Bedside Manor: Poetry & Prose to Dream By

About the Book

Bedside Manor By Royal L. Craig

Delightfully diverse reading

THE OFFERING

He was still,

Like the placid lake in summer when the mountain holds its breath,

He was still,

Like the fawn down in the high grass where the tiger signals death.

THE COURIER AND SHIVA

The Lancers must be warned tonight.

He smiled and looked at me

It’s sure to be a nasty fight

But first, a cup of tea

APRICOT

For all the world

The poem I need to write

Cannot be written.

 The words I need to say

  Cannot be said.

BLEAKELY HALL

An awesome mystery haunts the heart

At the sight of an empty house

The echo of living dampens the air

All but the spirits have fled

CANDY

When Andy met Candy he thought it was dandy

To take her for fine tea and cake.

Candy had need and slyly agreed

To have their tea by the lake.

COAST MAGIC

Have you ever stood

Where the winding wood

Sweeps down to the seamless sea

COUNTRY BOY

Well, big Jimmy was pulling the plow when it nosed into a split in that rock.  There must have been a crack in the blade for it to snap so easily. ---  He reared back and took off with the broken plow clanging behind.  It chased him all the way to the barn.  That was a sight!

CREATION

In the beginning, this is how it began,

So the mystics tell us

When there was nothing,

There was That, that Is -- ever-existing,

How To Tell If Your Really Dead

If you find there’s no tomorrow,

And your friends are draped in sorrow,

And you really can’t remember last night’s binge;

You may think that you’re in clover

But, dear friend, you have passed over,

QUESTIONS

My mind cried out to the infinite,

“Tell me of the beginning.”

A child came, softly singing,

“He was when there was nothing;

Before the ages had their start.

Sitting in the garden,

Catch Him if you can

In the quiet of your heart.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Royal’s studies in mysticism have resulted in Bedside Manor, Part 1.

Study of life with has resulted in Bedside Manor, Part 2.

He is working on a book on mysticism, and teaches creative writing locally.  He also writes ‘How to Write’ articles.

I have lived on the lip

of insanity, wanting to know reasons,

knocking on a door.  It opens

I’ve been knocking from the inside!

   Maulana Rumi

Poetry reveals reflective insight on the escape clause in the illusion called life.  I write to show the magic hidden in the moment whether mysticism, serious poetry, ballads, or nonsense.

About the Author