Introspection

I think I finally
know who I may be.
I look in the mirror 
but it’s not who I see.
I think I need
to regain control.
To feel a new passion 
and begin to feel whole
I think I am destined
to walk on alone.
So time to let go
and grasp what I own.
I think things must change
so life can begin.
Set the past to one side
and find a new way to win.

Sensing

Taste the sweetness
of simplicity
Feel the texture
of humanity
See the colours
of possibility
Smell the air
of certainty
Hear the thunder
of destiny
Sense the essence
of your entity

That Kid

He’s that kid
Or so they said
The one always in trouble
With no self control.

He’s that kid
He’ll argue the toss
He’ll never let up
Always needs to be right

He’s that kid
The one who thinks with his fists
Always acting on impulse
Never thinking things through

He’s that kid
A tough nut to crack
He’ll sulk and he’ll mope
Stubborn right to the core

He’s that kid
Thanks for your insight
Useful to know
But I’ll make up my own mind

He’s that kid
Who means what he says
Just show him respect
And he will follow you for miles

He’s that kid
Enthusiasm abounds
Grabs on with both hands
Then goes on a ride

He’s that kid
Who will give you his all
A compassion filled soul
A natural leader inside

He’s that kid
With a heart of pure gold
No thought for himself
When righting a wrong

He’s that kid
With a big cheeky grin
A dance in his step
And a glint in his eye

He’s that kid
One that sticks in your head
Wonder how he will grow
And what man he’ll become

He’s that kid
My privilege to teach
He’s that kid
Now playing in my street

A Cat's Life

I wish I was a lazy cat
Never worried ‘bout this or that
Curl up on the couch and sleep all day
Go out at night and begin to play
Have no worries, no cares at all
Expect my dinner when I call
I may nip outside and find a mouse
and hide it somewhere in the house
I’ll hold a grudge if you do me wrong
Then mope and sulk all day long
But if you should treat me right
I’ll smooch up close and cuddle in tight
Unconditional love I’ll give
When with you is where I choose to live
I’ll turn your house into a home
And promise that I’ll never roam.

Avoidance

Procrastination is a skill
It takes time to master
For use at will
Dedication will be required
To avoid those tasks 
For which you’re hired
Summon power found inside
So from your chores
You can hide
Ignore things that must be done
Wouldn’t you rather
Do something fun
Put things off for a new day
Pretend you’ll find
Some other way
No first things first or best till last
For time runs out
Much too fast.

5 Year Plan

Closing the door
of the classroom behind
A job once needed
but no longer desired

Freedom of movement
Removing the chains
of the daily grind
yet still paying the bills

Feeling each breeze
The sun on your skin
The magic that is brought
with each passing season

Experiencing the world
An eye on the lens
A snapshot of time
A moment is held

Arising each day
With a song to be sung
Simplicity of life
In nature and home

To be secure in myself
And trust who I am
To know all will be fine
and I’m good enough

Friendships forged
in unlikely places
laughter and love
with those who inspire

Someone to love
To walk beside
To share the days with
A partner in crime.

Life Lessons from a Paraglider

Waiting patiently
for perfect opportunity
To arise
A calming deep breath
Committing yourself
To one giant leap
Complete 
Self-confidence
No thoughts
of second guessing
With a rush
The world opens
Laid out beneath
Everything
Hanging by a thread
Faith in
Self guidance
Unpredictability met
With natural reactions
Enjoying the ride
Till feet firmly land

Freeway

Fragments of lives
Flashing past
Power poles
Stand guard beside
Smooth tar
Laid out before
Farm filled plains
and fields of green
Rusted signs
Once showed the way
Basalt range
Arises proud
Reaches for
Endless sky
Open space
Sets free the soul

Home?

Born in a town
Where mountains meet lakes
A place full of beauty 
And Miss Potter’s fair creatures.

A childhood well spent
On a council estate
In a typical small town
Somewhere in the Dales

Youth on the green
With many a game
From dawn until dusk
Always somewhere to be

A shire that was hurting
Where caution prevailed
Take care of your loved ones 
Till the Ripper is found

Just ordinary folk
You are not meant to be
Any more than you are
And the things that you see

Don’t ask and don’t wish
Just be thankful you got
Don’t raise up your hopes
They will be crushed anyway

So many cousins
Brothers, sister them all
All of the relatives living nearby
Great-grand parents adored.

Weekends with Grannie
I thought they expected
Such an impression it left
That we no longer speak

Always compared 
To the kids who lived near
They are so……….
And you are so not.

A wedge driven deep 
In a crack already there
A wound often picked
Which won’t fully heal

Picked on at school 
For being too bright
Couldn’t be with the cool kids
Free school dinners set us apart

Years in the making
Things looking up
Friendships and bonding
Secondary school a delight

Now that you’re settled
We’ll uproot and sell up
We’ll travel ‘cross oceans
To a place you’ll adore

A place you’ll know no one
And you’ll never quite fit
No matter how hard you try
The accent gives you away

No frame of reference
No common past
Just pull on a mask 
And pretend there’s no hurt

Forever moving
It never ends
No place that’s called home
No place just to be

Stuck for Words

I am stuck for words
Nothing seems right
I ponder and pose
But the page remains white

There are so many things
I would love to say
But the words won’t fall
Into their places today

So this one I shall pass
As I’ve tried everything
And hope inspiration
Is something tomorrow will bring

For Friends Old and New

Though we may be separated
by distance, space and time
the friendship you gave
has touched my soul,
your care has warmed my heart.

There are those friends
who join you for a reason
to teach you more than you ever knew.
These are a most fortunate find
and one that must be treasured.

I know that life 
may sometimes move us
down a different path
and no matter how much we cling
some things must come to pass.

So if you should find yourself
along this way again,
either by fate or chance, or just a simple detour
know deep down within your heart
the door remains wide open.

For the Love of Coffee

With a flick you have stirred my soul
anticipation wells down deep
reaching out with both hands
clutching you in close
inhaling with the deepest breath
savouring your scent
your richness amazes me
balanced in one so sweet
I close my eyes as you tease my lips
with a gentle caress
I have waited much too long
for you to reawaken the essence of me
I shall pause within this moment
before I drink it up
for I alone cannot live without you….
my morning cup of coffee!

Won't You?

Won’t you share a story
of a time that has gone
the story of our youth
when we had wings to fly

Won’t you tell a tale
of a place where we were safe
the tale of a neighbourhood
where everyone knew your name

Won’t you paint a picture
of a box of favourite toys
the picture of your childhood
full of things that once were treasures

Won’t you perform a play
of characters you once knew
the play about your elders
to whom respect was always paid

Won’t you score a symphony
of the sounds from your past
the symphony of your family
with all of their highs and lows

Velvet Night

soft cool breeze
wraps it’s arms
hugging tight
as eyes are drawn
into the sky
velvet night
before dawn
begins to break
curtains open
to the universe
stars glisten
messages sent
only some will see
reminders of
a wider world
comfort found
standing still
in cold night air
that most don’t feel

Identity Crisis

How do you
define identity,
is it searching 
for your soul?

Is it that
you feel lost
because you’re
not sure who you are?

How many labels
have been given
that never
seem quite right?

Are you living
other’s plans
ones that
don’t make sense?

Do you simply
go through motions
and never
see the end?

Will you continue
on this road
waving yourself
goodbye?

NaPoWriMo on 43T

Tis the middle of the night
but I think I just might
make a start on this goal
should be soothing for the soul
try not to be in a rush
or the words will turn to mush
to write each day is the aim
doesn’t matter if words are lame
set them free upon the net
wonder if a cheer you’ll get
never knowing what you’ll read
as 43’ers plant their seed
poems coming thick and fast
an entire month they will last
from all around the world
creativity is unfurled

Queensland Tapestry

Rain tapping on tin roofs
dancing to it’s own beat
takes with it the pressure
of the summer heat

Heat haze rising
from steamy road ahead
reaching for the horizon,
with a sunset rich and red

Golden shores laid out before
coated in hot sand
toes soothed in cool water
by waves with gentle hand

Oppressive heat bares down
pushing with all it’s might
darkness falls and so we wait
for relief throughout the night

Dark clouds race across the sky
Calling out with thunderous bark
Sheets of light encase the air
and forks with perfect arc

Far out across drought ridden plain
stream soils of sunburnt red
wind whips up dusty clouds
that dance upon a thread

Stones of ice form above
then plumet to the ground
like meteorites they shower the earth
with an almighty sound

In suburban streets new rivers flow
water pours, seeking drains
rapids bend around debris
the legacy of summer rains

Bright blue skies soar above
birds calls fill the air
clouds of soft cotton wool
shapes changing with each stare

So many parts to this tapestry
created by a wise old hand
each a piece in it’s own way
of summer in Queensland

Banter

Ha ha
squawked the crow
sitting in a tree
I know something
you don’t know
but you won’t
get it out of me

Please please
begged the toad
looking up at him
I’ll share a secret
of my own
or else
I’ll take a swim

No, no
the crow looked down
with his beady eyes
This game
you cannot win
stuck in a swamp down there
when I have big blue skies

See, see
Croaked the toad
as he gave a mighty hop
What I know
is the best
Something
you can’t top.

On and on
they both went
long into the night
Each one believing
they know for sure
and the other
can’t be right.

Just Being

constant
questions
how
why
answers
unclear
confusion
reigns
clarity
sought
troubled
mind
emotions
overwhelm
sanctuary
wished
confidence
lost
swept
away
hope
leaves
calmness
found
essence
of
just
being

Song of Streets

dark night
dawn breaks
curtain rises
songs of streets

birds chirp
trees rustle
the soft sounds
of the choir

folks wake
doors creak
daily rhythm
now begun

radios crackle
engines rev
an underlying
melodious hum

garbage cans
rattle, crash
urban drums
don’t miss beats

dogs bark
voices call
off beat notes
punctuate air

people gone
about their day
all is quiet
the song is sung

Keeping Up

Running with the big kids
Following their tracks
Racing to keep up
But lagging further behind

Left alone as they run, laughing
Caught in their moment
Panting for breath
While watching them go

Not quite good enough
To be part of the group
Trying to be cool
Though they’ll never notice

Scared to miss out
On what they experience
Forget who you are
Just to fit in

Jumping around
Begging to be picked
For a terrible game
You don’t like anyway

But they just keep going
And you’re left in their wake
Left with a life
That you never could own

Shadows in the Street

Familiar sounds
Float by
Echoing
Days long gone

Transported
Back in time
Face the shadow
Of what was you

Walk the path
Of where you’ve been
See the places
That you stumbled

Spotlight on
Time that’s lost
Years washed by
Without a trace

Catch a glimpse
In the window
Emotions stirred
Tears re-cried

Stepping over
The worst mistakes
Memories sustained
To house the blame

Race the lights
Before they change
Missed chances
Once again

Another dead end
Looms ahead
All those dreams
Stopped in their tracks

Time now
To turn your back
Can’t be held
By the past no more

So say goodbye
Wish it well
And seek the future
A brand new way.

Lead Me

take my hand
and lead the way
show me sights
I have only dreamed
whisper words
into my ear
tell me of
all that you are
open both hearts
and show their truth
let them chase
away all doubts
share your soul
let it know mine
embrace thoughts of
our lives entwined

Winter's Night

Cold rain
Beating down
Harsh winds
Wrap around
Grey skies
Closing in
Darkness shrouds
Everything
Looks of love
In their eyes
Huddled in
Warmth inside