One sunny day a young lad decided
he would spit in the wind
for oft he heard his parents declare
that was not the thing to do

the young lad looked up at Dad
with a gleam in his eye
the wind was blowing in his face
and his father knew what he was about to do

don’t do it he kindly said
but that’s just what the boy planned
well, you know what he tried
and learned rather quickly why, oh why, that is just not wise!

Little boys and their glory
… Pic is from Picabay.com

© 2019 by James Spruell. All rights reserved

Hiding in flurries and eddies
a lost soul grieves within
searching for a love lost long ago,
seeking a path she knows has no end

deep within she mourns the love
that broke her heart and stole her soul
in pain and anguish she rides the wind
seeking the sun which set long ago

bound in chains of the past,
living in shadows that never were
she cannot see today’s sunlight,
feel the joys of the flight

for only until she finds today’s sunrise
can she look up from the shadows
clutched so deeply in her loss
and rest from her eternal flight

( a butterfly lost in the wind…
pic is from Pixabay.com).  

© 2019 by James Spruell, All rights reserved

In an autumn eve, so long ago
one day in an autumn gift
footprints crossed in the sand,
in time chose a path, a life to share
the walk along the shore

traveling by the waves
hands as one, the sand revealed
a heart had been won
imprints on the beach
forever etched as one

(pic is from Pixabay.com)

© 2018 by James Spruell, All rights reserved

Butterflies residing on the wall
clothed in beauty quietly await
the day winds and time carry you home
from fields and travels
oh so far.

According to Lafcadio Hearn, a butterfly was seen
in Japan as the personification of a person’s soul;
whether they be living, dying, or already dead. One
Japanese superstition says that if a butterfly enters
your guest room and perches behind the bamboo screen,
the person whom you most love is coming to see you… from Wikipedia.

Picture is by Xü Xi [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

© 2018 by James Spruell, All rights reserved

Splitting from evil
dark wounds slowly disappear
freedom found in new life

(Previously posted… a long time ago!
reposted because it’s a favorite)

© 2014 by Diane Thayer, All rights reserved

Tattered wings in the night
seeking refuge from the cold
float on winds, and wisps of dreams
searching for nectar to fill their soul,
a flower in the night

just sputtering along…
their dream embraced in a song
tattered wings of the heart
broken but oh so strong
seeking the nectar of the night

lodged between the stars and moon
I saw their wings take flight
tattered wings in the night
found the nectar
hidden in moonbeams
and flowers of the night

© 2018 by James Spruell, All rights reserved

Silent like a song that only one may hear
in the eerie night, hide the things I fear
a howl, a growl, a shadow near

fingers that linger upon a window rim
in summer storms and winter’s rains
lingering in shadows, hiding in the night

or is it just the rain coming down
creating life’s little frown
for in the distance, a speck I see
in the glimmer of the sun

as the rainbow begins to speak,
her smile rests upon me now
and I remembered tis Halloween Eve

for the goblin you see
was a child playing a trick on me
reminding me it’s Halloween
and I forgot the treat

(Also previously posted… a long time ago! reposted
& updated for Halloween)

© 2018 by James Spruell, All rights reserved

Two roads diverged on I-15 South
the road to the left, on to her house,
the one going South, the road to Vegas,
led to a new life, the lights of Vegas
beckoned in the night

but without a prenup
there could have been a fight
a frantic call to the attorney could not make it right
No, he cried, you cannot do that tonight
No, no, not without a court fight

Two roads diverged in the night
we took one the to the left, on to her house
alas we had no prenup,
to end the fight!

wedding chapels beckoning in the night
without a prenup, wedding rings
would not be found, by morning light

(Previously posted… a long time ago!)

© 2014 by James Spruell & Diane Thayer, All rights reserved

the sun forgot to shine today
and left such a dreary mess
but alas I did see
a beautiful rose, sitting
quietly at my side

the rose looked at me as if to say
why the grimace on thy face?
if you smile, the sun shall surely rise
and the dreary mess
will turn as night into day

and to my surprise the rose began to smile
and that awful look on my face,
changed to a soft, gentle glow
and the sun peeked out from where it hid
as if it also, wanted to say hello

© 2018 by James Spruell All rights reserved

With wings of wax
Icarus flew
on strands of an autumn air

But like moths drawn to the sun
Icarus learned
what Daedalus had ever warned him
not to do

Icarus, my friend
the wings you wear
are the morning frost

ever so beautiful to behold
but fade
oh so quickly in the sun

© 2018 by James Spruell. All rights reserved

Just for fun… and yes, there are a zillion
poems about Icarus (google it), and now there’s one more 🙂  

When the heart has no key
we live in shadows cast from within
and dream of things that are past,
of things we did not see

Yet patiently waiting
is a tiny seed,
buried so long ago,
a life hiding quietly within

until the day when spring thaws
rekindles the spirit residing within
a seed sprouting forth tender roots
renews its journey once again

in the misty morn
the song and melody
await but a time and place
for the warm embrace
to break the lock
that binds within

© 2018 by James Spruell All rights reserved

with tender touch
loves’ deep breath shall clothe with light,
a child hiding in the night

© 2017 by James Spruell All rights reserved

while ever rambling along
the fun of writing poetry
is that little curve ball, waiting within

© 2017 by James Spruell All rights reserved

A child smiles now
with tears in his eye instruct him I must
first with love, then with trust
So he will have no dragons, no demons
in the night.

© 2017 by James Spruell All rights reserved

Hiding in windows
known only to time
are ripples within the veil
life’s little roses that float our way,
then so quickly fade away,
butterflies saying hello,
but before the moon can rise
leave once more,
their journey to explore

© 2017 by James Spruell All rights reserved

When light and dark are the same
and thoughts of horror
are all that remain
What is this endless abyss
in whose waters, I must wade?

When the soul is lost
and north becomes south
time stands silently at the door,
in whose empty vase
the endless pain I implore
to leave, to come no more

My eyes cannot find
the flowers lost of a friend
silent memories that her song,
hidden from sight, seem forever gone

though her song I cannot find
gentle reminders that life does not end
lay in the stars set gently in the night,
in the twinkling of starlight

silent memories speak of my friend
in time, shall be found, once again
her song hiding there, deeply missed
remain and wait, at heaven’s gate

© 2017 by James Spruell All rights reserved

when petals close to mark the end of day
a silent guardian watches over the night
in utter quiet, dark repose

as petals sleep, coiled tightly in relief
the moon begins a nightly journey,
adorned in twilight’s golden glow

the nocturnal awaken
the owl with a hoot, ends her fast,
to begin the nightly hunt

until morning rays, when petals extend
awaken from night’s slumber
the sparrow and blue jay

the owl to sleep,
the silent guardian does rest
until the day’s journey has an end

the cycle then begins again,
her nightly repose

© 2017 by James Spruell All rights reserved

The masquerading rose
within one’s soul
oh how thorns prick
and take their toll

The blooming petals
so temptingly sweet
fraudulently grown
placed at feet

Alas; Roots grow deep
within the ground
what once was there
will come around

Touch of velvet
soft essence treat
yet without the thorns
are not complete

© 2012 by Amy King All rights reserved

Originally posted in my old site: utahwhispers (Written by Amy King, my daughter, repost)