Seems so Long Ago

(for Georgie)

How then I found in you a balm
to salve a ripp’d-torn heart
upon your little ears your
eyes, celestial works of art

Or was it your affections, kind
small as twinkling stars,
that beckoned me towards
the joy that once was truly ours

Straddle birth that grand divide
which separates us two
and fall on anamnesis from
before we felled to two

when in my womb you were at rest
rocking to and fro,
and all you knew was us together
seems so long ago......



August 15th, 2013
Amy Whittlesey

Plea of a mother exiled:

In life  in death
ever in your debt
a beggar shall I be

The longer you shall
shun my face
the nearer I shall be

to  heaven’s light
by woes by toils
where tears no longer fall

so I shall wait
wait patiently
until you come to call

on me your preface
not your end
emerging day by day

as tragedy and consequence
laid out your winfold way

Charge,warrant me
to plead and win
your confidence aplomb

from escaping
treasured boy
whose heart

has gone astray 

                                           amy whittlesey

lullabye:

when heaven decrees that
our time’s run out
and our bones become ashes 
returned  to the ground

when the winds won’t blow
and the stars fall down
when our visions wither
beyond all doubt

when the sun don’t shine
and the moon won't rise
when the tall grass withers
before our eyes

when the fish don't swim
and the birds won't fly
i'll still be yours,
passed the end of time

so
don't you cry, now
don't you cry


amy whittlesey 2013

Shattered Things

I come from a line of shattered things
and throw away paper planes that flew for a time
from steadfast sadness acres over

It’s hard enough to grieve alone 
harder still when you find the truth and then,
freeze frame, you’re stuck and

you can’t move on with the official story 

because it doesn't make sense anymore- it
just won't comply respectably like your dead cat

buried in the garden with rosy tulips all round to

make it pretty-no,it casts a shadow over everything
you see,and everything you do

death, that is-real death, not the lovely, tearful kind 

in war movies with soundtracks-No, it’s the cyclonic kind
that leaves a wild rash on your soul

and never stops itching until you tend to it’s secrets 

keeping them detains your brain,yet 
you dare not speak their words which make colossal bulwarks

crumble into dust ,thundering and blasting what 

remains until the lies begin again to build

and shatter things

amy whittlesey

july 2013

drafted (for ryan)

this morning I was drafted
by your eyes blue
as blue can be

who are you child
spawn of love's
enduring mystery

before I came
I studied you

what beckoned you my
way how did

you find me


amy whittlesey
May 5th 2013

evensong

behind the earth’s long summoning pale

falls to evening dappled light

day’s contingent feats and flounderings

bid adieu to wandering light

fate’s foreboding yet unknown

turning cards find kismet’s claim

metronomic shadows rising

guide our eyes to dreams once more

Amy Whittlesey 
April 2013

missing roger/Child of Ancient Blood/Whittlesey children

Child of ancient blood, attens !
noble, royal, Grande- does course
by way of Kings and through
your heart, your hand, your arm

When honor ruled an Empire
and courage tolled the songs
when virtue coined the Troubadour
as hooves upon the sand

An imprint of you there does dwell
through issue from high Kings
a Captain,Duke,a Prince,a Knight
and Saints of Holy springs

that nourished lands and peoples
brought hope to great and small
Christ’s blood that freed the children
from curs’ed Adam’s fall

Holy Saints abound within
the royal blood you own
their giant faith not er’in vain
a legacy that calls

calls to you child,  raise your sights
to ransom one and all
by swords that sanctify your blood
and vanquish Hades' pall

                                                                           amy whittlesey 2013

For Phoebe

How frail my eyes
forlorn to see you 
come beloved mine

What seraphim
have gone to see you
artistry divine

Dear Phoebe
lull my feral heart
and breathe your breath on me

then dance a song
around my soul
where evermore shall be

Living Water

Deliver me my savior here

draw near to my predicament

Face down the memories bleak and wild

that forge my discontent

In you I draw renewed,refreshed

where living waters flow

and float me up above my lot

to bid me onward go

April 11,2007

Amy Whittlesey O'Neill

Passion of Mercy(for Paul)

Passion of mercy

lead me on

through shadows crossing

valley low

beyond the pale

of winter’s snow

‘til from the soles of hallowed feet

I rise triumphant

vessel meek

to you eternal light divine

Beatific vision

mine to own

Come Holy Spirit

O gentle wind come hither here

and rush my woes away

for strength I find in looking near

tide parting yesterday

So apt to ponder failures, fears
and lose beatific sight
How cherish I the rhythm of 
love’s joyful glimmering light

My soul would hide a'midst its pulse
tossing to and fro 
Enraptured, kindled by the grace
which bids me onward go
         

                                                                       April 2003
Amy Whittlesey O'Neill               

Blessed Mother

I asked Bless'd Mother
to weave for me
a garment of humility


and mind, as I
walk on this earth
the legions of my frailty


She answers my petition grave
with gentle failings
nude all ways
and tenured imperfections
binding me to pray


My garment woven 
in one piece
is hastened by the day


when doubt and fury
melt released
from this my faulting way


January 20,2009
Amy Whittlesey O'Neill

Ryan's Song:

Can I stand on pancakes mamma
Can I touch the moon
Can I eat some bugs for lunch
and wrestle with a loon ?

Nay, noo sweet child
you may not do
these things which you propose
yet by your thoughts
you do posess
God's kingdom in that prose

Your magic is but lost to me
where covet I to own-
Abide, abide my little one
and share a' lot your gold

So far am I from Heaven's ways
forgot by it's domain
Now shall I enter through your eyes,
my innocence reclaim

Amy Whittlesey
2008

drafted

this morning I was drafted

by your eyes blue

as blue can be 

who are you child 

spawn of love's 

enduring mystery 

before you came

I studied you

what beckoned you my

way how did

you find me

Amy Whittlesey

March 2013

dreaming

a season of dreaming
has begun

when drifting bells toll a twilight requiem

and incandescence streams flow

inside what seems to seem
through midnight's rise

where peaks in mind

meet
elemental breezes


12/13/2010
Amy Whittlesey O'Neill

My Roger

All other spaces
times and places
guile my heart to me

when you wee one
remember I
a child upon my knee


You bounced
and laughter filled the night
of hauntings to be free


Come back my one
my truly joy
and reckon unto me


in dreams once more
which life has lost
where we can rest
and be

for Roger:

prayer

Grant me the love
which never abates
when darkness calls
tempting away my heart
my soul from grace
about the day and
through the night

The night is long and 
stalwart is the thrust 
of vanity and shame
beyond all reason

Were you my King
not tempted
the same way
in all your days 
of ambient Light?

And on the eve
laid down your head
to plaintive dreams 
and undermind'ed rest?

Why then did you 
not fail as I
your servant try
so hard not to do
and do again?

For yours is the love
that never abates 
which from your essence overflows
to overcome these phantoms
that I know
better still




2007

Shattered Dreams

Posess me not
O shattered dreams
nor make me fall on thee


Where oh where has gladness gone
but nailed up on a tree


What can thou boast
O cruel fate
if soul submitteth not
and Light Divine confounds thy quest
unmaking her dark lot


Do tell what fool would see as gold
thy thorns upon her brow
'Tis life that's in the secret
only a fool can know

For My Children

Though in your store's account

I one must be;

naught but thine own

there holds me

Please then,let nothing me

be near and sweet to thee

Make all my names your love

and love them still...

Dear child,

you'll have my dreams fulfilled

Innocence Lost

 My eyes have wept ten thousand days
 in hopes burned out to ash
 come back to me sweet innocence
 from time that's drained and past

These cries all told are solitatire
and blunted by the night
alone and damned
with heaving breast 
naught air enough to fight

The winds of loss upon my head
with force unyielding blow
in cold the plight
and colder still 
that fortune’s fate I know

Come days of love surrendered near
to providential joy
whose flickerings of memory
grow fainter to employ

Prime innocence is lost and gone
gone forevermore 
and left behind in chasmal kind
the hollow of my soul

Amy Whittlesey O’Neill

   October 27, 2003

Easter

march morn born of heaven

roll'ed stone open door

death has lost it’s sting forever

fated by an ancient war

angels play insurgent tunes

mid the dirge of black despair

soon to man's ascension rising

trumpets' triumph in the air

                                amy whittlesey

Delray Beach

Silver is the sky in the morning

where it melts into the sparkling sea
a vast mirrored canopy of light

Speckled is the sand

by bits of shells
and bubbled air escaping

Hurried creatures race from here to there

and back again
too late for them

sound and sighing from the earth 
through  waters 
breathe out light

a world of wonder to behold

Amy Whittlesey 

GOSPEL

Pacific grace bestows my God

upon the weary way

of travelers to Paradise who

stumble through the day

It is to Him we sinners go

to find the comfort wrought

in presence of unfailing love

where suffering is taught

Beleaguered souls accumulate

the refuse of ill will

proficient in the marking of

detraction from the fall

We shall resound our accolades

when distant shores are reached

and ever clear becomes

the way invective is impeached

Peace is my God; devoted He

to fond pursuits and dreams

of happiness, the bliss of heaven

eternally to be

Amy Whittlesey O’Neill

October 27, 2003

For Catharine

O Catharine, my Catharine...where did you go?

Your mama is waiting, and waiting

too slow;  is time without you

My angel cried to see it so -

bereft of joy to know you’re near

a’side my head

Too slow, too slow; come back to me

so we can sing together our song

long lost and find it

I find my way without you is too steep, too steep

We can hope together by the rainbow, I know

You at one end, me at the other 

along it we shall meet

once again

Amy Whittlesey O’Neill

October 4, 2003

Written on Catharine’s 

10th birthday. She is in Wyoming

with her father.