my anchor

10.11.1941 - 06.10.2002

we walked together, you and i
through youth and life
through birth and growth
and celebration, times of weeping
you by my side in illness
together in the times of loss
sunrise sunset
the sweeping heat of summer days
we listened to the gurgling song
of rushing rain
we saw the dew touched spider webs
and felt the sand
cold beneath our bare feet
we watched the first sweet rays of light
breast the far horizon
in unrelenting expectation
another day in paradise
we felt the chill winds unkind cut
while winter sun
beat sweet upon our shoulders
we knew the dust
of winters dry and rainless
we shared time and all her seasons
through all the years we lived and loved
sharing the comfort of touch
the glory of together
we watched our children grow
and spread their wings
into the flight of adulthood
you, my constant companion
my champion, my anchor
always my one true love

Copyright © 2013 by Eryll Oellermann 

anniversaries

1st October 1966

another pretty day
a few strung out, whispy clouds
painted pink by the rising sun
which lifts to meet a crescent moon
the rooks are up and gathering
noisy in the old oak tree across the way
her leaves still green
the autumn rusting yet to come
i think you would have enjoyed this summer
scotland has outdone herself
i miss you every day
in the beauty i know you would have wondered at
in the small jobs you would have taken pleasure in
i look at the garden and i imagine ...
retaining walls and brick paving
built by your beloved hands
oh, i have to some extent tamed the verdant green
with much sweat and cursing
remembering always the luxuries of home
where lawns were mowed and clipped
by the hardy effort of others!
i am grown used to being alone and yet
still i miss you
i miss you in the small things and the great
in the birth and growing of our grandchildren
in the maturing and accomplishments
of our beloved children
i miss your smile, your touch
i miss being us

i love you Manfred Oellermann, forever beloved husband.

elucidate

educate, elucidate, eradicate
the carnival of life unravels
rushing directionless towards death
veering off on tangled paths
overgrown with the despair of humanity
cruelty and kindness submerged
in a churning sea of indifference
we recall a series of self fabrications
and call this our life, our story
seeking in vain to find the one truth
which will unlock the gates to nirvana
until with maturity comes the understanding
that there is nothing new to be discovered
but the ache of aging joints
and the spaces where once there were words


Copyright © 2004-2013 by Eryll Oellermann

alone

i find again my friend
the dark
the warm welcome
of despair
sinking smooth as oil
into the abyss
i am alone
in that familiar place
all delight lost
and hope extinguished
only my own heavy step
breaks the silence


Copyright © 2004-2013 by Eryll Oellermann

future declined

future declined

you don't want a friendship
you won't be my wife
your life is a novel
you're waiting to write
you live in a tower
with your thoughts and your cat
imagining life
an extension of that
a writer, a singer
a romance in your mind
time passes you by
as a future declined

Copyright © 2013 by Eryll Oellermann

long island invasion

big trees and bagels
wild turkey, peach pie
beer shops and smoke shops
and pizza to die
surrounded by water
drowning in malls
coffee and cheesecake
new york never palls
jack daniels at prices
a girl can afford
they do like my accent
they love every word
a huge hero sandwich
a bottle of coke
let's sit by the sea
and i'll have me a smoke
they drive on the wrong side
but what can you say
the only thing left is
to hold thumbs and pray
the shops never close
you may shop when you will
i have no insurance
so i dare not fall ill
bring me your poor
they said in the past
i guess that was careless
it sure didn't last
i need to be rich
or famous at least
or perhaps play a sport
like a rampaging beast
i can fly right on in
but i better not stay
or i'm unwanted, illegal
and they'll lock me away
so while i enjoy
all new york has to give
i have to go back to
the place where i live


Copyright © 2013 by Eryll Oellermann

run turkey run

hot damn! big thang
run turkey run
long neck shuttling jerky
like a puppet on a string
legs pumping
anxiety obvious in every pace
what's the hurry
what's up big bird
is there a fire coming
a wolf prowling
are you running to encourage
something to follow
follow you and your post haste exit
follow you into the forest
and away
away from whatever you need
not found


Copyright © 2013 by Eryll Oellermann