Journey

Beneath me lies Denver,
Thrall of stasis,
Tenuous lines
Fading to western chaos -
A glint of light, then darkness


Dark mountains leap up at me
Then fall back silently
Into stony blue gorges.

High clouds brush my wings.
I have captured the sun!
Glittering, I release it.

poem by Steven Federle
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Passion in the Garden

In the empty night
I hear your song.

Longing
I seek
but can only see
my own dying image
in lying glass
and glittering steel.

I tremble in fear.
Where have you gone?

O, sing me your soaring love-song

and show me the way
for night’s a thin wall
and death, a porous veil.

poem by Steven Federle
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Rockville Cemetery

Among broken stones
folded over soft grass
we linger.

See how the fallen pillar
leans
on the graven rock?

Someday
they’ll search
for us, too.

In this garden,
beyond
all calamity,

beneath sunny lawns
in a deeper shade
we’ll fill our own space
and in peace

[...] Read more

poem by Steven Federle
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Sunset on All Soul's Day

Sunset glows
over sharp, dark ridges

rich with vermilion
and ruddy blush

as gathered souls stretch
incarnadine fingers

in clouds sweeping down
to bless bleak coastal hills.

For their love arises
from the raw, bleeding sun,

their golden breaths
coalesce
into pure, lucid song.

poem by Steven Federle
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Atonement

'There must be a time when the man of prayer goes to pray as if it were the first time in his life he had every prayed.' Thomas Merton

Grey mist
rises and falls
enfolding parched hills
easing autumn's harsh pain

saturating the spreading valley
with gathering rain
and forgiveness.

poem by Steven Federle
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Poet In The Coffee Shop

new brew
roasting, flowing
aroma rolling
through
atmosphere,

machines
grinding, growling
out fresh
caffeine

and you,
awash in lilting
ballads, consuming
lovers
across the room.

Just keep your eyes down
on your honeyed-
words,

[...] Read more

poem by Steven Federle
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The Gap

Distracted, ears filled
with gossip, with chattering
laughter, hissing pots,
baroque music.

This chair's too hard.

My small table's streaked
and sticky,
twisting veins
of old, spilled
coffee.

I seek silence.

Where else to find it
but here,
under this too-
bright spot-
light?

poem by Steven Federle
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French Park Creek

Deep in the woods
down the steep trench
we call to each other -
to the creek we descend

through green shadows rushing
over shallow, smooth stones,
to deeper, dark pools
where love lies, alone.

Hand in warm hand
we run, holding tight
and laughing we fall
to our own secret night.

poem by Steven Federle
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Refuge

Fog hangs in bright tents
contagion enfolds
blighted white mist
like driven, lost souls.

But curtains enclose
our dim, soft room,
and lanterns guard
against fog’s ashen gloom.

So build high the fire
to warm us this night;
we'll silently wait for
dawn’s thin, brittle light.

poem by Steven Federle
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From A Dark Room

"Our spirits were made for light, not for darkness." Thomas Merton

This dark room
comforts me.

Tender eyes
are safe here from
the hot autumn wind.

Dark tears cleanse
as I gaze out
to the shimmering street
where rises the sacred scent
of yellow flowers,

heavy
and sweet.

poem by Steven Federle
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