Previous Contemporary Poet Poems

From October, 1998

Garry Morse

Sirens

A welcome port in wicked storms 
Seemed so sweet to the taste, 
Masking in mist those female forms 
Which make men think in haste. 
- 
Thoughts of home faded from our quest 
As soothing music played, 
Mesmerizing our very best 
To leave ladies betrayed. 
- 
Whispering words of mystery 
Were empathic red lips 
Barely noticed by weary me, 
Eyes upon writhing hips. 
- 
Scarlet talons waiting to hold 
Were extending aloft, 
Welcoming into a dark fold 
Of curls and pink flesh soft. 
- 
Dancing behind velvet voices 
Were more powerful eyes 
Stealing honourable choices, 
Staring with shameless lies. 
- 
One was like a trembling willow 
With eyes of tumbling blue, 
Bending in winds where sails billow 
When lashed down as ours do. 
- 
Another was not quite as thin, 
Chestnut locks tightly bound 
Above skin created for sin 
Shaped deliciously round. 
- 
There were joined by a taller third: 
A visage of calling 
With lyrics we both saw and heard 
And then we were falling... 
- 
She surrounded our mortal crew 
With her voice, with her song. 
Into their grasp we swiftly flew, 
Knowing not right from wrong. 
- 
Oh! Just to be near their beauty, 
Closer to each dread note, 
Was to forget every duty 
And leave our creaking boat. 
- 
To Destiny, they were tailors, 
Armed with eyes which implore 
Tragedy to follow sailors 
Who step upon their shore. 
- 
Fantasies in violet haze 
Were all becoming real 
As somehow within their shared gaze, 
Their essence we could feel. 
- 
Seductively around she whirls, 
Graceful as a young doe 
With ocean eyes and golden curls 
Until I seized my foe! 
- 
This indulgence was not allowed 
To he taking his prize, 
Clutching an invisible cloud 
Of frustrating surprise! 
- 
Apparitions in chilly air 
Wandered wanton around 
With teasing looks and flowing hair 
Though nowhere to be found. 
- 
There! Another phantom singer 
Glancing aside, aloof 
Besides her beckoning finger... 
Gone in a smoky poof! 
- 
Then suddenly through blinding fog 
Eats illumination 
Moonlit like a curious dog 
Finding fascination. 
- 
Lupine brows without a worry 
Alertly facing me 
In nude nubile glory 
Were beneath the wild sea! 
- 
"Nevermore weep...nevermore weep" 
Sang heavenly chorus, 
"Oh come in deep...oh come in deep... 
Oh don't you adore us?" 
- 
Oh, but her eyes of harmony 
Were changeling orbs of moon 
And iridescent symphony 
Saying: "Swim like the loon!" 
- 
Their perfect breasts and dripping thighs 
Turned us all into fools 
Attuned to their alluring sighs, 
Drawn toward dark whirlpools... 
- 
Then it ended without warning. 
My crew had plugged my ears, 
Conjuring forth a cruel morning 
Of regrets and dread fears. 
- 
Hideous were these sea ladies 
If they're women indeed, 
Fresh from the depths of grim Hades. 
My men became their feed. 
- 
Bloodshot eyes beneath serpent hair 
Glaring out of this wench 
Were decaying in salty air, 
Making a deathly stench. 
- 
Our youngest holds this rotting thing, 
Her fangs sinking in far. 
He only hears his lovers sing 
And sees not what they are. 
- 
Another who couldn't be stopped 
Entwines kelp mistresses. 
He's swiftly killed and quickly dropped 
Just after he guesses. 
- 
With insanity one bellows! 
In mad circles he raves! 
Faithfully he follows 
A tune of drowning waves. 
- 
Us few remaining gripped our oars 
To flee her lyric feast. 
Now full of venom and crude roars, 
Beauty became the beast. 
- 
Escape we did from craven lust, 
Rowing in confusion. 
This love haven where we put trust 
Was just an illusion... 

Dare to Dream

Dare you dream of the unsatisfying snap 
as ropes of hope rapidly untwine 
as clothing would? 
- 
Dare you dream of the gentle pressure 
pushing such genuine travois 
to hard empty floor? 
- 
Dare you dream of piercing light 
shattering warm abyss 
once embryonic? 
- 
Dare you dream of tentative extensions 
reborn within your very hands 
...no more by morning? 
- 
Dare you dream of backstage passes made 
behind blinding limelights 
fading to black? 
- 
Dare you dream of ardent arms of darkness 
around your trembling form 
making warm? 
- 
Dare you dream a sharp mind find a mind sharp 
enough to slice the wild wincing other 
...to hotly duel with one another? 
- 
Dare you dream a dream I dream 
across darkling plains 
we wait upon? 

Sable Knight

how hard my armour 
to caressing nails 
and timeworn tales 
- 
chivalry betwixt Lady 
and the thick hilt 
draws forth...a kingdom rebuilt 
- 
ivory pawn to warrior games 
let loose this fabled joust 
through the fiery rings of Faust 
- 
let loose chastity locks 
upon anticipated hours 
across twin twisting towers 
- 
make me thy wicked liege 
thy Lord of luscious lands 
thy King of dread commands 
- 
knight me 
a dark sprite of sable night 
atop our realm rose...glistening white