Summer glow

Sun kissed
summer glow
on their faces
broad smiles
all around
sandy feet
sand wedged
where sand should not
carefree
careless
laughter, building castles
building memories
layer upon layer
of sand and sea
sun and shells
cannot be contained in a frame
etched in mind
it'll never be again
today
with sun kisses
sun tans
sun burn
forever times
in one day
summer time
summer fun
summer glow

The truth

I am she, my voice is loud
who is that, called in reply
the one you seek, the one must die
and yet, I cannot-for I am proud

and yet, I cannot-for I am proud
though my voice is not, I said
the charges here, must be read
in clear voice and out aloud

in clear voice and out aloud
I will object, though, I am she
it was all for-my love of he
and all for this, I remain enshroud

and all for this, I remain enshroud
kill me though, if you must
yet, gathered round, all people trust
know that you will lose this crowd

know that you will lose this crowd
and in suffering you will be
for I am one, a lonely me
and these voices will stand forever loud

and these voices will stand forever loud
no longer blind or meek
I know the truth, this thing they seek
the one thing I always vowed

Copper missiles

With my name
upon its copper tip
I plead in silence
pray with fervour
for a bad shot
a gust of wind-
for one final miracle
salvation
this is not how I wished it to be
in motion slow
I watch, eyes wide
and know that this is how it must end
no silent pleading
fervent prayer
bad shot
or wind to blow
the copper missile
with my name upon its
body length it's time
I shut my eyes
and my life flashes forth-
for all those I felled
without thought of consequence
it's my time to say goodbye-
yet will I leave
a void in time
a lasting memory?

The calm quiet night

I call out into the night
the calm quiet
night
the black cold
night
I call and hear nothing
no noise
no reply
in the calm quiet
night
in the black cold
night
not even an echo
to mark my existence
to know I am there
yet-
I am there
standing alone
I call out louder still
pleading for reply
recognition-
I exist
I am
hear my call
where does it travel
to foreign places
solitary places
the calm quiet
night
the cold black
night
I am here
please hear my call

The young hero

The smell of death is in the air
pervading every pore
yet in the guts of the young
gallant
brave
a burst of excitement grows
the moon reflects on the sea
lights the path
and scurrying like ants
our heroes clamber the cove for cover
from the pellets raining down
young heroes
fallen heroes
what destiny awaits
souvenirs
tags
an old embroidered handkerchief for my mum
sent in a calico bag
with a number
may he rest in peace
gallant and brave
young hero
all on her Majesty’s embossed paper
addressed to the mother-
whose pride wasn’t much
begged him to stay
he was far too young
a mere boy
not old enough to shave
to drink
to vote
to drive-
still a boy,
her boy-her child
she didn’t want him to go
her conscience
forever her pain.

Candle light

Candle light
flickers
casts a glow
silhouettes your frame
and through the window
across the way
a shadow
sits staring into the night
dreaming, with
eyes open
of roses red
perfumed sweet
white damask
table cloth
pewter table ware
porcelain
crystal
all in a silhouette
of candle light
and in the bedroom
all alone
she dreams of him-
tall
dark
handsome
cliched-
bathed in the glow
of candle light

Invisible cloak

An invisible cloak
any colour
none you can see-
could be red
could be yellow,
blue
whatever colour
you-
I-
may like
want
but I don't think about the colour
I don't think about much
just that you cannot see me
when I wear it
I'm like a super hero
a phantom,
a ghost
and that's what I like-
I'm invisible
to you
as I walk by-
I wish I could fly,
or have some other super powers
and there you are
with her
and I'd use my powers to make her disappear
and you would have eyes
just
for
me

Vegas lights

Vegas lights, promise me a good time
great time
Vegas lights
light up dark nights, hard nights
Vegas nights-know how to make me smile nights
cry nights,
drink nights,
scream nights
Vegas lights-
show nights
Elvis nights,
Celine nights
magical nights
with Vegas lights-
lighting up the stage night
Vegas lights, make you want-
more nights
less nights,
in those Vegas lights
Vegas nights, turn into day lights
never dark nights, with Vegas lights
sunglasses nights
Vegas lights, desert nights with
Vegas lights
Vegas nights, Vegas lights
all the world loves
Vegas lights-
Vegas nights

Ships and Rockets

I knew this man once
who dreamed dreams
with his eyes open
spectacular dreams in colour
splendid dreams that made me wonder
clowns on stilts, while juggling flames sticks
babies with wings
with bow and arrow
shooting strangers, falling in love
great box tanks, that flattened ranks
throwing food and water to the poor
I knew this man once
beard unkept, rags filthy
who dreamed dreams
while sitting in the park
and the sun shone-
the breeze was cool
and all our children would be learning in school
and he dreamed of ships and rockets
that would fly you away
to a land where you'd be free to stay
and laugh and dance
sing and shout
and no other person would be about
freedom would be for
all humanity, there would be no cause
for death and disease
this man who dreamed dreams
he wish he'd see
these dreams he dreamed
play into reality

That bottle will kill you

That bottle will kill you she says every night
as he sits on the porch, swigging straight from the bottle
he answers in his slurred voice-
this bottle can't kill me, it's empty
he reaches for another
in an old cooler that sits by his side
mark my words, she continues to  say-
that bottle will kill you-
one day
mind your business, he answers with angst
or sure as the sun rises up,
I'll throw this bottle straight at your head
and that'll be that
such terms of endearment, she retorts
though once in her memory there were
long before he took to the bottle
long before they were old and aged
times were different-
warm hearty smiles,
sweet tasting kisses
that bottle will kill you, that's all I will say
and that's all she said,
one time too many
the warning was there
not quick enough to move
as the bottle flew threw the air,
she was gone before she hit the floor-
that bottle,
that bottle,
damn woman,
why couldn't you let it go...

Little steps

Little steps will get you there
tire you less
may take longer-
but big steps
faster
quicker
make you oblivious of the things around you
little things
don’t matter as individual things-
yet do in the whole scheme of things
the bigger picture
little steps make light work
leave you feeling refreshed
big steps tire you
leave you panting-
out of breathe
sore feet
missing scenes,
missing moments
you cannot have again-
little steps
one little step
by one little step
lead you to somewhere new
always

This thing

Clambered
atop a mountain of dreams
scurried
across a field of thoughts-
fleeting thoughts
that blew in the wind
scaled a cliff
of past regrets
crumbling-
breaking underfoot
swam through an ocean
tangled with reeds
and lies
and broken promises
paddled through a life
that dragged me down
into a muddy bog
all for this thing
called love

White noise

Background noise
white noise
crackling sound-
mumbled voices
leave me stuck in the moment
cannot think
with this noise
open my mouth to speak
yet can't with all this static
sound
incoherent
murmuring
want to shut it out-
blank it out
white it out
can't
and so I open my mouth
silent
words there-
I plea
I beg
I cry
and still
background noise
loud
so loud-
shut it off
reduce the volume-
yet still it echoes
gets louder still
until-
I block my ears
stifle the sound
and open my mouth
to free my words
is anyone listening...

Eyes open

Unaware
stumbled into-
what is this
thing
walked right into
chaos
hands held high
thought I’d give it a go
for once-
how wrong
how right
didn’t think
or did I-
didn’t know
didn’t see-
or did I
until the pillars gave in
crashed down
left me struggling
to find my footing
balanced
in an abyss-
but
everyone knows
you can’t
hold onto something
that isn’t
wasn’t ever there

The dreams, I dream

My feet red raw and blistered
no socks on my feet
too big shoes scuff my ankles,
blistered toes
wrapped in scraps and rags,
dirty
I cannot sit for long-
waiting for him to come in
and then I will be in trouble if caught
he does not like us sitting
not doing anything
no time for rest
or even a drink-
so thirsty
tired
I see the little girl
that comes in with him
every now and then
pretty dresses
curly hair
red rosy cheeks
ankle socks with little bows
patent shoes
she gives me sweets
when he isn’t looking
brightly wrapped
paper-
sugary sweet
creamy centres
I bite a little-to make them last
and when I get to close
my eyes,
I dream I am the little girl

At what cost

The difference between manipulative and coy-
I'll give you my mirror
you won't have to look too hard
to deep,
I think you already know
you play the game so well-
foolhardy with people's emotions
toss feelings
not your own
careless disregard
impatient to another's affections-
what warrants your self importance
indulgent for your own amusement
why-
insecure?
unloved?
unbalanced?
disregarded?
I'll give you my mirror...

Through new eyes

Why are you staring at me
me-
staring
why do you ask
why do you stare
at who
at me-
you stare,
I see you stare
I wonder what there is to see
at what
at me-
why
why what-
why do you stare I ask,
stare at you
stare at me, yes why
I don't know...

Passage through time

My head's a mess
noises
noises
everywhere
noises
in my head
out
lights flash
hurt my eyes
lights everywhere
flashing
obscenely
no more lights
people jostling
scurry
hurry
this way
that
too many people
jostling
am I invisible
do I exist
time ticks
no one thinks
to slow down
breathe
take your time
look around
see the world
until
one day
there are no more
noises
lights
people
time
gone

Building blocks

Steel framework
holds me up
concrete pillars
erect
building blocks that I depend on
rely on
to support
me
stitching small
invisible thread
patched
woven
threaded blocks enclosing
enveloping
keeping me warm
held
glued
pieces together
joined as one entire
piece-fit together
not quite
yet still hold
it doesn't matter
about the gaps-
they make things real
believable
a bit like life really...

In brief

Caught up
caught out
caught on
to what-
would she say
he say
they say-
not a chance
not a thought
not a worry

This story of life

Call me
your voice will carry through the wind
and I'll be waiting
by the window with heart in my hand

Feel me
your hand will touch me with tenderness
my body will quiver with
anticipation

Love me
your heart will guide me through life
will light my path
and I'll be yours forever

Damaged

Upon the ground it lays
broken
she walks in holds her breath then screams
broken
gingerly she picks up the pieces
pricks herself and curses
broken

She lays the pieces one by one
upon the table
jagged edges
jagged heart
pieces to put together
her blood bright
drop by drop


She holds tight her finger
the flow of blood
the jagged pieces
forgotten now
outside she hears the birds
she listens as they call
smiles to herself

jagged pieces
jagged heart
hear her plea

I am...

I am your thoughts
the wind whispers
loud, ragged, angry
when you cannot voice how you feel
can you not hear me speak
inside your head,
waiting to be freed

I am your heart
the sun says
warm, cosy, shining
all those feelings you hold inside
bursting to get out
can you not hear me pound your chest
burning bright

I am your soul
the sea says
cascading, flowing, pure
when there is nothing left
but your empty shell
I will be what carries you forth
never-ending to freedom

Half way line

There's this line
sometimes invisible
not marked in chalk or ink
not like a sprint track
nor like a basketball court
just an imaginary line
that you just cannot cross-
it's the way it is,
the way it has always been
you may not have ever been told why-
but generally you don't have to be
you just know
and so-
you stand at it's edge
you can't help it-
you tempt fate,
just a little
dangle your foot in the air-
wonder how far you can extend it,
before you know you've gone too far
but, eventually you put it right back down
again
and stare
and wonder why-
you can't cross a line
you can't even see-
but know
is there
even when it's not

Nothing special

I am nothing special
made of blood and bone
I have nothing more or less important to say
I command no attention
I sit and listen
take things in
have time for those I love
even for those I don't
I am nothing special
I bleed
I cry
I sing-occasionally well, most times not
I sit in the background
happy to watch others take centre stage
I sometimes smile when I don't want too
sometimes cry when alone
I am nothing special
though I like to believe
there are people that think me so
well a little
I am nothing special
though what I have around me
is

Say...

Say said the deaf man
Fingers splayed, palms upright
Can you tell me of the rain
The noise it makes as it falls
upon my face

Say said the heavens
I can tell you that
It's rampant and vengeful
cascading down

Say said the blind man
can you tell
me what it looks like
as it falls from the sky

Angry said the heavens
pelting
fat drops
full and wet, sweet and fresh
showering, reinventing, re-birthing

Say said the old man
as he watched both men
Can you tell me of the rain-
I have forgotten how it feels

I can said the blind man-
I can said the deaf man-
It is something that we know well
you can hear it
you can feel it-
close your eyes,
splay your hands
catch the drops
one by one

Seams

Many lives hidden
many lives undone
at the seams
of life’s great big coat
strings unraveled
one by one
by promises kept
and secrets hidden
a fall from grace
a last insult
as you sit in your tower
and watch the world through
rose coloured glasses
haughty
supercilious
pompous-
how quickly you forgot
black book hidden
history repeats
and repeats
not to be forgot
no matter how deeply buried
rose coloured glasses
eventually break
and through the cracks-
you'll see what everyone else does

Things that get lost

Wait a moment,
don't walk so fast
I think I knew you
once upon a time
but I didn't see you up close
and so I can't be sure
that you were the person I once knew
your hair is different
your clothes too-
but then again, that's not too hard to change
you weren't smiling-
but then again, you weren't one for smiles
and happy things
was it you,
I wish I could call out your name
but I can't-
it got lost somewhere near the top of my throat
and worked it's way back down-
some things should be left
as they are-
so you keep walking
and I'll stay wondering-
some things you don't need to know
I suppose...

Dear dad

Born of you
not from you-
I stare in the mirror and see
my eyes-
see differently, yet are coloured like yours
hazel
warm
glazed when fuelled-
by anger
surprise, or whatever may be

Born of you
not from you-
I share your name
my name-
but not for long, it was borrowed
time
now I have a new name,
not yours
not really mine either
borrowed

Born of you
not from you-
I speak like you
or not-
quiet
brooding
hawk eyes watching
slow to anger,
words thought
not wasted on frivolity

Born of you
not from you-
there is no other
I wish to have-
as the one who has watched me grow
watched me fall in love
walked me down the aisle-
with silent tears
as my own was born
a hero in my eyes and heart forever