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