A Windy Day

We live in the land
of the western wind.

Sit silent and still
under dancing leaves.
See how it fills
the savage trees
with whispered passion,
strokes rough wood,
enraptures
tender stems.

poem by Steven Federle
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Self Examination

my name
my place in line
my face
my fleeting time
to find what I need.

after
so much fear
it's no longer clear
what is true

for truth is thin
and empty
within
enfolded and
faded to
night

poem by Steven Federle
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Sight Persists

In small cells it grows
glows in vitreous seas
like phosphorescent slugs
by currents released
holding all the motion, color,
loveliness
of the captured world,

until noticing, at last,
I see.

poem by Steven Federle
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Mitsuo, What Do You See?

When your spirit goes
to the glowing
edge

do you feel terror
as you hunger for
air?

What do you see
in that bright, distant
light?

Do you gaze through dark pain
into heaven’s living
flame?

poem by Steven Federle
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Aubade: Your Face

Starry lace wraps
your sleeping face.

With passion
I watch over you

like the moon
drifting
to secret
rendezvous,

to the importunate sun,

who, with ardent speed,
rises in-
to the fiery
east!

poem by Steven Federle
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Day's End

I fill this small space,
coarse stone in the stream,
as soft, summer winds
gently shape me,

my rough lines smoothing,
polishing dull skin,
‘til golden and gleaming
I’m clean once again.

poem by Steven Federle
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O Copper Moon

O copper moon in cobalt sky,
brush back confining trees.

Climb Jacob’s silver stairs and rise
on sparks of angel-fire, free.

Incite in hidden, mystic night
God’s own sacred, fearful delight!

poem by Steven Federle
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Winter Night

Sliver of moon,
thin crescent hovers
over
breathless hills.

From night’s broad loom,
empty skies fill
dark rooms
with blackest silk.

O guardian
stars, dropp on my face
your amazing
lace!

poem by Steven Federle
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Mercy

Night sways.
The lilting tree fills
with mercy.

Raging day,
blue-jay’s anger
the dolor of
rose petals
softly falling
to tender
grass
forgiven

as whispers
the fading tree,
“do not
forget me.”

poem by Steven Federle
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Redwoods

dark
shafts
converging
to blue space,
confining, massively
rising beyond reach, past
simple comprehension, they
shelter or imprison, lift me up
point the way
to escape, to
the thin
edge of
faith

poem by Steven Federle
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