"But the agreeable lady
Found nothing to say.
She only knew how to be
Disturbed
But she lacked
The where-withal to form
Any clear hypothesis
And for that reason
She was in need
More than others of
Tender friendship and counsel."
- Dead Souls, by Nikolai Gogol, p.222.
Deciding upon
What to adorn
My walls
To keep me content
In case we need to
stay in again
Thick oak-look frame
Appearance is everything
Sandstone smiles
In the shade
Sun behind
Holding up a glorious
Bouquet of natives
Flannel flower power
Blue gum leaves
My own arrangement
By request
Selected anything
With white bloom
Tea tree in season
Looking like
A big cauliflower
Dried nicely
In my room
I remember
The next a mirror
Painted frame
Like retro glam
Gold and silver
Telling me
Look at you
-How you've weathered
So nicely
In the stormy seas-
Looking at me
Another gold
Circular seal
With purple
For royalty
A lineage
When born again
Not feeling it
In fact it tells me
Yes you studied
Greek among men
Not so different
From the halls
Of Plato
Ecumenicum
Blending in
With other
Women
Carry a Grecian
Jug on my head
So as not to attract
Attention
A bold shot of blue
Spread from end to end
Covered in blossoms
From a shaky hand
Eyes near blind
World inside
The mind of Monet
My dear almond blossom
Friend
Telling me it's time
To leave these walls
Behind
Remember the branch
Severed at one end
Can bloom and grow
Again
Never heard a ticking clock
Inside a crocodile
Never seen a fairy nymph
Darting firefly
Never seen a league of beings
Rise up and take a stand
Never felt the heartache
Missing touch of human hand
Never felt this way about love
Though seen it in their eyes
Never heard the silence speak
Revealing a surprise
Never knew with certainty
That life would turn this way
Never knew that happiness
Could lead a man astray
Never met someone who could
Turn heads with words so few
Now never want to hope or have
Another 'cept for you
Keeping you at arms length
While holding on to life
Silence so you'll never hear
The danger and the strife
One day V day will arrive
And in your arms I'd fall
To stand on every corner
Friends and family and all
When sheltered under door frame
To avoid roof falling in
Imagining a life with you
A fantasy we're in
Like stepping through a cupboard
Into frozen landscape bare
Meeting little furry friends
Sweet treats if you dare
The realm of fiction is complete
With swords and battles too
But surely it's the safest way
That I can be with you?
Fear grips tightly
At the helm
Taking over orders
Pulling us in
Over our heads
Waves crashing
Broached to
Shoal approaching
No lives lost
Crew is down
Handing over
Dogs to morning
Rolling like a lullaby
Reassuring
Raised a lighthouse
First sighting
Pinnacle gives way
To coast
Welcome faces
Twirling smoke
Casting lines
Shorebound stagger
Every sight new
Intricate beauty
Island delights
Happen upon flower
Resiliently tender
Heart own power
Fear of the storm
All but gone
Only shaking hands
Wide eyed one
Never leaving
Smiles receding
As night creeps in
Farewell again
Handing over everything
Knowing no direction
Trusting wholly
In you
From where
Does that voice
Of home, of love
Emanate from
For you?
Mine in the silence
Stillness of morning
Liminal spaces
In between times
Waking and falling
Daily repeat
Comfort only
Listening sweet
As waves in chorus
Between the staves
Low vocal tones
Violincello
Hum of engine
Breeze on wing
Chatter of trees
Sky ocean mirroring
I have seen some
Listening for love
From afar, voices echo
From ruins and scars
But mine here and now
Alive and loud
Any less and how
Could I stand so proud?
So I sing evensong
Night and day
Short and long
To remind me and all
To listen to the voice
That proclaims you worthy
That the life you dream
To live is real
If only
Within you
Behind closed doors
Concertos applaud
Vacant space
Unadorned
With gazing eyes
Wondrous smiles
Shoulder shrug
Of thrilling chills
Why keep such love
Of life's liszt
Behind closed doors
When all ears could feel
This beauty
Placing one pair
Of bird watching
Binoculars
Inside the cap
Of a navy hat
The dichotomy
Of my life
In a cardboard box
To move again
Another new start
This one makes ten
I recall the power
Of words
And silence
Both can make
You laugh
Or cry
Both can be used
As weapons
Or protection
So I look keenly
Through looking glass
At feathered friends
Deserving our attention
While hiding away
To collect
Dust and mites
Gold braid
Felt and thread
That hold together
Memories
Of a time
When men were blind
If only I understood
That my words
Held power
Over you
I would use it
For good
To say only
I love you
If I could
Swept
Breath
Fall
Off their feet
Taken away
On their knees
Sounds divine?
We have a lifetime
To work it out
How to live in love
From this position
Upturned
Breathless
Lying low
We will need
Every day
However long
It should take
To know
How to stand
Held hands
Walk on
Pure delight
Little fingers find
Feathery treasure
Waving its finery
We shed parts
Of ourselves
For friends keep
To admire
In sharing
They grow
Lighter
Fly higher
Lament
Those of us
Left behind
