Of envy, I know this -
If I wish to attract the gaze
of the one I love
I do not mill around
in coffee shops.
But if I had leaves,
One would discern me
by my form and shape
Asymmetric and oblique
Fold one in the palm
To breathe in sweet tinge
Of cineole, aromatic
Gently wrap the hand
Around my branch
To discern my years
Notice every wind-whipped
Scar and scorch of blaze
Survived over decades
How can one be jealous
of such natural beauty?
Such earthly passion would
Turn anyone green!
The years we've known one another Almost as long as the years between It's strange when time doesn't bridge a gap As we expect with bricks and mortar We both grow older, the years between Become relatively few And yet, I still look up to you Looking at your view From below
I'd rather be in love
In a ghetto
Than alone
In an ivory tower
In the heat
Of a moment
Hope melts away
Things you'll say
But wind changes
Devastated face
You hid one minute
Stays with you
Hours weeks decades
Hold a space
On the brink of
Knowing dreams fade
Accusations done
Unrequited love lives on
Another year gone
Shall we start again?
Each time we meet
Let it be
As if the first
Bathe in my love
Wash over with words
Eyes caress
Where waves meet
Warmth soothes
All the ache
We've ever known
Begging for footnotes in the story of your life
Tolerate it ~ song by Taylor Swift
They say, in the most winsome way
Once a woman achieves a half century
She no longer cares what others say
These thoughts of others barely acknowledged
A fine static disturbing
Her favourite radio channel
A foolish man might call it selfish
To tune in only to what one wants
At expense of all else
When actually, she has simply taken
A leaf from his book.
At long last.
While such empowerment prevents
A woman from becoming entangled
In ill-tempered opinion against
On the other side of the coin
It dawns on me suddenly
That neither does she care
For the many thousand loving thoughts
Drifting upon her shore
By my tide of grief
I am the sea
Were it to show its force
It would swallow mountains whole
Instead it is buried deep
Illuminated by strange
Iridescent sea creatures
Who lie in wait
Silently
As fires burn out
Sky falls down
Storms abate
Floods recede
Sometimes best
To ride it out
Breaking heart
Time to heal
You taught me all
Mysteries of miniature
Universe beneath
Endless surprise
Wander to capture
Beauty reflected
In our eyes
Count the stars of heaven 