For R. M.

This winter's night a star is shining
Where no light had shone before,
Against the clouds a silver lining
Burning brightly evermore.

- c. noel 12-18/19-15

Dismantled

at sight of you, sound of you

awaken dormant rebel fires,

dissident flames from immortal coals

resolve dissolves

lost in tides of ocean-eyes

eroding levees erstwhile laid

I am overwhelmed, overcome

heart dismantled in an instant

and how am I to reconstruct?

-- c. noel

Missive

I opened up your wordless letter

Written silence, sealed and sent

For hours I only sat and wondered

What your empty missive meant

-- c. noel (2010)

It Came With Age

Beneath these endless stormy clouds
The shadows veil and fog enshrouds
The remnant of the hope of youth
Which perished in the quest for truth.

-- c. noel

Relapse

I dared to stare so deep into
     ocean-eyes so crystal blue;

now silenced love I buried deep
     screams in dreams of troubled sleep.


-- c. noel

The Fool

The Fool survives on naught but luck;

Most always, it's a waste of time

To reason with a man like this - 

Just let him wallow in the muck

Of foolishness, for all the grime

Of ignorance, to him, is bliss.

-- c.noel

A Tribute to Les Paul

Les Paul

in his arms, he cradles

Black Beauty, she sings

lofty phrases, poetry

his deft left hand strokes

her ebony neck, she breathes

polyphonic harmonies

and as her soulful aria soars

and fills the air with muted tones,

he lives forgotten memories…

and the crowd sways to the legend’s song,

the ragtime rhythm catching on

as feet tap, fingers snap

it’s a hit, and

everyone mouths the simple words

that tell the tale of every heart…

and as he plays the final note,

the call goes out again for more;

and so he smiles that knowing smile,

and strums another op’ning chord --

neon lights slowly dim

the spotlight’s his, and

every eye is set on him

he leans into the microphone,

names the tune -- this stage

is fully his, and his alone

and as the lively chorus breaks

and pours into the quiet streets,

the dormant city night awakes…

and once again it’s ‘53, and

he’s sitting on top of the world,

in his proper element

as four, five, maybe six generations

mix and mingle ‘round the stage --

‘cause he’s a legend, and they know

that in their fondest memories

this night will never die.

-- c.noel, circa 2010