poems by lee
If
If we have no heart, how can we bleed?
If no forgiveness, how can we grieve?
If we have no vision, how can we see?
If no direction, how can we lead?
If there is no touch, how can we feel?
If there is no love, how can we heal?
If there is no river, how can we flow?
If no tomorrow, then what seeds did we sow?
If poison blights the air, how can we breathe?
If we stifle their voices, how will they dream?
If we know all there is to know, then where are we now?
If power be the glory, then to whom do we bow?
If we’re told to buy happy yet cry in our sleep.
If division breeds hate, then how to find peace?
If we vow to learn from the past, why the repeat?
If vengeance the motive, then none will be free.
old man
old man walks with bent and stick
arced like diver, gummed and drip
sweat and spit, dignity ripped
old man walks with bent and stick
sand as glittered night sky flutter
sun beat tattered, worn and haggard
sisters brothers fathers lovers
new born, old born, friends and mothers
caravan shuffle, feet of sandal
torn asunder world once wonder
universe shivers, innocents quiver
bone and gristle, wailing hunger
old man walks with bent and stick
gives her his last, gives her a wish
don’t die my child, don’t let it be thus
cankered and battered, drowning in blood
where love lives
In paintings that sing, in songs that speak,
In words on a page slow-gathered and preened.
In creations creators wrung deep from their soul
to let it be shown that I am not so alone.
In a smile, in forgiveness, in laughter.
In the trill of a songbird. In silence.
In a five second breath of neither then nor when.
In the soft ebb away of grief and fear.
In the hand that takes mine. In saying goodbye,
In unloosing words that cleaved and carved.
In looking deeply at what lies beneath.
In your hurt and mine. In finding forgive.
In the light that finds a way out of dark,
In the springtime sun that dazzles and sparks
a resurrect from lifeless, a newborn, a kindness.
In birth, in life, in death.
poem from my father
On the day I don’t awake
will the birds still sing?
will the sun still break the day?
and somewhere life begin?
On the day I don’t awake
Will I have left your side
or am I in that lucid thought
come unbidden in the night?
On the day I don’t awake
If you want to cry, then cry
If you want to laugh, then laugh out loud
then settle on a smile.
and in that smile, see me thus:
as strong as a mountain
as gentle as a dove
as giving as the love of god
and wilful as a child
as courageous as a broken heart that found a way to heal
as honest as the day is long
as determined as a seed seeking light.
see me sailing on a sea of love.
Close your eyes, you’ll see me
Listen closely, and you’ll hear me
Nothing and no one ever really dies
when burning bright in hearts and dreams and minds.