There's only a sandbar
Between shallow salty feet
The big wide deep
There's only a weekend
Between work weeks
But a sliver of time
Between ok and not quite
I send along my proxy
My happiest self
To see you
While the rest of me
Self-soothes with music
Curled in the car
By the park
Oft times truly startling
Sitting in urban chic window
Scouring faces for reminiscing
Begone eras of small city life
Flash before my eyes.
Still, side by side
Caught a glimpse of spectacles nestled
Perusing the menu
Curls dapple the light
Listening to mouth and eyes, stout and wine
Slowly, savouring
Drinking them in
While presence is bestowed
Upon mine
Giggle
Appear older, naive
Ask of other's realities
Deny one's own
Speak well of all authority
Dwell in the home
Wear brown, baggy clothing
No colour or lipstick
Kiss your mother goodbye
Hug anyone who asks for it
Do not resist the crowd
Silence a quiet scream
Obedience a vow
Our eyes met over raised beer glass
Through colonial window framed
One street away your smile dances across your face
Leaning against concrete pillar
Alone, yet surrounded
By family and loved ones and theirs
I took my place standing still
Leaning against cold stone wall
Looking at you looking at them
The liminal space
Between my life and yours
So comfortable I've become
Looking at you looking at them
A whole hoard of strange faces
Lining up behind me
One by one
A metaphor for why you flew away
My family stand behind the stone wall silence with me
Invisible to all who call you Home
The back of your head and shoulders
Is all I see of the show
Your reactions much better entertainment
Your laugh like a chorus of music
Drowned out by decibels of crowd
Vocal sound recorded on cerebral vinyl
Memories played by fine needle
In daydream's living room
The place we inhabit
All along with words said
That never materialised
Fine dust that crackles
In the rare groove of 2021
Smash hit of 'us'
No amplifier
Trembling knees, wringing hands
Short of speech, time demands
Nervous smile, staring gaze
Waking in a temporal haze
Awe of vast firmament
Cloudless starstruck night in tent
Firmly does the body know
Love of wild ancient lands does grow
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
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
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
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
Will I get to see you
Wear my favourite jumper
Until it's threadbare
After all..?
Count the stars of heaven 