Settle in this evening fair,

for not contrite this humble

gift donned of sweet liberty

by purposed men baptized in

blood and cannon-fire.

Forget me not.

Honor prevailed at the

hands of heroes sacrificed

upon your hallowed eve

of independence.

Did dawn not find

our coats bled red?

Nay, to contrary,

our coats still bleed blue eternal

upon that crimson field

of sacrificed sons

and lamenting fathers.

Should not liberty

have begotten justice

upon the redcoat

borne of Patriot blood?

Desperate independence quartered

no crown in patriot provision then.

Yet, now propagate traitors among us?

The turncoat in contempt haunts me

well beyond my living days.

Shall I find scarlet

upon the back of my son?

The breast of my daughter?

the hearts of my children

centuries hence? 

Surely, I returned then,

glorified in union

...and independence.

Is it not written?

This union I gifted freely to you.

Sired by blood.

bequeathed by bravery.

Defended by honor.

Established by right.

Principled in equality.

Purposed in liberty.

For all men.

Do you know of me

my child, born free

by my blood spilled

these centuries passed?

Do you not remember me?

I was shunned by you,

cast away at your doorstep

by the voice of ignorance.

You have abandoned me;

my brothers put to slaughter,

readily forsaken by you

as you so freely sing in defiance.

You have forgotten me,

blinded by blasphemy

and foolish pride.

Open your door to me now.

Wait by your casement and

sing your sweet lullaby

of sorrow, of sacrifice, and

of patriot sons loved once again.

I have not forgotten you.

I carried the banner of ignorance

for you upon embattled fields

anointed in patriot blood.

Fool am I to have levied your

voice of ignorance for you?

Child, this was my gift to you.

Forget me not.

I am the son of liberty.

Tempted

 Shall I not yield to temptation 

amidst floating embers of amber light, 

while these celestial stars

paint the sky with diamond light?

Her deft brush strokes

manifest midnight clear

as serpentine trails of smoke

rise listlessly

beyond the ring of fire.

These stars have fallen upon her,

resting in the well of her eyes

as fire-glow radiates

beauty upon beauty.

Silver light bathes her supple skin

as this callused hand

brushes her tender cheek

as deftly as she paints the stars,

ever disciplined to study every pore

and contemplate…

What fortuned man am I

To look upon my wife

one more time?

Perhaps fortuned still,

to awake with her

in the ‘morrow while the sun

kisses our casement

drenched in morning light.

Again, shall I be tempted

as amber hues foray

over retreating shadows

extinguishing darkness

and dressing her in the veil

of  existential golden light.

So, that I might look upon

my beloved wife

and relish in all of her beauty

one more time.

Sweet Spring Of Life Loved

 Such love never known

trespassed existence void of validation

at the very whisper of your name

upon that sweet Spring breeze.

I loved you before I beheld you.

The very idea of you laced

my slumber in your sweet embrace,

until the waking hour found me

content in all things and

conspiring to quicken the kiss

delivered upon the wings

of love’s begotten dreams.

And now, myriad days

have surrendered to the stars

you so deftly painted upon

our evening’s sky.

Yet, I find that,

in the midst

of this winter’s night,  

as I lie beside you,

they burn ever brighter.

Always new, 

your eternal flame

brushed across my Heavens,

warms the existential spirit

once wanting,

now communed,

in this sweet Spring

of life loved.

The Road That Takes Me Home

 Although this mile behind

does much to secure

no less insecurities,

I shall not fall upon

this road that takes me home.

Nor, shall I ever sleep

upon the wanting shoulder,

or discount my humble beginning

so many unforsaken miles

behind my principled steps.

I find that the sun burns, at times.

My brow now branded by time,

the mark of love’s vagabond

ever wandering this road

resolutely in search of you

...and purposefully for you.

This arid wind,

bitter at times,

yet no less sweet,

laps at weathered cheeks

salted in regret

at words sometimes thrown

carelessly over my shoulder.

Yet, your grace carves my path

effortlessly through these intrepid airs,

and turns them favorably

to carry me ever closer

to dreams that do come true.

I have called for you.

I have cried for you.

I have smiled my greatest smile for you,

while stumbling through miles

of lampless, haunting nights.

...all for the gleaming promise

of undying love that shall

never abandon, nor forsake

these miles behind me

as unworthy memories.

And, as surely as I have walked

these precious years away,

I have pondered,

“What desperate place

shall find these miles past and

how shall I ever return to them?”

Now, in age I know my love,

beyond lampless nights,

and the golden hues of our sweetest dawns, 

that these miles have not been lost.

But, live well in the eyes

that conspire to secure me,

the precious touch

that endeavors to hold me,

the sweetest smile

that dares to invite me,

and the tender heart

that seeks to know me.

My light,

my love,

my wife

for whom I walk,

and of whom I speak...

I celebrate you.

I celebrate these miles.

I celebrate the lampless nights

and coming dawn of you.

If ever I walk a road again,

Lord, by your eternal grace,

let me be turned upon this one

to collect the miles I left behind

as all worthy memories,

…working my way back,

effortlessly, through the years,

the miles, and the trials

of lampless nights.

…over the hills

and beyond the dawns,

savoring every step.

Smiling my greatest smile for you

...and for her.

Having known,

by and by,

that this road I travel

is the road that takes me home.

All Works Copyrighted © Kevin V. Reese, 2007