Poetry

I thought I would post some of my favorite poems and some of my own original work.

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes:

Thus mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impaired 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!

When we two parted

In slience and tears,

Half broken-hearted,

To sever for years,

Pale grew thy cheek and cold,

Colder thy kiss;

Truly that hour foretold

Sorrow to this!

The dew of the morning

Sunk chill on my brow;

It felt like the warning

Of what I feel now.

Thy vows are all broken,

And light is thy fame:

I hear thy name spoken

And share in it's shame.

They name thee before me,

A knell to mine ear;

A shudder comes o'er me-

Why wert thou so dear?

They know not I knew thee

Who knew thee too well;

How long shall I rue thee

Too deeply to tell.

In secret we met:

In silence I grieve

That thy heart could forget,

Thy spirit deceive.

If I should meet thee

After long years,

How should I greet thee?-

With silence and tears.

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 candle-light.

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.

Sometimes…. - Kyle D. Gathright,

January 8, 1988

Sometimes I sit and wonder on why

you chose me to be your one and only.

I search for a reason to make it clear.

I just can't understand what someone as wonderful

as you could see in me, and I get scared.

I'm afraid that one day you'll suddenly see all my

flaws, and fall out of love with me.

I know that there are many times when I'm difficult

and I know it's no excuse, but those are probably the times

I'm loving you the most and can't bear the thought of life

without you.

But I am yours

And you are mine

And I do love you...

More than anything in the world.

To Me You Are: - Kyle D. Gathright,

Written sometime between February and April of 1988

To Me You Are:

the heart that keeps me going,

the breath that keeps me alive

the sound that brings my voice to you

the spring of my life

the shine that lights my way

the music of every love song

but most of all:

the love of my life.

Yesterday - Kyle D. Gathright,

December 21, 1999

Yesterday

Promises we couldn't keep

Faces that today are gray

Yearn for tomorrow's day

Yesterday

We lingered for love

Somehow we found it

Somehow we didn't

Yesterday

For hours we talked

Listening intently

Touching gently

Yesterday

Or maybe it was

Listening gently

Touching intently

Yesterday

I dreamt of you

Holding your hand

Taking a stand

Yesterday

I whispered your name

Caressed your hair

Would always be there

Yesterday

I wanted to touch

A breath of fresh air

A moment to share

Yesterday

I closed my eyes

Your warmth I missed

Your lips I kissed

Time - Kyle D. Gathright,

June 12, 1988

If I had a star for every time your eyes sparkled,

I would never see daylight.

And if I had a sun for every piece of your golden skin,

I would never see night.

I am thankful that God put enough of each in a day,

So that I can enjoy both sides of your beauty.

Tempted - Kyle D. Gathright

September 30, 1999

Have you ever been tempted?

Like you're racing around a track after a rabbit

Getting dragged around by someone or some

Feeling that you think you can't live without.

Have you ever been tempted?

Like you're a teenager sneaking

Out of the house. Just once.

I won't get caught.

Have you ever been tempted?

By another person.

Wanting to touch them

Knowing it's wrong, knowing it's right.

Have you ever been tempted?

Who would fall for an apple?

Sorry Adam, Not me,

But what's Your vice?

Have you ever been tempted?

I have been there,

Have You?

PACKED - Kyle D. Gathright,

September 28, 1999

If she'd never went to Padre

I can't seem to get that outta my mind,

No matter how hard I try

Those old feelings I somehow find.

Or maybe they find me

Because I try not to think or remember,

Of the last time she touched me

And the hope that somehow lingers.

I search for the truth and comfort

And of how it someday should be,

To find the shock of humility

That comes with the sense of reality.

No one can blame her

Packed up her hopes and dreams,

Promise and inspiration

She's so far gone to reach.