Papillons

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
Mimicry, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

Lion

World presents digital pixels
Eyes adjust to scenery
Day long listening
To hearts on repeat
Stories neverending
Appeals, demands
Longings, refusals
Understanding
A girl in the background
Crying
Dog barking
Train horn in Dehli
Automatic voice
On the Toongabbie line
Selling my song
No cleaner air
Than what I breathe
Come down toward
Just shy of Antarctic
Weather is fine here
How could you think twice?

Higher 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

Part of your world

'Bright young women
Ready to stand

Ready to know
What the people know

Ask them my questions
And get some answers

When's it my turn?
Wouldn't I love?

Love to explore
That shore up above

Wandering free

Wish I could be
Part of your world'

~Ariel, 1989. (C) Disney
Part of that world, by Jodi Benson
The Little Mermaid, illustration by Edmund Dulac

How do you do?

I ask my flowers..
They show spots, scars
Unwelcome visitors
Eroding fine display
Bugged by this
They pull up to sky
To climb higher
A royal bouquet

On our faces
We read them
Like palm lines
Mine long and broken
Immediately filled
With love
Looking so much
Like pain, longing
Confusion
Though silent willing
To never let
This moment end
To nurture soil
Grow colour
A smile
To look into light
To unfurl
Holding on
Gently
For hope
Seemingly
Forever