2 Dreams

Illustration by Koldo Barroso

I Dreamed Of You

It’s been a long time
I’ve seen a rainbow,
but last night
I dreamed of you.
In colors of forests,
screaming simians,
mornings and dew.

Mimi of the
hoarse whispers,
lewd curses,
cigarette blues.
You were in a dress
of fields of blooms,
your eyes stabbing spirits,
suggestions profuse.

I followed you into a room
dark and fearful, symmetry askew.
You pushed me away.
I stood my ground.
Couldn’t lose you again
in platonic platitudes.

Lips crushed lips
like meteors
crashing on satellites.
You weakened.
I got stronger.

The lights turned on.
Eyes kept closed,
barenaked, unashamed.


Illustration by Emila Yusof

Haiku kuno

A rainbow I miss.
Painting skies
with colors bliss.
I dreamed of Mimi.

More Of The Same

From the century that went by, more of the same...


Two Worlds From My Window

Colors divide
Sounds subside
No escape from life
And none is asked for
Dusty morning
Jaundiced afternoon
The world is one
From my window


Guiding Light

Lost in time
Evening eased
A rainbow breathes
Haloed on a lamp’s flame
Swaying with the cold wind
Leaning without breaking
Burning shadows bent
The sole guide
For an old man’s shortening candle
Lest he stumbles
In darkness’ urge
To answer nature’s call


Ascent

Venus, you rose from the depths;
resplendent, curvaceous and wet.
You dried the spit on my lip.

With every step I took
you leaped into garden beds.
What I thought were flowers
was gasoline.

Dark Rainbow Love Poems

More poems from the past. These were among the first ones published in a local Sunday supplement magazine. I am still digging for more. Don’t hold your breath; I don’t intend to stop doing this until all the dust is blown off the covers.


And Now

(The morning was for him,
Free to be had.
Everything beckoned, everything cried.
But he was brought up in isolation,
Strong enough to be sad.)

He closes the windows,
Snubbing half the din.
Still he can see the flowers.
Their fragrance hangs
On his cheeks.
Tempted to reopen the windows,
He remembers his strength.
To darkness he gives in,
Allowing a crack to exist.
The morning is screaming.

With grace and an unsettled mind,
He notices dust
In an untrampled corner of the room.
Bending on seldom-used knees,
Hearing lightning tear,
Thunders his back.
He draws a heart on the floor.

Powder sticks to cold fingers.
He tastes it, bitter with age.

Frowns won’t take away youth.
Amid the wavering dawn,
An attempted smile
Will settle for a smirk.
Feeling safe,
He takes three rabbit strides.


I love you

You face wrapped
by ancient roots
like jealous lovers.
Kites lay their eggs
in you ears.
I don’t know why,
but I incubate mine
in your mouth.
When I sleep
I huddle tight
in warm breasts.
I am the perverted parasite
too scared to say,
‘I love you.’


Unblinded

All that is white
come crushing in.
What is left must
all be black,
close behind follow.
Sleep and will,
the lack of it,
tempt what comes.
Then war is given birth to.
Somewhere around here
must be the rainbow.

Unblinded

All that is white
come crushing in.
What is left must
all be black, close
behind follow.
Sleep and will,
the lack of it,
tempt what comes.
Then war is
given birth to.
Somewhere around
here must be
the rainbow.