the shell

the surface, the outer shell
extended into the world
in self portrayal
we show that which will please
gain us credit, buy us influence
in a watching, calculating society
we nurture our true being
deep within, safe from the judgment
of the others of our kind
in childhood we soon feel
the slicing whip of humiliation
dispensed by those who gain pleasure
in the torment, the pain of others
the sweet faces of young innocence
hide the cruelties of which
only a child is capable
we ache with the shame, the mortification
soon, we withdraw, a little at a time
learning to hide the truth, building our mask
we absorb the lessons of protection
to weep inside and let the mask smile
when we feel fear, we master the snarl
and the world in ignorance, steps back
we find the strength to laugh
when we would hide in shame
we may hide our truth so well
in time, we might believe the mask is all
the gentleness of our humanity
lost through time
the softness of our hearts
lost forever, an absence not noted

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All materials Copyright © 2004-2008 by Eryll Oellermann

at fault

molten metal arrows thrown from near
fear and twisted bodies fill the space
where peace should live in the still
now aerial displays of vengeance
kill and subdue in place of talk
no one is right and all are wrong
roll out the tanks filled with death
and other mother’s sons in uniform
strike first, make death your ally
carry high the bodies of the children
burned and broken by the years
of shame and unforgiving
your soul and mine laid bare
before the march of inhumanity

All materials Copyright © 2004-2008 by Eryll Oellermann

cogito, ergo sum

i find i now remember
the word i need to use
no more pregnant pauses
no offering up of clues

no need for you to wonder
what i am trying to say
each sentence is quite clear
in an elementary way


i think, i speak and i explain
i conjugate each clause
the words which once evaded me..
no longer give me pause


i thought it was the passing years
which caused my brain to slow
while actually a chemical (prescribed)
had caused the words to go

i write, i read, i watch the tube
i stay awake all day
"i think, therefore i am" you know
more eryll in some way!




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All materials Copyright © 2004-2008 by Eryll Oellermann

fake me

turn me fake me
mimic me and make me
i am the clay and you are the potter
i am the pencil and you are the jotter
untwist the wire of past evolution
humanity bleeds through unplanned revolution
the past is encoded, shrouded in mystery
the lies and the truth written down and called history
tomorrow the future untouched for the now
no vision projected protected somehow


so mix me and mold me
a new way enfold me
set up the dominoes give them a tap
let chaos embrace us a flag on the map

All materials Copyright © 2004-2008 by Eryll Oellermann

windstir

close my eyes search my mind
seen as if floating
on great clouds of red dust
they stretch their magnificent muscles
defining movement
great manes flying with their own wind stir
the ground vibrates
with the music of their hooves
the staccato rhythm of the herd
the tall hills applaud their return
the long grasses sway
a dance of joyful celebration
the horse whisperer kneels
in thanks
for to own is to be owned
a whisperer without a herd
ceases to exist

All materials Copyright © 2004-2008 by Eryll Oellermann

the caterpillar

photo by scotproof (flikr)























i watched a caterpillar today

he definitely knew where he was going

perhaps he was a she

do caterpillars even have he's and she's

i will play god and decide, he was a he

he moved with purpose, he had a mission

what brings such focus to the mind of a caterpillar

does a caterpillar even have a mind

or is it merely instinct in action

my caterpillar was black and very hairy

with a bright orange stripe down his back

no hanging back, he had places to be

things to do, what things

he ignored every bit of greenery in his way

a pile of roses, thrown away, faded, dead

my caterpillar did not even deign to pause

a container full of vegetable peelings

ready for the compost heap

slowed him down a little

only because it blocked his chosen path

he made his rapid way along a fence post

lying forgotten on the ground

he reached the end

and launched his caterpillar body into space

only the purchase of his back legs

kept him from falling

his caterpillar head waved up

and down and side to side

seeking ... i wonder what

whatever he was looking for , he found it

with multiple leg movements

he dismounted the fence post

and disappeared, leaving me wondering

i guess the ultimate destination of a caterpillar

is to become a butterfly

a beautiful, fairy winged creature

to float and hover and breed

All materials Copyright © 2004-2008 by Eryll Oellermann

the boys

the boys with voices gently slurred

are out again tonight

they stop and talk by street lamps

moths beckoned by the light


the smoke from cigarettes

curls upward in the light

the air is ice and as they breathe

the cold holds it in sight


tonight their tones are gentle

no louder than a sigh

they wander home in peace this night

with lager's lullaby


this time their minds are smoothly fogged

with alcoholic cheer

the village sleeps in peace tonight

although the boys are near

All materials Copyright © 2004-2008 by Eryll Oellermann