Our Souls Sing
In harmonious Accord
My one love
For whom my tears have poured.

My hearts home
After journey's traveled Far
My Dear One
​You are my shining star. 

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach

The poet’s quill scribes a vision of the debutante 
as she rests amongst the bluebells 
Scattered like jewels over the meadow. 

​

The delicate voice of the robins 
Echo through the valley, 
Where the gentleman tells of his ardor 
As they shelter amongst the weeping willows. 

​

Curls tumble from the confines of her hat, 
Parasol tilting to hide girlish blushes, 
Careless of her silk skirts 
they are crushed, lying as broken rose petals. 

​

She glows with the joy of an un-chaperoned picnic 
Scent of cinnamon scrolls tempt her senses, 
as her beau offers cider to moisten their suddenly dry throats. 

​

Dapper in his impeccable finery, 
Coat tails trailing, crisply starched shirt points lifting his chin, 
Top hat tilted at a rakish angle. 
Dark eye’s glinting with the thrill of his endeavors.

 

Sunshine silhouettes the glory of the lovers, 
whom the poet has sewn together 
as an artist creates a masterpiece. 

​

Each syllable as a brushstroke on canvas. 
A Monet made not of oil and brushes, 
But ink and parchment. 
Every word scribed by the care of the poet, 
Transformed within the mind of the reader

(c) Karie Rohrlach (2016)

*Throw Back to Harry Potter*

Each thoughtful pondering
Sliver like descends in inked threads
Removed from within the whirlpool of my mind
To become a living, breathing substance.

​

Many just cluttered mumblings 
Extracted to clear the thoughts and reasoning’s
Of the eccentric soul

​

Pencieve, I pity you
For now you bear the clutter
That enables poetic inspiration
To bring forth its fruits

​

Penceive I thank you
For without such as you
True confusion reigns

(c) Karie Rohrlach

​The flames burned away the old
The grief, despair and loneliness,
limiting beliefs, unworthiness,
the 'cant's, won't, and 'buts' burned to ashes
The old life cindered
those deeply treasured things released
to fly free and soar in their own right
The flames burned brightly
leaving nothing untouched
on their journey into the depths of hell.
Burning all...
....nothing left but a desolate pile of ashes
then in the stillness.....
... a single flame sparks to life
then another, and another
bursting forth from the ashes
Golden feathers of new birth
taking flight and bursting forth with new beginnings
The Phoenix has arisen
New life and potential gaining force
with every flap of its glorious wings
The ashes now gone, and the old and painful with them.
Now lies a blank canvas
waiting for the first brush stroke,
the first glimpse of penmanship
to write the new life.
A life that honors us
A life that befits us
A life that is limitless in its possibilities
as are we..
.. when we dance
The Dance of the Phoenix.

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach (2016)

​So this is love....
Bone crushing
Soul enlightening love.

It's roots deep within
The bedrock of our existence
Unchanged by time, distance
or circumstances

It asks for nothing
It needs nothing to exist
No heartbreak
or loss can destroy it
No purging of old wounds
will tarnish it
But rather purifies.

That fickle demanding obsessive love
That controlled love
Love that demands loss of freedom or identity
That seeks to change or place conditions
That is not love

If it is, then to call this love is to insult it
The purity of this love knows no bounds
It's depths no limits
It's duration defies space and time
Life or death

This love is a rare and cherished thing
Not met before in this lifetime
In it's purity it lies safe
Asking or needing nothing for it's survival
It just is

Pure
Unchanging
Unconditional
Limitless
Passionate
Ever growing
Soul love

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach

Those red stiletto’s

How they turned the gentleman’s head

Made him mad with wonder

Intriguing him, drawing him

Leading him into that passion of a lifetime

 

Now tossed aside,

Scuffed,

dirty in the corner

Forgotten in their glory

 

The old lady too sat in the corner

Her glory forgotten

Once a high flyer

successful by mans standards

Her weathered face was soft

Fragile as rice paper

Her eyes stared into the distance

Remembering another time.

 

A time where the world was full of hope

Wonder and excitement

Challenge and success.

A world of love, and laughter

Children, and young handsome men.

 

Some accused her of living in the past

But that was all she had

For her future was bleak       

and nearly finished.

​

How foolishly we treat the elderly

As the red shoes, tossed aside

Forgotten the time when they sparkled and shined.

Once respected, listened too

Admire for beauty and brains

​

Now mocked

As an old waste of space

Forgetting the achievements

Forgetting

​

We too will grow old

And all our hard work and successes

Those costly prices paid

Will be forgotten

​

As the red shoes

Scuffed, worn, and remembering.

Their value no less

For having lived their life.

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach

It’s not the instant spark,
Or swooning on the floor.
The drowning in those eyes
Or heady need for more.

It’s a comprehensive knowing,
Recognition from the past.
Some prior life experience,
When Eons ago this moment’s cast.

A sacred contract manifested,
By universal love.
The haste to fill our purpose,
Merged with something from above.

The oneness of creation
In common souls were found.
When connected with divine purpose,
Together, we abound.

And in that spark of knowing,
Our awareness is complete.
And our universal purpose,
Is fulfilled when two souls meet.

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach

The hat shaded her eyes,

shielding the flirtatious sparkle

 that livened her face. 

 

It was a wide brimmed ensemble.

Black with a large pink bow.

It’s crown flat and tilted at a rakish angle. 

It suggested a chick fun personality!

 

The eyes peeped

from beneath          

with mischief and fun.

Flirting with danger

and stalling many an unwary passerby.

Leaving them heart broken

as the hat tilted again

to present a demure face,

hiding that spark of liveliness.

 

Oh how she used it to perfection,

taunting all those

who would succumb. 

She played the game so well. 

And why not?

 

This moment of freedom

would be short lived. 

Soon she must return

to that secluded home of the sick and ailing. 

 

The hat was her taste of freedom.

To use as she wills,

to enjoy what she can.

 

To forget –

just for a moment –

the pain of her illness.

 

(c) Karie Rohrlach

Reality is drowned beneath the waves.

The bubbling crescendo

Sounding forth its mockery

At my resistance.

 

Anguished cries are muted

By the vast liquid’s gossamer grasp.

Each arching crest curves around my soul

Cocoon like it entraps me.

 

Explosive waves roar their obsession.

Each powerful white tipped crest

Rolls with the joy of loves persistent tattoo.

 

White water propels me heedless

Towards destiny’s ocean

Its power rushes through my veins.

Tossing me over the edge of reason

The Tsunami consumes me in its passion.

 

Heart pounding within my rapturous journey

The water falls away into distant oblivion.

Suddenly I am thrust free of its tenuous hold

Its vehemence crashing me against the scarred shore.

There the marks of our passing remain a constant reminder

Cherished scars to be carried on love’s momentous tide

 

Like a Tsunami come to claim the soul,

Love seeks my full surrender.

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach

The surface rippled

Winds breath blow in mesmerizing waves 

Alive with a mind of its own

 

Each fluid crest

Curves, arches, froths

Into a Kaleidoscope of movement

 

Its white frothy plumes lapping the surface

Tenderly caressing the golden sand

Stroking with love

Changing with its touch

 

The moist spray wafts over the rocks

Moistening with its presence

Spurting upwards against each resistance

 

Woman-like it moves with a mind of its own

Unpredictable, beautiful, miraculous

Its aqua marine depths reflecting light and color   

Each different shade accented

By the white tip of its wind blown surface

 

Untold stories of its endless travels lie

Buried within the sand tossed particles of the ocean floor

This living, breathing, creature

Who can understand its ways?

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach (2014)

Said the Codger in the corner

Of the pub at  Avonlea

“There’s a missus, who I’d kisses

If she’d sit upon me knee”.

 

“But I’m eighty, like me matey

And I’m too inclined to pee.

So I’ll leave her to another

And keep my faithful Tennessee!”

 

Said the barman to the Codger

“Well you see here my old friend!

You’ve been sitting in the corner

Since ya leg would no more bend”.

 

“You’ve been drinkin all me whisky

Yep your love from Tennessee!

Don’t ya know ya have a misses

And she’s looking out for ye.”

 

Said the Codger to the barman

“Mate now you just let me be

I’ve paid ya all good money

For me love from Tennessee!”.

 

“And me misses whom I kisses

Who is waiting home for me

Is all weathered, worn and weary

And she naggeth poor old me.”

 

Said the lady at the counter

Who’d not sit upon his knee.

“Mister if you loved and kissed her

She’d no longer naggeth ye!”

 

Said the Codger to the lady

“Well Ok! Now let me see

I’d go home to see me misses

But will not leave my Tennessee!”

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach (2007)

*Tribute to the Wheatsheaf Hotel

North Shields Black Tuesday*

It’s nestled in the hollow

That building made of stone

Twas worn around the edges

Many patrons has it known

 

It has withstood the ages

The times of war and peace

The battles of the neighbors

Mans endeavors for a piece.

 

It’s seen marriage and divorces.

Affairs of heart, and all

Drunken sailors, well dressed tailors

The harlot, and the fool.

 

It’s been home for the unlucky

A refuge for the saint

Sporn of Satan for the missus

A place of God they’re sure it aint.

 

Its been full of warmth, and cheer

Full of smoke filled eyes and beer.

Full of communities fair bidding

Let’s fight the foe, that’s why we’re here.

 

It’s known of life’s past dramas

It’s known the past so dear.

It holds secrets best forgotten

Many a skeleton’s held here.

 

It’s known love of all fair patrons

They’re the friends it holds so dear.

It’s the reason for its existence.

The country pub that holds our beer.

(c) Karie Rohrlach

The Samurai sword cuts
Through my soul
Each syllable marking a 
Swathe through my heart.

Those words
Couched in wellbeing,
laced with malice.

Careless
You seek to heal your pain
By inflicting another.
Fear 
For the loss.
Control of another your comfort.

Destroy my heart then oh wise one.
Try if you will,
But remember,
I know!

Your words may hurt but
I am strong
They will not destroy.
I have decreed it so!

Within this lies my strength.
I will not surrender
Nor flee
But fly.

Beware your weapon yielding
That you cut not your own soul
In two
Beware.

(c) Karie Rohrlach (2008)

Oh summer where have you gone?

Blistery cold is un-banished

By your amorous flirtations

Rain and cold permeate my being

Causing me to ponder your fickle nature

 

Your face hidden in feminine fancy

Oh summer I am your true love

Withhold not your charms from me

With one smile

You can banish the gloom forever.

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach (2014)

The web entangles the creature.

Small and helpless

It remains stuck in its sticky cloak

Prodded and poked by his captor

Tormented until longing for release

Whether it be in death....

Or freedom

Knowing only that this is no way to live

And yet, live it will

Each day growing not weaker

But stronger

In its need for freedom....

Or escape.

Until one day

Those sticky threads will be broken

And the creature can fly free

And thrive.

Those shining threads will trail

like ribbons

Banners to the escape

Testament to the struggle

A forever reminder

Of the web.

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach (2008)

I know it must be done

I know it is no fun

My pride and courage fight

Silence broken by screams of fright!

 

Instructed by fashions plight

By beauty’s youthful might

I must be brave and strong

Or wear a spider long.

 

My personal space paraded

As by hot wax invaded

I wonder while baring lard

If out of date would be as hard

 

Need coffee hot and strong

Now at last all hair is gone

I fear at Thirty Four

How many years I’ll do this for.

 

I hope in my despair

At a hundred I’ll have no hair

Or in death my pains replaced

As the dump truck hides my face!

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach (2006)

A rainbow is a beauteous thing,

Its wonder we behold!

And ponder if we’d ever find,

The elusive pot of gold.

 

If it were not for the sunshine,

And the clouds upon the sky.

There would not be such colours,

Such beauty by and by.

 

There would not be the promise,

That is in every stroke.

There would not be the wonder,

Of the mercy God bespoke.

 

And how often do we miss it?

The elusive rainbow not see?

And just keep travelling onwards,

That through the pot of gold we would be free.

 

But freedom comes from the beauty,

Of the sunshine and the clouds.

The journey that we travel,

The joy and troubles found.

 

They each compliment the other,

Would bring out our true colours see?

And create a beauty more wondrous,

Than any other you would see!

 

So friend as we would travel,

This journey of our life.

Lets remember the beauteous rainbow,

The promise of eternal life.

 

Lets know that through our troubles,

We would just require the rain.

And soon will come the sunshine,

To bring out our beauty again.

 

And through this wondrous beauty,

Others too perhaps may see

The gold is in the rainbow,

The end is where we be.

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach (2008)

She stood there, drink in hand

Moving her body seductively

Dancing the dance....

A smile, teased her red lips

Alluring

 

He stood there, drink in hand

Cool, Stoic, Handsome

He observed the girl

And others.....

In the crowded bar.

 

They stood there, drink in hand

A laugh, a smile, a flirt

Each portraying the joy

The illusion

Each quietly desiring what others had

 

Not those there.........

But those home, with their fires

Their love, their friends, their life.

 

Alone, they danced the dance

Played the game,

Flirted away

 

Alone,

in the crowded bar.

The solo pretenders

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach (2008)

I stayed up quite late that night,

On the 21st of May.

I’d just had my girlfriend over,

And we’d been playing in the hay.

 

It was about two in the morning,

When I heard this funny sound,

It sounded like the fence coming down,

Coming down, down, right to the ground.

 

I froze solid in my bed that night.

I was frozen with sheer fright.

I was listening, watching, and waiting alright.

But I’m a chicken in the night.

 

It was about an hour after,

The sound came to my ears.

When finally I got the courage,

To end my happy years.

 

So I crept then out of my bed.

As quiet as a mouse.

I was going to look around the place,

To see who was about my house.

 

But Alas, it was to no Avail,

For all that I could see,

The sail was missing from my boat.

Alas, it had to be me.

 

I cursed and cursed and cursed again.

But my courage did not fail.

If I had not been so cowardly.

I would not have lost my sail.

 

That was when I learnt my lesson,

To never listen, watch and wait.

You should get up, and go out there,

And ditch a nice cream cake.

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach (1986)

Winds breath blows,

Whistles through the coastal leaves.

Minute footprints in the sand

Of the scuttling creatures, near the seas.

 

Crashing surf swarms,

Remnants of the oceans life.

Grainy sand and salty weed

Mix with broken shells of strife

 

Listen

The birds screech,

As overhead they fly.

Sails flapping,

Their staccato goodbye.

Alone, the sailor sits and breathes,

The salty air of open seas.

 

Yet within

There’s more to hear.

The noise of life,

Of lessons near.

Intuition,

Instinct and more.

Atmospheric condition

soul voice,

destiny’s shore.

 

Listen

In silence,

We can hear sounds of seas,

But better yet,

Internal sounds that please.

Sounds of wisdom deep below,

Of advice given,

And things we know.

 

Personal growth,

Of destiny’s plan.

Goals and dreams,

Of a better man.

Gardens grown,

And children’s dreams.

Love and life,

Pleasures seen.

 

Listen

Do not dear sailor,

Blot out the noise.

Of sea and wind,

Or soul and void.

 

But Listen

To all that’s heard within.

That your journey may

Show which port to win

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach

A Friend, A Friend, What would that be

Someone who’s standing alongside me

One who would forgive and understand

The faults of every common man

 

A friend is someone we can love

Who’d share and care like him from above.

A friend we need not see each day

To know their thoughts aren’t far away

 

We need not chat for hours on end

To know that we have a true friend

But a true friend is there in thought

They’ll help us when we know not aught

 

They’ll lift us up when we are down

And when we’re up, they’ll jump around

A friend is fun, a friend is deep

A friend I always want to keep

 

A friend is one who knows we are

A friend to them, they are our star

That lights the dark, and lifts our soul

And helps us in our life’s long goal

 

So this my friend I long to be

A friend to you, and you my friend would be

To know that each day we would be there

For each other, to show we care

 

And know that two good friends would be

Just two people that care platonically

And know that even if they never spoke

They’d still be friends with that girl or bloke!

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach (2008)

Kerplop

Tasty morsel sinks beneath the depths

Lures with its sparkling promise of tender fruits,

No hint of its hidden ensnarement.

 

Large eyes ogle the morsel,

Owner biding his time to ensure the promised catch

Tasty sport to be found here today!

 

CHOMP

Got You!

No quick escape for you my tasty morsel!

The thoughts are echoed from above

As the eyes bulge in surprise.

 

Pain tears through the scaly flesh

Forgotten in a split second

when unrelenting pressure jerks upwards,

Pulling towards heavens waterless ocean of air.

 

Oh what snares have trapped me

in my endeavours for a free meal and entertainment? 

What costly price paid for careless satisfaction?

​

With every powerful swish of my tail I resist,

But soon I am face to face with my captor.

His hungry eyes and fat tummy belie his need to feed.

 

Take heed the captor who would become captive 

Take heed lest you become someone else’ sport.

 

(c) Karie Rohrlach (2012)

The sailor sat beside the sea
And pondered all that made him free
His past had gone as rapid storms
The calm, the waves, the lightning forms.

​

The ocean swell surrounds his boat,
Palms rise from nearby land
Surf crashes on the rugged rocks
Creatures scuttle through the sands

​

He listens to the sounds of sea
And to a still small voice
The soul voice of his journeys end
That warns of imminent choice.

​

Lessons learned along the way
Have taught our sailor friend
Of dreams and passions he must tend
Pathways to a wondrous end

​

Should we ignore that inner voice
instinctive tho it be
alone we journey in the rough
destinies glory never to see.

​

Listen, dear friend, listen
Listen to nature’s choice.
Our destiny unfolds before us
Listen to your inner voice.
 

(c) Karie Rohrlach

Pirate!

Rapture haunts me

My sword lies un bloodied

Salacious gaze plunders my soul

 Fires scorch in passions willing surrender

Oh scarred scoundrel of the high sea’s

I’ll have my cannon’s armed

When next you come

Pirate!

​

(c) Karie Rohrlach