Nuance

when the questing soul
knows peace and the
heart is stilled in autumnal grace
the once silent voice
will rise and sing its song
from the core of its essence
resonating from the node
that is the center of nuance
vibrating at fingertip
sounding its song between strings
in the rustic grace
that is yours alone

Oath

Oath

touch gently
speak softly
hold closely
know silence
seek solace
find peace
in the
rhythm of
ordinary things

show kindness
give generously
live freely
love openly
live among
those you
know and
seek what
defines you

know truth
despise lies
be supple
as grass
rough as
bark stand
sturdy tall
and strong

find humor
in serious
things and
joy in
simple things

know humility
act sincerely
speak truthfully
and kindly
accept what
you do
not know

behold mystery
unfold at
fingertip in
the stilled
motion of
light on
cusp of
incoming evening

Invocation II

when I reach
you’re hand clasps mine
guiding us
through night
into light

let time
not steal
numbers from
our days
but be generous
and extend
our stay

None In One

I look
but do not see

reach but
cannot touch

eat but
do not taste

move but
remain in place

pull together but
nothing joins

speak but
no one listens

listen but
hear silence

I am form
without definition

I embrace
one part of nothing

what is
will not last

what comes is
yet to be

I am at one
with shifting wind

blowing dry leaves
over barren soil

I have become
none in one

whom I do
not know

Silent Presence

wherever I look
I see your image

in the flower
at dusk embedded

clouds resting above
an orange horizon

when I listen
your voice speaks

in the wind
summoning me home

Her End

now all’s well
complete whole and
in its place

but often I
wonder how all
of it went

through the gradual
descent alone and
without warning of

what might come
at moment least
suspected with her

alone with the
sound slowly released
from her breath

Encomium

you are to me
what yesterday was
to today before
tomorrow has a name

you move through me
without touching

being without speaking
as silence is to song

in words sung from
the one who makes me sing

David Sermersheim