I’m Not Your Pilgrimage (song)

I’m not your pilgrimage
Not what’s over the next ridge
I’m not a golden bridge
to your new life

And though you must know
that I don’t really want to go
I’m not your pilgrimage
this much, I know

It’s a pretty long flight
black, and a million stars in sight
not one of them
whispers your name

But if I listen close
I hear what matters most
I’m not your pilgrimage
this much, I know

Sometimes I want to go back there
that reckless, careless time we once shared
like climbing through clouds in a wicked storm
bursting through to find a clear new morn

I’m not your Berlin Wall
though you had to make it fall
to find your
solitary brand new day

And I wasn’t your last stand
but given the choice I can
appreciate
that it must have felt that way

I’m not your pilgrimage
Not what’s over the next ridge
I’m not a golden bridge
to your new life

And though you must know
that I didn’t really want to go
I’m not your pilgrimage
this much, I know

this much, I know.

He Burned Incense in His Car (a song)

He burned incense in his car
talked of travel near and far
threw his arm around my shoulder
in a carefree sort of way

He spoke French and Portuguese
and swept in on the breeze
of my freedom, newly minted
shining in the Boston sun

But things aren’t always as they seem
this guy was the star of his own dreams

Would you like to know what happened next?
So would I
So would I
I think it went something like this:
I
learned
to
love
me.

He wrote poetry and prose
he shook me to my toes
he taught meditation
I had no hesitation

He practiced yoga too
tell me what in the hell would you do
with a man that fabulous
oh, he was mysterious

Invited me to couples yoga
I never wanted it to be over

But things aren’t always as they seem
this guy was the star of his own dreams

Would you like to know what happened next?
So would I
So would I
I think it went something like this
I
learned
to
love
me.

Someone to Believe (song)

Day after day
night after night
keep hoping things will turn out all right
Dream after dream
sigh after sigh
I turn my face up to the evening sky

I just want someone
to believe
that I can

it would feel so nice
a taste of paradise
if I just had someone to believe

I was a 7 year old
shoving permission slips under my mom's nose
“just sign here” -- I handed her the pen (‘cause I was going)
I was a high school girl
claiming I’d see the world
(Stockholm really is a magical place)

I just want someone
to believe
that I can

it would feel so nice
some sugar to my spice
if I just had someone to believe

I know they see things through their limitations,
but can’t they just encourage my ruminations?

I just want someone
to believe
that I can

it would feel so nice
a taste of paradise
if I just had someone to believe

I just want someone to believe

I Remember (a song)

I remember
the feeling
all butterflies and smiling
landing
almost into the ocean

I remember
the feeling
all warmth and skin and wanting
landing
into your arms again

There was so much longing
wanting, missing
for all those whispered years
There were so many
airplanes and airports
and
so many salty tears

I remember
the dreaming
all perfect lives and picket fences
landing
almost into my dreams

I remember
the dreaming
all laughter and a family
landing
almost into the truth

There was so much longing
wanting, missing
for all those whispered years
There were so many
airplanes and airports
and
so many salty tears

Now that that’s the past
and fantasies don’t last
what’s come to be
is yet more sweet and true -
it’s the precious, dreamed-for life
of loving you.

My Heart Won’t Let Go. (a song)

There are days that I
think of us
when we were 20
and I know that those days are long
long gone

There are nights that I
think of us
driving
across the Alps in the moonlight
we were so young

Yes I know
very well
those days are not
today

And I know
that you’ve mostly been
far away

And you’re happy now
with someone else
and
I
am
too.

But my heart won’t let go
of you.


There are days that I
reach for the phone
to call you
but I know it wouldn’t
be wise

There are nights that I
think of you
sleeping
next to her
and I truly hope

that you’re happy
and life is sweet
that you hold her hand
when you walk down the street
that all your dreams have finally come true
and don’t forget that I’ll always

love.

you.

Yes I know
very well
those days are not
today

And I know
that you’ve mostly been
far away

And you’re happy now
with someone else
and
I
am
too.

But my heart won’t let go
of you.

Beauty (a song)

the curve of her hips
and her belly too
the sway of the dance
when she’s holding you

the curve of her lips
the questions they ask
it’s how she makes sense
of all of her past

she’s growing wise
before your eyes
and it’s no surprise
when you realize
her magic she’ll hold
when things seem so cold
in the shimmering bold
all her stories are told

the curve of her hand
her laughter too
that look in her eyes
it just might get you through

the curve of her back
as you pull her close
it’s all you need to feel
it’s what she needs the most

hope (poem)

once upon a full moon,
I released any hope for our future.
took it all to the shore and
lit a huge bonfire
of the dreams I painted
on your skin.

now that the ocean
has washed away the images,
i see you more clearly
than before.

And you know what?
I still want you
and I still want us.

It might as well be a mile (poem)

we sit up in bed
the bed that should be cradling the love we share
enveloping our wanting, tender bodies
while we spark and flame in the dark

these machines
the same ones that
brought us together
and became our glue
for those wanting, breathless years

they have turned on us
now they allow us to avoid each other
steel and circuits turned to chasm,
how in the hell did this happen?

So arrogant, I would never
have believed that we
would end up like them
not even for one day or one night

And here we sit
in this bed
staring into these screens

And all I want
is for you to put that machine over there
hold me close
whisper that you don’t ever want to be like them
like all the others

take the safest risk of all
how is it you can’t see me,
i am right here.

And though we are only about 14 inches apart
it might as well be a mile, tonight.

Snugged (a poem)

Snugged up to you,
comfort.
Snugged up to me,
curves.

Snugged in your arms,
smiling.
Snugged next to me.
flirty words.

Party

My dear friends PJ and Lyra. It was Lyra’s 60th birthday party and it was FABULOUS! We circle-danced, we sang, we chanted, we hugged. I was honored to be invited and I hope Lyra does it again when she’s 65 or 70. :)

I want to be Lyra when I grow up. (Lyra is in the amazing blue gown with the awesomely silver hair.)

xoxo,
k

desire (poem)

your lips to mine

tongue asking to dance

hands in my hair, possessing

all you can possess

the strength of your body

a rarely shared and magical

secret

few have been honored to know

your wanting

close to the surface,

deep as the ocean floor

secrets, only I know

only you know

let me lay the weight of this

pleasure on you like a thick blanket

in winter,

the familiar and comforting curves

of my body

welcoming and warming you

our fire

burns brightly blue

you, the matches and kindling

I, the oxygen and spark,

consummation,

and the wild, licking flames

of desire

Summer Has Arrived (song)

Wistfully watch the moon rise

it’s almost getting full

the gravity of your heart on mine -

I can almost feel the pull

night is nearly fallen

in the indigo prairie sky --

with you, I wish I was, tonight

the fireflies, whispering

summer has arrived

I’d give a lot of summer dreams

just to sing you a lullaby

summer has arrived

the juice drips down my chin

another day to be amazed

at this world we live in

fireflies, whispering

how do they know I love you so?

I wrote this summer song tonight

because I wanted - just wanted -

you to know.

The Library (poem)

Walk the stacks

skim the shelves

search for tales

known so well

what you read

is up to you

will you choose

as lovers do?

thoughts will write

the tale of us

pick the words

heart, heat and lust

within the spines

the new, the old

ancient whispers

lives retold

within one’s power

to keep on reading

or sigh

decide that it was fleeting

I pause and draw a volume down

the cover set with jeweled crowns

a million stars

a moonlit night

my lover’s lips within my sight

I turn the page and laugh

pick up a pen and graph

trajectory of these two hearts

pages ripping, stops and starts

the rest will be of our own making

what blaze of glory, what fate creating

what task, what faith, to love and wait

the writing of our story, great.

Courage

The light keeps blinking blue,

I want red.

my patience sits

my heart has no door

"I am here for you"

"I am here for you"

"I am here for you."

whether it's stupid or wise

it's what I do:

I love

I just

love.

no, really

I am beautiful

I am smart

I am funny

and a little too sensitive

but that's how I love so well

And no, for the millionth time

my friends,

I do not need a man

I do not need a man

I want one.

And there is a big difference.

the risk of loving this big

is that no one will have the courage

to accept all they are given

to surrender

I will love fiercely

I will love with laughter

I will love with fire

I will love with

the waters of the monsoon

Who will be my King?

Who has the courage?

If I Were There (song)

If I were there.

If you were here.

I'd take your hands.

I'd call you "dear."

But in Italian,

because that's what we do...

I'd press my lips to yours

and say "I love you."

If I were there.

If you were here.

I'd shed a tear

but have no fear.

You'd hold me close

so safe I'd feel

We'd do what's true..

we'd share what's real.

I know. (a song)

I know

sometimes

I know

sometimes

The walls around the person that I long to be

I build them high, so high I can not see

I can't see you

and worse,

I can't see me

I know

I know sometimes

I say things that I don't even recognize

as coming from these lips

that pressed to yours

turn up and smile with joy.

Sometimes

I know

I fall into a place I don't recognize

far from the rosy-colored world that is mine

if only I could stop dragons from

blowing fire on my secret garden.

I know

sometimes

I know.

Don't Forget To Look

Once you see people, beneath the surface, once you really get them to talk, it's amazing what you hear from each and every soul walking the earth.

Amazing.

If you can really be Present with someone, really look them in the heart . . .the beauty is endless.

Sometimes when I'm walking through the airport, which I do almost every month, I look at all the travelers walking to their flights and I think about all their stories, their histories,

their desires to paint or write or raise chickens or sail the oceans of the world, you know?

I look for the Love in them

even and especially in those that don't seem to possess it. It is there. We have to look for it.

It is there.

It's breathtaking when you open your eyes to another being that way.

Most of us only do it when we fall in love

then we forget to Look at our loved one, or anyone, once the newness wears off.

Don't forget to Look.

Autumn at the Parker River Wildlife Sanctuary, Plum Island, Massachusetts

Autumn in West Newbury, Massachusetts

A Mirage (song)

Is it all a mirage
at the end of the day?
It was pretty convincing
when she danced that way.

she laughed as she said
"I'm not even a good Buddhist,
I never got that
letting go thing.
You see, that would mean

I'd have to trust,
somethingI don't do.

Is it all a mirage anyway?"

She laughed as she said,
"I never said 'do as I do'
you really should do as I say."

Is it all a mirage
at the end of the day?
It's the best we can do,
to find our heart's way.

He waltzed her around
on that sparkling marbled floor
and she said,
"I'm always looking for the door."

What happened next took her
by surprise . . .
he pulled her close,
tears welled in her eyes.

"I won't let you leave
unless that's what you want,
you'll just have to trust me,"
and then her breath caught.

is it all a mirage anyway
anyway
is it all a beautiful mirage?

she laughed as she said
"I'm not even a good Buddhist,
I never got that letting go thing."