COLLECTION OF WORKS 
BY RONALD GORDON ZIEGLER


Rusty Hinges

The wind is coarse out of the north
and all the skies are black
and death debates the rustic gate
and waters up the glass.

Beyond it all, beyond the pall
is warmth in a degree
some like behind the flashing sign
that tells me I am free.

Sit I and ponder, here, and there, and yonder
playing instruments in tune
on rusty hinges the soul singes
or rises on high, too soon.

And somewhere out there, I know not where
in the darkness, death awaits
to hear the floor creak and the hinges squeak
and so to plot my fate.

Enter then I the dark, naked, my soul is stark
and death, alerted to my imposture
will strike first with its vampire thirst
-- but soul or body's disventure?

1966

Upon the Square At Morning Tide

Upon the square they danced in time
On the fluid mirror with their colored rhyme
And lit the dark trying to be gay
But you could tell it was night time anyway.

When then from the East the sun arose
And so it is the blue sky grows
And warmth embraces the luscious green
And lifts away the misty screen.

And there was the rack and whipping post
And the red and dry of aridic roast
And the stained ghost flesh left to die
And there was the warmth, the green, and the sky.

1966

Weariness

The willow bows its weary head 
to weep, weep, weep
and in weariness, all I want
is sleep, sleep, sleep.

1966

Sonnet

Rebuke me not, for the breath of love
that has spirited your hair is not mere fantasy
but life itself -- haunted by you --
and but a breeze off a boundless sea;
for the thoughts that unending stay
images of you there next to me;
for hopeless love I'd move the world for
though you say 'forever' it can't be.
Rather, sweet love, that my heart might bask
in the sunlight of your face; and wear
the joy of embrace of your ocean eyes,
as my fingers frolic through your sunset hair.

Decree I might devour time in audience caress
for I could not love you more or love you less.

1975

Sonnet II

Daughter of the summer, child of the morn
	With every breath your beauty grows
	At every honor my heart slows
By sweet love for you, I am torn.

Goddess of my every thought, siren of my mind
	Beyond my passion on Olympus you dwell
	But enslaved toward you my desires swell
The gods avenge such love in this hellish bind.

'Tis vanity I dare such love, it brings me chains
	Does Tantalus yet suffer such unquenched thirst
	Oh, have the gods bound on me a punishment still worse?

Damn the gods, though I love so, joy in me remains
	I cast contempt as rocks at them, perhaps to sow
	A love in your godess heart to dash away my woe.

1975

# 381

Why must I in the valleys
always trip and fall?
Why must I stand on summits
and echo out my call?

When I walk through the vineyards
the grapes are wet and round
and yet when I am swimming
I always slip and drown?

Why does a teardrop
always make a flood?
Why when they ask for water
do I offer blood?

1967

A Silken Softness

Darkened shadows of the morning
Lie across the murky streets
And grey forms are silently emerging
But they stand and stare and have no feet.

A blizzard sets aloft its roar
And sits a blanket all across
Whatever morning might uncover
So none might recognize the loss.

What a glacier we live on 
Above a million morningtides
And so we study what we see
Never what it hides.

From a cross, from an embrace --
Love's voice, above the storm,
Goes unheard, then all is light
And all is very, very warm.

And now a silken softness falls
To cool this hellish heat
And grey forms are silently emerging
But they stand and stare and have no feet.

1967



For Fayette

Precious Lord,
Hear me pray,
Come and walk next to Faye.
Give her strength
Give her hope
From above.
Hear me pray,
Be with Faye,
Walk with her night and day.
Precious Lord,
Take her hand,
Lead her home.

6/2/98



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