Christmas 2013

And so this is Christmas:

Hours or days with the friend, with my sons,

Snatched from time as it flees by.

Moments powdered with stardust,

Born to be memories.

Christmas trees under a Southern sky.

Gifts given on train stations,

Or over a cup of tea

Or via the internet:

No Santa around this year.

And at the end of the journey,

An old man asleep in his wheelchair:

My father, and he knows not

What he waits for.

Dream Lover

There was music,

And party,

And fireworks.

And as the time came to leave,

There were you,

And held me close and warm.

Rain spattered the windows,

My tears wet your cheek.

And who you are, I know not. 

September day in Paris

In the museum, 

I got spooked 

by a Chinese bogeyman.

White clouds are building 
new skylines 
behind the eternal 
stone monuments.

A ragged seagull and I 
waiting by the river 
for the next rain. 

The breeze brings us greetings 
and salt from the sea. 

In the company of strangers 
I hear 
the languages of the world.

A Russian man 
buys 
an Eiffel tower
and three Korean youths
are lighting cigarettes,
with rain beating down on the Louvre.

And ravens are pillaging 
rubbish bins in the park. 

soap bubble days

Soap bubble days

Drifting dreamily through days

Of old – new friendship

Wandering forests of elves

mossy boulders and birches

the silence so dense

blanket of peace in the nights

past and future dreams

yearning

The night winds are chilly,

Clean sheets on my bed.

I lie alone.

My arms are tired

Of hugging teddy bear.

My fingertips

Are tired

Of touching metal, plastic,

Glass and wood.

My fingertips

Are yearning

To touch warm skin

And tangled hair

And flesh pulsating

Deep and deeper…

My lips…?

Don’t ask!

This yearning, lady,

Is part of life,

Sometimes! 

question

Stars are twinkling in the sky

And my love -

Where are you?

They are dancing at the fair

And my love -

Where are you?

White wine sparkling in the cups

And my love-

Where are you?

Red shoes have I on my feet

And my love -

Where are you?

Roses blooming in the night

And my love-

Where are you?

Sweethearts walking hand in hand

And my love-

Where are you?

Clean sheets waiting on my bed

And my love -

Where are you?

Lady, I’m the unicorn,

my dancing days are yet to come.

Lady, I’m the unicorn

And when I’m free,

I’ll come to thee. 

Firenze da sola

Firenze da sola 


Madonnas in blue coats 
and golden haloes
And smiling Jesus babies,
cannot redeem 
A single moment
Of pain and terror.
beauty is here,
cruelty and fear,
Fire and blood.

I've seen the first poppy
But in the garden
Lovers kiss
Blackbirds sing
No unicorn waiting for me.

fortgehen

Man geht doch nicht einfach

Wie Hänschen klein

In die weite Welt hinein!

Man reißt sich los

Und entzwei,

wieder und wieder.

Von Apfelbäumen,

gepflanzt

mit einer letzten Hoffnung.

Von Rosenstöcken,

Andenken

an einen Verlorenen.

Von der Hausbank

In der Morgensonne.

Und von der Katze.

Man reitet ja nicht

Wie Lucky Luke

In den Sonnenuntergang!

Man lässt seine Liebe

Im Staub

Unter dem Bett.

Man sucht sich

Im Chaos des Untergangs

Ein Restchen Bewusstsein,

und humpelt davon

gestützt

auf Krücken der Freundschaft.

Und nachts dann, allein

Und schlaflos, erfährt man

Den Schmerz des anderen.