

Watching the wind blow
As the storm rolls in,
Wondering how long it will last,
And when it's gonna end.

Remembering when the rain fell,
And I was standing next to you.
Now, the water's higher,
The sky's no longer blue.

The storm is raging,
Going crazy, without and within,
Don't believe it's ever gonna
Be the same again.

I remember prayin'
For just a little rain,
Now, I can't help but wonder,
If this is the same rain.

The same rain,
That I was praying for,
This rain is covering the flowers,
This rain, is pushing through the door.

Never was prepared for
How fast it came down;
Not prepared at all,
I almost drownd.

But it didn't drown the sorrow,
No it didn't stop the pain,
So, I can't help but wonder
If this is the same rain . . .
. . . . . . .The rain I was praying for.

Whispers ripple the quiet deep,
As sun casts in narrowing heap,
Carried to the shore by waves.

From Alpha they dance Omega,
Sparkling silhouette of absence,
With cast strings at bow to fish a catch of fish.

Lovely the sight my eyes bestow;
Of the waters, and the sky, the shore;
And by thus all to be sought has been sown.

the sky is splashed with an array of colors through wooded vision
as rays streak by in vibrant radiance, the sun sets near the horizon

as crickets perform their symphony for the moon and the stars
swiftly inhabiting the dark with their dim luster in the night sky

With crickets conducting the orchestra, frogs join in as tenors
as Mr. Owl crescendos with his "hoot-hoot" as his symbols clang into

an applause of branches scratching haunting stories into little minds
brushing up in silhouetted fashion against the tents they dwell in

tiny heartbeats race as they hear legends from "these neck of the woods"
an acorn falls, and screams escape into a frenzy of relieved giggles.

a calming rush of water drones these weary minds to sleep where
mother nature sets the mood for those residing in her playground

fawns trample hardened leaves, crunching echoes into the near distance
stirring up the creatures of the night, those deserving of genuine attention

their bushy brows and jagged teeth outlined by a body built to scare
their eyes beam lasers , darting shiftily between rooted tree stumps

howls to the sky beckon others to emerge from the woodwork or to
beware that the nocturnal beasts are on the prowl, surveilling the scene

Fire crackles and turn to cinders as fireflies chase endlessly in flight
dancing aimlessly against the silhouetted backdrop of luminous nature

Sun plays peek-a-boo with the majestic mountains as fish rise early
to play tag and jump to escape the ultimate hooking game of "who's it."

Little bodies emerge from their canvas protection rubbing their eyes
to clear the sand man's residue, fluffing matted hair from their slumber
We look to the risen sun gesturing Mother Nature to awaken to a fresh day
enticing all to explore her playground, for it will be another moment to
savor.

Deserted, abandoned, too scared to sleep,
I chose to go, now I cannot turn back,
my eyes fill with tears, I begin to weep,
memories of home are left in my pack.

The moon reflected sea is rolling in,
the star lit sky motivates me, my hope
strong emotions battle, fear will win,
it's been a few hours, how will I cope?.

A strong, bitter breeze the trees dance to it,
the trip was good, now I just want to flee,
the sand is blue as if it was floodlit,
there are places I would prefer to be.

A melody of the animals cries,
the moon fades like a ghost during sunrise.

It poured,

like the sky was a giant sponge
that had soaked up every drop
of ocean, only to wring it
all back out.

I stood,

as the steam snaked up
from my shoulders, as my hair
coiled like lemon asps sliding
down my back.

I felt you,

in the rain rushing down
my spine, staining a dark island
on my vest, to pool in the curve
of my waist.

My mind said, you're getting wet.

My body said, close your eyes.

The clouds split open

Lightning cracks across dark sky

BOOM thunder blasts all ears

Rain drenches all in its path

Drip Drip goes the rhythmic storm…

Another misty night draws near and I pray for clouds to come.

Are my thoughts alone enough?
Can you hear my call?

Unable to hear a sound, I wait;
A long night passes with no stars sight.

My eyes close and many dreams take over.
I go through new stages, higher levels on consciousness;
symbols reveal newfound strength within.
The dreams slow down and before I know it,
Night turns to day; I feel more alive than ever before.

My heart hears her call my name;
My eyes become bright and as
I glance to the right,
Clouds parade over;
A trumpet in one hand
with a rose in the other.

I hold it in no longer and cry out,

“see my hands? I beg for you to stay;
wash over me because there’s sadness,
lots of sadness...don’t you see?
You keep me from feeling alone.”

Words of the clouds come crashing through;
A bolt of lightning initiates the storm,

“I won’t leave you for I am here to stay.
It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one
feeling the need to let go anymore.”

“You can rain on me, don’t be shy!
I’m a man of my word;
I’m here outside.”

“I see that you mean no harm. Be
strong within and keep yourself warm
for this is the calm before the storm.”

Suddenly the wind brings me
3 leagues away from the shore;
I take a deep breath in and
make my way onto a bridge.
The May shower quickens
but I do not speed up;
I cherish every step I take.

Although the grass is greener
and my eyes are clearer,
I feel a little scared;
I’ve never made it this far.

The rain continues and I embark
on this path into the unknown.
Each cloud blares their trumpets
and wish me luck on my journey.

The coolness eases my flaming heart;
It grows colder no more.

It seems a whole family
of tornados have careered
into the desert of my breast.

Sand dunes, once packed
hard into sleeping humps,
spiral free between my bones.

Oasis’s erupt from arid folds,
every coconut on every palm
burst open, offering, offering.

This assault has nature
all over it, as does the way
the rain dances in your eyes.

The grass caressing
My bare legs,
Dandelions gently
Sway from the
Laughter escaping
My lips.

Summer.

The sun ignites
With a fiery
Passion,
I'm almost
Drowning in
It's rays.

Summer.

Eyes close as I
Breathe it in,
Every breath as fresh
As the last.
No streets, no cars,
Just me
And the sun.

Summer.

Left to my own
Thoughts,
With only my
Tan lines and
Laugh lines to
Remember this
Brilliant
Day by.

Summer.

The flutter of
Wings
Will gently sing
Me to
Sleep,
As every other day
In this
Wonderful season.
My escape.
With the Sun
Holding me in it's
Embrace,
At least, until Fall...


Summer.



xxI am submitting poems by date written. This was written some odd years ago as well. One of these days, I'll get to the recent stuff. I just thought it would be interesting for you as readers (and me as well) to witness the growth from then to now...

-Katu
=]

Sunsets

Bright, Calming

Creeping, Shimmering, Graceful

Happiness, Faith, Hope, Love

Light

The voice of the earth called to me
As the mist rose from the hills
And by what my eyes did see
The wonder gave me chills

The majestic colors of the sky
Illuminated the green of the trees
The ground became a pool of light
As I drifted into the winds breeze

And the creatures of the land
All gather 'round her
From a bow, they take a stand
For a love ever after

I feel magick
All around me
Enchanting and enigmatic
I feel all the energy

A fallen leaf covered in dew
In the drops I see my reflection
In my heart I always knew
I had her affection

The breath of spirits is the wind
That blows beneath the birds wing
A sound of music will always descend
And the angels will always sing

She said to her father:

“I am rightly incredulous towards these narratives. But I think it is not just that we misinterpret; the error is that we interpret at all.

If one could perceive reality without the lens of meaningful narrative to interpret it, without its abridgments and extrapolations, I wonder if one would even recognize it.

Where we fashion a chronicle from the universe, I think the universe, itself, is telling us no such thing.”

The sun is shining,
beaming and gazing,
eyes on me.
The mass of rock I lay upon,
is warm...and soothing,
arms around me.
A river is flowing,
at a steady pace,
caressing me.
An azure sky,
omniscient and full of glory,
teaching me.
Oh, opalescent mind!
Let me be!
And give to me, my life,
once more...

Everything sleeps at night
or quiets to mimic sleep.
In that way, you are the night.

Everything leaps into day
or busies itself as if busy.
In that way, you are the day.

I am neither sleeping nor busy,
I am warm as winter fire
yet cool as summer shade,
I shed skin like Autumn
and renew like Spring.

One ties their body
to the turning pages
of the day, no further
than tomorrow.

One roots their feet
in the soil, turning
nature between their toes,
her cycle, only.

I am inside everything
you believe to be fickle,
I am the dreams you stamp on,
that will not be silenced.

Everything sleeps at night
and everything leaps into day,
I am inside the air that turns
the wheel and tips the world

and I know, they meet in the middle,
night and day, but
one cannot be whole without the other
and they can never be whole together.

The clouds turn black
The thunder rumbles
Count to missippi's when the lightning strikes
Call your friends to get rid of your fears
Cross your fingers for not a bigger storm
But just when you cross them the warning strikes upon us
Duel Doppler announces a tornado is in our path
Everyone runs for the basement and closets
The storm hits
The children scream
After the storm is over the family is alright

From the top of the world
I look down
See the clouds obscure the protruding
Layers of makeshift hearts
I unfasten my denial
Nobody ever owed me a thing

From the top of the world
I fall down, hitting my face
On every branch, nook,
Crevice that availed my ascension
Benign
All I ever wanted was to love
Never knew how
Nobody ever owed me a thing

From the bottom of this canyon
Darkness floods my being
What became of the faith I clung to?
I am the source
I am the creator
I am the particle of cosmic dust
That neutralizes all things
And brings union and harmony
Into a common view
Nobody ever owed me a thing

In between these walls
I come face to face with my own isolation
Troubled by weaknesses
Fallibilities, shortcomings and fears
I am only human
But so are they
I thought I was owed everything

Straight ahead
Ascension of the will
Yet sick and tired by now
Of wasting potential
Letting these platinum tools dust and decay
I owe it to myself to shine
My light
On everyone
And everything..

Right here
I'm promised a moment of peace
The catch is
This moment is eternal..

Shedding this dismal armor
Energized by fear
Bulletproof
Protected by love
This love is eternal
This love is always near...

Benign.

This used to be a green place,
but we have turned it grey.
Nature once self governed,
now we force it to obey.
So what ever happened,
to this 'green and pleasant land'?
All that I see these days,
is a place I cannot stand.

We choke the Earth with tar and fumes,
drill holes into her face.
Given chance, I wonder what she'd say,
about her 'ruling race'.
When this world has had it's day,
will we spred among the stars?
And hop from world to world,
leaving nothing behind but scars?

As the mind searches for its mirror,
It sees in mere chance a meaningful pattern,
Humanity projects itself on inhuman nature,
Imagines its motives in unmotivated circumstance,
And dreams that unguided universe is anthropomorphic god.

Beautiful birds sing across the regional valleys,
From a distance flocking high and admirably,
Into the clear blue skies their wings flap,
Bringing the scent of joy and happiness to see.

Somewhere far across the other side of the place,
The flamingoes rest on lovely blue ponds,
pecking on last crumbs of thrown rice and bread,
Filling their beaks with nutritious wealth.

As the Sun beams across the lofty mountains
and the quiet and soundless country fields,
The moment of the early afternoon grows pleasantly,
Sunlight paves its ways across rich clean grasses
baking the fields and trees with motherly love.

A deer hides behind some thin long trees and forests
and then runs in a playful mode far into the woods,
A squirrel hops off a couple of decayed logs on untouched grass,
and hides itself into a maze of dark green bushes,
The scene of innocent animals becomes so joyous to see.

A few moments later, the feel of thin crisp air breaks across
as the Sun moves behind a few clouds and glumness falls,
Light dark clouds hover together and create a dull feeling,
Darkness changes the whole pleasantness of a warm day,
A few moments later, the Sun reappears and nurtures again.

Mowing the lawn
shouldn't be sexual, but
that chestnut, sheepdog-
esque silk, glistening
with the push and pull
of the grumbling machinery
in his hands, is.

And then there were two.
The strimmer arrives
attached to a shaven,
shabby t-shirted holler,
"Have you done the bulk
and I'll get those edges?".

The Lassie-head stops
to mop his brow
with a thick, brown arm
to the dismay of the strimmer.
Clearly, he is the boss,
pointing his instrument
at the tufts missed.

It must be hot
under that black shirt
and all that hair,
flapping and whipping
his face as he shakes
out the beheaded grass
and decapitated daises.

Even in the glaring sun,
there is something
of the night in watching
the self-assumed unwatched.

She flaunts not her beauty to the world
And waves quietly as the wind doth swirl,
She wanders not, but wonders well
Why the sun shine’th about herself.

A single flower among a crowd
As she waits to be found,
She reaches her petals toward the sun
Waiting for a just companion.

A humble queen, a modest child
She lingers there away in wild,
She wishes not that she could run
For out of many there comes only one.

Bear children into the world,
I could never bring myself to do that
It is so normal and so dear
For other people—
To me, it seems a loathsome sin
Life, meaningless life

The Earth is great
It has rain
If that didn't exist
There'd be no grain

The Earth is warm
It makes us survive
If there was no warmth
We would not thrive

The Earth has water
We use it to drink
If there was no water
Our life-spans would greatly shrink

The Earth is life
It is here we give birth
It is on this planet we give birth
The Earth

Oh this fills me with glee,
I can hear the lapping of water from mystic peaks.
Jumping and giving lessons to me,
The sparkles of freshness crossing stones in hurry.
The singing wind sounds like bee.
Trees standing tall also in money.
Bees around are running for honey.
Enjoying the sprinkles they all see.
What an uto world it is,
Which makes to love the scene.
Slipping stones also say something to me,
Let your sprinkles make us free,
Which made us magical and slippery,
we happy to enjoy here be.
This is an interesting story,
I like narrate to thee.

Stopped dead in my tracks,
Dumbstruck
As if a God had glanced
Into my mortal eyes;
Such silence…

Trees stand together,
Still and calm;
Content to be in each others company;
Brothers in arms.

The mercurial wind;
Hushed in mood,
Caresses the long grass;
A silent lullaby
Between undying rage.

And now everything appears
In a different light:

A wandering stream
Courses innocently
Yet somehow, definitively;
A humble engineer
Of from whom ourselves
Once appeared.

The ancient Sun
Beams down happiness;
From the world above
Or below us…
And I am humbled
By her maternal breath

Such silence…

The flowers are budding; the grass is turning green,
The birds are singing, the sun is shining,
It’s a beautiful day, so why not go out and play,
We all love spring, it’s our first sign of summer,
You smell the fresh cut grass, we remember that smell,
Your children play, and you’re fixing lunch,
And now we know its spring again!

The willow tree
What it means to me
The viny leaves
So soft and dainty
How it drapes them down
So sad
Its bark coarse and worn
Never in a forest
A willow stands
Solitary and alone
And beautiful
-Matthew M. Bartlett

A Concrete World

Concrete blocks and concrete streets,
concrete thoughts and concrete dreams
As I walk alone at night,
thinking wrong and thinking right

I see something shinning deep
On that road, right down that street
I run twoards it, it's a tree
I look up, amazed i see,

All its leafs staring and crying,
struggling noisly,slowly dying.
And a voice then, whisperes low
"Oh, dear human, please don't go!"

Hear the pain whitin its cry
"How much left before i die?"
"I'm ashamed, and hurt and sad;
nothing more than human hand,

Man is bulit just to destroy
all this beauty filled with joy.
What is truly nature now,
it's what's left under your crown"

"I see my death, it's building quick
out of cement,stone or brick.
It's time for me to leave this sight;
Farewell,dear human,and good night!"

I turned away, choked by despair,
In hurry left that city square;
For with disgrace I look at me,
I couldn't save that helpless tree.