The Years, My Friend

Winter by Farhad
The Years, My Friend

The years, my friend, have not been kind
upon your marble face —

I hear the river songs
tinkle with the cymbals,
I see your eyes shrivel
like unpicked grapes on the vine,
your mouth a wounded cherry
pecked by restless robins.

Take my hand, my friend,
let us go to the calling fields
that blaze with diamonds
under the eternal skies,
to the orchards in the midst of winter,
where leafless branches stand dauntless
in the endless cold,
telling jubilant tales
in the blizzard of their days —

Hearken to the legends
of root, of bud, of sun,
and to the promise
(believe the promise)
that warmth and springtime
will return,
(they always return)
once again.

by D. G. Vachal © 2013, 2025

*** Photography by Farhad

Colors of Summer

Colors of Summer

My love, summer colors
bloom with the glow we have known
through the years
beside you I stand
bone of your bones,
flesh of your flesh
as in the wondrous days of Eden —

Take me to the dance
of asters and anemones
as we waltz with the westerly wind,
warble with song sparrows,
soar with the laughter of seagulls
above iridescent sand dunes
of northeastern shores —

these very moments

while the grass teems with greenness,
imperceptibly
the August warmth turns celadon
clusters of grapes
into purple,
ripe for wine harvest.

D. G. Vachal © 2025

Image by Jplenio@Pixabay

Love Haiku 43:45

Love Haiku 43:45

43

Blazing white sunlight
tanned feet stroll the golden sands
your strong arms, my warmth

44

palm fronds dance and sway
zephyrs and soft gentle rain
your face, my shelter

45

sunset bids farewell
peach and pink turn indigo
your eyes, my starlight

D. G. Vachal © 2025


Image by PhillipCSpence@pixabay

A Summer Remembrance

A Summer Remembrance

at the end of daytime fever
I hear the thunder
rumbling in the distance
a forgotten song from long ago —

is it you, my lost love,
your beloved voice
resonant
in the clouds,
a lament of lavender longing
and the firefly lightnings —

did you come to let me know
infinitely far from the miles of sky
that you remember my smile,
and how life would have been
filled with flowers
if we walked hand in hand
in the summer rain,
just you and I  —

now comes the twilight,
the rumbling thunder fades
into a sigh
and I walk in my garden
alone
with this poignant longing
of holding your hand.

D. G. Vachal (c) 2025

Image by Geronimo Giquea @Unsplash

Twilight


Twilight

Miles have I traveled this dusty road,
my feet throb from the journey’s pain   
as miniscule pebbles gather in my shoes,
and slowing down I think upon you
these ardent summer moments —

Will I ever find you again
if I retrace my steps,
remember the words I uttered
when you were by my side —

I only know that if I turn back,
the feeble light will fade
and soon
the darkness will engulf me.

I keep on walking,
closer, closer towards the golden sky  
that sings a sentimental melody
and for a fleeting moment I close my eyes —

I see your smile
then I know
you are beside me still.

D. G. Vachal © 2025

Image by J Plenio @ pixabay