Each year I gift myself
A new year calendar
Full of native flora
From my chosen homeland
To tempt myself
To go out and explore
To fill each day
An unwritten space
With wonder
A plastic Christmas tree
Or ailing pine struck
From side of road
Does nothing for me
Summer draws you out to
Parade through tracks
Winding into hidden
Vales to find
Berries and blossoms
Winged creatures calling
You into the forest
A place of miracles
Magical moments
Murmuring of nations
Surmised in vibrations
Of one bee
Pang of loss reaches
Extremities diving
Into cool stream
Countless words
Native tongues foreign
Fail to reach ears
Floundering has its moments
Articulating the speechless
Over all these years
Creating new traditions
Out of thin air
For clues I peruse
A loved one's mother's
Poetry book
Counting down the days
Till Santa's sleigh
In haiku
Tickled pink my toes
Wriggle in bed
Family stories never told
I buy the books instead
We can only put
One foot in front
Of the other
That’s all we can do
Until we stop
Breathless
To take in the view
Glacial mountain range
Put all on display
All her best petals
Foliage, seeds and fruit
Revealed to me
Native orchid colony
Applauds our ascent
And safe return
Joy and wonder exceeds
Pinch in my knees
Offspring bound uphill
Leaving me as the only
Breath that I hear
Eyes cloud over
Thoughts of one
This path does treat
In quilt of snow
A patchwork of memory
From few photos
She keeps me at arms reach
This gondwanan sanctuary
I can neither see her
Up close - the tarns
Just one rocky outcrop
Too far
Maybe in autumn we'll meet
She is most popular
Admire liquid pools
Of ancient history
Sun's spotlight
Puts on a show
She is made for this
Alpine bloodline
My blood runs red
As the waratahs
Swaying on adrenalin
Dizzying heights
A bird's nest meets me
In my loneliness
Overcast sky blinds
What parrots were they?
Left with my thoughts
Never really alone
Another mountain
I've climbed
Gems of the depths
On display
Along effervescent
Fringe of tussling waves
Generous she is
As I turn to leave
She catches my eye
Again
If missi g her were
A long exhale
Ocean begs me
To breathe
No greater power
Has she
Who speaks truth
Unapologetically
Sings her song
Wholeheartedly
Treads her path
Boldly onwards
Though steep
I am a saltwater woman
I live for the shoreline
Motions of waves
Racing my heart
Pounding the beat
Thrill of creatures
Beneath my feet
Telling me I am alive
I am free
Build a shrine to all the ones
Who loved you enough
And why not?
A cairn to help you
Find your way
When the going is rough
Immerse yourself
Delicious scents
Thoughtful gifts
Writing implements
Joyous plants
Delicate origami cranes
Candles to light
Dark soul of night
Brightly coloured twine
Yarn woven into warmth
Chosen pieces
Sensory overwhelm
Typed pages of novels
And kind self help
Just breathe it in
Then let it go
The yarns that fell
As ends to the floor
It only comes to us
As a realisation
When we experience
Real love in pure form
Do we decide
Not to settle
For anything less
As if new potential
Latent for decades
Awakens from our chest
A new and unfamiliar
Creature resides
Within our precious
Years of life so few
Urging you to live
To the fullest
Knowing what you need
To thrive
Count the stars of heaven 