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
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
There's a time not so long ago
It still plays in my mind
Like the little girl who giggled
Hung her monkey arms around
Your neck and made you laugh and smile so much
Across the crowded venue
Now the size of an adult
She sits squarely at me and stares
Just like my girl does
I stared back too
Masks up to our eyes
What does she want to know?
A silent reply
Yes, I love her too
Moments like these can be found on the brink of never after
They live on as an image that can never be erased
Come what may
Flourishing
Open space growing
Cut down
New life showing
Forgive oneself
For not knowing
Content with flow
Words in verse
Like a fire hydrant
A spring flood cascade
Filling easement
Into wild yonder
Equal to task
The raging fire
Quench its thirst
Rise quickly
New life
When words are few
Each worth a thousand
Times more
A short verse
Font on white page
Reveals a heart full
In your presence
Depth of silence
Means the world
Wanderers walk the earth
Meet at the river's edge
Admire exotic plants
Found the world over.
Place is where lives meet.
Sacred, like a mother's love
To lover's unknown
Our people are home
Golden rays of sunshine
Glimmer on bouncing curls
Corduroy overalls
Bright red buttons
Boots dancing
On edge of pond
Squeals, little fists
Giggling at ducks and geese
Almost as big as me
I pick her up
Plonk on my knee
Give her gentle squeeze
Soft tummy quivers
With laughter and ease
I lay out my palm
Little fists uncurl within
A nest for soft duckling
She looks up suddenly
Bright blue eyes
Brows raised
Little hands wipe
Tears from my face
Small arms stretch
Around my neck
My inner child
Soothes me today
How could one possibly
Be taught to scorn
Longer days
When sunshine's warm
Rare endemic flora unfolds
Windows of blue sky
Open over able peaks
Shrines in the sky
Faithful wanderers
Climb for the high
While dark corners
Cinema, pub, theatre
Empty except for me
Wonder how it came to be
Nocturnal creature
Tucked away
While restless legs
Search far away
Home is where
Burrow keeps
Drifting heart
Returns to sleep
If I couldn't write
To the one I love
All the words
Spill over
Into tears
Every night
Count the stars of heaven 