Water – Fire

The cusp child
Born into the best of two elements

Your voice soothes like stream water
Your mind pioneers ideas and aspirations

You are a loyal friend
A passionate lover
A mentor to your children
A rock to your family

Your power pushes forward like a wild fire
And
Your gentleness always overcomes

Friend in Need

This is a collaboration with J.

Let me crawl in your blue sweater
Curl up in your grey couch
Fill this empty air with a fragrant coffee
And the simple sound of your acoustic guitar
Sit with me in my sadness
and love me as I am

I love you as you are
with cloudy eyes of pain
Harmonise your breathing
with a song
Humming in nothingness
We’ll wander without aim
My shoulder
where your soul’s laid bare
Your heart
tended with care

Art and Craft

Living Poetry prompt – origami

Poetry is an art
Origami is a craft
Your lips recite beauty
My fingers work the magic

Slow Down

Slow down
New mother
Hold those chubby feet
Take in the wonder of new life

Slow down
Child
Jump in that muddy puddle
Enjoy the fun of being messy

Slow down
Boy
Let the rain soak your skin
Cherish the moment of surprise

Slow down
Young man
Take in the pain of a heartbreak
Experience the depth of love

Slow down
Father
Plait your little girl’s hair
Teach her the art of patience

Slow down
Old man
Stretch your legs in the sun
Remember your life in the light

Sublimation

This is a collaboration with Benjamin Grossman. I asked Ben to write with me in the hope that it would help me to overcome some difficult emotions. I think this poem achieved just that. I love the last line with all capital letters. It is exactly how I feel about emptying negative emotions by putting up a good fight, even it means shouting.

Hafiz and Me

I long to
live like Hafiz
content with buttering the sky
or catching the happy virus
and singing beneath the stars

In fact
the kettle is whistling
a background music
for me
to paint an outlandish face
in front of a disco light lit mirror
in the middle of
a starless night

Writer’s note:
Reference to Hafiz poems –

Buttering The Sky

Slipping
on my shoes,
boiling water,
toasting bread,
buttering the sky:

That should be enough contact
with God in one day
to make anyone
crazy


The Happy Virus

I caught the happy virus last night
When I was out singing beneath the stars.
It is remarkably contagious –
So kiss me.

A State of Mind

It’s hard to to get into gear today.
Lunch time passed without me noticing the absence of breakfast.
I looked at the to do list trice and pretended nothing to do.
I sat very close to the window so daydreaming on clouds wasn’t too obvious.
Black coffee was kept warm by the sunlight through the window
while my cheeks sensed the burn.
I’ve never felt so good about being stuck in the present.
Tomorrow doesn’t need to come, really, stay here, right now!

Novelist

She writes novels
not for recognition or validation
not for financial gain or fame
She pursuits self actualisation
through the mirrored images
of her novel characters

Nature Declares

Oil painting attempt “heart”

My heart is an island
Your eyes are the ocean
Your shoulder is the land
Our love shimmers
from the view of an airplane

Cut up Poem

If I cut up
our love
with well worn time

Instead of creating
a new fairy tale
I write a memoir
of resurrection