gloriosus et liber

memories of past troubles

have diminished with age …

viewed from a great distance,

most things seem amorphous and benign

the abiding sea tides flow, transcendent,

to blue sky and then to stars;

the ghostly moon adorns,

and even the darkest specter,

eventually, nods off – if allowed to rest

and so, I look to the sea for

the peace conferred in cessation,

and remind myself:  a water drop

can hollow out a stone 

note:  gloriosus et liber; latin for – glorious and free

photo:  Ferry Crossing the Georgia Strait – P. Bourke 

© 2015 Wendy Bourke

mostly empty places

it was spitting on 

the mostly empty, 

yearning, street 

that brooded 

in bruised shadows

and though,

leaves and litter 

danced about 

my feet, I shifted from 

my easy amble to 

a quickened pace … back

to the sanctuary of aloneness 

in great swishing crowds … for 

mostly empty places fill me 

with primal sparks of foreboding, 

that I douse with white noise 

and warm mnemonic wisps 

of soothing steam, from 

cups of red hot orange pekoe tea - 

sipped with cool aplomb

note:  posted for Poets United.

photo:  W. Pender in Vancouver – W. Bourke

© 2015 Wendy Bourke

echoes of the mystic idyll

long, long ago:

in the mystic idyll

happiness wafted round

as spontaneously and,

seemingly as perennial,

as the ragged daisy petals

that fell or were plucked
and floated from their

circle of sun center

upon brand new breathy

moments bursting like kisses blown

on the serendipitous adventures

of bohemian youth …

wrapped each day,

snug in romantic twilight shadows

and tender words:  blissfully

replete with someone

to hold onto and care about

long, long ago:

and yet still, so many years later,

the mystic idyll returns to me

– in recollection –

in images the color of tea …

fragrant with jasmine, and wisps

of greenery and sandalwood,

when he whispers:   Good Night.

“If someone wishes you Good Night every day,

you are happier than so many people.”  - Author Unknown

notes:  idyll - an extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque episode or scene, typically an idealized or unsustainable one or a short description in verse or prose of such a time.

 posted for Poets United.

photos:  Shasta Daisies and Flower Bed in Queen’s Park, New Westminster – W, Bourke

© 2015 Wendy Bourke