Six Poems by John Drudge

 

Birth of a Tear

 

The freedom

Of passion

Spirit in nature

Gods of creation

A new religion

In the face

Of waning faith

Art and beauty

Poetry and solace

The mortality

Of a moment

In the birth

Of a tear

Morning in France

 

With the buzzing

Of the morning

And the sunlight

Through the window

Of the old house

In the long countryside

Birds in the trees

In the garden

And the sound

Of a simple nature

Surrounding

As she stirred

And settled back

Into the softness

Of dreams

And the warmth

Of the beauty

Around her

Letting Go

 

Through your eyes

New worlds unfold

Journeys into wonder

And the deep healing

Of wandering souls

Through cities

And mountain towns

To a sense of purpose

Beyond the fall

Pieces of surrender

In the beauty

Of a brooding sky

Weaving inches

Into an eternity

Of goodbyes

Of You

 

The arresting

Of attention

A singular beauty

Fleeting

Illuminating

And transforming

A moment of reduction

In unexpected stillness

Perceived patterns

Unfolding in unity

The thrill of pleasure

In anticipation

A breath

A song

A state of joy

As I hold you

Returning

 

Bright green

Dreams

Over cherished

Thought

The comforts

Of vivid yellows

And oranges

Like sunsets

On open water

Or forests blooming

In spring

With strings of hope

Returning

To blue sky

You in Venice

 

In the city

Of dreams

Where romance

Breathes

From the worn stone

Through the warrens

And winding alleys

Where love conquers all

With the soft movement

Of the canal

In the quiet hours

Of morning

As I turn to you

And watch you sleep

In the warm sunlight

Breaking

From the east

Over Venice

John Drudge  is a social worker working in the field of disability management and holds degrees in social work, rehabilitation services, and psychology.  He is the author of five books of poetry: “March” (2019), “The Seasons of Us” (2019), New Days (2020), Fragments (2021), and A Long Walk (2023). His work has appeared widely in numerous literary journals, magazines, and anthologies internationally. John is also a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee and lives in Caledon Ontario, Canada with his wife and two children.