Take yourself away
In a small town way
Over hill and vale
Where dreams set sail
Daily incantations
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Category Archives: Love
Safe Ashore
This Old Love, seafaring ship
Of finest wood &
Craftsmanship
Its maiden voyage
Some four years hence
When feral seas drove us West
I've sailed her all around the world
Docked in places ne'er afore found
Secure at anchor, I'd explore
Wonders of the world unfold
Through rocky isles and coral reefs
Its bow has turned me safe to keep
All precious cargo
Fit and well
Squabbling over fine ship's bell
The final storm, the wrecking one
Wind whipped sail and broached hull
She turned us in to sheltered bay
The weight of shore broke her away
We battled through torrential rain
Huddled in the bow all day
Then clear, still morn
Sun did arise
All our crew woke in surprise
Old Love was gone to seabed reef
For seals and manta rays to sleep
We walked ashore and carried on
Mountains climbed, beaches swum
Though many tales I have to tell
Of Old Love's ventures riding swell
A ghost ship now
No one believes
Such vessels are imaginary
I tip my hat, to one who'll come
To sail away into the sun
For tinker, sailor, Captain be
This Old Love was made by me
Love like
A Blue Gum tree
Giants of the forest, we
Begin well-covered cap of seed
With strength to sprout
Show tender leaf
Idle as the years unseen
Camouflaged by wattle screen
Delicate orchids settle 'tween toes
Fungi covers underclothes
Ten years on, it shoulders weight
Peeping out of covershade
Creamy flowers dripped with leaf
Birds to nest, possums to feast
Straight of trunk
Strength of wood
Nor let it be
Misunderstood
Not hops or apples
Poppies or vines
Thriving in these
Cooler climes
A love like this
It must take time -
Precious specimens
You and I
Love like
A dandelion
Much despised
Hardy flower
For every dig
Sows more seed
Until it spreads
Its reedy feet
All over neighbours'
Fallow field
A tincture tea
To pep the heart
Set flight in spring
A work of art
As little copters
Spin on breeze
To plant ungovernable
Bright young weed
Love like
A skein of yarn
Can simply not run free
If tugged or pulled
Will surely wrap
In tangled knots of weeks
Gently lift
Like pick up sticks
To unwind tenderly
All to work it
Round about
To clothe
Bitter westerly
Cures for love list
In the vein of Ovid's Remedia Amoris
Don't let me near a bumblebee
A lizard, owl or slimy leech
No butterflies or hilltop scree
Invertebrates nor anemone
Away with bells of pink or white
Dangling in the dappled light
No trudging through the crunchy snow
Or campstove fires in cabins glow
Pandani, fagus, kangaroo grass
If you want to air the grief
Far away from nature's best
Put this cure-all to the test
Nature lover, wandering free
One never forgets an ecologist!
Middle ground
First time I kissed you
By accident, on cheek
I whispered, "see you soon"
Ablaze, I stepped onto river's edge
- once where we met -
Time and again
To cool my thoughts.
Last time we hugged
It was all you
A friendly pat around broad shoulders
As I stooped down
Like a medal winner
Empty handed
I could not throw my arms around
. It was orchestrated by another
.. my arms were loaded with jackets and books wrapped in cotton
... I knew it would be the last.
Since then, how carefully the silence is conducted through an orchestra of friends.
While I write lyrics to music I can only imagine.
One day
Shelves brimming with books
A leather covered nook
Lace curtain dances
On morning breeze
I hurriedly go to work
One day these pages
Will open to me
I will read aloud
To my love over tea
A neighbour stops
To look longingly
At the morning moon
Snaps it with a long lens
While my blue screen eyes glow
One day I will wake
By the light of the moon
Lying on soft tufts of dry moss
We will curl and trace the sun in morning ritual
Ginger cat curls in winter coat
Around blue flowers soaking low lying sun
Lush grass is mown by guinea pigs on a run
New natives thrive in builder's rubble.
One day, on eve of Spring
I will wade through winter garden's tailings
Gather barrowloads of greens to reveal fresh ground
We will chirp like birds at herbs that survived all odds.
Plant companions for their year ahead.
One day, I hope it comes.
Alpine adventures
May your winter be as long
As you need to take off
Like a snow angel basking
In its glittery softness
May your climb be as steep as
Your knees can appreciate
To release the adrenalin
High peak's view appease
May alpine flora be abundant
Endless stands of snow gums
Far as the eye, twisted delight
Interspersed bouquets of colour
May twittering friends be close
Watching over your steps
Light feathered entertainment
As you stop and catch your breath
May adventures be far enough
To exhilarate, yet close
So friends can safely join
To share a tea along the way.
Flow
Let grief flow
To try to stop
It’s winding course
Like the force
Of a river
Aching for sea
Opens the way
For opportunity
To know oneself
Obstacles seem
Insurmountable
Compassion may bear
Steady your feet
Plant them deep
Flow with grief
Count the stars of heaven 