Rough Saiing
deck rising,
waves tossing
taut life-
lines, cold-
sailing, salt-
air, dark water,
wrenched
by gale, by moon,
by jealous
core
of earth,
but hold firm
flex legs to keep
your balance
your next
breath
exhales life
like wind
roaring with
[...] Read more
poem by Steven Federle
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The Quarrel
'Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt.' Thomas Merton
*
Words spoken drift like
mustard gas, doubt burning like
webs, unexpected
spiders brush my ears,
slip into my eyes as blind-
ly I run away.
poem by Steven Federle
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Sometimes In The Night
sometimes
in the night
I fight the
deepening shadows
of sleep disturbed
by fearful stirrings,
silent watchers
standing, waiting
as I fall
into
nothing...
but when I awake
and turn to you
I feel your breath
and finding myself anew
again
I begin
to live.
poem by Steven Federle
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Good Friday
The day was filled with lash and thorn,
hands lacerated by hammered nail
til brain seared
and pain pierced
this great,
bleeding
soul.
Ancient grief still lingers on this
sun-drenched, bird-filled day,
as I wait in line to kiss
the wood and
remember.
poem by Steven Federle
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In My Silence
In my silence I hear your song,
gentle breezes
filling tender leaves.
O feel my prayer,
my failing despair.
In my darkness I feel your breath
echoing my heart’s
steady beating,
O fill my emptiness,
my dying,
with eyes
like stars
consuming night.
poem by Steven Federle
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Cold Sailing
Waves enfold waves.
With rolling swell
we rise and fall.
Through deafening static
of storm-struck air
I hear the rigging’s
ringing fear
as under the bridge
titanic ships
plow darker paths
through
shadowed bay.
With sails engorged,
swiftly
we fly away!
poem by Steven Federle
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Grace
dry earth
shifting ever-down
to lowest ground,
dust sifting
autumn's blight,
to winter's,
longest night,
until Grace
unrequested, freely
given, undeserved
fills with unreserved life
springs, white-water
rising higher
than could ever
have been
conceived!
poem by Steven Federle
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Fog's Gone
Fog's gone, the sky rises
to steaming heights
sheds hot silver to gleaming bay
thin lines of fire spreading
through the blue, hazy day.
From this hill I see
how space
to white space fades
and bold day strides to night.
Fog's back
to block my hobbled sight.
poem by Steven Federle
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Glance Down
and see how new grass
lifts green glory
to absolute blue.
Look how swarming gnats
dash in passion,
vortex of life,
swirling whirlpool
in liquid light.
The jay waits
on shadowed fence,
as jeweled hummingbirds
float
in a sea of roses,
nectar drunk,
May-mad.
poem by Steven Federle
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Night Scene
Black windows frame dark
folded drapes; indifferent
stars peer through high arch.
Wine glass gleams. Fragrant
constellations, red dregs, swill
over empty stem.
Night trains blare, despairing
gates clang, steel wheels crease dark rails.
Night birds stir, dreaming.
poem by Steven Federle
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