The Cottage

The Cottage

The cool morning mist
surrounds her like a fog
as she steps lightly
into the forest

Dew drops cling to her hair
as she searches for that
special place where she
once belonged

Searching for landmarks,
the old dead tree (long since
returned to the earth)
she loses her way and
finds herself circling
...listening she hears
the babbling of a brook

Standing there for what
seems like hours, she
wonders which way to go,
looking down she sees
the remnants of an old
stone path and instinctively
knows that the cottage is nearby

As she makes her way through
the overgrowth that was
once the garden, past the
low rock wall, there under
the canopy of the massive oak
trees she stops, her breath
coming quickly now in anticipation,
as her search comes to an end

The door stands open, waiting, and as
she makes her way through the cobweb
covered doorway, past the old brick
fireplace, she stops, remembering the
smells of her grandmother's cooking
like it was yesterday

She can still see that
loving face (gone for decades
now) smiling down at her,
eyes twinkling, hands
warm and welcoming

As the hours tick by,
she sits in the tiny kitchen
of the abandoned cottage
that once was her childhood
safe haven and in her mind
the years slip away and she can
once again hear that lovely voice,
softly humming and she yearns
to have her grandmother's arms
around her once more

Lynn West
(c) 2009

Noel

Noel

I can see the wonder
in the children's eyes
and for this I am so thankful

Carolers stroll by
as the snow covers my lawn,
like a blanket of diamonds

Stopping to sing, their voices
ring out as St. Nicholas
prepares his sleigh
for the trip to every
boy and girl's dreamland

The Angels' halos
light the sky
as twinkling stars

Joy is all around and the
true meaning of the season
is evident

Love abounds!

Happy Birthday, Jesus

Amen and good night

Lynn West
(c) 2009

Unleashed

Unleashed

Bound together by forces
unseen, yet epic in their pull

The fight was over
before it began
as need found it's way
to the surface,
long buried by secrets
and half-truths

When you found me,
I was as lost as thee,
waiting for what I knew not

With eyes wide open,
my body trembles,
for now, I know your touch

Take me to you lair
and unleash our passion,
held back a thousand years...

Lust held captive by time
is set free as flesh meets flesh,
melding, joining, knowing
the wonder of release,
reclaiming life, wrapped in
ecstasy's dance

And the full moon never
looked so innocent...

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Morning

Morning

Morning in all it's glory,
seeping through my windowpane

Dawn's break of the day,
washed clean and fresh, again

Birds are waking slowly,
singing to the dawn

Dew has left a thousand
tiny prisms dancing
across the lawn

I can smell the coffee
brewing in the pot

Another day of glorious
wonder will not be forgot

Rising from my bed,
to drink a cup of brew

I walk my little stone path
as my feet are bathed in dew

Lynn West
(c) 2009

Photographs

Photographs

As I study these old photographs
memories wash over me like a
flood and the love shines down
from above like the warmest of
summer days

Smiling faces stare back at me
and I remember a grandmother's
hug, grandfather's joking manner,
the way mother would laugh,
the crooked slant of dad's hat...

There is a special feeling that comes
from wandering down memory lane,
a little bittersweet perhaps, but a road no less
traveled in spite of its rocky turns, for that
road holds my memories of you

Lynn West
(c) 2009

Ecstasy Mountain

Ecstasy Mountain

Smiles abound
as anticipated pleasure
touches the very
core of my soul

Intimate gestures, passion's
release, traveling to the
peak of ecstasy mountain,
where I haven't tread in years

Endless touches, yearnings
fulfilled, contentment in
spoon curled bodies

Until a time when the wolf inside
is released yet again and soars
with this MoonAngel to bliss,
once more

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Photo courtesy of Joe Insinga
TenThiryOnePhotograpic

Lover's Groove

Lover's Groove

A tender kiss,
a slow caress
this moment is
utter happiness

A tickle here,
a slow lick there
inside our world
without a care

Finding ecstasy
with every move
locked in a dance,
the lover's groove

Knowing you, knowing me,
secrets and yearnings to unfold
open arms and caring hearts
life stories waiting to be told

Soul joining, come at last
living now, not present nor past
chapters in the Book of We,
creating perfect harmony

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Photo courtesy of Fabio Napoleoni

Dream Weaver

Dream Weaver

Dream weaver,
weave me a dream
of a starlit night,
drifting with you

Make it so real
that I actually feel
the magic of your touch

Show me the color of
your soul and whisper
your heart's desire

And in the morning
when I rise, be there
by my side

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Stay Cool

Stay Cool

The young ones
don't always get it...
how cool it is to
be old

Not old in mind,
that really doesn't
age, but rather
matures, like a fine
wine

We may mellow
or we may burst
alive at 50!

Either way, cool ones,
keep on keepin' on

Coz' you GOT it

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Canvas

Canvas

Today is perfect,
a blank canvas
to be colored
with anything that
you choose.

I see the golden hues
of autumn and it reassures
me that change is good,
necessary, in fact.
Without change, growth stops
and growing in mind
and soul are monumental for
my well being.

In the distance, I hear a train,
reminding me that
life is indeed a journey.
You can stand at the station
and watch as it passes you by,
or ride, ride every second,
live fuller, love deeper,
march to your own drum,
be the you who paints
their own canvas.

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Photo Courtesy of my good friend, Michele Robertson

The Yarn Spinners

The Yarn Spinner

Oh teller of tales
and weaver of
dreams straight
to my heart
you do speak

With your words you enchant
be it ode, verse or rhyme and
I yearn for your stories, like a remedy

How you mellow my soul,
spinning tales of your woe
as the days drift carelessly by

What a sad world it would be
without raconteurs like thee
to set our imagination on fire!

Lynn West
(c) 2009

Once Upon a Time...

Once Upon a Time

12 days later
she stopped crying,
yet the bitterness
of his stinging words
still clung to her heart
choking like
vines, burying her
soul deeper and
deeper

12 months later
she saw the light
at the end of a
well worn tunnel,
her heart still
prickled from the
thorns of hurt

12 years later
she was merely
a shell of the
emotionally starved
creature who had
climbed back from
oblivion, a new life
forged from a wounded
soul, all because she was
set free, soaring with love
which could outshine
the sun, for in 12 lifetimes
she could never be loved
as she is loved now...

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Taken

Taken
Passion engulfs me
as I stagger backward,
weak kneed and trembling

Acknowledgement of playing with
fire is tossed by the wayside,
given over to senses, dulled by
yearning, as lips of hunger
ravish me, leaving me breathless

Embers long thought lost
to wind and time, ignite
as kindred spirits
come together with
the force of a hurricane
and the need of a thousand
wandering the earth alone...

Lynn West
(c) 2011

*Photo Windblown Dunes
expressly owned by Peter Holloway
visit: www.peterholloway.com

Passing Time

Passing Time

Burning the candle at both ends,
he wakes to another busy day,
telling himself he will slow down...
tomorrow

As days roll by and months turn
to years, still he presses on,
no end in sight to the hurry/scurry
that is now his existence

Life passed him by, like a fast
moving train as the family dinners
were held without him and the
children began to leave the nest

Now as his hair began
to gray, he wondered
where time had gone,
when in truth, the time
was there, just not well-
spent and as he rocked
alone in his chair,
he felt the knowing of
regret...


Lynn West
(c) 2011

The Other Side of Rain

The Other Side of Rain

As the rain pours down,
my soul feels washed anew

The melody lulls me,
carrying me to thoughts of you

Floating down a lazy river,
looking up to the sky

No agenda, just being,
as the stars come out
to shine for us and
the moon rises
to witness our kiss

Moments frozen by memories,
yet to be lived, in the rain,
with you

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Dissolution

Dissolution

Bitter end to sweet beginning,
as the path between them widens

What a shame when trust is lost,
never to be regained

And days become years of strained existence,
where touches fade from memory

Always two sides to an
argument, both believing
in their own truth

The walk down the isle
is a lifetime away as the
judge signs the final decree

And both walk away,
wondering what happened
to happy ever after

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Closet of Memories

Closet of Memories

Would that we could access our memories as easily as choosing a dress from our closet. Go thru them, one by one, choosing a favorite to try on, wearing it anytime we wanted, like a pair of old, soft shoes.

But life doesn't give us that option and sometimes even the most precious of memories fade like the sun over the mountains.

I look at old photographs at times and rediscover a moment, thankful that it's trapped in time for me.

Someone wrote a song once "The Beauty of Days Gone By" and I can't think of a better way to say that. I honor my past, am thankful for my memories (even the lessons learned) and am looking forward to the future with bright-eyed wonder while I live in the now and relish each moment

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Flight of the Willow Queen

Flight of the Willow Queen

On an aimless flight,
she wanders to and fro,
searching for another
sunny day

Her eyes like rays of sunshine,
her hair as wispy as the willow
and her lips taste of fallen dew,

She is bathed in morning's
quiet dawn, and when she
takes a deeper look, the
knowledge floods into
her mind with the rising
of the sun

She opens her heart as
her voice rises in
perfect harmony with
the wind and she sings
praises once more to
the heavens and the earth

Lynn West
(c) 2011

The Swans of St. Ives

The Swans of St. Ives

As we lazed by the River Ouse,
I witnessed graceful beauty,
in a land of serenity

Protected by their Queen,
forevermore

Floating like tiny barges of peace,
I marveled at nature's blessings bestowed

And when they took to flight,
in unison, I experienced heaven

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Freeing the Words

Freeing the Words

I find a place inside my head
where words are waiting to be said

My pen embarks on a new journey
to say what I feel and set the words free

Some days find the simples, other days the blues
Words that tell of flowers, even of shoes

It matters not whether they blend or rhyme
it's simply words escaping from an imaginative mind

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Queen of Foul

Queen of Foul

There once was a woman
I thought a true friend,
expected our sisterhood to last
through thick and thin

But one summer day
when chickens roamed,
I saw deep inside her soul,
as her lips spouted forth words
our friendship could not hold

In front of her own, she screamed
her true feelings of me spilled out,
was it resentment at last redeemed?

Anger met anger as our words spewed,
the argument made no sense!
What a shame where there was once a neighbor soon I'll see a fence

But I honestly suspect
the reason of our parting
is my demand for respect

A test perhaps,
one that made my heart sore
knowing envy and bitterness
was disguised next door

Lynn West
(c) 2011

The MoonShiner

His life was one of adventure
ever a step in front of the law
running booze and making white lightnin’
was his family’s call

From olden days before prohibition
til’ the 90's he did ride
and in the holler late at night
the Moonshiner made his “pride”

The bootleggers all knew his name
and respected him more than most
for he was the “Mayor of Happy Holler”
our Sam, never a bragger or boast

A better man never walked this earth
and I am glad to say
he was the one I called my father
and I miss more than words can say


Lynn West
(c) 2009
for my Dad

Living Now

Living Now

Now and again
I afford myself
a look back, yet
I constantly strive
to live in the moment,
to live in the now

For the past is just that,
past, the memories bittersweet,
the mistakes, lessons learned

Acknowledge that the future
stems from what you have
made of this day

Tomorrow is an unwritten
slate where the stars are your
limit, the moon your guide
and the heavens await you,
yet keep in mind, it's
the "now" that makes it
all worthwhile

Lynn West
© 2009

Haiku Summer

Haiku Summer

Hot and dusty day
I wonder, where is the rain
ah, I felt a drop

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Friends

Friends

Friends are my life's bonus,
each one a special treat
some from childhood,
other's faraway and even
more I've yet to meet

Friend's are my comfort
whether I'm happy or contrite
and even when I pout and whine
friends are there to set me "right"

True friend's are a real godsend
and I can honestly say, without
you, my friend, I wouldn't make
it through this day

Lynn West
(c) 2009

Swallow Tail Jig

Swallow Tail Jig

Ancestors sweet,
a hundred years past,
did dance as they played
out this tune

I feel it deep within my soul
as embers spark into flame

I trust that when you hear the
jig, if Irish blood flows in ye

You feel the need to tap your
feet and reel like your blood
kin once did

Yes, oh yes, I swing to the tune
as my ancestors did back then

And I feel the smile grow upon
my face as the music flows all around

Lynn West
(c) 2011

I appreciate the use of this link and commend the person who not only posted ii on YouTube to allow the world to hear, but also inspired me to write about it.

Rutville

Rutville

In the depths of the night,
the lone coyote cries out, for
what we know not, and
identifying with that
lonesome sound is all too
familiar

Human seeking human,
too proud in their own
kingdom of nothingness
to reach out, one to another,
in exposed humbleness

Surrounded by yet another fad,
empty hearts and broken dreams
of theoretical proportions are
the mainstream while any plans
for improvement are squelched
by yet another changing
of the channel...

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Mesmerized Morning

Mesmerized Morning

Perhaps I'll sit out here all day,
coffee in hand, as I revel in the splendor
of birdsong, wind and warm sun
upon my face

I'll walk the stone path and feel the dew,
fresh upon my feet, whilst the wind chimes
play my morning symphony

Maybe I'll watch the bees buzz all day
or the butterflies as they dance about on air

Wait, do I hear the train rumbling by? And look, is that a chipmunk, scampering over to try and steal breakfast while my doggy isn't looking?

Hopefully I'll catch a glimpse of an elusive hummingbird as he searches for nectar

And if a dragonfly visits, I know I will be
charmed, for they are rare in the garden these days

But no matter how I spend my day, I'll be ever thankful for this mesmerized morning

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Haiku Morning

Haiku Morning

Morning visits me
sun peaks through my window
time to rise and shine
(c) 2011
Lynn West

Desiderata - by Max Ehrman - sharing with the world

Not one of mine, but one that is ageless and timeless and I felt the true need to share it:

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrman



(c) Max Ehrman 1926

Dream Carriage

And into the night I ride,
in a carriage made of dreams
...

more to follow...

Lynn West (c) 2011

Haiku Blooms

Haiku Blooms

I can feel springtime
bubbling beneath the surface
As buds become blooms

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Spirit Dance

Spirit Dance

I can feel the rhythm
way down in my soul

I close my eyes and drift,
as the music takes control

Lost in the melody,
I sway from side to side

Inner drums are beating,
as the notes collide

Let the music take you,
where you want to go

Snap your fingers to it
or dance it, really slow

Lynn West
(c)2011

Voodoo Puppet

Voodoo Puppet

In the sport of heartbreak,
he knew his role so well,
leaving a trail of tears,
each heart, an empty shell

From New York to Kentucky,
Atlanta to the River Creed,
he charmed them all
with silk spun lies,
as he sowed his evil seed

He drove down to New Orleans,
to take in a Jazz show,
and to see what he
could conjure up,
but little did he know,
the elusive Queen of Heartache
was waiting in the front row,
ready to challenge him and
put him "in the know"

They carried on for hours,
the first of many trysts;
enchanted by her
beguiling beauty,
he simply could not resist!


On full moon's eve,
she began to chant,
Voodoo Priestess
in full control,
she took his heart
and imprisoned his soul

Yes, for her he'd
broken his "rule"
and when he cried
his silent tears,
he became her
dancing fool

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Snowfall Symphony

Flakes like frozen
moonlight,
falling on my face

I raise my hands out,
toward the sky,
loving this time,
this place

Tiny white-like angels,
whirling all around

A winter snowfall symphony
is falling to the ground

By the time I wake again,
it may be all be gone

Ah, but to have felt it on
my face, 'twas heaven
in quiet song

Lynn West
(c) 2011

PHOTO entitled: Snowfall at Night
by Lynn West
copyright (c) Lynn West 2011

Breadline Angel

Breadline Angel

What were his thoughts,
the man in the breadline,
standing alone in the crowd?

Did he think to himself
"will I eat today"?
Or wail and
voice it aloud?

Did he feel ashamed,
belittled, bereft,
to have to ask for a meal?

Had he once known life's
fortune and fame
making his poverty surreal?

Lynn West
(c) 2011

*********
PHOTO entitled:
White Angel Breadline
by Dorothea Lange

In the Storm Before the Calm

In the Storm Before the Calm

Winds that whipped,
blistering innocent faces,
in the storm before the calm

Trees that swayed in
unlikely places,
in the storm before the calm

Torrent rains came pouring down,
in the storm before the calm

Buildings and houses
fell to the ground,
in the storm before the calm

Destruction was her
middle name,
this storm before the calm

Life as we knew it
was never the same,
in the calm after the storm...

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Haiku Journey

Haiku journey

Floating away now
Toward the edge of reason
What will I find there? 

Lynn West
(c) 2011

The Warning

The Warning

Beware the eyes
of the woman scorned,
for blinding they can be

When scars abound
within her heart,
she will turn cold to thee

Watch you words
and walk with haste
away from her wrath

You've hurt her
time and again,
so steer clear
of her path...

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Contentment

Contentment

Smooth as spun silk,
the breeze blows round me,
while sun glistens in my hair

Thankful for another day,
I sit here in peace,
lazing without a care

Rich in sounds of bird and bee,
content to just be me

Happy on my garden bench,
here at Harmony

Lynn West
(c) 2010

Journey With Me

Journey With Me

Find me where
the stars doth shine,
when the moon is full

Lie me down
on the soft,
sweet grass
and kiss me,
once again

Soar with me
on the wings
of the hawk,
as we drift
among the clouds

Walk with me
on a mountain pass,
as you take my hand
to guide me

Listen with me
to the ocean's song
as she breaks
upon the shore

And we shall know
true happiness,
unmatched by those
who fear to tread,
into the journey
known as life

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Quiet

To appreciate
truly loving someone,
you must be able to
just sit quietly with them...
for in true love,
no words are needed

Lynn West
(c) 2010

Simple

Simple

When you can find joy
in the simple things,
life is so much
more fulfilling

Watching my cat
as she goes through
her bathing ritual,
paws washing her
wise old face

Hearing the puppies
as they scuffle and
play in the yard

The resonant sound
from the wind chimes
in the cool morning breeze

Sun peaking through
the window
as a new day begins,
and all this simple joy,
even before I rise

Find your "simples" in life

Namaste

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Malevolence

Malevolence

She came to me once,
in a dream and I knew
her heart was black

Mass and pretending
mattered not;
I saw her, layers
peeled back

The evil oozed from her
being and her face held
a mocking grin

Her eyes focused
on the lame and weak
and her words cut,
time and again

Browbeating was
second nature
to this ice queen's
cold, dark heart

She sank souls
like quicksand
and ripped
worlds apart...

Lynn West
(c) 2011

Zoned Bodies

Zone Bodies

We found ourselves
in the valley of ecstasy
when our bodies joined
together

Rocket ships went zooming
past as the heaven spewed
stars like a summer's downpour

Floating on a cloud of
contentment, we grounded
once again, and savoured
the feeling, bodies locked,
in the zone of pure passion

Lynn West
(c) 2010