Blue Skies

Some would have nothing but blue skies from now on
Clear as far as the eye can see
With nothing to cloud vision
No blips on their radar

Yet, for me, some clouds now and then are welcome
Something in the sky for the sun to hide behind
To shade me from its fiery flames
To make a difference

For the sky is a white canvas
With blue paint from horizon to the corners
Minimalist art for nouveau galleries
But nothing to write home about

Show me clouds for morning light to color
Soft pinks among the somber grey
Thence turning to bright white puffs
Contrasting with the blue

Delight me with a parade of fulminating clouds
Marching to the whims of the winds
Through which rays of sunlight stream
To touch the ground, pooling light amid the shade

More clouds at the fade of sun
With brilliant hues to astonish my eyes
Edge the purple with gold
That make me turn round and gaze the far horizon

Give me pulsating rhythms to silence the white noise in my ears
Give me the taste of hot and cold, sweet and sour, crunchy and smooth
Allow the scent of jasmine in the cool of dawn
Let me feel the curve that bends the straight

Give me the spontaneous at any time of day
Give me more than just blue skies all day long

Ron Eklof 2009

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Snapshots 1

Zephyr

On a warm September morning
Windows and doors wide open
A zephyr pushes its way
Through my home
These thoughts pause
As my skin wakens
To a refreshing breeze

Norfolke 2009

BY AN UNWEPT GRAVE

By an unwept grave
Leaves scatter to the ground
A bell sounds three times
The wind sways the branches
Shriveled roses lie on a nearby stone
Birds are silent in the grey afternoon

I walk in the quiet
Between the remembered and not
Not searching but gazing
At names and dates
On chiseled granite and eroding marble
Through land set aside for the past

Broken columns
Cherub faces on flaking slate
Biblical names unused in this day
Words carved of heaven's reward
Dates marking too short lives
Relations noted

Dry grass crunches under foot
My shoes scuff the dirt
As I walk to the wrought iron gates
I know/knew none in this place
No tears left by me

Ron Eklof © 2009

The Dancing Spirit

On polished floors as lights swirled around the ballroom
You, entranced by the sound, followed your passion
We watched the sway of skirt to bouncing rhythms
Saw you laugh and delight in your partner's arms

All to soon the dance is done and we've said our adieus
Parted as the lights dimmed to black
The music has stopped, the band has stepped out for a cigarette
But sweet memories remain and floating tunes linger in our ears

The ship has passed into the night
As sultry sounds wend their way to heaven
And we know of one who still dances the night away
Who is swinging among the stars

For when we look up to the night sky
See the motion of the heavenly bodies
We will hear the laughter
We will remember your music

It was a pleasure to know you, Mary.


Ron Eklof 2008

CAT / MOON

The cat doesn't mind the moon
Outside the window
Where he sits

The movement of small critters
Of that
He is aware

The moon gives shine
As, in the day, the sun

But, the cat doesn't mind
How many times the moon appears
Nor count his trips around the sun

Ron Eklof 1997

FOOTSTEPS

The sound of footsteps in the darkness
I walk through the misted gloom
Pass under a streetlamp and pause
Still hear the sound of shoes
Now they stop
In the darkness beyond the circle of light

I cannot see movement
I feel the presence of danger

I start walking
Feel the wet air on my skin
Hear my own scuffing shoes
Change direction and move into an alley
Into a doorway
And wait
The sound of footsteps continue
Now stop
I stay motionless
Looking for a glimmer of movement

Nothing
I look at the day glow watch on my wrist
5 minutes pass
No sound
10 minutes
A cat meows

I'm walking again
My footsteps echo off the walls in the alley
If I can't see anyone, they can't see me
Didn't think of night vision goggles

I feel the hand on my shoulder
Turn in a defensive posture
Feel the knife enter my ribs
Fall to the wet cobblestones

Hear footsteps echoing as they fade in the misty darkness
A leaf blows against my face
I smell the chill damp
The silence deafens my ears
My eyes close

Ron Eklöf © 2008

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WANTING

There are those
Who want all
That money can buy

And then

There are those
Who want all
That money can not buy

Both are found wanting
Not satisfied with what they have

It's not all the one
and not all the other
But,
a little of both,
perhaps

What do I want?
What do I have?

Enough for today

Ron Eklof '08

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