I dedicate my writings
Dear Fanny Cochrane Smith
I lived upon her land
Learned what gratitude is
It healed my very wounded
Heart, spirit, mind
So I wish to return
To all of her kind
~written on kunanyi lutruwita / Mt Wellington Tasmania
Is clear there's something
Between us
That which keeps us apart
Holds us together
Rather than deter
It makes me want
You more
The image I portray
Is simply a gentle fear
That if it were to disappear
Our love would fade away
A fire hydrant
Gushing forth
Into the street
Stopping traffic
Emergency
Meanwhile little feet
Paddle flippantly
Rush too much
To drink
Pushing through
Excitedly
Making rainbows
Underneath
As tiny popstick
Sailboats
Race and chased
Endlessly
To the woman with no means
Who spends her time
Cleaning
Cares for all littlest
Both furred and skin
Breeding
Bringing lively heartbeats
Into tearful world
Dreaming
Paring back overgrowth
Give wings to spread
Believing
Turning the other cheek
At the partnership
Leaving
Turning new leaf
Love a fortune
Receiving
Can't take my eyes
Off the game
Playing singles
Staring at opponent
Seeing double
Affected by one
On the sidelines
Waiting to notice
The score
The faults
The bad calls
Only chatting
To a friend
Watching them
Taking my eyes off
The ball
Shooting past head
Then a slam
Unattainable
In a game with
Naught but love
I fell in love with nature
Not for its own sake
Or higher cause
Tickets to posterity
Simply to save me
She was a portal
I climbed through
Out of the capsized
Sinking ship
Took me by the hand
Showed me how to swim
Not for glory, accolades
For my own benefit
Opened my eyes
To all the life
Beneath the surface
I could not see
Though I hold on
To air, words, hands
In her presence
Not to tarnish
The moment
Having dived for riches
Striving to pluck my heart
From the seabed
She reminded me
Just breathe
Peculiar how we save a face
In our memories
Some change
Some stay
One could remain
Just a passerby
In the grocery aisle
But instead became
Ingrained in our hearts
The eyes, lips, soft lines
For a time
Then painstakingly returns
To its place again
Passing us by
Gathering supplies
To meet with other faces
Besides mine
A nod, a smile
A backstep out
The revolving door
Of our lives
Think you're flying free
But really, attached
Grounded
Just learning
To spread wings
Until when
One touch
Caving in
Any thought
Of leaving
Ends
Instead sowing seeds
Raising up anew
In case we meet
Again
So spine tingling
Knuckle gripping
Pillow hugging
Daze eyed drinking
Hard when comes time
To realise the dream
Is not real
We will wake
Whenever we're ready
Or else stay
Asleep
A flighty little meeting
Sitting in the eaves
Between two blush breasted
Birds tending nests
Pip the willow wicks
Between their beaks
Stripped ready for next
Round of eggs to brood
Starling, like me
Cannot live alone
Dedicated to keeping
Warm prickled skin
As feathers come in
Giving out always
Longing to take warmth
Within
Can I call you?
Darling, dear?
Babe, beautiful one
Eyes like heavens above
Always mothering
Pieces of me changed
Blood runs through forever
Changed by love
Looking through mirror
Can you see
Scars formed catching
Those fallen from nest
Now they are free
So are we
Count the stars of heaven 