Paranoid, but Alive

a natural state of perception

acknowledging

that possible

negative truth

of our universe



behind its mask

lies that face of decay

hiding

always ready



paranoia declares

the end result

of all eventuality

is death



intimacy with death

the essence of creative thinking

fuels our passion

tending not to be life-affirming

rather, a

negative potential



taking to its logical conclusion

life in its abundance

that’s the secret

to life eternal

paranoia

that’s how we do it

© 2017 michael d emmerich

 

Silent Rage

in the still of the night

silence reigns

until

it is rent asunder.. by that 

chilling sound.......

the silent scream...

it rips across

the valley floor

for all who do not hearto hear

condemning them

to a sleepless night.....

filed with dreams..

just another night

of the waking dead

© 2017 michael d emmerich

 

A Matter of Life

air goes in and out

blood goes round and round

that says the medic

keeps you alive



in sickness and death

illness and injury

not all goes as it should

this is well noted



blood and guts

sickness and death

that last …..

potential breath

affirms our quest



intimacy with death

fuels our passion

in life in its abundance

ours

and yours …

the next patient

© 2017 michael d emmerich

 

In Whose Name?

the evil that men do

in the name of a god

is not in god’s name

but rather

evil enacted

in their name



hypocrisy prevails

in whose name?

some faceless god?

no…….

just greed

and the face on the lucre



the victorious

the arrogant

the ungodly

there is no god of the righteous

only the greedy

might is not always right

but greed trumps



"in god's name"

is now a lament of regret

what have we become

© 2017 michael d emmerich

 

The Wall of Time

that wall of time

over the years

it just gets higher

the great separator



that great divide

shuffling out the old

ushering in the new

breaking bridges along the way



conformity

that builder of walls

destroyer of bridges

ensuring, at best

only memories remain



bridges built across time

memoirs adsorb the unwanted

safely travelling back

allowing

old to become

…..

the new, new

© 2017 michael d emmerich

Self Publishing My Anthology

To all of my followers and gentle readers, I am busy preparing my anthology of poetry for publication later this year. To this end I have started a crowd funding campaign, donors are also eligible for a personal signed copy, shipped to them once published.

help-me-to-publish-my-first-poetry-anthology

The introduction has been drafted, cover has been designed, back stories for some of the poems penned and possibly a few interesting photos of my working notes have been taken to (hopefully) insert into the anthology. This is where you dear gentle reader come into the picture,  by helping me to select 30 to 35 poems, some of which are listed on my site:

Michael’s Poems

The working title of the anthology is yet to be decided, but I am dabbling with; Shadow Chasers or Chasing Shadows .. as many of my poems delve and dive into the gray, darker parts of my mind

Thanks again for all the likes and follows, and hopefully some of you, by year end, be a proud owner of a signed and inscribed copy of Chasing Shadows.

see you in the web world 🙂

The Ballad of Nikkie Jean

sub-titled – the ballerina assassin @nikkiejanee1972

in the still of the night

as we chase the sunset

candles flicker in the wind

the swan lies in repose

the pirouette slows

en pointe is driven home



when the deal goes down

red lips of mercury approach

the mist rises

the die is cast

the creed is done



these visions of bella donna

conquer my mind

my achilles is found

I claw my way out

of the memphis mobile

feeling blue



pill box hats

consume my dreams

the wind whispers la’ bella

while mercury vapours consume me

my time is pledged

the reaper awaits



the sad-eyed ballerina assassin

enters, riding

the 6th white horse of the apocalypse

as she drifts slowly

over the undulating lowlands



tears are falling from on high

the lips of a precious angel

delivering kisses like buttery wings

while storms roll in from afar

bringing that familiar morning smell

we oh so love



stoned and fractured

harried by the dozen and 35

the swan is lowered

to yonder depths

to rise again

à bientôt

© 2017 michael d emmerich

The Price We Pay

 

grief

disorder or disease

sign of weakness

some would say

but,

it is the price

we pay for living



an emotional, physical

spiritual necessity

part of who we are

the price you pay

……

for love



the cure for grief

it is to grieve

own it

hold it close

treasured, nurtured

it is the price

we pay for caring



the journey of life

requires travel luggage

grief is our carryon luggage

our constant companion

the price we pay

for being

© 2017 michael d emmerich

My Top 10 Bob Dylan Songs

I have set myself an impossible task – choosing my 10 best Dylan songs – I still feel guilty for the 100 or so I have left off the list 🙂  They are in no particular order, as that would be nigh on impossible! My favourite album happens to be Nashville Skyline or is it Modern Times, or wait maybe Tempest, but wait there’s also Another Side of  …. so I have omitted songs from Nashville Skyline from this list. The songs that do not have a specific reference or reason are just here coz, they mean so many things to me… in so many situations. I have used many of these songs for inspiration, solace or just contemplation. Those who follow my poetry might pick up some hints of Dylan and others in my writings … 🙂

In alphabetical order:

Girl From the North Country – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963) – I know this is also on Nashville Skyline, but it was played here first, so there …

I Feel a Change Comin’ on – Together Through Life (2009) – just listen to the lyrics, and I dare you not be moved to contemplate life ….

I Want You – Blonde on Blonde (1966) – was on my wedding playlist, so it just has to be here 🙂

Knockin’ on Heavens Door – Pat Garret and Billy the Kid (1973) – A powerful poignant song, about life coming to an end …. such simple but gut wrenching lyrics.

Make you Feel My Love – Time out of Mine (1997) – this song is very close to me, has been for many years. I was listening to this song (and 2 others) when I wrote my last poem – Feel Our Love

Masters of War –  The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963). For me this is his greatest and angriest protest song of all time, second only to Pay in Blood, Tempest.

Mississippi – Love and Theft  (2001) – an underrated classic drifters Dylan song … just take a listen and ramble along with our man Bobby

Not Dark Yet – Time out of Mine (1997) – these lyrics .. man they just get to me, sad, dark, but with a sliver of hope

One More Cup of Coffee – Desire (1976) – a special sentimental favourite of mine and my wife. Its off (one of) her favourite Dylan albums, and she always asks me before I leave home … One more cup of Coffee?

Tempest – Tempest (2014) – This song all of 15 minutes, and still gives me goosebumps and brings a tear to my ear, so powerful, visual, visceral … and sad.

Thunder on the Mountain – Modern Times (2006) – I love the feel and vibe of Modern Times, and Thunder on the Mountain for me encapsulates the feel (Spirit on the Water was a close second)

When the Night Comes Falling From the Sky – Empire Burlesque (1985) – from an underrated album but with a few hidden gems, this being one of them.

Okay for those who counted there are 12 … not 10 .. lets call it a Dylan dozen 🙂

If you enjoyed this post pop over and read:

Learning from Creative People – Bob Dylan and Bob Dylan and His Many Muses

Feel Our Love

I’ve been hit hard

seen too much

I need your touch

to be healed now

falling in love with you

‘twas the right thing to do



as the evening shadows lengthen

and the stars appear

you are there

to dry my tears

and

offer me a warm embrace

as I feel your love



tomorrow night when the sun dips

I know what I’m gonna do

hold you for a million years

to feel your love

dreams come true

in the enfolding



love

blows away

all the pain that I'm living

you believe in me

bleed for me

I know what I’m gonna do

……

feel our love

 

© 2017 michael d emmerich