Carriage Returns: Poetry 1988-2008

by Robert Ropars

  Let you know what I wait for

  For now I remain patient

  When you know why

  Will you think it’s virtuous

  * * * * *

  Circle of Stones

  I sense the being before I hear it…see it

  She is without name

  Lusty and merry she knows how to please

  She is within me in the most secret corner of my soul

  I don’t know when I first felt her naked fingers

  On my back…my body

  I turned to see a vision of beauty…fire

  Naked she stood with raw lust in her eyes

  I was engulfed

  She took my mind

  Ate it right there in front of me

  Those parts of my body which were able

  Where aching for her right there

  She took my mind

  And there will she remain

  No one will know…believe the loss

  Now and then she comes out

  While I try to sleep

  Makes me want her…do her bidding

  I always obey waiting for my reward

  And always waiting

  She has placed a circle of stones

  In me…In my mind

  I can’t see inside…am I me or her

  Boy or girl

  Human

  Does it matter

  I still am here alone

  * * * * *

  Further Canterbury Tales

  I

  Victoria Coach Station, Cafeteria, London

  Florescent lights shine

  On couple uniting

  With time to kill

  On hard plastic seats

  Where laughter and boredom

  Pass some of the time

  With warm sodas and cold coffee

  Cigarettes and cigars

  Dim the lights

  Curling and choking

  Smoke and heat

  In proximity

  Prompts another walk

  For fresh air

  None is found

  So return to the group

  Sharing the wait

  To motley destinations

  With no coaches in sight

  II

  Coaches, coaches everywhere

  Arrived late

  Wait for the next one

  The time has come

  Dash for the bay

  Lines of coaches

  Fill the view

  As the timetable

  Is checked again

  And the watches

  Where’s the coach

  It’s late

  The wrong bay

  It’s always this one

  A man approaches

  A bomb was found

  On the A2

  A bomb never exploded or noticed

  Not since World War II

  There’ll be a delay

  Those going south

  Pilgrims to Canterbury

  Disperse to wait some more

  Other coaches depart

  On schedule

  Thanks Hitler

  * * * * *

  My Grandpa Sat

  The sun was sinking

  Ending the day

  Our white porch

  Orange and red

  Painted by sunset

  The screen door opens

  I go outside

  Lemonade in hand

  My grandpa sat

  On our swing

  Slowly rattling

  Back and forth

  We sip slowly

  On the ground

  A fallen branch

  My time to play

  He stays swinging

  A whistle and a smile

  Breaks through

  Wrinkles and whispers

  In his way he plays

  * * * * *

  Further Eliminations

  How could I have known

  The sweet girl next door

  Could have such talents

  Did the leather always excite

  Where do all the whips come from

  Must I always be bound

  To your hits…my bruises

  Must you always wear

  That mask of innocence in public

  That mask of control in private

  How could I have know

  You’d be so wonderful

  * * * * *

  Stonehenge

  Deceptively small

  Circle of gray

  Giants on a hill

  A sea of green

  Cut by ditches

  Surrounded

  By distant mounds

  Resting place

  Of the past

  Some giants fall

  Still here

  Puzzling

  Maybe existing

  Just for its own

  Perfect simplicity

  One spot

  Whispering

  10,000 words

  Any poem fails

  To notice and is

  Gratefully humbled by them

  * * * * *

  Avebury

  Ring of guards

  Intermingle with

  Hills of green

  Home to sheep

  And a town

  Quiet giants

  Spread

  In stately silence

  Circling ground

  Of age old importance

  Individuals all

  Joined by humans

  To serve as

  Its protector

  And source

  Lords and Ladies

  Of hewn beauty

  And serenity

  * * * * *

  My wish

  Dew forms in a field near midnight

  As stars twinkle above our blanket

  Laying hand in hand

  Unspoken words fill the silence

  This field belongs to us

  No distractions as I turn to you

  You turn to me

  I see the stars reflected in your eyes

  The blanket wrinkles with our movement

  I pull closer to lie in each other’s arms

  We move deeper

  Like a second blanket

  You chase away the cold

  I wish I may

  I wish I might

  Have this wish

  I wish tonight

  * * * * *

  Goodbye

  I feel a chill in my heart

  Turmoil burns my stomach

  I blinked once only once

  And so much is gone

  A week ago it was us

  Now you say we’re still friends

  You say this is for the best

  Honesty is the answer

  And I should be a sport

  So you say I can survive

  We were never meant to be

  I don’t fit into your plans

  Now a week is passed

  We are no longer

  I don’t use up your free time

  After 2 years I’m alone again

  Looking for happiness isn’t hard

  Knowing you only needed a week

  * * * * *

  Through the fog

  Late at night fog creeps

  Headlights lose their power

  Your touch is still felt

  Though you are behind me

  My love you are here

  As the radio sings

  My wounds have gone

  You are whom I seek

  A new love in my heart

  A fresh voice in my ear

  When we are together

  I focus on every aspect

  Eyes so brown

  Lips so soft

  Skin so tender

  Lest I fade into the fog

  Never

  To see

  To touch

  To know

  You…again

  So I cling to the beats

  Of a newly warmed heart

  To
think of you when apart

  To hold you when near

  To love you always

  * * * * *

  Shared love

  I awake between your two breasts

  Only able to kiss one at a time

  Physical barriers fade when we undress

  Loving you is what we do best

  Is sharing you my worst crime

  I listen to the rain on the window

  And watching you sleep I am alone

  Is my jealousy a sin

  As I wonder where your thoughts have been

  Am I judged because my heart’s broke

  Studying your curves I feel a tear

  First dripping now pouring they fall

  Washing the breasts I lay near

  Praying I try to make her appear

  The woman to whom you crawl

  How do I live with your love

  Another’s needs control your heart

  Why isn’t my devotion enough

  You’re in love with you not another

  And that’s the worst part

  * * * * *

  Notes

  Pen on paper

  Words are thieves

  Stealing my feelings

  Silently speaking

  Staccato letters

  Legato emotions

  These parts

  Are ivory keys

  If you read them

  Together a song

  Notes of love

  Written separately

  Linked by a keyboard

  Within my heart

  * * * * *

  Breakfast in Bed

  The sun rises

  A glow on your face

  I go downstairs

  In the kitchen

  Coffee brews

  Toast browns

  Eggs scramble

  I return with

  Breakfast

  You sit

  We kiss

  A new day

  Together my friend

  * * * * *

  Cradle and All

  It’s gotten cold

  Bullets finished me

  They said “Nobody move”

  I had an itch

  Drove me mad

  They wouldn’t really

  Just a little itch

  I tried to be quick

  He must have been nervous

  That must be why

  Lost his nerve

  Poor guy

  Just wanted some money

  Me a disobedient bystander

  Had no choice really

  Stuck to his word

  How many in this life do

  I would’ve let it slide

  They got the money and ran

  Someone called an ambulance

  Covered me in blankets

  But the chill’s inside

  It’s for the best

  Bills to pay

  Four kids to feed

  Selfish wife

  Did me a favor really

  Everything’s simpler now

  Black and white

  Maybe

  * * * * *

  Breaking rules

  A boy heard

  Don’t do this

  Don’t do that

  Dress appropriately

  Talk when spoken to

  Eat your veggies

  Do your homework

  Go to college

  Get a job

  Pay taxes

  Conform

  Marry

  Have Kids

  Buy a house

  Grow old and die

  Laughing first

  Crying next

  I went outside

  And played in traffic

  * * * * *