A Kiss at the Bottom of the Sea

He had seen visions

from the waters edge

of a beautiful siren

on distant rocks

He knew of the legend

how mermaids would swim up

to grab hold of your heart

and render you powerless

and bring you down

to the bottom of the sea

and once they kissed you

your air became water

under the blue sky ocean

where fish swim like stars

and you could never go back

to the life you knew.

To this he said simply

"then remember me fondly"

as he turned to listen

at the waters edge

to the song of love

from the beautiful mermaid

and when she reached for his heart

he gave it freely

and they drifted together

on waves of loves embrace

then with the kiss

of new beginnings

he looked up from the bottom of the sea

as ocean became his sky

and fish swam by like stars

and he knew he was where he should be.


for Danielle and Eric
June 14, 2014

Ken Owen    Van Niddy Press      June 2014

Drought in the Heartland

I hope this letter

finds you.

Since you left

long days have become

mostly quiet 
and very still.

Though I still tend barren fields 

that lie parched and waiting,

I expect no harvest

anytime soon.

On days when

great rolling storms

appear without warning

and block out the sun,

I draw the shades
and hide inside

from the howling wind

that rattles the windows.

Hope sees no reason

to visit here anymore,

but I continue to work the soil

and check the sky for clues.

It is hard to imagine you 

experiencing a drought of smiles

in these days of love's thirst,

but they say times are tough all over.

I hope things are better

where you are.

Write when you can.

Inspired by the Ken Burns film "The Dust Bowl"

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   June 2014

Modern Poetry is Bullshit

I have been reading
poetry of the modern masters
and have come to realize
that most of it is complete bullshit.

For example,
to make up for
their indecipherable passages
they do things with form like

                                    hang sentences out in the middle of nowhere

to make you feel stupid
if you were to admit
you didn't understand why they did that
while everyone else shouts "Brilliant!"


Bullshit.


And it seems
that if you are in a drunken stupor
and write a famous poem
that makes no sense to you or anyone else

when you sober up
they will still publish
anything you do in perpetuity
while shouting "Brilliant!"


Also bullshit,


because sometimes
if we are lucky we make art
but most times we are just
drunkards at life's banquet with our heads
                                             in the soup.


(See what I mean?)


-written in a drunken stupor @ 12:30a.m.


Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   

June 2014

Our Quiet Hearts

I have never understood why we cut down 

beautiful groves of living flowers and trees

to make fields where we plant dead souls

that don't seem the least bit interested 

in sprouting into anything.

I am certain when they plant our quiet hearts

you'll come up as a poppy of gentle beauty 

so I'll make every effort to come up as a mighty pine 

to watch over you at the edge of your field until 

they cut me down to make room for someone else.

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   June 2014

Rememberance of a Lifetime (in 30 seconds or less)

He killed himself
of that they were sure
but no one could remember
exactly how

there was quick consensus
the method used was irrelevant
one way or the other
the result was the same

they applied all the usual
post-death platitudes -
too bad, too young, what a loss, etc.., etc...
while speaking of the brilliant mind and his work

in conclusion they performed
the ceremonial reverent pause
demanded by stories ending with death
before easily moving to another topic.


in rememberance of Richard Brautigan



Ken Owen  Van Niddy Press  June 2014

Angels Ride Bicycles in Berkeley

Beautiful angels

ride bicycles in the wrong direction

up one-way streets in Berkeley

with complete impunity

as the crowd on the sidewalk

goes silent.

written on break at The Marsh, Berkeley, Ca

Ken Owen Van Niddy Press  June 2014

Silent Suffering

Lately when I see you

it feels like 

there is something wrong

that you aren’t telling anyone

like you are trying

to do the noble thing

by not letting me worry

alongside you

Whatever it is

we could fight it together

even if we both know

there’s not much I can offer

perhaps a hug

a prayer

a massage

a cup of tea

while we laugh 

and tell the old stories

of where we’ve been

and what we’ve seen

Now that I think of it

we should do more of that

whether or not

you’re in silent suffering

so call me

I’ll bring Chinese food 

some jazz records

some wine

and we’ll be OK for a while.

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   June 2014

When God Dreams

god was talking 

in his sleep again,

I think that explains 

why I heard your name in the wind,

he was dreaming

and that must explain

why I saw your face 

in every cloud and flower,

and when he woke up crying

that must explain

the painful longing I felt

in every teardrop of his rain.

I'm sure he doesn't mean to

but it seems

when god dreams of you

it breaks everybody's heart.

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   

June 2014

Oh Great Conductor

Oh Great Conductor

you have played me

the song I must hear

with your majestic symphony

of heart-string instruments 

breaking all at once

crying out in great discord

to awaken me

from my endless night.

No song of the wind for dancing clouds

nor song of the sweet bird

singing his love for the day

for these would not lift 

my veil of mourning

for a love I held above all others

but a song of great sadness

that would break my heart wide open

and set fire to painful longing.

Oh Great Conductor

you have played me

the song I must hear

complete in your wisdom

of how one song must end

before another can begin

so that we may go forward in gratitude

to compose our life songs

and sing of the love that surrounds us.

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   June 2014

Lift Up Your Gaze

Weary traveler 

tired and bent 

from the weight of your sorrow,

look up slowly

and raise your head

to the beauty of all creation,

from the smallest stones

that lie down quietly

to serve your path

to the small ant

dutifull in labor 

and unquestioned purpose,

from the beautiful flower

in humble offering

expecting nothing in return

to the bee 

who dances between petals

serving nature's endless duty,

from tall grass dancing

in sweeping valleys

of rolling golden hills

to your brothers 

who toil along side you 

to help with your burden,

from majestic trees 

that reach to the sky

and petition the clouds for rain

to the sun 

that patiently gives way

to the watchful moon,

and as you raise your head

to the stars

of endless galaxies

you will have raised your heart

to the beauty of all things

as you gaze into the Infinite.

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   June 2014

When We Sing of Love

When we sing of love

do we not disturb the bitter sleep

of those that live without its grace?

Let them sing with us,

dance along side us

in our colorful parade

shouting, "Here's comes love!"

as they lift us upon their shoulders

in celebration of a joy 

that touches all hearts.

So deliver your song boldly,

rattle the windows with your proclamations

so that all my share in the gift of love!

inspired by and dedicated to paul and loralee

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   June 2014

Directly To Your Heart

Let me speak

directly to your heart

so I may hear

it deeply sigh

when it receives

my professions of love,

let me speak 

directly to your heart

so I may trouble not

the restless mind

that only serves

the frightened child,

let me speak

directly to your heart

so I may offer 

my prayers of gratitude 

with love everlasting

for the gift of you,

let me speak

directly to your heart

so I may hear

it whisper softly

of life and love

and the love of life,

let me speak

directly to your heart

so I may feel

our common pulse

as we lie together

two hearts united,

let me speak 

directly to your heart

so it may know

the river of tears when we part

flows to the sea of joy 

when you return,

let me speak 

directly to your heart

so you may know

without reservation

the depth of longing
that brings me to you,

let me speak

directly to your heart

so you may know

when we silence the voices

of fear and pride

the heart will hear nothing but love.

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   June 2014

The Last Thing

The will to struggle

and fight the long great battle

the last thing you lose.

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   June 2014

Set Sail

Endless waves of time 

smooth the edges from our pain

I'll soon sail again.

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   June 2014

Flightless

Bird of flightless wing

sad parents look down helpless

nature takes command.

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   June 2014

Vacation

Vacation:

when we allow ourselves

7 days in a row

to do different things

in different places

but only if you clean your house

from top to bottom

before you leave.

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   June 2014

My Voice

I told her

I try everyday

to find my words for love

but alas 
I speak with reverent homage 

in the voice of the great ones 
who created beautiful odes

to love and suffering.

Don’t worry, she said 

it is all the same song

until one day

if you're lucky

it isn’t
and the voice you hear
shall be yours.

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   June 2014

Ebb and Flow

Reading and Writing

my mind empty while filling

my thoughts with your words.

Now I give them back

ebb and flow inspires words

thought gives birth to thought.


Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   June 2014