Letting Go

A poem about saying goodbye to someone who's in the hospital.

I sit here watching memories
play a movie in my mind,
knowing they’ll be all I have,
all that’s left behind
after today.

There are so many moments that
I have shared with only you;
secret smiles and silent laughs
just between us two -
our private jokes.

Who’s going to laugh with me now,
and get what I try to say?
I’m being selfish, I know;
wanting you to stay
when you’re hurting.

24 hours of your time,
that’s what I gave to myself,
storing away each second
on a closet shelf
deep in my mind.

Listen to me now, I’m rambling.
Sorry for being a pain.
Just wanted to say thank you
for keeping me sane
through all the years.

The doctors are here now, it’s time,
no more hours left to buy.
It’s all right to go now friend.
Godspeed and goodbye,
I love you.

Tell Me

Catch me when I fall?
Will you heed the call?
Forever falling, fading out.
The light is shadow dancing.
What's it all about?

Crossroads

Going out of my mind -
it tickles, it burns
this promise of future.
Stiff like a board
each morning I wake.
The threats of tomorrow
bearing down on
my young-too-old shoulders,
leave me feeling guilty
of crimes to be proclaimed
by a jury ready for hanging.
Me or them?
Nothing tells nothing,
I read signs and portents
like the Sunday news,
but the censor and sensor
can't seem to agree.
Crow call, cuckoo call -
which way and which
direction my dear?
My head spins a compass
and the magnetic pull
of destiny and chance
tug a war with my soul.
Yet I can't live in fear.
Will not stay here.
If not up, then at least
I'll move on.
If not victory, then at least
I'll throw down.
And it will be
a merry-go-round.

20/20

Achy, breaky, disillusioned.
Disappointment and confusion.
In the night when all pretend
burns up and fades in ashen end,
I sit and watch my glory days
laughing for what hoping pays.
This is how the world's corrupt -
I should know the lesson well.
Still I tried just one more go,
failed to flow, and went through hell.
But after all, I'll try once more,
no one but me is keeping score.

Mistaken

Throw me in a bucket,
I will sink or swim.
Feed me to the lions,
I'll make food of you.
Try to misinterpret -
I shall lead astray.
Think I'm just a puppet?
You'll have to think again.

Guilty Till Proven Innocent

When dreams have retired,
I lie waiting in guilt.
Though I never committed
the crimes of the accused.

But I am still here when the judgment falls,
patiently waiting for that one final moment
before your sword does its work.

You’ll have until tomorrow
to see who I’ve always been.
Till it’s all but too late,
your mercy I await.

When dreams have retired,
I wait in the arms of night
to once more be embraced
by you, as the friend I have been.

Justitia’s eyes bring me some quiet comfort,
for as she is blind you too should see
behind the masks I’m wearing.

So I wait, though already sentenced,
for it’s true that something must give.
We’ll see what’s first to abandon us -
your ignorance, or my heart.

Black Truths and White Lies

You can say that you love me.
My answer is a sigh.
You can say that you need me
and I will do what I can,
for a while.
But please don’t ask,
control yourself.
Don’t go looking for answers
you never wanted to hear.
Honesty a virtue?
Don’t be absurd.
Everything can be forgiven,
but do you think this is a dream?
Honest liars,
that my friend,
that’s what they’re always wanting.
Euphemism,
beautiful thoughts,
while the soul get locked up inside
to protect the helpless wardens.

Short Good Night Poem X

Would you close your eyes
and feel the stars
sing serenades above your window?
Would you lean into
whatever comfort
is around you; the ground, the bed?
Would you let me take you
out on adventures
that do not wear and tear your heart?
Would you welcome
the end of day
had it ever the most splendid start?
We need night to redefine morning.
In the lightest slumber there is rest.
For you let your spritit
come that much closer to peace
once you lay your head down
and sleep.

Short Good Night Poem IX

Lazily gazing down
the moon with her crown
laughs joyfully and free
while she's playing with the sea.
Sighing deep in slumber
the birds don't mind the thunder
just beyond the shore
they dream of myth and lore.
Buried deep in summer grass
lies a gleaming pearl of glass.
Go to sleep and you will find
that beauty deep within your mind.

Short Good Night Poem IIX

The hour is late and waning yet,
the future looks blurry -nothing is set.
The day has passed in its willful way,
the sun grows uncertain, the shadows stay.
Take comfort in knowing you tried to do good,
things will fall how they should.
Just trust in the light, you can sleep safe and tight
there is nothing to do here tonight.

Short Good Night Poem VII

It's okay to be small,
you'll grow up in a while.
It's all right to be scared,
but you don't have to worry.
I will be here, when shadows close.
I will be here, even if you don't see me.
I will be here, so you can sleep tight.
Nothing will hurt you tonight.

Short Good Night Poem VI

Simmer down little one,
the heat is fleeting.
Take your bow,
like the sun
as it shimmers
into night.

Let the puffs
of angels breaths
cool your sweaty brow.
Simmer down and go to sleep,
like the crimson heavens.

Short Good Night Poem V

Flickering lights of softness,
flushed roses in a bed of down.
Troubles forgotten,
left behind.
Now we go to sleep.

Short Good Night Poem IV

Snuggle deep beneath the cover,
feel the warmth surrounding you.
Soon you will go safe in slumber
to meet fellow journeyers
and have the merriest adventures.
Feel the salt of weary sleep,
like drops of ocean you may keep,
singing lullabies of joy
and whispering of peace.

Short Good Night Poem III

Close your eyes and listen
to the silent sounds of night.
Hear the stars twinkle
and the innocent breaths of sleep.
There is only harmony
within the halls of your mind.
There we will dance in moonlight,
you my darling, and I.

Short Good Night Poem II

Outside the brazen moon
is dancing limbo with the stars.
Inside it's warm and you and I
will dance with dreams tonight.
All that's good will come to you
for you are strong and true.
Tonight is all about the sleep
so rest, the moon will keep
you safe from any harm.

Short Goodnight Poem I

Temper the stardust
floating right by,
measuring time by the swirl
of a magical cane.
Siphon the hope
of dragons you’ve slain.
Spin it to thread
and pull.

Short Goodnight Poems collection

The Goodnight Poems collection is migrating from my other blog: teresemortvik.blogspot.com The poems seem quite popular and should be readily available along with my other works at this new poetry blog. I'll be moving over all the poems written in the old blog as I have the time.

Wake

A poem about sacrifice and love.

There will be days of darkness
and sleepless nights of fear,
doubt filling up your every pore
and pain beyond endurance.
But endure you shall, beloved.
Endure you shall,
and rise to walk again.

There will be moments of anger
when you blame me for all of your woes.
And that’s all right, it is as it should be,
because I can bear the blame
and still carry you on my shoulders.
That’s why I have to go -
so you can live by yourself
and be content.
So be content.

There will be clouds shading the sun
and you will ask all the gods for answers,
but when silence tears at your soul,
know that you were loved
and let that be enough.

Hero

A poem about heroes, written in sestina form.

What happens to the hero
when the war’s come to an end?
Where will he go and what will he do
when there are no more battles to fight?
And who will offer protection
from his often troubled dreams?

Many a young man dreams
of one day becoming a hero
To be the one who offers protection,
the one who always wins in the end.
But there is seldom glory in a fight.
Heroes just do what they need to do.

Against the odds is a lonely fight
and not at all like it is in dreams.
You can’t always choose what you do
and sometimes what makes you into a hero
is what will break your spirit in the end.
And no one will offer protection.

A hero is a symbol of protection;
your worth lies in what you do.
And you’re not a person in the end,
just something from legends and dreams.
There is no humanity for a hero,
only the fighting and the fight.

When you’ve won that final fight,
with none left to protect and no protection,
how do you end being a hero?
And what does a fallen hero do?
Legends must return to being dreams
and all things must come to an end.

How does the story book end
and who’ll help us fight the good fight?
Heroes ride into sunsets and dreams,
but will they still be our protection?
And what do forgotten heroes do?
Whatever happens to the hero?

In my dreams there is an end
for the hero and the fight:
Love is their protection, love is what they do.

Bearer of Strength

A poem about love and inspiration.

At my most beautiful,
I was never as divine
as you can be the hours before morning.
At my most generous,
I could never, like you
trade my existence for a tireless fight
against the ordinary darkness in humans.
At my most special,
I cannot say
that you don’t blow me away
with your faith in humanity,
however misplaced.
People grow, people change,
yet here, now -
you remain the same
and for that
I envy you.

Well, Good Morning to You Sunshine...

A short poem about waking up to a bitter pill.

I wake in silence
there are dreams
left in my head.
For a moment I hear nothing.
Contentment is,
only is,
I am.
But the alarm goes off
and I remember once more
that I really hate reality

Rejoice

A short funeral poem, with hope.

Scatter my ashes
and do not mourn.
I died, still I live
and will yet be reborn.
Sing in rejoicing,
my spirit is free.
Let no bitter tears linger
for what has to be.
This is adventure
and yet this is peace.
My fire shines brightly,
and my soul, rests with ease.

Imagination

A poem in sestina form, about growing up, some reverie.

When I was a child I saw beyond
the human context and the world.
I traveled far in my imagination -
dancing with stars, speaking with gods.
At times I even encountered ghosts.
Nothing was impossible.

As I grew I learned impossible -
one was not invited to see beyond
reality. So I stopped speaking of ghosts
and for some time tried to join the world.
Found my solace in one of the gods -
a shared imagination.

I took refuge in my imagination,
reveled in all that was impossible.
Always praying to one of the gods,
such a saint I was, far beyond
mere children. Devoted to the world,
closed my eyes to all the ghosts.

But now, who’ll be helping the ghosts,
who are forbidden and just imagination?
They’re traveling alone in the world
ignored as being simply impossible.
Who will ever dare to look beyond
the mysticism of the gods?

I finally gave up on one of the gods,
though I would not return to the ghosts.
They are still far too much beyond
my comfort zone of ’just imagination’.
But I know they’re not impossible
and soon I’ll join their world.

I’m opening my senses to the old world,
neither renouncing nor inviting the gods.
Once again nothing is impossible;
not magic, not demons, not ghosts.
Hail to thee, old friend Imagination!
I’m ready to travel beyond .

Come, Impossible! Join my world!
Let’s go beyond and speak to the gods.
Come, ghosts! Meet Imagination.

Dark Rising

A speculative poem about a kingdom on the precipice of chaos.

There is trouble a-brewing.
I can smell its haste
to waste my good fortunes.
There is a storm a-coming.

Out by castle and courtyard
old knights in rusty wear,
guard this night of folly.
Be ready and prepare!

The Lighthouse by
the end of everything
flashes oddly, like a message
to take unto the grave.

Hound and horse and hunter
grow uneasy in the night.
Soon we slip our leash and go
to frolic and to fight.

Trixter’s Retreat

A poem about living life as you want to live it, shrugging off the consequences.

Slide sideways with me,
move like water.
Slide in and out of trouble
like you’re in a bubble
of can’t-touch-me.
Trip the wires
and avoid the fires
only to drown
in your own liquid pace.
Take the rightful place
of any fallen god.
Sleep among the heroes
and say goodbye to all.

Vigil

A poem about death and the fallen that no one remembers.

Solemn petals wilting
by a lonely looking grave.
No one comes here anymore,
so only angels gaze
upon the fallen.

Leave

A poem about breaking up, trying to avoid even more misery down the line.

It was never about you,
and that sounds terrible I know -
that I hurt you just because I could.
Did you do it for the same reason I wonder?
Or was it because life lost its flow,
and you knew I never would

touch you were it mattered,
wound you to the core,
wind you up and break you…

No, I guess it wasn’t about me either.
So why are we together again?
doing the same old dirty dances.
The masks are all shredding before us.
Guess this is the final end then,
as we wake up from our trances.

This never-ending music’s
becoming such a bore.
Maybe Hel should take you.

It wasn’t really such fine a deal
we’d had drawn up for our uses,
so I don’t see why you’re crying.
This should clear up things between us,
get rid of all the bad excuses.
Well, it certainly beats dying.

Don’t look at me all broken like -
we’ve evened out the score.
Leaving now should wake you,
so leave before I make you.

Because in the end I hate you,
though I love you all the more.

Shameless

A poem about not feeling shame. No regret.

Shameless I am, born to balance
on the shiny, crimson blade.
One side is to ever suffer,
the other? is to simply fade.

Shameless I am, made for living,
ever flying -born of lust.
I will take what I desire
till the kingdoms tun to dust.

Shameless I am, but of kindness
I have yet my kindness kept
and for shame I should be feeling?
I shamelessly have wept.

Welcome Stranger

A poem about writing, specifically my writing.

I write a story sometimes,
to keep cold nights at bay -
a fairytale of my own devices,
because I have so much to say.

My tales are not just laughter,
not just silk, or love, or light.
They're mirrors of what's in my mind
both the shadows and the bright.

Tears that make us blind
and ancient love that bleeds
are inside the lines i conjure, but
also hopeful seeds.

Freedom and captivity,
futures and the past,
words that speak forever
and things that cannot last.

All are within my power
to tease from within the grave
and forth from joyous heavens,
from master and from slave.

I have three words of comfort,
six instances of grief,
nine mentions of a lover
and one sentence of relief.

Let's head out on a journey
to take us far and wide,
if ever you feel frightened?
- know I'm by your side.

Come on and brave the darkness,
come out and play with me,
dance to my tunes of living
and my words of reverie.