Robert N Hope
Poetry is the impish attempt to paint the color of the wind. ~Maxwell Bodenheim
VALENTINES DAY
Valentines Day is upon us.
This day’s high expectations smack me
My mind numbs to the attack and whispers,
“Nothing more than any other day”
This day of romance, of cards and flowers
Is but a spark for those with a tentative love.
My spirit remembers and softly says,
“Nothing more than any other day”
The love that fills my life requires no urging
For each day I love her with all of my heart.
My soul rejoices and exclaims,
“Nothing more than any other day”
Can I possibly think of her more ‘this day’
When she already fills my head from rise to rest.
My heart celebrates and sings,
“Nothing more than any other day”
With each and every thought of her
Her smile, her touch, her warm embrace
My fire quickens and cheers,
“Nothing more than any other day”
This day of love is but one new day to cherish her
One more chance to affirm my love
My very fiber applauds and rejoices,
“Nothing more than any other day"
WAVES
As a beach changes
When each wave touches sand
So too, my love for you
Is constantly changing
Brushed by soft, gentle waves
With each fleeting thought of you
And warm, easy waves
That your voice ushers in
Each wave cleanses
Washing away unpleasant sediment
Leaving behind the grains
Of a nourishing love
I reach for your hand
Sensing the exhilaration to come
And again I’m surprised
How each finds a place in my heart
They follow us each night
Kisses, be they tender or fleeting
Touches, barely discernible
Or a thunderous surge
The waves remind me
With every smile, every kiss
With every memory of us
Of our love
LOVED
How can man be whole
Until he loves
And is loved
Love feeds the soul
Gives it life
And brings it to bloom
Love given and love received
Balanced as the breath
That preserves the body
Renewed with each glance
Made surer still
With every touch
Generating energy each day
And bringing peace
With each night shared
I am blessed with such a love
Joyfully given
Enthusiastically returned
And now wed to my love
And my love wed to me
I am whole
SWEETNESS
To you, the true companion of all my joys and sorrows
To you, whose beautiful form protects a mind more lovely
I am inspired by you
My words, suggested by the reflection on your brilliance
Written under the shelter of your encouragement
Become, in truth, your own
RESTLESS SLEEP
I see you next to me
Beautiful as you sleep
Dark hair softly on your cheek
Bare, strong arms outside the blankets
I reach for your hand
But you are only a dream
I roll over and try to fall asleep again
Turning my back on my vision of you
Wishing that you were with me
Wishing you were already my bride
Her Birthday
'Tis Lori's birthday--raise your voice,
And sing and roar in sweet rejoice,
Celebrate with special glee
For Lori, who was born for me.
Tell all the fairies as they prance,
Jubilant in their raucous dance;
They’re no more fancy free,
Than Lori, who was born for me.
Tell every spirit in the sky,
Watching o’er us as they fly,
That it’s not an angel that they see
‘Tis Lori, who was born for me.
Tell with song, with joyful flute,
On this I stand most resolute,
And if you know us you’ll agree,
It’s Lori who was born for me.
Tell all the gods in heaven above,
How little Cupid knows of love
For I'd hate to breathe or be,
If Lori was not born for me.
HAIKU
Delicate kisses
Nape of neck to small of back
Resting in heaven
CONCERT
he lights rain down on an hundred faces
And there she is
Row upon row upon row,
the voices sing out
And there she is
Dancers glide across the stage in waves
And there she is
She's but one of an hundred
Yet her face glows most brightly
Her smile shines most brilliant
Her voice rings most pure
Her figure twirls most joyful
She is love
She is hope, and beauty, and joy
She is my everything.
REVERIE
Glued in dispiriting weary
Bees swarm in my head
In dreams came tales dreary
Merciless skies fill with dread
Life’s noisy storms survived
Old hopes, with each year
Forgot how softness sounded,
Quiet features once so dear.
Days dragged slow and quiet
Dark mass round, dark skies above
Devoid of belief; uninspired,
Devoid of tears, of fire, of love.
Rest from my soul retreating,
And then from darkness you appear
Before me like a vision fleeting,
A lovely spirit, genuine and clear.
A wonderful moment; our first meeting
Your smile still beams in my memory
The way it sent my heart to beating,
Afloat in delicious reverie.
In bliss my heart now beating,
Gladness and joy revive;
Inspired, it is greeting
The fire, and thrill, and love alive.
For long your tender voice was sounding,
For long in dreams came features dear.
PATH TO HAPPINESS
A man takes a wife
Knowing no other course
Hoping to fill a hollowness inside
And life moves ahead most expectantly
Then the man becomes a father
The love and joy of his children
Masking the void within
And life moves on quite predictably
Years run by quickly
The children grow independent
Awaking the embers of the emptiness
And life moves ahead unsteadily
Time for togetherness is spent apart
Hoping to find out who they are
And the hollow begins to ache
And life moves on cautiously
No enthusiasm, no passion
First separation, then a divorce
The ache becomes numbness
And life moves ahead warily
He has so much love to give
But his heart beats half-empty
The hunger grows
And life moves ahead slowly
He wished to love and be loved
Not to journey through life alone
His longing meant to be sated
And his life is renewed with hope
Not knowing what a soul-mate was
He found her
His heart filled to bursting
And his life moves ahead splendidly
Now soul-mate becomes his bride
His partner for all time
Joy and love overwhelm the emptiness
And their lives move ahead most wonderfully
ALONE
Before there was you
I didn’t understand alone
Alone never meant as much
Never had it cut so deep
Apart, time creeps so
Only anticipation offers comfort
Knowing each moment apart
Is a moment nearer to you
Nearer your joyous smile
To holding you again
Feeling you in my arms
A moment nearer our next kiss
With each thought of you
My heart smiles and my spirits rise
Slowly warming my soul
And, for a moment, the loneliness fades
PEACE
My head is spinning
Before, my life was deciding for me
Now it's so turbulent
Children and college and life-shaping issues
Divorce and settlement and alimony
A house to sell, another to buy
Business and career questions twist in my mind
And pain my constant companion
Questions and risks -- big decisions to make
My heart and soul rest in your hands and it is there that I find peace.