TUBES

Stations arrive and go - people stand and sit
random chances to witness new people at every stop
packed in standing sardines we all just fit
face to face or face to crotch
into the dark tunnel or rushing to station light
a weird thought comes to mind
two layers of clothes stopping a sight
of peoples bits only inches from my nose

Cheek to Cheek

I was early and watched you come in
I knew my evening could really begin
I kissed your cheeks still cold
from the night air outside
from the start welcomed to the fold

We talked and I met your friends
our connection growing - it deepened
my certainty that you are
a person I want in my life,
a beauty to be free not in a jar

The music began the atmosphere
was hazy wine filled - my mind still clear.
Not managing to get close to you
I watched and enjoyed the company
making connections to a few

The evening grew late and you danced
I was captivated and entranced.
Your rhythm and movement
shapely sensuous and fluid
every beat living in the moment

You turned and dazzling smiled
I was completely beguiled.
Your cheeks filled with a warm glow
looking full of happy content.
An evening going with the flow

The Toothbrush

And you think it is for cleaning teeth
beware what power such a simple thing has

You came for dinner and we shared a drink
We had met before and desire was in the air
time together was a pleasure - we had time to think
we enjoyed each others company and started to care

I was due to leave soon - to head away
a cross roads was for us clearly in sight
so you planned after dinner to stay.
the evening was fiinishing now it felt right

My heading was spinning
thoughts of lust stoking my desire
but deeply alarm bells were ringing
muffled because my passion was on fire

the night was complete - it was getting late
you said you could stay you had a toothbrush
blood rising - we were in an excited state
we lay together inflamed in the nights hush

passion aroused but it remained unquenched
teased tormented lead astray
to stop it all now a hell of a wrench
a clever gambit the toothbruush had played

The morning came - a smile, naked we lay
we talked of the future together or apart
I was going still - what could I say
was this the end or only the start

Mirror Mirror

Can you look youself in the eye
can you really look? go on try

grab a mirror and hold it up to your face
See what you see. Are there demons to chase?

glimpsed in the corner trying to hide
cunning creatures born when you lied

Can you look yourself in the eye
can you really look? go on try

the mirror held to the light
behold your face with delight

gaze gently at your self reflection
enjoy all that recollection

Can you look yourself in the eye
can you really look? go on try

Pearl of wisdom

The closed ugly husk of a shell
Is this relationship going well?

A piece of grit growing inside
The shell gets tossed by the turning tide

The grit gets covered hidden
Talking the truth forbidden

By the conscious mind
Life is being defined

Deeper truths need light
The pearl inside grows bright

Lift the shell and open
To find what is already broken

Discover the pearl
New life to unfurl

A symbol of how
Things are now

Oyster Shell and pearl

Grit like a lie
Does not die
It nags and knaws
Until you say
"I will give you the time of day"

Let it out
With a shout
Discover the pearl
Pure rich and cool
How long was I a fool?

Open the shell
Release the hell
Knarled protective husk
Throw it away
Live for the day

The lake 1

Difficult and un-attained

I was told of a wonderful lake to bathe in called love
walking alone in a happy unaccompanied life
we met and smiled and felt a longing an urge.
We rushed off without acknowledging possible strife
and that route required attention and care
for the journey was not easy - uncharted
the dangers were plenty and we were unaware
We were in a hurry not wanting to miss a trick
to enjoy pleasures and our lives to enhance
A glimpse of a sparkling jewel in the distance
We thought of this as our chance
As our journey started the lake was soon obscured from sight
And the bushes grew to trees to breathless tangled forest
The sun dwindled and we walked in dim dappled light.
We strived hard for the right path so many to chose
and lost each others gentle grasp our bonds, un-nurtured, remained weak
left to find our own ways we drifted apart
both wanting our trip to the lake to be complete

As I lost you my focus narrowed - inward and confused
From my minds eye, the truth was blinded by hopes and possibilities
Hiding the hurt to come. I felt your path move steady and more sure
in my direction the vegetation thickened still and I found no way through.
The hill slope steepened and the ground grew hard and parched
more barren and stark no shelter from myself raw and true
rock strewn dusty and ethereal I was more distant remote
and removed. I looked in my head and found no pleasure there
Struggling alone and torn the cliff top I reached
the lake far below now just a dark mirror aware.
From the overshadowing cliff a view in the distance of a gentle
fertile land nourished from the lake by a welling stream
A call of your voice from below a siren or an angel
Drawing me forward still with uncertainty in my heart

A narrow dangerous ravine was the only chance left
Dangerous rocky thorny dark I was enclosed
Stumbling bruised and hurting the gully closed in
Hot tears of pain and heart ache fell from my face
Cooled and calmed in the mysterious depths
as the drops hit the lake below a ripple the only trace
Mournful sounds echoed around the cliffs
a thousand times and old as the landscape
Never reaching the safe lake, lonely maddening
selfish heart wrenchingly close there was no mental escape
inside and out no progress exhausted crushed
Mixing my tears a watery globe of missed opportunity
Shed and shared in the final moments of truth
limp and sad finally accepting with humility
I could not go this way to the lake the source of love

A choice to stay lost in the cold high dark place
or retreat the way I had come shattered battered and lost
scrabbling back to find another more careful way
I had learnt so much but at how much cost?
Another voice I heard encouraging lifting giving me heart
To try again another route on the journey to the lake
To make a fresh new and better start

The lake 2

The source of all

When I saw you in the middle distance
you were unrushed alive and smiling.
I waved hello separate healing souls
in a gently enfolding landscape
Our paths grew closer and in time
they crossed and we rested
leaning touching against rocks,
like good memories retaining the heat of the day
long after the diminishing of the last sun's ray

Trees were scattered providing shelter
along the path away from angry heat
All paths leading to the visible and open tranquil lake.
A beautiful timeless journey
we walk slowly feeling each encouraging step
discovering the wonder of the land
ultimately strolling hand in hand.

We paused to linger in this new joy
by a stream bubbling overflowing from the lake.
I carefully washed your feet and hands
you cupped them then and we shared a drink
you splashed me in play causing ripples of laughter
water sacred touching us both a quenching link
a turning point of things to come on our journey to the lake
Trickling gurgling the stream slides past
refreshing through the land into the soil
for the lake replenishes - nourishing
plants trees and animals.
It feeds their souls’ joyful light

We feel our goal more clearly now as we continue on
Delighting in every moment
every creative open flower and bird song.
Reaching the shore line of the water it was
inviting blood warm and encouraging us in
But first we sit awhile refreshing
the shared moment by the stream

Now we cast off our clothes and cares
Naked and exposed we dive in
Swimming splashing submerging deep
Ripples on the surface now of the
once still and smooth lake
ripples from us we are the source
spreading along the lake shore
of the source the lake that is love.
The water holds us and is shared
impartial and equal for us both
Flowing supporting giving us energy and life

Distant dark cliffs flank the far shore
A melancholic cascade of tears form waterfalls
from the dark rock face,
tears of love missed replenishing the source.
A sadness hangs over that cold distant place

We look upon the cliff no more
turning our faces to the sun
Bodies and hearts healing and growing
from baptism in the lake
The future beckons with young laughter heard close by
on a branch of the stream as new beginnings start.
We hold in our soul the path to the lake knowing
times in the future its shared support will be sought
to refresh us and help us grow and merge as one

Dance Floor Glance

The power of a brief connection

Desperate pleading and beseeching eyes
Silently screaming for help “Anyone help”
Smiling with so much hidden inside
Her gaze imploring tentatively reaching out
Touching holding grasping
The message like an invisible strand
it was almost physical very real
Like a clawing searching hand
“I want to get out of this false pact
With the man by my side”
I desperately need to act.

“How can I help you?”
I answered her in a smile
Acknowledging her plight
Hamstrung and powerless
With anguish at the sight
Sorrow and sadness in my look
Unspoken words to her
Imploring her listen and reflect
“Hear your inner feelings”
To say she should give them respect.

Close physically arm held by him
They walk by leaving for home
But with a big gulf between
A backward glance, I see her eyes roam
A briefest of moments – an awareness snatched
She is now looking forward again
They leave together unmatched.

Father I love you

A story of positive association

I close my eyes slowly unsure of what is coming
And gradually hazily gently see my father
Lying in the hospice distant peaceful and serene
A warm light shrouds the isolated bed
Swelling emotion wells from my deep
Uncertain tears start springing wringing
Eyes open shaky new feelings beat a retreat
Hidden so well in my darkest being

Careful attention and safety
I allow my eyes to close again
The bed nearer with my father sitting up
I walk slowly around the bed
We both smile the smile of acknowledged love
Tears flowing more freely running across my cheeks
Salty tasting tears chest heaving emotion
Eyes wide open glad and safe
The release of such commotion

Eyes shutting easier now
The bed has disappeared
A hug between friends now
Father with son in hand
Walking side by side now
Acknowledgement of love
Freedom of expression now
A joyous journey only just begun

An Ode to Oil barrons

Two large towers blenching steam
Skyward columns of milky clouds
Breast-like monuments to plastic trash
Helping oil types earn some cash

Pipes wind serpent like in the sand
Pumping and disgorging vast quantities of sea
Thrusting tendrils twist and turn
More and more they want to earn

Hot streams of waste filtered and cooled
Round and round trying to escape
Sandy beach or steamy air
The men in charge do not care

Oil to them is all that is precious
And the by products they can make
Gush and pump heat and crack
Environmental concern they clearly lack

The places they work are grim
They pollute and compromise
They leave the earth with a stain
All of it for their short term gain

And all the while a big smile
A tan and a good set of teeth
A smooth business class life
Whilst the world suffers the strife

A “Stern” warning ‘bout global warming

We all must count
The carbon amount

Fly less and care more
We know whats in store

Bush and blair
In their rocking chair

Look back and cry
Seeing the polluted sky

Or we act now
And show them how

To stand up and act
But not after the fact

And save this place
We treat with disgrace

Or earth will be hell
What a story to tell

Children will weep
Before going to sleep

Knowing its too late
The globe is in a state

Open our eyes wide
And lets turn this tide

I count
we count