Within us all we come to find
and all are us, just some less so,
a call we can’t let fall behind,
and some go places we can’t go;
and to be led becomes an ease,
or couldn’t, rather, in the day,
and to be dead becomes a tease,
when I was me, and they were they.

for when we wake one morn’ we feel
Into these lands we travel now,
so worn and weakened that we reel,
where time and consequence allow
and fall, as fated, back to bed,
for error, and for remedy;
with heavy voices in our head.
within this land, we all are free,

Wondering, we venture toward
but freedom comes at painful price;
the conversation, and are lured
our future we must sacrifice,
into ourselves, a pretty prison;
if faded faces do arise,
pulled to pain, through indecision.
to change the color of our eyes;

Once inside, we hear, so clear,
to see the world a different way;
the cries of those we held so dear,
and different worlds, so far away;
so long ago; to each a year,
from heart, from home; from innocence,
a time, a memory, a tear.
to nothing now, and nothing since.

Photo copyright by Laura Kemmerer

I went outside and sat down on cement
watching the breath move away from my lips
I was drinking cold coffee at two a.m.
and staring at the black sky

there were stars blinking over the parking lot
I smelled cigarettes, saw the neon sign from the porno shop
across the street

I sit and wonder if the sky looks the same in Nevada
and if the clouds are similar in Germany and Spain
the drunkard walking toward the front doors
doesn’t seem to notice me—
I wish that no one would

I could get up, walk out, drive away
there’d be a bottle of Tequila underneath my seat
and when I got to the desert, I’d sit in the sand
and drink, and drink, and drink

heaven, cloud nine, discovered in a bottle
the headlines would read, ‘girl drowns in alcohol’
child of the earth found, deceased in a ghost town
she came home and then she left again
couldn’t find a place to call her own

couldn’t find a dock that wasn’t rocking, moving back and forth
threatening to tip into the mouth of the Pacific Ocean
I’d drown because

I’ve never been able
to swim

I’m starting to lose my cerebral intensity, sitting on cement
that’s covered in Parliament ashes, and I’m looking at my car in the distance
it’s been kissed with ice and wintertime white

I just want to get up and climb inside, throw it into fifth when I hit the highway
find the desert and curl up in the sand

I’ll walk to the dunes—I know it’s far, but it’s home, it’s home
drink my Tequila and wave to the Milky Way, say hello
to the rattlesnakes because they seem to understand me

I come home after work; slip out of my uniform and sleep
sink into the Jose Cuervo wet dreams

when you ask me, baby, if I’m all right
I keep on saying, “I just want to leave, get out
of this place.” It’s not that poetic, it’s just the damn truth
you shake your head, look down at the dirt
your fingers clench, you’re creating a fist,
“Why can’t you just be happy, for once
why can’t you be
content?”

I’m waiting to find myself inside this world
waiting to know what it’s like
to never be lonely again

I can’t find peace in a mind that doesn’t understand
god damn it, this cement’s as cold as death
I look over at my coworker and wonder if I should bum a cigarette
but a smoke’s no good, what I need’s a shot
a shot in the dark of a freezing night
East Coast hell, October midnight

where’s that desert when I need it, where’s that love that understands
I can’t keep living in this lie, watching my ice-breath dance
into the sky—he’s asking me why and what and how
and what’s the reason, why can’t I give up
I just want peace and a place to sleep
a kiss from somebody who wants
to dance

run out in the darkness and drink ‘til the sun comes
‘cause it’s all worth it, despite the headaches, the accusations
‘you’re an alcoholic, hell, you know it’
‘you’re just another lush, closing your eyes and thinking of
another time’

watching the mountains rise out of the parking lot
seeing the people I know turn into strangers
I realize, never knew them anyway, never gave it the chance

went through years and years of playing pretend
don’t know why I was born in the cold of a February night
during a storm, perfect way to come into the world
…I didn’t want to be born

where’s my desert, where’s my Tequila
where’s my adventuring partner, comrade in crime
the rattlesnake that never speaks, but always understands
I can’t just say what’s on my mind, I’ve got to pick and choose
or else he’ll ask me, over and over,
“Why the hell do you hate it here?”

I climbed up from the stone, I wanted a smoke
I stared up at the sky and I hope it’s different someday
when I’m looking at a deeper blue, a brighter sun
when I’m drowning in my Jose Cuervo
wet dreams of the desert
dunes.

a slither of lizard she
slips away becomes
a leaf curled and dry

a cat cloaked in dusk
shadowed still unseen
watching

in darkness     quiet    she
waits first bird to fly
morning sky.

Oct 1982, the Bus
San Diego

Ruby Lynn lives in the forest with her cats. Although she is not Baba Yaga, her house may one day grow chicken legs and walk back to California.

We arrange the room
like this but in less
than a moon
Life will rearrange
our room to rhyme
with a new dance
Really Set’s Us Free
this time!

it hovers making slow
hoops round the rim of
the beer glass settles
at the edge of this
amber lake contained
accessible sweet

three nights now I
watch        greet it
congenially permit
it to sip knowing
how brief our days
are so when it falls

flounders in the brew
deftly I dip it out with
my fingertip place it
on the table observe
it gathers it’s senses
lifts off weavingly

wanders up returns
to shadows in the
bookshelf.

Chula Vista, 1982

Ruby Lynn lives in the forest with her cats. Although she is not Baba Yaga, her house may one day grow chicken legs and walk back to California.

We arrange the room
like this but in less
than a moon
Life will rearrange
our room to rhyme
with a new dance
Really Set’s Us Free
this time!

If I tended my garden and home daily
and my flowers bloomed, as your crops failed
You called me witch and then you took my life

If I healed other with my herbs and ointments
and my patients lived, as you prayers and leeches failed
You called me witch and then you took my life

If I worshiped the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon
and was happy, while your God called you off to war
You called me witch and then you took my life

The flames of the pyres of our innocent blood
burned long into the dark European nights
and the grey clouds of your guilt hung in the skies

We lived our lives in light and in love
and you dwelt in your doubt and darkness
You cannot or you will not ever understand our pain

I still live in my Goddess reborn
Eternally I am renewed in love and life
You dwell in the Hell of your own creation

For your God too taught love and understanding
but in your arrogance you did not listen
for you fear that which you do not understand

You called me heathen and you called me heretic
You called me whore and you called me “Satan’s seed”
You called me witch and then you took my life

Steven has traveled a number of roads on his spiritual quest, not to test himself, but test the faith. He is currently a self-described pragmatic ceremonialist. He was born in Whitehorse Yukon. He is in his mid-50s, has been writing for 25 years and is a forensic handwriting analyst and motivational speaker. He is currently writing a pagan based science-fiction novel and a book on empowerment using realistic witchcraft.

See more of his poetry in our Poetry Corner on the PWC Forums!

Only fools grow old. A babe bequeaths miracles to the weary viewer. Sips of life are available, for the price of a play date.  You can instantly increase your daily tallied hours simply by being present and participating in your own life.

An hour spent on safari in the deepest desert yields insect, amphibian, herbivore and carnivore alike.

The depths of the wisdom and imagination of a child, endless.

Take my hand and be my guide, little one, as the hidden voyager inside takes over.

See with our mind’s eye the grainy course of the dunes, feeling the heat on our backs and the thirst in our throat.

A few miles to go; the oasis appears to quench and encourage the explorers further -

Suddenly a jungle appears: vines to choke the sun from our heat-weary minds. A drizzling down our throats is refreshing and invigorating. Safari turns to mountaineering as the dunes morph to towering peaks.

Pressing forward and marching upward, a child’s mind never dwells on the past.

A.I. Margolis resides in New Hampshire with her husband Eli, their toddler Eban, and their many pets.  Eban’s favorite summertime activity is his sandbox – which is missed greatly during the long winter sleep.

Dear Councillor Johnson
I wish to complain
About those two witches
From next door again
I called my dog in
Just the other night
When I was confronted
By a terrible sight
Stood over a cauldron
Wearing pointy black hats
Chanting and dancing
With their familiar black cats
And quite honestly councillor
All this bell book and candle
Is rather too much for
Us decent folk to handle
Our nice quiet estate
Has gone to the dogs
And we now live in fear
Of being turned into frogs
And they may eat our children
Or seduce our men
And tell me councillor Johnson
What will happen then
Please dont think im prejudiced
Or out to cause grief
But if you could house them elsewhere
It would be a relief

Dear Mrs Longbottom
I understand your concern
But its quite clear to me
You have a lot to learn
Your families are safe
These women arent bad
And your lack of knowledge
Is really quite sad
Its another religion
I cant condemn them for that
Nor can I rehouse them
For owning a cat
And would you be writing a letter
If they were hindu or jewish
Muslim or mormon
Catholic or amish
So let me reiterate
Your kids wont end up in the oven
I know this for sure as
Im part of their coven

Twas ecumenical poison
That started this war
And arrogant bigotry
Brought it to my door
With accusations of witchraft
My torture is justified
As you drink the blood
Of one crucified
Demons and devils
I allegedly conjure
yet I healed the sick
While you peddled torture
Macabre afflictions
Grace those you defile
Staining Christs name
With accusations so vile
And as Lucifers consort
I should truly repent
As your rapacious apetite
Defies your sacrament
To confess all my sins
Of my clothing I’m stripped
And in the name of the Lord
Raped beaten and whipped
And the holy testaments
Absolve you from this lie
Cains mark all can see
As Im sentenced to die
You cry secular whore
Oh puritanical fake
With bell book and candle
I’ll burn at your stake
And just one of many
Whose blood you have shed
In the name of the church
So many lie dead
So inquisitive inquisitor
What did you hope to find
Did this sordid violation
Bring you true peace of mind

Buried deep within the void
Where everything and nothing
Silently waited to be destroyed
Heralding her new beginning

And in the cold dark nothingness
Destruction and creation flow
With effervescent easiness
As her light begins to show

A swirling mass of matter
That spews forth new-born stars
An energy that rips and shatters
In chaos unsurpassed

Yet somehow there lies within
A beauty and a peace
Bringing with it guilt and sin
A universal beast

And when the fury did subside
And peace at last was heard
The Light and Truth could then divide
And wisdom became the Word

By divine hand was night and day
As the world was taking form
The vault of heaven over waters lay
On that primordial dawn

Her beauty and her serenity
Demanded that time obeyed
Whilst overshadowed by the trinity
The land and seas were made

And when she saw the origins of life
First crawl upon the Earth
Pre -destined to be Adams wife
So long before his birth

Through time and space still yet infernal
To create a paradise
A beauty and a love so eternal
With divine truth so wise

Seasons that would come and go
Ruled by the moon and sun
The mysterious ebb and flow
Signed by the purest one

Then every living creature is driven
To a partner of its kind
For man and woman both love is given
With power of the mind

While through Zion runs the river Styx
To then divide and flow
Into the land of gold and onyx
Four separate ways to go

The garden there beyond compare
Built towards the east
Precious virgin. Eden fair
The land that named the beast***

The light which shone so feminine
Watched Adam from the heart
Knowing that to be with him
Meant they could never part

Then with all heavenly consent
And given as a gift
Transcending all earthly intent
Celestial. Seductive Lillith

Unlike Gilgamesh who there before
Had sought eternal youth
Adam with angelic whore
Walked within the truth

Taking Adam to be with her
At the setting of the sun
Until the rising of the stars
They became as one

That light from deep within the void
Long before the birth of time
Love so true she soon destroyed
A sensual adversary so sublime

Then in anger and in haste
Shapeshifting she took flight
Fallen from his grace
Lillith so contrite

The way to Adam now lies barred
By sword and cherubim
While Lillith now bruised and scarred
Knows another lies with him

Maligned by those who disbelieve
Scorned by those who do
The biblical temptress Eve
Now Adams wife so true

Formed from his flesh and bone
Submissive and puerile
Seduced by serpent while alone
In treachery so vile

And while Adam succumbed to his mate
What twisted perverse reason
Allows forbidden fruit to satiate
As angel falls to demon

Punished Eve still takes her place
As the mother of mankind
While Lillith who fell from grace
None shall ever find

Judged and sentenced without trial
Goddess of the storm
Abandoned cold and  sterile
Lost upon the dawn

How ignorant.  How inhumane
To perpetuate the myth
And scorn the beauty and the pain
Of the light once known as Lillith