Why can’t we build a tree house?
In our own backyard behind the sky
away from a wailing world
far from where we lay and die
Why can’t we build a tree house?
To house and hold our dreams
our pictures pitched on wooden planks
’we were once ere’ inscribed on beams
A heart etched in a tree stump
Below where our forbidden kisses are found
No one to discover our hidden bites
Unless we let the ladder down
Our insecurities were safe up here
while I sketched your naked skin
every curvature and crease of secrecy
You read your poetry and let me in
on our backs, we gazed at the night sky
we sipped wine or drank some tea
In silence we shared unspoken words
wondering if stars have a tree
And now often I wish upon a star
now your another’s spouse
…are you happy?

…or dreaming of the same star
with our own tree house?

CENTAUR

hiding in the hay
me a terrified little boy
& my uncle like a terrified little boy

the voices in his head
telling him to be afraid
of all strangers...changes

he’s been like this
since the day his Dad(my unknown grandfather)
died

my Aunt’s voice
searching for us...
searching us out

her shouts like bloodhounds
hunting us down
her words angry & cruel

her angry voice
slurring us into:
“DonallSeanie! ”

as if we had fused
into one being
a metamorphosis of us

the hay cooks us
and we swelter
in our hidey hole

a chicken sits
on top
of my uncle’s cap

as if his mind had
materialised
into this shape

he rocks
himself
and rocks me

“Shhhh...boy...shhhh! ”
comforting
both him & me

“Don’t leave me! ” he clucks
words scattered around him
like newly laid eggs

I settle
into
his silence

my Aunt’s threats
freezing us
in this terrible heat

his chest hair
tickles
my nose

the cut on my left big toe
throbs through
the open sandal

my uncle cries in fear
I wipe away the tear
with the ***** edge of my sleeve

we escape to
the West field
me riding his shoulders

transformed into
a legendary creature
that only exists in myths

fleeing from
the realness
...of reality

Sea-Flower
you were never one of us
not really
I think you drifted
perhaps we cut you loose
I cannot remember
anyway we meant no harm
we had the shallow callow charm of youth
a cruel chant
which slays the slayer in the end
how could we comprehend your need
or the way that it would end
one cold October day among the ****
pale as apple blossom
Sea-Flower indeed

"STOP SHAKING YOUR EYES AT ME WILL YA!"

You know that thing that
you go upstairs to get

something or
other but

you can't remember
for the life of you

what it was and
then you go back down

and then remember it
and come back up only

to forget it
yet again?

I don't
do that!

I get stuck halfway up
wondering what and who

I am and
if I have a name

and what in
hell it is.

Or when the kettle boils
( I always watch it )

I put it in the fridge
and shout out loud.

"Now where in damnation
it could go I only

had it in my hand
a moment ago."

Or try to pour tea
into an upside down cup

and wonder why
the tea refuses to go

into the cup
what on earth.

Or I keep saying
the same lines

from some cartoon
I have forgotten

"Stop shaking your eyes
at me will ya!"

Oh and what's
the other oh yes

"Stop sawing
the table!"

It's like a day time
television show

"Hello and welcome to
WHO AM I?"

The canned laughter
of reality.

My brain is digging
an escape tunnel

trying to get out
of my head.

I nearly remembered
my name then it was

on the tip of
my tongue but now

. . .it's gone.