who are you?

Who are you?
Of what I've made of love's not ever been like this before
And outside of what love once was is nay and all the more
Transcending distance, time and space, it's opened up my eyes
Touched by something mortal's yearn until the day they die
I have but cannot hold, yet held by that which lies in dreams
And though "they" say it cannot be, it's "realer" than it seems.
Who are you?

You breathed upon this flicker, and turned it to a flame
And who can now contain such madness, many call insane?
Yet as a gale within the night that plays on my heart strings
And hence the music of my soul is filled with what you bring
For I am neither worthy of this grace that touched my frame
More blessed than all the angels, yet i long to know your name.
Who are you?

A missing piece to a puzzle? A half that makes a whole?
Endless searching; realms unknown, this mate of my soul
Read between the lines, you bare the name of such Sweetness
Longing for soft lips that kiss and breasts of tenderness
Destiny that calls to you thus calls me forth to sing
Soon happy ever after lying underneath my wing.
Who are you?

Lover or muse or mate of my soul?
An illusion more real than all in this world.

love/hate.

Love.
Hate.
I hate Love.
Probably because it grasps me so and won't let go.
Loose me from your grasp!
It chokes me with a warmth that soothes with
Such, sweet, agony.
It's pleasure is my pain - hurting to perfection.
There's nothing left - loving me relentlessly
Loving me to death.
My life was in you.
Tempting me with tastes that torment when taken away,
But I am here. Naked. Shivering before you.
Cold winds hiss, delighting in spite to crush my will.
Yet I won't succumb to ungodly rule.
I've come to realize, these lies but only speak the truth
Of what you fear in me. Fear in me!
You hear in me, though I do not say a word;
And still I reach my arms to you and will not let you go.
I will not let you go.
Hate me? Maybe so.
I will... not!
Love.

being.

Why was I born? To carry this burden...
Fitting nicely on my back.
Heap on!
Took my vow - nah go bow!
Just ask me how? Secrets I cannot know.
But I know, relatively speaking, that
Time is no master of mine.
Where am I to go in this jungle of brick and stone?
I roam as a king without a throne
But i am not alone. I am not alone.
Convince me against my convictions
That I do not speak the truth!
Otherwise, we are all living a lie.
I've given up all within my very being
And yet still I love... more than I could fathom.
Being.
That's all I have (at least right now)
And share with you. Do you feel... me?
It may not be much, but I give.
It is everything.
Isn't it?

the voice that calls.

I am in love. But this love of mine bears no name.
She calls me. Tender whispers that like light winds,
brush against my soul.
Helpless. Where shall I run to that which has no face?
Straining my eyes - see only a faint image.
Do not torture with your teases. Come closer, speak louder!
Searching the eyes of passers by, and hoping that voice within is the same.
Tell me your name? Let me touch your soft skin.
These lips have been saved for your lips and my Kiss!
Wanting nothing more or less than the voice that calls me.
You are in love. Can you hear me calling?
Quiet your mind for a minute or two... there.
Here I am and will always be. This... will never die!

deep roots.

Sink your roots deep within the warmth of my soil
The moist dark earth feeds love all around you.
Dig deep within the blackness, the work well worth it's toil
Then just lay and rest in me - enjoy this love that's true.
Your skin is silk with softness and blessed your body firm
Now blowing in the summer breeze - light kisses from sun's rays
are planted on your glowing face, I'd like to take a turn;
But I lay low beneath the earth in darkness all these days.
Yet all these days are night to me, and lived a life of death
Until your seeds were planted deep, now know why I'm alive
Resuscitating all my life, you are my every breath
Go deeper still, I beg you! May our love forever thrive.

You are the plant of my life, growing strong these summer days
But deeper still you grow within, and fills my soul with praise!

Poetry In Music: The Poets (2nd reading)

In this clip we feature the Poets L.L. Barkat and Maxidus as they present their work in the 2nd reading.

"Poetry In Music" was held on the night of the 17th of September, 2010.

Poetry In Music: The Poets (1st reading)

There is power in a single spoken word. Music is also a power that moves the soul. "Poetry In Music" is poetry in motion to music and the marriage between the two.

Singer/Songwriters Brooke Campbell and Jason Harrod were joined by poets L.L Barkat & Maxidus to present this unique approach of words and song to New York City at the Bowery Poetry Club. This special evening was presented by Zoae Arts!

From out of chaos and anticipation, words are spoken. Silence... Poetry alone is given in its rawest and purest form. As the poems continue and the poets alternate turns, music emerges! Musicians from the first performer's band began weaving into the words with improvisation of what the poet presented, interacting with and reacting to words. As the poets interchange, musicians will one by one add to the setting until all is filled with full sounds and words. In this clip we feature the Poets L.L. Barkat and Maxidus as they present their work in the 1st reading.

"Poetry In Music" was held on the night of the 17th of September, 2010.

wealthy.

If dreams be all I have and love, then I am truly rich.
Can they be held within these arms of mine?
Or will I sink in quicksand, or rot within the ditch?
Awaiting for that outstretched hand, or a saving vine.
A line is all I ask of you, I feel our dream has died
And living only as I sleep, then death will be my wake.
My cries! My cries all but ignored, though weary I have tried
Am I alone? Can no one see and lay a hand to take?
In stillness I recall a time when heaven fell on earth
And in these arms and with these lips, love sealed within My Kiss
Now with these eyes I wait to see me rise up from this hell
A dream that just will not let go. The dream that you will miss!

As one who seeks some treasure, now holds to something new;
The dream in me is yet alive, though it has died in you.

at once.

When I met her... again, at once I gazed in her eyes
Needing confirmation in the thing that never lies.
Had I created in her... a sort of super woman friend?
At last I'll know that what was lived was not merely pretend.
My heart beat fast as did my legs the closer I did come
A figure of this wild beauty, she had to be the one
And at first glance the truth had won - a power that was more
Much more than did my mind create - much greater than before.
The world spun round as I did her in my arms off the ground
And will she ever know she symbols something I have found?

(Painting by: Suz Hartman "The Embrace 4")

dreamer in cage.

The dreamer still dreams though locked in cage
Longing to ride winds invisible waves
Will he fly? One day, one day - future hard to gauge
Future? Now! And is now all he craves.
Sitting in silence, inside's all a roar
Uncertain, but searching a path and escape
His fate? He waits, can he take it much more?
Fear wrestles Hope sending chills up his nape.
He wants to escape, but Time he awaits
Learning the hard way his struggle's in vain
To think one can lock within prisons and gates
Free souls flying higher through turmoil and pain.
Tis insane how this dreamer still dreams in cage
Locked in cage, but riding winds waves
He is riding winds waves... there is no cage
The future?
Now!

something.

Say something, say anything! Why lock your love away?
So distant and afraid, life is lived from day to day
But soon this day too soon will slowly, gently disappear
And all you'll have to show for is the days lived filled with fear.
Oh dear, do something, something from the words you make
Or are they empty nothings, so that nothing I may take
I'll give you back all you gave me, and find it equals you
A something saying nothing, while yet anything would do.

jilted.

My name is Jilted.
I am the lover that you will never return your love back to.
Yet I keep on giving and giving; gluttonous for punishment.
But I must give what I have, because it is who I am and what
I've been made to be for you.
For my love is pure and right.
Will you one day open the eyes of your heart in this life?
Oh, I wish you could see, but not just selfishly,
but more of all you are and can be.
There’s so much out there just waiting to be grasped.
If only, if only, if only. So call me my name
I am Lover. I am yours.
Jilted Lover.

hug.

Once young and naive, much more now he knows
And oh how he sees the way the world goes.
They speak of true love, but tis only a word
Money they crave and obey when it's heard.
But Virtue once lost calls to him again
And he'll die alone, than to lose this dear friend
He takes off his mask, revealing the fragile
His flesh 'mongst cold stones, yet still very agile
Soft skin bearing bruises, so easily bleeds
Out red drops of love which also he needs
Two arms open wide, yet passers-by smug
Silently calling, for someone to hug.

up and away.

Up, up and away! To heights alone; not in despair.
As I cling to the darkness in the heaven's night
To see what few eyes in these skies ever dare
And dazzled by the twinkling and sparkling starry light
Flying free and shooting down, the earth below my feet
The envy for those bound to tread and toil the ground
Look up as I look on. Embrace when our paths meet.
Discover as I uncover many mysteries to be found.
I find in You a resting soul to comfort my unrest
You see in me - what do you see? A story to be told
For one to write the tale of woe and glory in my quest
The chapter's final ending, I may never hold.

Held up by the breath of heaven's air
Yet ever yearning the touch of earthly care.

june.

Ah June! The month of birth where flowers bloom
Rains wash and bath its earthly skin
The air so thick and pleasing to consume
To breathe... and sigh this joy within.
Ah June! The sun is ripe with sweetest rays
And moistens flesh that glistens and does glow
Warmth that warms the heart and soul to praise
Summer's the stage and you... the show.
Ah June! Why do you come and leave so soon?
I'll miss the tunes you play me now
I'll miss the star's June Dance before the moon
Giver of smiles, I give mine back, to you and bow.

this world.

I see a new world with two suns. One in the heavens, the other on the earth.
And clouds in the sky, on earth and within the seas. What a world is this that I see!

In this world, birds kiss in mid air. Yes! Two hummingbirds - as the two sun's blaze. Blazing their rays, above and below. They embrace each other with a heartfelt kiss... as they flutter together at wing tips length.

At night... it's day, and the stars fill the skies - twinkling! But still retain their nightly brilliance. It's as if they are standing at an arms distance away. You can pluck one, or two, or three right out of the very blue sky. Stars in the trees and even on a bush on the ground. Oh my! Stars are just everywhere! Everywhere you look they will be found.

Now that I have seen this world... this, new world; I would much like to go. Go and visit this... world. The only concern: how to get there! I have seen it and know it's real. I’ve seen a picture, so it must be real. Mustn't it? I will search this world to the ends of this... world. I must find a way, I simply must! Find a way to get there. Get there. I will get there one day.

spring.

The Blessed sweetness of the song you sing.
Spring!Desperately waiting you doing your thing
Sing! Red, violet-white colors sway as the sounds ring.
Shades. As sunlit beam rays gently plays
With me in this day I soak up your gaze
Beauty. Searching for ways to place you in phrase
I simply just smile on my knees.
And the breeze so pleases as it likes to tease
Upon my skin, I awe this grace and eloquent ease.
Blow Spring winds and release budding petals high
Now fluttering like white-pink butterflies
Flying through the blue heavenly skies.
I rise... And stand alone to drink you in
Such bliss as this feels more like sin
I cannot win! So charmed to you now, I am given.

love. (x)

this is the last in the series of poems entitled... love. it was with great pleasure to have opened up to past and present writings on this very topic. it has also opened my heart in the sharing of my gifts and much more - gifts: writings, poetry, thoughts, choreography, performance art, dance and my music (the album is forth-coming).

i appreciate all of the kind words and comments of encouragement. i hope you enjoy these words and the adventurous journey that i am on. thank you!

last of... love?

Ah to kiss again... to one day press my lips upon thine.
This time these lips will prove a true gift divine.
I'll not cheapen, aye nay squander such treasure invaluable
Arguably, many see this thing unimaginable
That one would take it's intimacy back from pits of despair
I fear... not! Nor want what has not been given me
And so its stock increasingly rise, as dew's mist does daily.
Agree with me and speak truth; peek through this windowsill
And I implore not deny if but one kiss, on but one day will finally reveal.

love. (ix)

Sing to me with eyes that sparkle so
Twinkling little star has pierced my soul
As mend I do, though well you may not know
One part left to fit this rugged hole.
I dance now that you smile and sing to me!
Though not by name, I merely read the signs
I laugh alas, still you may not agree
Look past the clouds and see that my star shines.
It shines the way it always has before
And fades not, for it only knows it's song
The clouds will pass and soon will be no more
For one plus ones does equal two stars strong!

For soon you'll one day wonder from afar
The twinkling love you feel, is still my star.

love. (viii)

My love, my love, my sweet tenderness
What name shall I call when I call unto thee?
Since Love is blasphemed and trampled a mess
To call thee by such would not do justly.
So give me a name that holds thine esteem
That Love had once held; despised and disgraced.
A name far above the one that had been,
And give back thy throne and crown now displaced.
Down from the depths of my heart to my lips
The forming of such and utterance is bliss
This secret kept safe in spite constant quips,
Until our eyes meet, forever... My Kiss!

This Name is a name that I've given to thee
Now sealed in this heart that was given to me.