On borrowed steps of distant stars

Sometimes all we want to do is get back

 

 

On borrowed steps of distant stars

 

 

Of broken branch and multi-colored stone façade

the pathway steals my outward glance

Winding through the cottage hills

like kite string freed by a strong wind, it spills

Patterns shadow in abstract array

through barbed wire and solid steel

barricades, creating menacing shapes,

criss-crossing narrow wheel ruts of long ago

 

“I tug my trousers in defiance and set my pace”

 

Obstacles, of stead and stood,

branded in a wilting wood…

directions carved to empty me of all I know as good

 

Within my chest sits a living compass,

beating my quest in a never ending melody,

sweet as creamed corn pie and pointing

towards the sun, which sits before me

two hills above the horizon on this new day

Temptation beckons over my right shoulder,

whistling in the breeze of delicious

offerings, and I do hunger…

 

“Still I stand firm of my journey back to your love”

 

Take your glow of nectarines

Cool refreshing summer streams

For I shan’t waver, not an inch, her love calls in my dreams

 

Midday, as the solar glow finds my shoulders red

and sweat clings like life in dampened conclusions,

blisters form bringing the pain of decisions made before…

and I would have it no other way…for this I deserve

Mountains faced of jagged stone break my crawl,

rubble sweeps my feet, as my knees bleed,

thirst speaks in the language of a long feared enemy…

yet I do not listen…

 

“No challenge shall be placed that will keep me from my return to you”

 

State your case in hammered stone

Tear my skin of broken bone

No tethered vines of loneliness shall sway me from my home

 

 

My shadow now waits before me, long and slender,

molded by dried weathered foot prints…my foot prints,

heading a direction opposite my heart

Many years old yet still their outline remains as a warning…

When I see it, the lilac arbor, scented in old desires and

new in life, encasing a glow, melodies of  gold finch sing

as my eyes find your smile, an extended hand, a soft touch

I have found my way home…

 

“My sweet love, this heart begs forgiveness and longs you eternally”

 

Mistakes I’ve made, my journey far

on borrowed steps of distant stars

my every waking dream desires to be right where you are

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Thank you for reading

Reviews

[CRAIG A. THOMSON]

Hi Jack,

Your love is surely true.
What an amazing Journey and worth every scar!

I enjoyed this immensely.

[Kwiksie Ifediora]

Wow. (i actually said that aloud).
this was beautiful Jack! at first the length appeared daunting but i'm glad i stopped.

such a fierce determination to reclaim a lost love, expressed so brilliantly too...thank you for sharing such great piece of art.

"Midday, as the solar glow finds my shoulders red
and sweat clings like life in dampened conclusions,
blisters form bringing the pain of decisions made before…
and I would have it no other way…for this I deserve
Mountains faced of jagged stone break my crawl,
rubble sweeps my feet, as my knees bleed,
thirst speaks in the language of a long feared enemy…
yet I do not listen…"
i think this is my favorite part. :)

[Jack...]

Thank you so much my friend. I always appreciate your kind words.

[KeelyJane]

"Obstacles, of stead and stood,
branded in a wilting wood…
directions carved to empty me of all I know as good"

Beautiful! beautiful! beautiful!

I usually prefer shorter poetry but you keep me interested with every beautiful line. The imagery in this poem is fantastic and your words are so lovely.

Great Job.

P.s. I'm sorry I don't review as often as I should. Surely, it is not personal. I enjoy reading your work and will do my best to return the generosity you have bestowed with your kind reviews. :)

[Jack...]

Thank you so very much Keely Jane. I appreciate you stopping by and leaving such kind words for me.

[InsanityWriter]

Absolutely beautiful Jack. :) You write some of the most fantastical things!!

[Jack...]

Thank you so very much my friend. I always appreciate your visits and your wonderful kind words to me

[Cassie]

wow!!!! Jack, you are back!!! As usual loved reading this and am glad to see you back

[Jack...]

Thank you so much Cassie, I'm not 100% sure I am back, but I do pop in from time to time.

[rhythm&blues]

Pure brilliance on your page Jack, this is one of my favorites of yours.

[Jack...]

Thank you, I am really happy you liked it. If I made you smile, then I am happy as well.

[DCT ponderings]

Jack this poem pushed along with a rhythm and a cadence of its own. I felt myself propelled homeward. I envisioned Inman’s return to his beloved Ada in Cold Mountain. It conjured all those who fight their way back from the brink- of sanity, war, loss- to return to themselves, to return to love. So well written.

The two lines were my favorites.
Within my chest sits a living compass,
beating my quest in a never ending melody,

And this one I know as well
thirst speaks in the language of a long feared enemy…
yet I do not listen…

[Jack...]

Thank you so much my friend.

[shallimarRose]

Jack I don't even know what to say .. This is by far one of the best poems I have read here. Absolutely gorgeous use of rhyme and metaphor. From the title to the endings re-emphasis.. Breath taking piece my sweet friend.. Rose

[Jack...]

Rose, as always, your comments and kind words humble me.

[Brianna Brie]

Wow...you pop them out like a Jack-O-matic machine. Now this is one example where I think triple rhymes work rather well. By encasing them in between causal verses, you have subdued their power to over whelm the reader. I absolutely love what you have done here and wish to borrow the format. You write with your heart and soul reaching us on a deeper level. Lovely!

[Jack...]

Brianna, please be my guest. I so enjoy when you stop by for a visit. Thank you so much.

[Shivam Murari]

Honestly! Very well written.

Obstacles, of stead and stood,
branded in a wilting wood…
directions carved to empty me of all I know as good


Well structured and functions well too! :)

[Jack...]

Thanks so much.

[Shivam Murari]

Haven't you already left? how are you still posting?

[Jack...]

You can do anything you normally do on this site when you close your account except view the live feed. I will pop up from time to time.

[Shivam Murari]

Oh! I see!

[Jack...]

And to clarify, I never said I was leaving...most just assumed.

[Shivam Murari]

So why close the account?

[Jack...]

http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/hauntedfox/1207779/
You can find the answer in my response at this page link.

[Shivam Murari]

Well, I get it. I read it all! Well, you must have definitely evolved as a writer, for your works are decently good enough! Not a single work of yours have had any slang word yet, something that I have been inspired by!
But as for point jockeying, I think there was a much better solution to ending this all mess. If you and the few others who have closed their accounts were neither hacking the database, nor using cowardly means of giving low ratings to stop others from coming in the top writers list, I think the only reason why almost every other day your profile picture was there in the top writers list could have been good ratings. That many other writers on this site get too! But they fail to reach the list because they don't upload three poems a day, which you and others did! I think, though a bit of sacrifice on your part, it would have been better had you people allowed others to come in the top writers list by uploading only 2 - 3 works a week.
You, of course write a lot, and could use many other sites to upload your work while on hiatus on WC.

Well, we cannot go back in time and change it, but I think, if your consider it correct, you might re open your account and talk to the moderator to reactivate the top writer's list and upload poems once in a while.

Regards,
Shivam.

[Jack...]

Shivam, actually the points and top writers list had very little to do with the "mess" I was writing about. More it was about hateful words and filthy accusations being levied against one of my friends on the site and that I could not stand for. Once I stood up for this friend I too was viciously attacked by many.

As far as top writer, I had nothing to do with it being removed and really did not pay attention to it, Though if there is something I can do to get the site to change its mind, I will try. But honestly, they do not listen to me. I just write poetry and write a lot of it. I do post to several different sites but not for points or fame, but to better myself. I will reopen my account when I feel it is safe.

Thank you for your concern.

[Shivam Murari]

Yes, I read about it too! Its good of you to side your friend.
I hope people will take things more maturely and not fight over points of interest at least!

You're welcome! :)