tossing
restless
the in-between space
of darkness before sleep

cogs turning
in the engine of mind
need oiling
no shops open

dawn
light through the window
illuminating corners
where no one can hide

Maybe four years old
Pretty pink pyjamas
***** and torn

Wisdom of age
Beyond young years
Etched on your sad face

Feet cut & bleeding
Have they ever
seen shoes?

Hair matted
Twigs for adornment
Baubles of the earth

Blue plastic mug
Held upwards
Empty

You were here yesterday
You will be here tomorrow
But for how long?

The world walks by
Seeing you
Avoiding you

You touch their hearts
Maybe their souls
But not their wallets

It’s not money
You need in your blue mug
It’s love

Cockerels and crickets
Bali breezes; gentle sun
Earth spins, beauty dawns

Cockerels and crickets,
whispering wind; gentle sun.
Dawn Bali...soul balm

Look around you.
At reflections
in mirrors
and patterned glass.

At those you know
and who you don't,
including your self.
What do you see?

Happiness, joy,
life fully lived;
or do you see
life ever-longing?

For what may be,
in one week or two,
this year or next,
five years or ten.

When we've got
more time,
are older,
have money.

This very moment
in which we live.
This ephemeral footstep in time.
Is this not the most important?

Is it not better
to live and know love,
to cry and know laughter,
to fall and be able to rise.

To walk in the light
and the dark,
and then
in the light once again.

Life is too short.
Too precious.
None of us knows
what awaits.


Have courage.
Be daring.
Take risks.
Live. And love.

To the full.

Now.

the sun is at its zenith
blazing down
from an unsullied sky
baking the black sand
beneath my feet
so hot it burns

a strong onshore wind
is chasing luminous white horses
across the surface
of a deep indigo sea
leaving their salty touch
on my skin as it passes

a melody gamelans and drums
gongs and cymbals
laughter and chatter
ripples around me
and the song of an ice cream seller
is making my mouth water

I turn my gaze towards the heavens
watching the kites
write their poetry
in the sky
as they float high above
our sea of sea of smiles

vanda miss joaquim
lying bruised and battered
on the shore
what is your story

the gift of a lover
given with a smile
with tender words whispered
from a heart filled with hope
and a body aching with desire

or perhaps
you carry in your memories
memories of one who has journeyed
beyond this life
ashes of their earthly body
scattered at sea
you in their wake

or perhaps
perhaps
you were carried to the shore
on the wings of the wind
plucked from your stem
floating to where
silver foam kisses golden sand
dancing this way and that
in the embrace of the ocean

where
finally
in the face of unrequited love
you relinquish your flawless beauty
to its graceful omnipotence