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
Oft repeated question
now erased
Answer to that look
upon your face
Gaze of ruminations
awe and wonder
In the presence
of a lover
never replaced
As time is short
No kid could live
In a candy store
So sweet revival
Of my soul
Happens in a week
Unmeditated
Two minds collide
Barely sleep
Smile and stories
To be shared
Tea and toes
Limbs entwined
In brief space
Of our lives
Delving into
Love from afar
Greeting new day
Goodbyes harder
To say with words
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
Feathery down on tender leaf
Bare skin of trunk
Velvet grass under feet
Grazed by lush grey coat
Pressed gently in hand
Distinctive scent arose
Sensory pleasure all around
Evokes a smile of fondness
Desire to know once for all
Mysteries under its surface
There you are again
In front of me
Realise how real you are
Not a figment of wild
Imagination
In few sweet hours
I am left with
Nothing but an image
In my mind
How sweet grapes
Turn into wine
Over years maturing
Once tasted we are left
With nothing but
A feeling
I still wear on forehead
In crinkles between eyes
Bridge of my nose
Nervous upturned smile
Sips of tea swallow
Traces might escape
Sweet taste of mallow
Soft between lips
Clasped hands holding
Onto myself until
The unread letter
Is revealed
Count the stars of heaven 