The Arrogance of Man

A myriad of stars looked down
And smiled upon the world that night,
For somewhere in the cosmic plan
The spirit knew the time was right.
In an instant on the smouldering earth
Where molten rock and fires ran,
A lightning bolt had struck the swamp
And with that fusion life began.

Through thousands of millennia
Too many for our minds to know,
The issue of that lightning strike
Began to change, reform and grow.
How many differing forms it took
We probably shall never know,
By far the most would fail and die
By far the least would thrive and grow.

From swamp to pond to lake to sea,
From marsh to land to tree to sky,
But one form had become estranged
From nature as the time went by.
And now it strides across the earth
Corrupts and kills because it can,
But seldom stops to contemplate
This fatal arrogance of man.


Copyright © Alan Gilbert 2010.
From my book, “Love is a Dreamer.”
http://www.gilbertverse.blogspot.com

Dreamer

Wrapped in the mantle
Of that autumn night,
My love came stealing
Softly to my bed.
With whispered charms
Beguiling me to dreams
That soothed my heart
As worldly care were shed.

She rocked me gentle
Wrapped in tender wings,
While all the while
Murmured her lullaby.
With pleasing strains
Entrancing melodies,
Her dulcet tones
Fell gentle as a sigh.

Then we were walking
On some distant isle,
By luscious palms
Edging a blue lagoon.
And I would tarry
Deep under her waves,
For every dreamer
Comes a dawn too soon.

Copyright© Alan Gilbert 2011.

http://gilbertverse.blogspot.com

Gone

Old Crumbling walls
With shattered eyes,
A Grey slate gappy roof
Gasps in the rains,
The washday flags
Are gone from alleyways
With children's shouts
From cobbled games.

No smell of fired coke
From tin bath nights,
No Conga ever weaves
Through party doors.
No corner grocery shop
With tick book sales,
No more "Us" and "Ours"
Just, "Mine" and "Yours"

Copyright© Alan Gilbert 2011.
http://gilbertverse.blogspot.com

Emily, (A childhood in six short verses.)

Have you seen Emily today?
Laughing as she ran to play,
Her hair tied up with ribbons gay
There’s dolls and teddies on display
With Emily today.

Have you seen Emily today?
She’s quite the tomboy now they say,
Climbs trees and chases boys away
With dares she’s just as brave as they
Is Emily today?

Have you seen Emily today?
She’s found another game to play,
With mouse and visual display
Mails Face book friends about Ebay
Does Emily today.

Have you seen Emily today?
Now growing up the neighbors say,
The world is calling her away
From childhood days that cannot stay
With Emily today.

Have you seen Emily today?
All dressed up and on her way,
To catch a show or see a play
All heads are turned as if to say,
That’s Emily today.

I’ve not seen Emily today
The house seems sad she’s gone away,
To marry in the U.S.A.
New home and friends in Tampa Bay
No Emily today.

Copyright© Alan Gilbert 2011.
http://gilbertverse.blogspot.com

This poem is from my book, “All that Rhymes with Love.” Emily is the, “Emy” my granddaughter in the book dedication, who inspired me to start writing again after years of inactivity.

Would You?

Would you stand before God
With your sword unsheathed
And spit in the eye of the storm.
Would you fight to the death
For the things you believed
Forgetting your body was torn.
Would you fly to the stars
Riding Arian's spear,
Pushing the boundaries
Of natural fear.
Risking damnation
For dreams you hold dear.
Would you?

Would you ride into hell
On the Sleipnir steed
And call for the devil to dance.
Would you stand all alone
Gainst the wrath of the world
Certain they hadn't a chance.
Would you stand up and shout
For how it should be,
That all of the world
Could be fed and be free.
Cursing our leaders
Damn hypocrisy.
Would you?

Copyright© Alan Gilbert 2011.

From, “The Echo of Heartbeats” to be published soon.

http://gilbertverse.blogspot.com

Met in Dreams

She comes to me the wild one
With golden hair and eyes of fire,
And leaves at dawn the mild one
When I am drained by her desire.

She troubles me the sweet one
Who haunts my dreams and calls my name,
Then goes, still the complete one
Leaving me dull and wracked with pain.

She touches me, the cold one
Who stays aloof with frosted smile,
Reminding me, the old one
That I may only sleep a while.

She gladdens me the sad one
Who weeps as though her heart will break,
Then sighs and takes me by the hand
And begs me never more to wake.

Copyright© Alan Gilbert 2010.

From, “Love is a Dreamer”

http://gilbertverse.blogspot.com/

By Summer Streams

Whilst walking by the water’s edge
Of dappled sparkling summer stream,
I watch reflections of the clouds
That dance and shimmer like a dream.

Now and then a shadow skimmed
The darting shape of roach or bream,
Whilst walking by the water’s edge
Of dappled sparkling summer stream.

I loved to walk those quiet ways
Where natures wonders may be seen,
Now and then a shadow skimmed
The darting shape of roach or bream,

Now from the drudge of city life
I can recall though all in dream,
I loved to walk those quiet ways
Where natures wonders may be seen.


Copyright©Alan Gilbert 2011.
http://gilbertverse.blogspot.com/

Once to a Heart

She reaches out
And touches with a smile,
Now turns her head
I follow every move.
She's speaking now
Across the in-between,
And I am spellbound
By her verse of love.

The velvet blue of night
Set white with stars.
Full yellow satin moon
Sails its domain.
The world is hushed
For one full sacred hour,
In which my soul's
Infused with love again.

Once to a heart
Is such an hour revealed,
When freed each soul
Soars high upon that plane
Where in true congress
Joins the whole once more,
As near, and far, and time
Meet with distain.


http://gilbertverse.blogspot.com/

Copyright©Alan Gilbert 2011.

Contradictions

If man’s omnipotence brooks no exception
And his desire is measure of its right,
Is progress just a word for self deception
While nurturing the seeds of endless night?

If power aided privilege offers choices
Of only systems that itself ordains,
Is franchisment a means to raise our voices
To argue on the length and weight of chains?

If starving thousands for their daily ration
Only droplets from the fullest cups receive,
Is charity a deeply felt compassion
Or balm to salve the giver not the grieved?


From, “All that rhymes with Love.”
Copyright©Alan Gilbert 2010.

When I was Seventeen

It was tailored suits and double twos
With turned back cuffs and Gibson shoes,
Fluorescent socks of rainbow hues
When I was seventeen.

We worked and lived for Friday night
To have a drink and start a fight,
There never was a blade in sight
When I was seventeen.

You paid your way and stood your round
No unearned money to be found,
And we were known by all around
When I was seventeen.

Now they dress in casual wear
They play the games I cannot share,
I smile and think, yes, I was there
When I was seventeen.

From, “Love is a Dreamer”

Copyright©Alan Gilbert 2010.

Manifesto

We are all lost generations
Disenfranchised and abandoned,
Our words are vain far echoes
Dying on the ears of fools.
We are the disillusioned
Paying homage to an idle,
Our flags with lies emblazoned
Rotting on the floors of schools.

We like perpetual sleepers
Stupefied by dreams and shadows,
Each believing that a new dawn
Glowed just one more race away.
So we stood and heard the promise
As we waved our naive banners,
Then awoke to find our heroes
Hollow men with feet of clay.


Copyright© Alan Gilbert 2011.

The Urban Beat

The city churns
And in the street,
The watchers watch
While greeters greet.
The walkers walk
And move their feet
In rhythm with
The urban beat.

The subway where
A busker plays
The people move,
His echo stays.
With urine smells
Of drunken ways,
And needles left
From poppy days.

The junior mums
With swollen tums.
The mugger waits
His victim comes.
All rush and tear
No time to spare,
In searing heat,
The urban beat.


From, Love is a Dreamer.
Copyright©Alan Gilbert 2011.

Goodbye Valparaiso.

We were four weeks on our way from Valparaiso.
Sailing home across Atlantic blue.
It’s been three years since I kissed you by the harbour
Long time away
But every day,
I thought of you.

That night I woke to hear the wind was howling,
The sea arose with fury in her eye.
Every watch was called on deck to fix the storm sails.
And we knew
Err night was through,
Some men would die.

We sailed for two weeks more without adventure.
Then as the sun was rising from the sea.
A shout of “Ship ahoy”, came from the rigging.
We raised a cheer
To hide our fear,
Of piracy.

We stood beside our guns, it seemed an hour.
We watched the corsair drawing ever near.
The skull and crossbones flying from his mainmast.
Nothing was said
By living dead,
Our time was here.

We raced toward them, both bow chasers blazing.
A lucky chain shot brought their mainsail down.
Then we turned to port, and sunk them with a broadside.
Nothing to do
By us spared few,
But watch them drown.

At last we sailed into the English channel.
We docked at Plymouth on a sunny day.
I promised when I saw you on the quayside.
Now I’m back home
No more I’ll roam,
With you I stay.


From, All that Rhymes with Love.

Ways She is

As child, she comes with impish grin
And teases me at start of day,
Then reaching, takes me by the hand
Urging me to come and play.
To run through fields on summer days
Or chase the butterflies that dance,
Then search for fairies in the wood
Who shy away from human glance.

As girl, she comes at night to me
With flashing eyes and winning smile,
Then coyly turns to me and asks
If I will stay with her a while.
At times she takes me to her room
And shows me pictures of her dreams,
Moons and stars from mystic worlds
That shine in vivid reds and greens.

As woman, ever close to me
Tells me she will always stay,
Knows the words I love to hear
And sings them to me every day.
She reads me verses from her heart
That speak of things a poet should,
And every day she teaches things
I knew, but never understood.


Copyright©Alan Gilbert 2011.

How wonderful the night

How wonderful the night
When long felt passions meet,
The touch of silk on silk
Caressing hands and feet.

The thrill of clouded eyes
Anticipation of each touch,
Shared sensual ecstasy
Was never felt so much.

How will the pleasure fall?
From hands or lips or ice,
How pleasing to the heart
To practice such a vice.

Will you Come with me my Love

Will you come with me my love?
And wander under upland skies,
We'll wake to see the northern lights
A blazing show of cosmic dyes.
Then ride a silver cable car
That carries us beneath the stars,
Above the pine oil scented trees
And feel that all the world is ours.

Will you come with me my love?
We'll walk along the Nile's shore,
In footprints that the Pharaohs made
Cleopatra, Ptolemy, Ankhor
We'll marvel at the ancient tombs
At Giza, Khafu, great Cheops,
Immerse ourselves within a world
Where myth and magic never stops.

Will you come with me my love?
To leafy palm and blue lagoon
Where whispered lullaby's of waves
Bring sleep, and serenade the moon.
We'll find once more a quiet life
Among the creatures and the land,
As souls renew and spirits feel
The daily brush of nature’s hand.

Copyright© Alan Gilbert 2011.

The Whisperers

Suddenly I’m running
As the path got steeper,
Pushed along by gravity
I find I can’t oppose.
My hands and face are being torn
By nettle, thorn and creeper,
And darkness hangs upon me
like a suit of cold wet clothes.

Then I’m thrown into a clearing
Where no living thing would venture,
All around me flesh is rotting
And I’m sickened by the smell.
Then somewhere in the distance
Comes the sound of rolling thunder,
While nearby voices whisper
Saying what, I cannot tell.

Now I’m lying in this putrid place
In terror that consumes me,
My heart is like a hammer
On an anvil deep inside.
The thunders rolling nearer
With It’s flashes of fork lightning,
And the voices are still whispering
Saying what, I can’t decide.

Now the ground begins to tremble
With a roar to match the thunder,
And the lightning strikes come faster
As the storm is overhead.
Then I feel that I am soaking
For the rain has started falling,
All at once I wake up sweating
Once more conscious in my bed.


Copyright©Alan Gilbert 2011.

Chase me

Chase me with the winds that cross the seas
Seek me in the breeze that stirs the trees,
Fly with me in thermals that ascend
Find me in the stars that never end.

Run with me through sands where seabirds fly
Walk with me where mountains touch the sky,
Stroll with me through meadows lush and green
Dance with me where moonlight paints the scene.

Come to me when eyes are closed in sleep
Stay with me, our midnight vigil keep,
Turn to me and hold your body near
Speak to me sweet words I long to hear.

Join with me in love that’s always new
Sing the song we chose for me and you,
Move with me now passions overflow
Whisper all those secrets that we know.

Alan Gilbert. 2010.

A Duet for Love.

There is a headland that I know
She’s here again and whispers low
That falls to foaming surf below.
Yes my love I know, I know.
Where Herons swoop and dolphins play
Oh my love, how true, how true
And sunbeams dance on ocean spray.
And I in turn will dream of you.

As I gaze across the sea
Oh yes my love I know we will
The voice of ages calls to me.
And I that time remember still.
Of answers I will never know
Yet they will fly until we meet
As countless eons come and go.
And that will make our love complete.


Copyright©Alan Gilbert 2010.

the Echo of Heartbeats

The launch of my new book, "The Echo of Heartbeats" is due within the next two weeks. Initially it will be available in paperback and as a PDF download the ebook version is being processed and will be available soon. I will let you know as soon as the exact launch date is decided.

Make me a Butterfly

Make me a butterfly with gossamer wings

Most perfect in form among all living things,

I’d fly round your garden in wind and in rain

Hoping that one day you’d love me again.

Make me a butterfly, whiter than snow

And I would fly near you wherever you go,

Perhaps all my dancing would please, and there’d be

Just one word of kindness from your lips for me. . 

Make me a butterfly as blue as the sky

I’d fly round the world with a tear in my eye,

And when people asked you why I’m so blue

You’d have to reply it’s because I love you.

Make me a butterfly yellow as sand

I’d fly to your table a sit on your hand,

Perhaps you would kiss me, and then you would see

That you could be happy with someone like me.

Make me a Butterfly, red as the blood

That surges through veins of all creatures in love,

Is the fate of all butterflies of every hue

To fall for a heart breaking mayfly like you? 

ÓAlan Gilbert.  2009.

The Terror of Garsdoon Moor.

They went out on the moor alright

The sky was clear the stars were bright,

The cart track shone like ribbons white

That ziged and zaged into the night.

Across the Garsdoon moor.

Good progress they did make alright

She, dressed in wedding gown of white,

Who held the carriage side so tight

That lurched and rattled through the night

Across the Garsdoon moor.

He was young and brave alright

With gun and sabre for the fight,

To guard his love, his hearts delight

From highwaymen that stalk the night

Across the Garsdoon moor.

But now the scene will change alright

Thunder roars with lightning bright,

Strange sounds are heard from left and right

Tormented souls that own the night

Across the Garsdoon moor.

The young groom is afraid alright

He holds his gun and sabre tight,

The bride like gown is palest white

As wails and moans are at their height,

Across the Garsdoon moor.

Now dawn it will arrive alright

And they will search the moor till night,

Of coach and riders there’s no sight

Back home lock doors and windows tight.

Across the haunted Garsdoon moor.

The local folks they know alright

That ghouls and spectors walk the night,

Transporting souls to hell for spite

Tormenting them for their delight.

On fearful Garsdoon moor.

Copyright ©Alan Gilbert.  2010.

Me and you and Kerrie Ann

We sailed out on that summer’s day

Just me you and Kerrie Ann,

Out to the islands in the bay

To where we knew the dolphins ran.

And as the wind blew from the west

For me and you and Kerrie Ann,

It gave each wave a silver crest

And billowed sails with natures fan.

We stopped and anchored out at sea

Did me and you and Kerrie Ann,

The day was peaceful as could be

Most tranquil backdrop for our plan.

But as we watched the dolphins play

For me and you and Kerrie Ann,

We never saw the sky turn grey

Or noticed how those currents ran.

You never made the slightest sound

Just slipped from me and Kerrie Ann,

And now you never will be found

Out in the bay where dolphins ran.

Now every summer’s day I sit

Down by the quay with Kerrie Ann,

Though all her timbers rot and pit

And all her sails are torn and wan.

Copyright  Alan Gilbert 2010.

Speedbirds

I watch the silver streaks across the sky

The vapour trails that show where speedbirds fly,

Then my heart is travelling once again

To Massachusetts Florida and Maine.

They soar above the clouds in graceful flight

Where dazzling sunlight paints their colours bright,

And stride across the oceans shore to shore

So distance doesn’t matter anymore.

As I watch them racing on their way

I wonder how much longer till the day,

When I strain my eager eyes to see

The speedbird that is bringing you to me.  

Copyright © Alan Gilbert 2010.

Recurring Love

Was it you that day in Memphis

Dressed in robes of deep azure,

When Cleopatra’s gilded barge

Came dipping by the Nil’s shore.

Did you see the pharaoh seated

In shade from Ra’s unyielding eye,

Proudly wearing Caesar’s token

Broach of lapis lazuli.

Were we there that day in Calais

Standing close near Henry’s side,

Did he choose to smile upon us

And give you leave to be my bride.

Did we stand, two lovers dreaming

As they spread that cloth of gold,

Was the joy of our betrothal then

In minstrel stories told.

As I lay near death from gunshot
Roar of mortars  everywhere,
Did I awake with you beside me
Watching from the nurse’s chair.
When the killing fields fell silent
Doves of peace again were free,
I left home to come and find you
Waiting in the rain for me.

Then has our story been repeating
Down through all the countless years,
Have we met yet not remembered
Where the course of kismet steers.
Are we forever bound together
Partners in the cosmic scheme,
Will every meeting still surprise us
Living each recurring dream.

Copyright © Alan Gilbert 2010.