Lower Countries

shivering, wet winter’s
rippling, sharp gale
sheep graze, as I gaze
watching, wondering
imagining life, here
place of reclamation, of
old masters, new impressionists
quiet life, here, wide fields lined
traced, in water

photo and poem © by DC Lessoway

Muggy, Day’s Break

sandy reverie, aside a
calmed sea, muted, salted breeze
cleanses reason, churns away
troubles, responsibility
distant, indistinct lies
home, as here, apart from
reality, is peace

poem and photo © DC Lessoway

Venice

as a tourist Venice
her tranquility, alit upon my soul
no car nor truck apart from
boat motors, church bells
gondoliers’ bawdy songs
aching feet led many adventure
through her stony labyrinth
blotted sun, constricting walls: lost
reaching water: found
magnificence of her cathedrals
humility of rising tides
worlds apart, circumventing life
for a while

photo and poem © by DC Lessoway

Fields of Life

gift of gods and soil
worn hands tended
by hand and mule, since
ages long past recollection
germination to fermentation
vino’s untold generations
soothing ache and joy both

poem and picture © DC Lessoway

Anticipation

my breath, caught
time’s strident march
seconds or hours, lend
no aid to define when
again I’ll see
those eyes of
burnt sienna, smile
luminous, inviting, till
my love, there, on high

photo and poem © by dC Lessoway

Keawakapu Beach, Maui

open the door to a
benign, muggy cloak
pattering of sequestered gecko
ceaseless hymns of wave, Myna and Finch
crowing roosters at large

tour birds of paradise
lush, coral ginger
milky plumeria, red hibiscus
aloha issued from slender palms
mesmerizing splendor

contemplate West Maui
wee Molokini
nebulous kaho’olawe, Lanai
stilled lava, contrasting tawny sand
firmament of azure

grinding sand betwixt toes
spartan feet carte blanche
eases, wears down the mind’s disquiet
a cerebral-bodily sojourn
calming the pace of thought

kind, welcoming Maui

Photo and poem © DC Lessoway

Tuscan Heart

terraces gathered, impassioned
upon the other ever higher
sent in stone, blood, circumstance
footfall worn, bruised, beaten
strengthened by ever-lusting rulers
till long-lasting peace wrought
crumbling walls, letting all in

photo and poem (c) DC Lessoway

Winter’s Imperium

benumbed, betrothed, gracious desiring
vigor in mastery over sentimentality, while
exemplifying the play of dominion
above our heads, yet human be
none the less

photo and poem (c) by DC Lessoway

Stone Prophet

stony silence expressing a thousand words
sightless vision, statement of inscribed creeds
moral virtue, teaching the unwashed throngs
token martyr, likely or unlikely real

Photo and poem (c) by DC Lessoway

Morning March

Strolling mythical lanes
before citizens waken
my singular step echoes
hastening my mind to ponder
visualize, conjure
throngs of foot soldiers
in rank and file, anticipating battle
sweat and leather and dusty sandals
sharpened swords, lances, shield, behind
their families weep, wonder
in months, years, or ever, a return?
Perhaps, upon same flagstone, stained crimson
fell many in defense, invasion, regime change
yet, gone
such signs, wiped clear by time’s stride
a veneer conceivably whitewashed
as we roving bees to history’s honey, innocent
of foregoing savagery
still, without such brutal truths
her charms, bewitch still

Photo and poem (c) by DC Lessoway