Watching the Sunset Fade

A Poem by Harlon Rivers

The anxiety of "Medical Limbo"

Time seems to stand still

while awaiting the moments anticipated news   

The mysteries of biology

The known weaknesses of the flesh  

Worrisome visions

that toy within fears

genetic foregone conclusions

that manifest as emotional anguish

The hope of new tomorrow’s wane

New moments dawning light dims

Thoughts of the circle

reaching the inevitable end of the song

A silent prayer for acceptance

for the things we cannot change

Courage to fight on for all life 

that remains as hope retains faith

Nothing is inevitable

as long as you want to breathe

You can’t stop the dreamer

from weaving the happiest

of unfulfilled dreams

Knowing completely you can’t stop

a runaway freight train

if the circle's tracks are complete

Physical trials and tribulations

bring you to your mortal knees

The angst of the vast unknown

Trepidation’s shadow is near

Life passes before

tearful yearning eyes,

lost in misunderstood confusion,

as realities uncertainty transcends fear

The final dream…

The only wish…

To not leave this world alone

To merge two passionate loving souls as one

Romantics dreams can come true

Unconditionally, wholeheartedly

together as one

before the merry-go-round’s

final setting sun… 

© 2012 Harlon Rivers 

The Space Between Thunder and Lightening

Have you ever thought about the space between?  Recently I sat writing a list of such things... This is a poem about what can go on during the moment between thunder and lightening~

For me, creative writing is a type of subjective practical magic for the times when imagination knows no boundaries limiting access to dreams of other realms ~

It may surprise you how many you can come up with if you made your list.   So as the list grew, so did emotive thoughts expanding upon what the distance is or what it can mean to us....

Okay so things like the space between a rose bud and a blooming rose...planting a seed and then waiting for the harvest, the first step in a journey and then arriving at a destination, the space between love & hate, birth & the passing of life, black & white, The silk cocoon & the Butterfly, the moon & the earth etc...

The space is as infinite as the list of possibilities.   In this case I was thinking about the silent void between a visual bolt of Lightening and the Thunderclap breaking that silence...how many times I have waited in that  "space", that sense of being stuck in "limbo" while counting the distance between...

From ~ Word Whisperer ~

The Space between Thunder and Lightening

Standing at the threshold in the silent space

between thunder and lightening

Straddling the door sill of uncertainty,

stranded in a continuum of discontent

One foot in…One foot out

A baby step…One foot forward

while the other follows

the wanderlust of an evolving dream

The first step begins

a journey of a thousand miles

Walk to the end of this long and winding road

Carry the weight of an unfinished life in this soul

Breathe in the stillness

of the tempest calm

The ethereal instant within

the eerie pause  of natural hesitation

The silent exhilarating fusion linking the anticipation

between the bolt of lightning and the thunderclap ;

nature’s well performed sleight of hand

as if two souls touch igniting carnal synthesis

Reaching upward to the heavens they draw strength

from the spirit of the lightening and the hail,

The ominous sky’s anger and the storm’s fury fuel the essence of their verve

vibrant celestial elements manifests a drenching downpour 

Heightened senses are enhanced by an electric aura

squeezing out every last drop

from the enchanting moment of stunned silence 

Spirits transcend a cleansing rain invigorating heart of soul ~

©Harlon Rivers 2013 ...February 28th, 2013

Rainymood ..."Thunderstorm"

"Stormy Seas"

At times we feel trapped and stuck in a moment we cannot get out of…The feeling of lost hope and our struggle to fight off difficult times, feeling alone yet afraid to ask for help. 

Stormy Seas ... a poem by Harlon Rivers

A storm is raging on the frothy sea

Mountainous waves toss the vessel to and fro
The ravaging Nor'easter impales with a deafening blow
Raucous salty sheets of spray soak and dampen all around


A bucket bails the raged sloop
She moans and groans as she’s flung about
A sailor sails. A sailor endlessly bails
Alone in the perfect storm


Two oars are manned on the stormy seas
The halyard torn and ripped from mast
To row and bail is an impossible feat
It’s hard to tell when you’ve sprung a fateful leak


The captain mans the forlorn skiff
Traditions sink down with the ship
His furious soul laments life’s toil
As violent waves crash the gunnels hold


He screamed out loud, “My time has come!”
“My ship is sinking, her broken pieces will not be found!”
The rampart boat, well fortified yet built to fail
Plummets from hills of water pitifully tall


Cracks are leaking where the lurid light gets in
But so does the salty water, will drowning soon begin?
Lost hope floats the helpless, fearless one man crew
His soul now guides his ship


A vessel drifts lifeless on the empty calming sea
Nothing but it can be seen for miles of skies
The free board is deep the salty water high
Two apathetic oars both silent, is a lost soul inside?


© November, 2011... Harlon Rivers