Spinning

This way today, that way tomorrow
Shifting sand twists and turns
Spinning me round, leaving me dizzy
Clarity while traveling round
Impossible

This way today, that way tomorrow
Each revolution stabs my heart
Leaving wounds, open and bleeding
Healing while under attack
Hopeless

This way today, that way tomorrow
Merry-go-round of confusion
Enervates my soul, exhausts my spirit
Resting within a whirlpool
Ineffectual

by L.L. Shannon ©2009

Mermaid Dreams

The sun dips to kiss the ocean’s lips
Amongst the fire raining down from the sky
A maiden stands safely on the shoreline
Rooted in the shifting sand
Tempted to join the dance
A smile takes form and longing breathes
The moon  gently caresses the sea
Displacing its rival, the sun
Sighs of pleasure raise the tide
Wetting the feet upon the beach
Solemn eyes observe receding waves
Unfulfilled wishes scar the soul
A solitary silhouette forevermore
A landlocked lass with mermaid dreams

by L.L. Shannon ©2009

Terminal Life

A newborn’s first cry, initial breath
Miracle of life in concrete form
From that moment, the dying begins
Each milestone, celebrated
One step closer to inevitability
With every step, a living cell dies
Never to be reborn
Hold tight to each smile
No matter how brief
Live life’s laughter
Love deeply and often
Grieve each loss as it comes
Cherish each tear it brings
For they cleanse the soul
Revive the heart
For better things to come
Bask in sunshine, dance in the rain
Relish this terminal life
So when the last breath escapes
And angels inquire
What was the best thing of living?
There will be so much, so very much
It will take eternity to answer

by L.L. Shannon ©2009

Mortal Combat

Moon and stars transcending
Dawn breaks upon blue sky
Offering an illusion
Smiles waiting, laughter aloft
Dark clouds lurk, smirking
Raindrops drench parched earth
Complicating each footfall
Delicate step after another
Entrenches one further, deeper
Until trapped, cornered
Changing landscapes mislead
Distorting paths of escape
Desperation drips like sweat
Thoughts converge, entwine, tangle
Suffocating hope’s spark
When darkness again arrives
No light dwells within
Past demons make ready
Old weapons proven viable
New tortures armed, tested
Armor damaged, the heart lies vulnerable
Bloody battles ensue, everlasting
Shields rise up, are knocked aside
Salvation heard, slow, steady
A heartbeat yet remains

by L.L. Shannon ©2008

A Copper Kettle

A copper kettle sits upon the stove
Dented, scorched and scratched
Kept clean and free of tarnish
Seeming out of place, unimportant

It holds the echoes of yesterday
Hushed conversations of lovers
Whispers of worry and fear
Sweet laughter of children

The scorched base reminders
Of lives lived and loves lost
Every scratch a heartbeat
Each dent a teardrop

The copper kettle sits upon the stove
Holding forgotten dreams and
Conversations lost to time
Safely keeping the heartbeats of yesterday

by L.L. Shannon ©2008

Go

Go
The word a whisper, carried on the wind
Breaking my heart, scarring my soul
One word spoken within myself
Laying bare the truth I’d denied
Having done all I could
Given everything I had
Love’s last breath escapes
As the wind whispers again
Go

by L.L. Shannon ©2008

A Nonexistent Heart

Fine mists cover everything now
All I touch, all I see
Even my emotions seem dreamlike
Hovering on the brink of reality
Until I see you
Walking with quick steps
head down against the wind
In the doorway of our café
you stop, look ‘round
When your eyes light up
that smile breaks upon your face
I think you’ve seen me
as impossible as it could be
For a second, the fog lifts
Clarity returns to my world
With it I see the truth
The one I had denied
As she stops before you
you caress her cheek
touch your lips to hers
That emotion I’d felt missing
the one I’d yearned to see
reflected in your azure eyes
now shines brighter than the sun
Yet not for me, no never for me
No tears will fall nor heart break
for I am but a spirit now
Who gave up the next plane
choosing to remain with you
and now faces eternal oblivion
with the pain of a nonexistent heart

by L.L. Shannon ©2008