Nightscape

The half moon over Oldesong tree
melts into raindrops, carving wood
into fine crooked ridges, searing
storms into each falling leaf
when breathless stillness of the night
veils the trembling autumn wind
and all her burning sunsets.

T. E. Pyrus

The Last Leaf

Last yellow leaf on Oldesong tree
that looks over the valleyside,
sways golden in the sunset wind
like a silent sigh that echoes
like soft, fading laughter
ringing through the hollow sky.
Last yellow leaf on Oldesong tree
gazes at the half-moon like a question.

T. E. Pyrus

When…

darkness dissolves into sunsets,
stars fall through midnight like rain,
flickering streetlamps sleep soundly,
seconds count minutes in vain,

the wind forest’s net catches moonlight,
the sunrise soaks into the land,
oceans are mountains of dewdrops,
mountains are soft breaking sand,

clear winds break clouds into laughter,
the blushing gold autumn is shy,
all of these moons burn like snowstorms,
the wanderer, quiet, tiptoes by.

T. E. Pyrus

Carousel

Coloured voices paint the world…

No one steals another glance
at the faery carousel
that crowns the gentle woods of time,
and spins to melodies of grace,
the melting spring and summer bloom
that flutter in the sun-kissed rain,
fiery golden autumn leaves
and snowflakes, pure, that hide their flame
in little baskets, full of dreams.

No one steals a second glance
but wistful dreamers, lovers true
who wonder at the carousel
as lifetimes come and drift away…

T. E. Pyrus

whispered songs

the vague whispers of the changing wind
sometimes pause –

then break into a hearty song
of red leaves softly rustling,
and bubbling laughter skipping over
stepping stones across the stream,
the closing of the oven door
and cinnamon and pumpkin pie,
and crackling in the fireplace,
quilts and blankets, lullabies,
and darker nights and halloween,
ghosts of christmas, trick or treat,
dreams to live and days to love,
family and friends to meet

– and quietens to a steady stream
of whispered songs of quieter things…

T. E. Pyrus

Painting Memories

I’ve seen the fiercely joyful constellations in your eyes,
Bright with wonder of the wandering starlight in the skies…

When you forget the fleeting moments in our golden autumn light
With your dreams that lay beside me in the quiet and starry night,

I’ll string our breezy laughter, twinkling crystal-still like stone,
We’ll watch sunsets paint the sea while I build sandcastles alone.

We’ll build that summer cottage, not too near the salty shore
And greet that snowman who’ll await you every christmas at our door.

I’ll fill my nights with legends ere I lose our mortal lie,
So we’ll live again in tales ‘neath the ever-starry sky.

T. E. Pyrus

[Featured image is the artwork of batensan. All rights belong to the artist.]
P.S. Thank you, batensan, for letting me borrow your art!

stardust storm

the stars fell out of the sky
onto the pavement before my eyes
and i looked up to see the lightning
winking at the clouds in the sky.

and then i lay down on a green patch of grass:
my sanctuary from this world of honest apathy,
pathetic honesty, and camped out in my sarcasm.

then the rain poured down on the pitch darkness again,
like shooting stars, and my dear asphalt
twinkled like sunset glittering in
windy, warm autumn days.

wintry winds come quiet
and paint the mountains white
to calm the bleeding autumn and welcome stormy skies,
and the frosty snowflakes spelled your name.

i built me an army of sunset clouds,
my storm in disguise;
let me conquer that faraway look in your eyes
while you dream.

i walked to forever, asked infinity for your whereabouts
and the guardian of heaven
led me to your castle of clouds, your home.

and when i decided to waltz down the staircase
to green earth and flowers in the rain,
you came to me again.

and took me by the arm and asked me
if i loved the rainbows beyond the moon
and clouds so high.

i said, nay, for i loved the purple past sunsets,
the blush beneath your eyes at daybreak
for evermore dancing;

i loved each cloud on your brow,
each star that twinkled in your eyes,
and all your stormy lies,

and every truth you told reflected my soul
in a million shades of hesitant excitement
before your storm.

when evening brushed your air
with stars like glitter everywhere,
i loved your dark wings like clouds;

and when you floated by with
the moon on your wing,
i loved your silver sins.

and when i could join
the constellations on your palms,
you loved me a little,

or so i thought before i learned
that the darkness would burn
into light.

stardust is the only crooked truth
in this revolving world of empty lies.

you and i shall spin forever
in this universe of silent void.

you and i are made of
sixteen billion year old stardust.

the sun said you’re pretty,
the moon stole your heart.

all rippling like stars in the sea,
come home.

and when all the world is falling apart.

come, my storm, for one last minute.

before we die into last dust

let’s smoulder for another forever.

then we shall wait

until all life

is quiet,

resting.

T. E. Pyrus

candle

shadow play on the ceiling
reminds me of the sound
of your intoxicating voice.
there’s not a soul around

to watch you blue and golden
when you gaze into my eyes
and each tear drop warm burning
through my fingertips and lies

that i heard you whisper
through thunderstorm that night,
and here i wait listening
and hoping that i might

await you, moonless, in
the silence-swallowed dark.
your footsteps in the autumn
with every little spark

in the woods, long forgotten-
easy wind and downy flake
and harness bells now silent
between woods and golden lake

and in unforgiving darkness
i met my phantom green,
then never again, in daylight
were our heartbeats seen.

T. E. Pyrus

A Lovers Lie – A Sonnet

Golden leaves dance gracefully
In gentle silver breeze.
The whispers in the trees
Sing like sailors’ songs at sea.
And there, beneath the twinkling star
You danced like silver dew
Then, in my heart I knew
That twilight lovers never scar.
The precious dream you left behind,
I loved with all that’s true
Like every lover loves their lie.
And every moment floating by
My broken heart loved you
Like mountain Latmos loved the sky.

T. E. Pyrus

paper boats

like soul spilt on mounted canvas-
never once a touch of ink,
eyes like dewy flowers: open
’til they glitter to the brink,

tears like candlesticks that melt
and freeze: cold, yet standing tall,
red like bleeding heart that’s broke
and lonely autumn leaves that fall,

purple like late sunset clouds’
swirling, swaying evening trance,
like picture frames in railway tracks:
never once a second glance,

let your dreams, like paper boats,
sail and sink in rippling moon,
and never once reach out, and watch
them fading ’til they’re gone too soon…

T. E. Pyrus