Brian H. Appleton

You may give me whatever you like and I will treasure it unconditionally like a mother’s love

in deep trance I have not been for far too long ago

it can't be sold in plastic bottles on supermarket

shelves or bought and driven off the car lot...

why didn't I just sit back like a passenger

watching as my super id showed me

the ropes across a lonely bridge

we all must take in the end

learn too swim before

life throws you

in the lake

hits the

brake

Far above the clouds in the dark moonless sky

I once would fly and hover like a kite

night after night anon it was

sometimes quietly over

my old home

in Rome

Why did I turn my back on God

and the way of the birds

and the fishes and

why did I give

away that

virginity

to any

girl

And make many elaborate plans

to be an ascetic celibate

and softly meditate

in Lhasa Tibet

in debt

Instead of learning to pay the rent

Not this not that... I have

not been true to me

to the sunset

the trees

I had it all in my palm

and frightened

by freedom

clung to

chains

and did you not see and know me then as the bare canvas

before the rainbow split the white light into colors

I was that night, that darkness all around you

Fear not the blackness of my hunter's heart

the tiger in my soul longing for out

if you could see the silver light

that lets you take on

whatever shape

and color you

can imagine

you would

know

me