Two New Poems from the Online Poetry Show: (Variations on a Theme of Orpheus and Stone Buddha)

Poet's note: as per my prior blog entry, these two poems were part of the recent online Poetry Show exhibited by my friend and fellow poet, Rory. These were previously unpublished and are considered NEW poems. Enjoy! -- T. K.

Variations on a Theme of Orpheus
by Tim Kavi

moonlit night
foggy breezes
beasts of the wood
melodies of
Orpheus always pleases

across the river
in a dark place
turned away
from Eurydyce's face

tears flow
on this last time
such sad longing
missing the beloved
wife's belonging
by his side
she was
the gentle bride

she is
passioned and gone
he sighs
hopefully in destiny's
dark design

there is a returning

notes rising
to the heavens
as goddesses
take flight
birds uprising

heaven is silent
instructed in woe
descending below
turned away
by the dark foe

Orpheus keeps playing
captured by hope
that his notes
are delaying
destiny's defraying

of his continual
mourning
bringing comfort
to the masses

these are the ways
of the passioned
artist
always comforting
others
from his own place
of veiled
loneliness darkest

playing to the
audience
while Rome burns
or armies
wait in the wings
or his heart
trembles
dance! sing!
jovial things!

filling the air
with notes
sweet ministry

twilight says
night is coming
death the final
post

together finally
with Eurydyce's
now, happy ghost!

This poem is reprinted with permission from my publisher TiLu Press, and also appears in my collection Ascending Goddess. You can read this poem along with many more in that collection by clicking here to purchase the book! Thanks for supporting my work!~~TK

"Stone Buddha"
by Tim Kavi

up on
the narrow
ridge

there is
what was
once
a contested
bridge

enclosed
in stone
fruited plains
in the valley below


a shrine
still sits
where
corpses line the way

the light
still shines
through

follow the path
up to the
light for
it ever shines
bright

blind ones
receive their
sight

when the
fragrance
of the blossoms
meets
the morning
dew

the troubled
ones'
troubles
are few

if they
continue
to the light

broken paths
stones
overturned
such

places
are not
earned
or won

grace's
appearing
is in the
clearing

where the
stone
Buddha
sits.