Life lines

Each line
a line that told a tale
first line, buried deep among the others
hard to recall when it showed up
could it be after the death of her mother...
second line crosses the first—
a half embrace
of that time when he left her
soon after her mother...
third line, intermingled with the fourth or fifth
perhaps even the sixth and seventh
for all those years
she raised the children on her own—
cried herself to sleep
hating the world that had struck her such a raw deal
how did her mother ever do it....
cannot count anymore after the tenth
all joined
interlinked
woven
a spider-web of lines
from peak-to-peak
crease to crevice
each line a tale
and what tales
if only she had the time to write them down
or tell someone
who cares...

Deciduous life

Deciduous tree
leaves fall gently to the ground
another lie escapes his lips
hushes her whimper
the air turns cold
winter fast approaching
the next chapter in her life
awaits around the corner
no more will she gather his lies
swallow them all
ignore the bitter taste they leave in her mouth
a mound of leaves
orange
red
crinkle underfoot as they are gathered
dumped into the compost
ready to be used
springtime
soil fed with love
spring time
breath of new life
she will watch the leaves blossom on the tree
teach her heart to trust—
again
and no more will lies be her nourishment
no more will she believe
she has no self worth
green buds sprout
feed and grow
shelter
strength
through which the sun shines
to warm her soul
yet no longer does she hide behind it

An old ship

The anchor that grounds an otherwise floating ship
searches through murky water
rocky
sandy
seas
in the past
canvas sails
white and pure
billow
the wind makes them do that dance
to and fro
ballerina skirts
pirouetting
elegant
this way and that
heralding their presence on an unsettled sea
guiding light
night light
beacon paths your way
majestic
form
confidence oozes, waves bow down before you
open the way til you come to rest
oh graceful form you are
the things you've seen
and things you chose not to see
aged gracefully
til you come to berth
salvaged parts
ravaged parts to live in a younger form

Wire fences

Damned before life began
against the world
fighting challenges that were unfair
not a chance
for your existence
left alone to be forgot
yet the urge to be heard was strong
the desire to grow
learn
a necessity
more than air
food
a hunger
almost like a wildebeest
chanting your mantra
this was life
obstacles no longer obstacles
challenges no longer challenges
this was what you were born to do
sacrifice your calling
proven time and time again
that no one should be taken for granted
life a privilege
love a precious gift
hope eternal

My mother's perfume

Mother's perfume lasted long after she went
a subtle lingering smell
rose
vanilla
sweet
it was in her clothes
in her bedsheets
in her house
like a ghost that haunted me
the more I tried to forget
the more I smelt her
childhood memories
sparked by the fragrance
until I stopped going
there was no longer any need
and life continued
minute by minute
hour by hour
day by day
summer into autumn
to winter to spring
one day on a park bench
a breeze brought with it
that
scent
my mother's perfume
wafted casually through the air
defiant
challenging me
my emotions
that fought within me
to rise to the surface
through every other feeling
the persistence
the insistance
that I remember
acknowledge
never forget
rose
vanilla
sweet
suffocating me.

New breath

Nothing feels like life
new breath
purged sins of yesterday
baptismal font
holy water
sanctify
blessed soul
that wandered aimlessly through life
walked-eyes closed
holding breath
able now to hold your head up
camouflaged in the masses
no fingers point
technicolour world
sweet scent
stench
chaos
noise
and you treasure each element
grab hold with both hands
this is what you waited for
hoped
wanted
new breath
purged sins of yesterday
yours to do with as you will
yours to change as you will

Grey plumes

Bastard sons
of bastard daughters
that polluted the air with their trickery and lies
rancid fumes
grey plumes that merged as one
umbrella in the sky
where green was no longer green
and innocence was forgot
bastard sons
of bastard daughters
savaged the world
skeleton bodies waited
with baited breath
at their mercy
futures torn
shredded lives
whole beings ceasing
bastard sons
of bastard daughters
written about in volumes
glorified antics
justified actions
for what
a purer being-
says you.