Sunday, July 18, 2010

Line Breaks and stanzas

Poetry is often separated into lines on a page. These lines may  emphasize a rhyming pattern at the ends of lines. Lines may serve other functions, particularly where the poem is not written in a formal metrical pattern. Lines can separate, compare or contrast thoughts expressed in different units, or can highlight a change in tone.

Lines of poems are often organized into stanzas, which are denominated by the number of lines included. Thus a collection of two lines is a couplet (or distich), three lines a triplet (or tercet), four lines a quatrain, five lines a quintain (or cinquain), six lines a sestet, and eight lines an octet. These lines may or may not relate to each other by rhyme or rhythm. For example, a couplet may be two lines with identical meters which rhyme or two lines held together by a common meter alone. Stanzas often have related couplets or triplets within them.

The biggest thing I can say about stanzas and line breaks is be consistent. You can have more that one length stanza within a poem, but try to repeat the pattern throughout the poem. a four line stanza repeated or a four line then a two line, then a four line then a two line etc. Also your stanzas should have an impact on how the poem reads. They should emphasis a break in thought or change of scheme and not just be put there for no apparent reason. Most line breaks are simply to maintain the rhythm of the poem...

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Love

I love you
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am
When I am with you.

I love you,
Not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what
You are making of me.

I love you
For the part of me
That you bring out;

I love you
For putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can’t help
Dimly seeing there,

And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find

I love you because you
Are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern
But a temple.

Out of the works
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.

I love you
Because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make me good.
And more than any fate
Could have done
To make me happy.

You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.

You have done it
By being yourself.
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means,
After all.

Roy Croft

A white rose

The red rose whispers of passion,
And the white rose breathes of love;
O, the red rose is a falcon,
And the white rose is a dove.

But I send you a cream-white rosebud
With a flush on its petal tips;
For the love that is purest and sweetest
Has a kiss of desire on the lips

John Boyle O’Reilly

Sonnet XVIII

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm’d;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimm’d;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest;
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

William Shakespeare

She walks in beauty

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies,
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meets in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellow’d to that tender light
Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair’d the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress
Or softly lightens o’er her face,
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek and o’er that brow
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,—
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent.

Lord Byron

La vita nuova

In that book which is
My memory…
On the first page
That is the chapter when
I first met you
Appear the words…
Here begins a new life

Dante

O, My love's like a red, red rose

O, My Luve’s like a red, red rose,
That’s newly sprung in June.
O, my Luve’s like the melodie,
That’s sweetly play’d in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I,
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun!
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve,
And fare thee weel a while!
And I will come again, my luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile!

Robert Burns

it is at moments after i dream

it is at moments after i have dreamed
of the rare entertainment of your eyes,
when (being fool to fancy) i have deemed

with your peculiar mouth my heart made wise;
at moments when the glassy darkness holds

the genuine apparition of your smile
(it was through tears always)and silence moulds
such strangeness as was mine a little while;

moments when my once more illustrious arms
are filled with fascination, when my breast
wears the intolerant brightness of your charms:

one pierced moment whiter than the rest

-turning from the tremendous lie of sleep
i watch the roses of the day grow deep.

e.e. cummings

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

e.e. cummings

Sonnet XVII

I don’t love you as if you were the salt-rose, topaz
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:
I love you as certain dark things are loved,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom and carries
hidden within itself the light of those flowers,
and thanks to your love, darkly in my body
lives the dense fragrance that rises from the earth.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or where from,
I love you simply, without complexities or pride;
I love you in this way, not knowing any other way of loving
but this, in which neither I nor you exist
so close that your hand on my breast is mine,
so close that your eyes close when I sleep.

Pablo Neruda

Sonnet XIV

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love’s sake only. Do not say
‘I love her for her smile–her look–her way
Of speaking gently,–for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day’–
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,–and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity’s wiping my cheeks dry,–
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby !
But love me for love’s sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love’s eternity.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

(Sonnet XVIII) Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Night Melody

Freely given passion
Makes my body yearn
Come be my instrument
Let me play
I will make it sweet my love
Place my lips upon you
Tonguing the reed softly
Coaxing the sweet sounds of love
from within you
Feel my lips play you
My breath of hot passion
My fingers dancing on your skin
Caressing your passion
I will make it sweet and slow
This melody
As I play you
Long into the night

Gordon Merritt

Raven (As The Night Calls You)

Raven
As the night calls you
Sun near gone and all light fading
Heat of the waning sun has past
and yields to the pallid moon

In darkness comes the lust of night
and trepidation fades
Howling comes my desire and righteous need
and with it your raven hair and burning eyes
To tear my indecision away

Oh Raven
As the night calls you
And bares your breast to my sinful tongue
to feed my needful want and leave me sated
and yet unfulfilled and ere wanting
The nectar of your womanhood

Raven
As the night calls you
I am yours so to possess
And yet you see me not as yet
My age perhaps is beyond you lustful thought

But Raven
As the night calls you
My sin is to feed my eyes on you
and ere to slake my need and desire
My mind takes hold of you in the dimness
And I love you yet again

Gordon Merritt

And I Feast

You come to me every day
I see your eyes and die
your lips leave me breathless
I can feel the sting of you kiss on my tongue
taste your sweet breath on my lips
how many times have I felt your body next to mine
how many times has your nectar wet my manhood
and left me weak
your heated words of submission in my ear…
how many times have I knelt before you
paused in the sweet pain of anticipation
smelling your need… wanting it’s lust upon my tongue
needing it like life’s blood
you know not what my passion favors
as your scent drives me to new heights of desire…
you know not, my mind’s feast
as I bow my head and thank the heavens
for your beauty…
You come to me every day, and I feast
And you smile… as you walk by

Gordon Merritt

As The Candles Dance

Looking at you now
Seeing the candlelight flicker off your body
As if it were dancing shadows
I cannot think of anything that I have ever seen
That is more beautiful
You fill my soul, you mezmorize me
Numb my mind
tranquillize my senses
Euphoria
I will love you if you will let me
My passion re-ignites
with each look you send me
Like sparks to dry tinder
My soul is chaste and wanting
My love is pure and untainted
My spirit is undaunted
Lead and I shall follow
Lift me and I shall walk beside you
Ask and I shall carry you
Pushing my feet deeper into the sands
But only the weight of your indecision shall burden me
For your love makes me light
One set of footprints is the sign of two walking as one
And your body shall warm and strengthen me
You give me life and reason
You energize my soul
You are mine
Even though you stand alone in the shadows
As the candles dance

Gordon Merritt

This Night

This night is the one I have waited for
And dreamt about all of my nights
Tonight I will take you to heaven
The moment we turn out the lights

The moments will turn into hours
As I tenderly draw you to me
I’ll explore every part of your body
And show you what loving should be

This body I hold is a temple
And I faithfully worship the shrine
Take control of your mind, your body and soul
Feel the passion connect it with mine

When the fire of passion consumes us
And we join in that moment of bliss
I will hold you so close to my body
And seal the dream with a kiss

I will hold you as I’ve held no other
Til the night slowly fades into morn
And awaken again with you here in my arms
To the fire of passion reborn

Gordon Merritt

Passion Defined

I see your body flicker
As the light of the candle reveals its
delicate features to me
I am beholding something so beautiful
It almost makes me cry
Real beauty is something I have not seen
much in my life
I want to swallow you with my eyes

I feel your body tremble as I pull you closer
Or is it mine?
Your perfume makes me dizzy
The softness of your touch makes me weak
My eyes meet yours and embrace them
Your breasts touch my chest
Your nipples caress me… and the kiss

Tongues intertwined, softly you moan as I bite your lip
I shiver as you kiss my neck
I can smell the essence of your womanhood
and my animal passion ignites
As I lift you and enter the kingdom of passion
My loins fill to bursting
You shake uncontrollably
I follow willingly
Wantonly

And as we fall into warmth of each others bodies
I cannot describe what my body feels
What my mind perceives
This night is passion defined
and desire fulfilled
Inside you I sleep
Beside you I awaken
to a dream

Gordon Merritt

Soon My Love

Lying here beside you
feeling the warmth of your body
I can hear your heartbeat
I can see what real beauty is
Eyes that light me up
Touch my feelings
Reach my core
You are my passion
I want to make love to you
feel your skin beneath my lips
taste your taste, feel you move
your lips, your mouth, your tongue
upon me
Taking me to the places of dreams
of paradise visited
Tracing my fingers down your stomach
my lips upon your flushed breasts
soothing, suckling
Wet hot passion escapes you
Honey for my craving, nectar to my tongue
Feel me
Guide me to the gates of your love
that I might enter
Screaming from within
comes my nature
bursting, free and flowing
Joining us
Then again your eyes touch me
Your body soothes me
Soon, my love, soon

Gordon Merritt

Touch Me

Touch me
I love the way you touch me
My blood begins to race
When you touch me in that place
When you touch me in my heart
I love the way you touch me

Feel me
Darling can you feel me
Close is where I want to be
For all eternity
Knowing we will never part
Baby can you feel me

Love me
I love the way you love me
Your love is so complete
My world is at your feet
And your wish is my command
I love the way you love me

Want me
I love the way you want me
Beside you every day
And all that I can say
To make you understand
I love it when you want me

I love the way you love me
Honey can you feel me
Darling how you touch me
I love the way you touch me.

Gordon Merritt

Answer Me

I will pose you a question
But I will use no words
Feel my fingers trace your back
As my eyes look into your soul
The warmth of my body setting yours ablaze
Will you answer?
You know what it is I ask
Your sweet breath on my neck
Flushed skin
Passion lies just beneath the surface
Waiting patiently
like the eye of a storm
Yes, you see it
I know your heart as I know my own
I love you, you don’t have to ask
Your eyes see it, but reassurance
comes in the form of a kiss
Soft and lingering
Soft like my hands on your heartstrings
Playing a tune, soft and sweet as a lullaby
Building in momentum
Loves lust
Crescendo, the pendulum swings
Passion flares
Hearts ignite
Answer me, my love
Heaven awaits us and we shall enter
if we dare
Consumed
Take me. I will have you
Completely, wholly.
immerse myself in you
Answer me
Is forever to long?

Gordon Merritt

Tasting You

I want to lay you down upon my bed
To make you shiver with delight
as I lay my mouth upon you
To taste the sweetness of your love
To savor your response
like fine wine
I want to be your connoisseur
to taste your passion
To me you are just desserts, like maple honey
sweet and flowing

Feel my touch… want me… need me
All I ask of you is your bliss
Throw away your reservations
and open yourself to me
I will fill you
with my desire
I will fill you
make you want more
inch by inch, kiss by kiss
hour by hour
Passion, fiery droplets of molten love

The miracle of this night
is that it will not end
And as the night turns into day
I will again drink of your love
Needing it,
Wanting its sting on my lips

Gordon Merritt

One Day

I breathe you and I am dizzy
I feel you in my blood
My passion smolders and then erupts
Your eyes see into my very soul
They pierce my heart
I am a man lost, lost in dreams and visions of you
You give me life, you lift me up
And I am on fire
Your needs are my needs, your wants are my wants
My soul is yours
One day I will find you and my heart will rejoice
One day you will hear me
And my world I will place at your feet

Gordon Merritt

The Silken Cocoon

Perfection…
wrapped in a silken cocoon
Oh how I await the beauty that emerges
when the silken cocoon is shed
Glorious in her new finery
Angelic beauty
Tender as the petals of a rose
Fragile as a snowflake
to melt at my touch
Like cool water
wet on my tongue
Sating my thirst
An oasis in this desert prison
I will drink of her love
Gorge myself on the fruit of her passion
fulfill my hunger
Cool myself in the shade of her being
And, as the night turns into day
I shall again feel the heat
The fire of need in my soul
The memory of her touch
The longing for the night
And the silken cocoon

Gordon Merritt

Our Night

Taking your hand
Fingers to my lips
I want to love every inch of you
Taste every part of your body
As if I can drink your life’s blood
Through your very pores
I want to get lost in those eyes
Consumed by your kiss
Set my body on fire
Quench the fire in my blood
With sweet caresses
Touch my soul with your passion
Lay down beside me
Feel my body crying for you
Let’s get lost in each other
Touching, tasting, exploring
We will exceed passion, go beyond bliss
For this is our night
Want me… like no other
Need you… like the air that I breathe
Together, one mind, one soul
Fused in the heat of passion
Existing in this moment
Forever

Gordon Merritt

First Kiss

A first kiss, long and sweet
Fierce and tender
Shivers to the depths of my body
Set kindle to my soul
The flame bursts forth, consuming my heart
An inferno raging out of control
To be tempered not, but for
Another

Gordon Merritt

The Night Has Just Begun

I place my lips upon her
Her breath is hot and sweet
I pull her body to me
As we slip beneath the sheets

I feel her body quiver
As my mouth starts to explore
I taste her hidden treasures
And hear her cry for more

Her arms, her lips, her breasts I taste
Her passion fills my sense
The heat that’s building in me
Is molten and immense

My body fills with pleasure
My passion cannot hide
My heart screams out, it wants, it needs
It will not be denied

We join as one, we are on fire
Both hotter than the sun
I hear her screams and yet I know
The night has just begun

Gordon Merritt

Desire

Want… need…desire
After love glow
Needing just to know
I love you

Passion
Full of compassion
Filling every sense
Molten and immense
I want you

No, not sex
Out of context
Bereft of
This kind of love
I need you

Love
Sent from above
Needing every day
Touch me in that way
Complete me

Gordon Merritt

Shhh

Lips quiver
fingers
softly trail
shivers
butterfly kisses
ever wanting
needing
sleepless dreams
desire
shhh
don’t say a word
just…
kiss me

Gordon Merritt

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Wishing Star

Stars are for wishing
And I have wished on every one
And somewhere
Way out there
One star listened
It heard my prayer
And sent me you

To that star
I give my eternal and undying loyalty
And send it one more wish
Of your dreams
Let them all come true
And let them be of me

Gordon Merritt


Why

Why am I amazed
When each time my heart beats
My love for you grows stronger
When each moment of each day
Fills my mind with thoughts of you
New hopes and dreams surround me
And fill my soul with peace

Why am I perplexed and befuddled
Skipping stones and walking on clouds
How is it that my heart soars with the eagles
Each time I see your face, and dreams are sweet
As the morning dew kissing a rose petal
Why is my life complete

Why is it that every fibre of my being
Surges and cries out for your touch
Your smile, your sweet words
Why is all the world right
And all the things in it magical…
Why?

Because I love you

Gordon Merritt


When I look in your eyes

When I look in your eyes
I see meadows of green
And the colors in rainbows
That I’ve never seen

I see moonlight and roses
The heart of a child
And the beauty of flowers
That grow in the wild

If this world should wake
To greet my demise
My last wish would be
Just to look in your eyes

Gordon Merritt


What is it?

What is it that you want my love
To what do you aspire?
Your hopes, your thoughts, your wishes
Your dreams and your desires?

What visions fill your dreams at night
When last you close your eyes?
What is it that will make your heart
So carefree that it flies?

Please tell me dear of all these things
And what you’d have me do
For if it made you happy
I’d hang the moon for you

I’d climb the highest mountain
Put moonbeams in a jar
I’d capture you a rainbow
And then a falling star

I’d steal a swallow’s morning song
And then sweet words I’d write
Compose for you a love song
To sing to you each night

What is it that you want my love
To make your life complete?
For I would gather up the world
And place it at your feet

Gordon Merritt

What are you doing

What are you doing the rest of my life?
I wonder if you’ve any plans
Because I was thinking, if you wouldn’t mind
Placing my heart in your hands
What are you doing this moment in time?
I can’t get you off of my mind
And even in dreams that come deep in the night
Your presence is so well-defined
What are you doing tomorrow
And every day of each year?
Can I hold you close when I’m old and I’m grey?
Can I whisper sweet words in you ear?
What are you doing on Valentines Day
In two thousand and twenty-nine
What are you doing when I’m ninety-three
When I still ask if you will be mine.

Gordon Merritt

Two Hearts

Two hearts
Two people searching this world for their destiny
Never knowing when or where, or even if, they will find it
Only knowing that, if they truly believe
That someday this dream will come true
I have waited all of my lifetime to find this love
And I would wait a thousand lifetimes more
To find what I have found in you
You are my destiny, my dreams and my desires
This day I will make you see
That you are now and will always be
In my heart
Give me your dreams my sweet
That I may make them come true
Together with my dreams
They shall become real
Existing not only in your world
Or in my world
But in our world
One world
Built on trust and respect
Friendship and devotion
Loyalty and love
Together for the rest of time
You need only let me love you

Gordon Merritt

Visions

Visions that come in the night
Fleeting glimpses of what will be
Dancing through my dreams
Leaving a picture show of images
A slide show in my heart
A favorite medley of sweet songs
Playing sweetly, softly
Entrancing my soul
My feelings sway to the melody
Of the dream that my heart calls you
And the dream replays itself
Over and over again
Carrying me through the lonely days
Leading me through the lonely nights
With the promise of timeless passion
Enduring love
Patterns of joy…
Painted on the walls of my heart
Brightening my future
Visions of you I see
And they complete me

Gordon Merritt

Trust in me

Trust in me
The words seem too fragile to believe
So many things in this life are too fragile
Hearts unloved will break if not handled
With tenderness and compassion
The joining of two, strengthens the both
And makes them impervious to the harshness of life
Trust in me
The words are soothing
Trusting is what brings hearts together
But it is also what breaks them
Trust in me
I will trust in you
I will trust in us
I will believe in the joining
Chance the breaking
For if it comes
I will never mend
And I cannot think of never
If I want to believe in forever
Trust in me
So fragile
Like my heart
It is lain open to you
Naked and vulnerable
Unprotected for the joining
Trust in me
Heaven help me…
I do

Gordon Merritt

To hold your heart

If your give me your heart
I will hold it as a newborn child
As if it could break at my touch
Not daring to move too quickly
Or too suddenly, that I might bruise it
And have it weep
I only wish to hold it close to me
To nurture and care for
To love it, and cherish it for as long as I can
To watch it grow in strength and confidence
And become everything it can be
To protect it and shelter it from harm
I have dreamed too long of this
And when the fear comes
And you are afraid
I will come to your heart
And smote the fear of doubt which dwells there
That you will know my love
And take me as your charge, your protector
Your white knight maiden fair
Shall always be near
To carry you to the safety of my arms
And the shelter of my heart

Gordon Merritt

To the sun and the moon

Of all the things upon heaven and earth
There could never be any so fine
It’s a wonder to me that with you in the world
That the sun and the moon can still shine

For a little cloud told me
That they are in awe
Of how you shine brighter than them
And comparing their glow with the brilliance of you
Is comparing a rock to a gem

To the sun and the moon, I can only say this
That I know they must do as they do
By try as they might, each day and each night
They will never shine brighter than you

Gordon Merritt

This moment

When I am with you
I treasure each moment
What I mean is that I
live each moment , just for that moment
I don’t want that moment to end
And when it does, I mourn that moment
For it is gone forever
Except for in my heart
For in my heart, that moment replays
preceded by the last moment and the moment before it
Each moment is a piece of me, a fraction of the whole
A whole that will only be complete when I leave this world
So I will not look to the next moment
I will not waste this moment by rushing to the next
For eternity would not be long enough
For me to collect enough moments
To ever stop wanting
Each and every moment I spend with you

Gordon Merritt

The falling star

A shooting star across the night
Is seen through troubled eyes
A wish goes out to greet it
Into the darkened skies

A heart so filled with yearning
And dreams unrealized
Yet it won’t stop believing
For it is mesmerized

The night sky holds such wonders
There must be magic there
If someone else is wishing
Upon this star they share

A love to last a lifetime
Their future to unfold
And love will grow and strengthen
As together they grow old

And in those twilight years ahead
No matter where they are
They both will know the reason
Was a single falling star

Gordon Merritt


Shining Star

In the night
As I gaze at the heavens
I see many stars
But one shines much brighter than all the rest
It captures my dreams
And owns all my wishes
As I admire it from so far away

How long has it taken for its light to find me?
At least a hundred lifetimes
I treasure each moment
That its light shines upon me
And I will look for it each night
Until I am in heaven
When finally I can reach out and touch it

Gordon Merritt

My world

My world
Is a world where dreams come true
A world where anything is possible
Passion thrives here
Love blossoms
Tenderness abounds
My world
Is a world where hearts join
Dreams flourish
Desires are fulfilled
My world
is this way because I have found you
And my world and your world
Will become one world
Our world
And all you ever wanted
Will be yours
In our world
You need only wish it

Gordon Merritt

My Promise

Come to me my love
Lay beside me
Put your worries to sleep
Speak your heart… your thoughts
Lay your burdens in my hands
I will ease your pain

Speak to me
I will listen
I will listen and I will hear and understand
I will not judge you
Or belittle your fears
This is my promise

Instead of advice… take my tenderness
Instead of reproach… feel my love
And when your heart is lightened
And your troubles eased
Look into my eyes
For what I see in your eyes
Shall be my reward

Gordon Merritt


Late at night

Late at night
as I look into the heavens
I feel a gentle breeze stir
and I breathe in your dreams
For you are all around me
and I can feel your touch
Though you are far away
the sound of my heart beating
will echo in your heart
You will awaken just at the moment
that my heart touches yours
And you will know that I am there with you

Gordon Merritt


If I could dream

If I could dream a thousand dreams
And make each one come true
I would not dream of distant lands
Or calm lagoons of blue

I would not dream of diamonds
Or other precious gems
Of chalets in the Swiss Alps
Or villas on the Thames

I would not dream of riches
Of silver or of gold
Or dream of lasting youth
And never growing old

If I could dream a thousand dreams
And make each one come true
I’s only need the first one
The one I have of you

Gordon Merritt

If

If suddenly the stars stopped shining
and the sun left the sky
I would not miss them.

If the wind did not stir gentle breezes
and the rainbows lost all of their color
I would not grieve
If the birds ceased their singing
and the flowers did not bloom
These things would not affect me

For I see the starlight in you eyes
And the sunlight in your hair
I sense the gentle touch of the wind
When your hand brushes my face
And the beauty of the flowers in your smile
As long as you are in my life
I will see colors more vivid than in any rainbow

Gordon Merritt

I wonder

I wonder how the roses
can stand your walking by
I’m sure that when you pass them
They hang their heads and cry

I’m sure the stars are saddened
when you look into the sky
For they can’t match the sparkle
that shines within your eyes

I wonder how the skylarks
can sing the way they do
For when you speak
the sweetness of your voice
must make them blue

I wonder how the twilight moon
would ever want to rise
For it cannot outshine your heart
no matter how it tries

I wonder if the angels
still dance at heavens door
Or do they know that they are not
the choicest anymore

For I have found an angel
right here for me to love
To rival all the beauty
of the angels up above

Gordon Merritt

I just had a dream

I just had a dream
And never closed my eyes
I just hopped a cloud
And flew into the skies
I just caught the moon
I can’t believe it’s true
I’m riding on a rainbow
And all because of you

I guess I must believe
In heaven up above
For I just saw an angel
And I just fell in love
With raven hair as dark as night
and eyes of baby blue
I’d never seen an angel
Until I looked at you

Gordon Merritt

Grey Skies

Grey skies turn to crystal blue
Each time I see your face
Your lilting voice is softer
Than the finest silk and lace

Your lips are sweet as cherry wine
Your smile is snowy white
Your eyes shine like the stars do
On a gentle summer night

Your elegance is timeless
Your beauty unsurpassed
The moment I laid eyes on you
Your magic spell was cast

If every man could look upon
The magic in your eyes
Then each would know of heaven
Long before he dies

Gordon Merritt

Every time

Every time I look at you
My heart begins to fly
High above the chimney tops
Into the deep blue sky

Your eyes intoxicate me
They fly me to the moon
And my heart skips a beat, each time
You walk into the room

Every time I look at you
My blood begins to race
I see a living angel
Each time I see your face

I know that there’s a heaven
I know for sure it’s true
For there is nothing here on earth
As beautiful as you

Every time I kiss your lips
I feel my passion rise
It seems my soul is set on fire
By looking in your eyes

If I should meet my maker
Before this night is through
I’d get to thank him face to face
For all I’ve found in you

Gordon Merritt

Colors

Grey blue is my world
Colors of my dreams
looking into me
Like reflections in a stream

Silken shining halo
Frames a perfect face
Beauty so divine
Defying time and space

Heart of amber gold
Sweet as morning dew
Welcome to my world
I can’t believe it’s true

Colors of my passion
Painted on my heart
All because of you
My favorite work of art

Gordon Merritt

As long as men have eyes

As long as men have eyes
There will be someone to adore you
For the beauty of your face is
like the setting sun as it kisses the water
on a warm summer night

As long as men have ears
There will be music in the world
For to hear your smiling voice is to
hear the skylarks sing
in the early morn of spring

As long as men have bodies
there will be longing for your touch
And aching need that borders lust
and rivals cool summer breezes
on a hot summer day

As long as men have hearts
There will be hearts broken
For you are sweet as sorrow
As you wear your beauty inside your heart
and not as a shallow mask for vanity’s glory

As long as men have life
There will be a will to live
For to be in your presence is to bask
the light of heaven’s grace on earth
and want not for ethereal gifts until time is past

Gordon Merritt


Angel

I think that all the angels
In heaven up above
Must know that one has left them
For she’s my one true love

I dream of her each morning
I see her every day
I’m lost within her angel eyes
And happiest that way

As long as her love touches me
And lives deep in my soul
There’s nothing that can harm me
Herlove has made me whole

And even when she’s far away
And I’m alone it seems
Her love will never leave me
I have her in my dreams

Gordon Merritt

A Million Love Songs

Think of every love song
that ever touched your heart
Put them down on paper
and select the sweetest parts
Put them all together
with the perfect melody
And still they couldn't start to say
the things you mean to me

For words are only words my love
and words could never say
The way you make me feel inside
That very special way
Mere words just lack the emphasis
They only say a part
of the love that I possess for you
So deep within my heart

I guess I'm really saying this
to make you realize
I'm feeling something deep inside
of monumental size
It's taken much too long
for me to say right from the start
That it would take a million love songs
to say what's in my heart

Gordon Merritt