LEONARD DABYDEEN

 

LEONARD DABYDEEN

 

Please Read Me As I Am

 

[A little learning is not a dangerous thing. It gives the teacher more challenges before and after the bell rings.]

 

Please read me as I am 

a book of words and pictures

a book of people, places and things

a book of numbers and graphics

a book of winds and waves

and journeys of man and animals

hammered in parchment

bonded in erudition

sometimes I can make you laugh

if you have a sense of humor

or make you cry, don't ask me why

or watch you devour me

only to relish more, some more

please read me as I am

let me be your pooja

in an atmosphere

of lavender and jasmine

and capture the evanescence

of our past, present and future

nothing to escape

nothing to hide

sometimes derisive

or deceptive and divisive

a story-teller with a mind filtered

on pages with numbers

fingered in enigmatic delight

under the scrutiny of your kindled light

you must taste me first

make certain the palate offers

sweet or sour approval

and then some

as you swallow knowingly

ingredients oozing enzymes

with finer prints

and then some

for the digestive juices

to relish in recessed delight

meanwhile as I play 

with the tourniquet

of Sir Francis Bacon 

please read me as I am.

 

 

This Hand That Touches You

 

This hand that touches you

walking through your body

moving and meandering

in meaningful slow intensity

without absence

of an undulating curve

now wants to slow down

feeling pulse inside

as if this sentence of love

needs a period like a full stop

or more like a comma

before the continuation

of a ritualistic conjunction

it feels like a sentinel

in a commanding post

a guardian beyond a balm

of kinetic pleasure

each finger tingling the brain

each different from the other

each attached to one another

same hand in oneness

same hand always

touching you as you move

this is the hand of God

deep inside of you

this hand touches you

everywhere, everywhere.

 

 

 

Burning Bridges

(terza rima)

 

Burning bridges make crossing difficult

When the toll is free without any fee

This flame you carry will bring such tumult.

 

Alone you’re likely to fetch your enmity

Let alone weigh your mind with such burden

That’ll leave you restless to eternity.

 

So bring yourself to bare friendly, open

Alliance with kith and kin, all of us

For Life is short, no matter road taken.

 

Sometimes anger is like a broken truss

That will make you belligerent so high

But will leave you cringing with so much fuss.

 

Why not grant yourself solace, breathe a sigh

And share some happiness before you die?

 

LEONARD DABYDEEN