The Weight of Difficult Words

After all the time, after all the suffering; breath is heavy as unsteady hands gently fumble with the latch to Pandora’s Box. There’s an itchy finger on the trigger and a schizophrenic figure lurking in the shadows awaiting an inferno of light to saturate the ordinary. The ghost in the closet is haunting a glorious mind and the fickle flame is being deprived of oxygen. The unreachable has been placed upon a dusty shelf and nothing much is lifting skyward. Gravity is a barrier unbroken and the difficult words lay dormant, unspoken.

© 2008 Cordell J. Larkin

A Moment With Clemency

Beyond, on the other side of the blue veil, a vastness of a black velvet ocean filled with paper lanterns set adrift. Each trembling light, an ember of hope, peace, and love and even though they may be distant from shore they remain a constant vessel for dreams and memories. On rare occasion, a special moment of heart is witness to the extraordinary. Like a smooth flat stone, a wish with tears is skipped across a glorious atmosphere and without ripples it settles peacefully on the horizon. Sinking into the depths of the absolutely amazing and treasured for all eternity. And at that moment thoughts flood with the idea that heaven must be just like this.

© 2008 Cordell J. Larkin

Velocity of Mind: Ramblings & Ricochets

Overwrought and weary from a mental state of atmospheric consciousness; overcome by an overwhelming numbness of absolute vulnerability, the weight of the world is crashing down hard all around. Peace in the valley is nonexistent, decided unanimously by the coefficient of history. An unbridled storm of passion sandblasts its way into every crevice of thought devouring every cell like cancer. The velocity of mind is incapable of decelerating and fear clutches every fiber of being suffocating all rationale. From one comes two and equally opposite disappointing, shameful parallels. Borders and fences, the deep dark trenches, and with nothing left to spare until the last breath is exhaled, all is expired. The ground beneath feet, the heart beneath dirt, what an empire, this earth, tolerated by an existence that few find peaceful.

© 2008 Cordell J. Larkin

The Hands That Build

You cannot escape the years that define you as they are the moments that weave the very fabric of your life. Although any moment could be your last and this journey difficult you must face the challenging wind. It’s what makes you stronger. Don’t hold your breath any longer. Breathe. Take in everything that is around you. Beauty will manifest itself and the light will surround you preserving your eternity. Hands were made to build not destroy. Now, use them to shape the future.

© 2008 Cordell J. Larkin

A Delicate Flame

Upon rooftops beneath a shelter of sky becoming self-absorbed by apathy you wish for disappearing. It’s all so obvious but you’re oblivious and numbed by the years that the laughter has escaped you. No more smiles, no more tears, but an ember burns waiting to ignite your heart into a delicate flame. But as delicate as you may be you still tiptoe across the coals hoping to reach the other side. And you may ask yourself why determined for answers you already know but unwilling to accept. Release yourself and suffer no longer. The only one stopping you is you.

© 2008 Cordell J. Larkin

Thou Gracious God, Whose Mercy Lends

Thou Gracious God, Whose Mercy Lends

Thou gracious God, Whose mercy lends
The light of home, the smile of friends,
Our gathered flock Thine arms enfold,
As in the peaceful days of old.

Wilt Thou not hear us while we raise,
In sweet accord of solemn praise,
The voices that have mingled long
In joyous flow of mirth and song?

For all the blessing life has brought,
For all the sorrowing hours have taught,
For all we mourn, for all we keep,
The hands we clasp, the loved that sleep.

The noontide sunshine of the past
These brief, bright moments fading fast,
The stars that gild our dark’ning years,
The twilight ray from holier spheres.

We thank Thee Father; let Thy grace
Our loving circle still embrace,
Thy mercies shed its heav’nly store,
Thy peace be with us ever more. Amen.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Escape With Absolute Understanding

Absolute understanding is just within your grasp and yet just out of reach. It’s just a trickle of blood from thorn piercing skin, a salty sweetness, a testament of life. This very morning the sunrise is worthy of rain but today you won’t let melancholy create idle passion. Something deep within your chest aches relentlessly but you’re not sure what it is and how to release it. You’ve been seeking a humble heart for so long and not quite sure how to harness the silent serenity.  The window is open wide and all you have to do is fly through but what cage is keeping you? Please don’t tremble; the warm currents will carry you.

© 2008 Cordell J. Larkin

Only a Matter of When

Somewhere beyond these stubborn walls flows a stream, clear and pure, flooded with imagery but the floodgates are currently impaired. Visually anticipating the arrival of words upon words upon pages is becoming an overambitious task. Somewhere, buried deep, is an untold story waiting for release. It’s just a matter of time before it all comes bursting through the thin layer of membrane that’s been holding it all back. Yearning to write has become as necessary as oxygen but the suffocating blockade is sometimes exasperating. And so another hour of timeless trance begins.

© 2008 Cordell J. Larkin

Teacher & Student

Escape a sky of cyanide, retreat from a valley of shadow and discover breathing in the sweet rapture once again. Somewhere above the trees disappear the chemicals so that clouded eyes can see. Find that plain where freedom reigns somewhere high above on a distant plateau you have not yet reached. You are without wings or a breeze but you have heart to carry you beyond that which is desolate. Study every error and fear and let them guide you as a teacher would. Learn without regret and don’t stumble upon every consequence. Breathe in every bit, every moment of consciousness.

© 2008 Cordell J. Larkin