the power

i have the power
to see the light
to watch a bird
engaged in flight
i have the power
to feel the sun
and contemplate
it's power of one
i have the power
to smell fresh bread
and follow my thoughts
through memories thread
i have the power
to hear the sound
of children playing
all around
i have the power
to taste with gladness
from life's great bowl
of joy and sadness

i have the power
to taste the sea
to hear her power
as she calls to me
i have the power
to feel her spray
caress my skin
on a summer's day
i have the power
to breathe her deep
the scent of her
in my heart to keep
i have the power
to see the place
where sea and sky
are joined in grace
i have the power
to witness gold
as the rising sun's
first rays enfold


i have the power
to love the night
engulfed in darkness
stars shine bright
i have the power
to hear the noise
of a near cicada
giving voice
i have the power
to feel the heat
die from a day
in the dark replete
i have the power
to love from my soul
to care and cherish
to gift my whole
i have the power
to close my eyes
and create the world
i fantasize


Copyright © 2004-2009 by Eryll Oellermann

latter day epiphany

what is time
but a question
of knowing, or not
what happens tomorrow
and the past
you forgot
no power to haunt
and draw new blood

to ever exist
in this moment
the future unblemished
by imagined fear
we live in the now
unchained and free
moments of guilt and shame
left behind with yesterday

does the river ask
when will i arrive
in time to spill
into the sea of salt
what of yesterday
and banks burst
with raging, rising
must i regret and repent

does the seed question
unravelling stem, wriggling root
as to the hour
the arrival of saplinghood
we call the time
by a rising, sinking sun
a star which burns regardless
less mindful than we

what is time
but an aberration
useful for timetables
a rueful latter day epiphany

Copyright © 2009 by Eryll Oellermann

who makes the rules

the sky did not fall
it should have
maybe it still will
not yet though
today is grass green
and sky blue
if i really tried
i might blow that cloud
that big, fluffy white cloud
out of sight
why not just do it
why wait?

for everything a season
who makes the rules
if we stop listening
will the sky fall
probably not
we own our future
we create our mind view
triumph or tragedy
ours is the power
breath deep
and colour your world
sunshine


Copyright © 2004-2009 by Eryll Oellermann

beyond glass barriers

a sound proof glass prison
where i wait
there is life out there
i feel the passing energy
as it touches my glass walls
i am invisible as i watch
the laughter and the living
beyond glass barriers


i so craved the company of love
i tried to be who i am not
a wasteful exercise
for i am many thoughts and ways
all indelibly me
nary a one interchangeable
with another
one day i read words
less than kind
at last, enlightenment
i understood
i am good enough for me
i am calm and comfort
at ease with being
uninspired by worldly ambition
love lives in me
and wraps her arms around me
it is enough
no need to offer myself
as a distraction to the unaware

i built my glass tower
to hold the living world at bay
while i grow strong enough
to know, once more
the heat of undeniable passion
and bask in the streaming sunlight
of an uncomplicated
forever love story

Copyright © 2004-2009 by Eryll Oellermann

heart hunger

what do i do with the hunger
the need to love and be loved
when i fear the consequences
of allowing the love seed to take root
in the fertile garden of my heart
for my mind has learned the dark lesson
i have come to know in truth
that love and adoration
are not always meant to last forever
fear and pride wait patiently
to conquer and destroy

i do not need just another woman
i seek a glimpse of eternity
burning unafraid in her eyes
a woman to brand my heart with her promise
to take my hand and leap fearless
across the river of time and tomorrow
a woman who seeks as i do
the burning, searing passion of destiny
the peace, the surrender of forever
how i long to read her words, hear her voice
drown helpless in her gaze and know
you are my forever girl

Copyright © 2009 by Eryll Oellermann

the essence

the essence of female attraction
first felt in the long hot summer
your presence an ache of unknown origin
long tanned legs stretched out before you
perfect teeth biting into perfect lips
you concentration total, engrossed in knowledge
sun bleached hair, blonde against beach brown
we would laugh and giggle
students now reverting to adolescence
you would lean in close
touching, flirting without knowing
friends experiencing enjoying
tempting
the essence of female attraction

Copyright © 2004-2009 by Eryll Oellermann

rattle the cage

rattle the cage and what do we find
we all have a demon who lives in our mind
he waits every day through our sweetness and light
for just the right moment to provoke us to fight
he knows us too well and he is well aware
that given a prod we will seldom fight fair
we return to our basics our first reptile brain
fight or flight instinct, our answer to pain
snapping and snarling, our anger ablaze
we rise to our full height, disdain in our gaze
with him in the saddle we are out of control
we ride our emotions, forgetting our soul

Copyright © 2009 by Eryll Oellermann