I step out, steam rising in the mirror
did you know I almost fell asleep in there
that enfolding heat
and the calm beneath the surface
where winds are sleeping.

I step out and look into the glass
it calls out a muted syllable my rest can feel
there's no fright, I reach out, my hands to the mirror
and through the prism
and I become light.

You're there with me, on the other side
I swear you've not felt it till you have
and I see you rise from the waters, warm skin
and I watch you from the bed
you dry your supple folds and climb in
we curl up together
into each other, spoons to scoop dreams
and expect nothing.

This is where it gets so lovely
I told you about it long time ago, that fantasy
from another life
when you weren't so scared.

It's the sweetest deluge of hazy softness
and a cocoon of pleasure, swooning ooze
and we float
beyond clouds.

Wee thoughts seem to fall asleep but no, we repose
it storms outside, rain in an unrivaled match
the sun has packed up for the day
and it's still two o' clock.

Can you pierce the density of the cloud
undo the puzzle
stare into the eyes of silence
and find promises wafting that tomorrow will never keep
it assured you, once before
don't count eggs, the shells are crushed for a new colour
it's your patina, a new shade of disappointment
you take care never to entertain.

A nerve is struck when the doorbell rings
and I pull my hand out
of






the mirror.

Palette is a mess, too little paint
why's everyone in a contest?
I'm using spit to mix mine, to make sense
it's a noisy place
who said ambition had to be part of this room?

Crime waves its flag ever higher and crisps break
inside the packet
they didn't say offspring would go on such a spree
of blindness hunger and misdemeanors
Did it have to be via the moon spilling stolen rays
like the broken words you took from my kisses
only to splash on your canvass?

Four wheels are split and a boy freewheels
in the dying sun
while we carry the spikes and hikes
freaking hell, why can't fantasies live?
I think the lies outgrow their skin
and it's time to moult.

There's a man, on a highway inside his head
he won't come out, he's adamant that he's right
but he won't see he's not alone
He fails to see
that not everyone is a monster.

Pretty garden, tiled porch, a well kept home
You've gone away again, this time alone
To see long lost friends and ageing family
Your birthday saw your hearth empty this year.

It's your judgment made us drive past you
It's your itch of befriending younger strangers
leads us to this pitch black spot
But behind the pretty garden eyes, nothing but
grey, graffitied walls and a high call.

Been dreaming of you again
Let's be smart and
make better use of
the floor.

I'm surprised you got it all
everybody needs someone
and now, you got somebody
and I wind me up again
letting some cells die in solo.

A gift was knowing you
and you may not believe
but you have to feel it being reeled.............
in
like the old movies we watched
long stretches on the beach
on overcast days
to hide our scars
from strangers with targets.

Take off your glasses, sweetheart
don't hide (in) your heart
It's only me.

Really wanna hold you, tell you sorry
Wanna split the rose in you
and the bulrushes rustle  
till the morning dawns over the hillside.

Just as the one in your arms tells you
the right words at the right time
dint make mine
the wrong ones.

How little they knew, the ploughers
sweat on the brow of grown things
approaching them with chilled drinks on a tray.

Beneath those billowing skirts
what she carried
and with each dragging step, she felt
the deliberate digging into mud
a soft release
of eager seed to ground.

And how they dug into the earth.

Nightfall beckons home a new flock
each week
so no-one ever suspects
the assortment of characters in the dark
Nine white birds
on a line
the only eyes to it all.

You showed us the depth of love in a sordid world
your aid brought us to ship's end, diving into bliss
the creaking of your weight as we shifted quietly
and found magic when we met
there.

You taught me love, tights jeans and all
Don't be scarce.

An earthy kindness in the heat
my tongue revels
your ginger distance, a purple thing
softly calling.

Never in all my battles (a violin plays)
did I expect it
so much stretching
and it's my morning music cosseting that
screeching
silence
the screen lies all the time.

Time to get to meet yourself
it's no good adjourning the meet
in the mirror, a skew look behind
my pate
a smiling thing.

More specters come
when the song stops
just when I reload
I prefer your bullets.

It's by that sliver of light
which shivers and changes
that I know
you're there
in the room.

And I thought I recognized your face
in the sea of poems
but perhaps
I was wrong
'cos sometimes you liked it
dry.

Didn't you?

I'll keep looking for that sliver
in the door's side
knowing strangely
you will return.

I sneeze
again
in the wake of the dust
you've unsettled.

I dreamt it.

Summon the words from the breast of courage
don't over feed the cat, he needs a little dust
the more he's fed, the more he wants
This is how the clever fools call it.

Curtail it, slice it, wound it, pack it away
climb the highest oak tree to see over the woods
you thought wrong, appetite is merely flattened not reduced
I end up conditioned, more wary round your electrified halo.

Quiet, a cat scratches
pours out thoughts, silent
in the rain.

A walk to work
to fracture walls
insurmountable.

Muscles in dregs of
fatigued smiles, eating
ice-creams that don't melt.

So many shadows have been playing across your soul
(especially, of late) and you deserve a few smiles
Much more than what propped itself down.

So, yes, I wish you fine blessings on the return of this big one
Blowing out gentle, nature's candles on the edge of a brook
Always lighting up for ya!

And whether new designs now decorate the pages of your days
That wonderful smoke will come, in rings between us
As the night rushes by in the wake of fine shapes to come.

Ask not how I know it, but I feel it strongly
May yours be of blessings filled, let it wash over you.

Too often, I wonder if it's you
Being witness to changing signs, doesn't mean it's implicit.

I yearn to have you in my arms and nurture you
But never will I hold the dragons of your words against you.

You're sometimes so absolute in belief
How about, keep a little gray on the pedestal?

Ti amo..........

Wish you'd mean what you say
You'd often leave me lost

            inside.


Putrid are the remains of coerced thought
Some of our intentions are lost in diglossic exchange.

between the bars of a cage, I slid my letters
the ones I wrote you and never really sent.

On a bright and warm day, when hell rested
the lock was picked, they slipped, grew wings.

I woke to find them dancing before an abyss
liberty claimed my rusted feet and they flew out.

A sure awkward walk on a hotbed of uncertainty, with you
One moment, an arctic drop in temperature and hellish hot the next
We both were always aware of the often extreme nature of this love.

There's trouble in the wooden floor, shining obstruse constructs
Columns fill to brim with inventive apology, a feigning look
Lover, I think of you so much, but my song falls silent.

The sky used to flood open, a giving, now uptight
But don't you think you could chill a bit
and realize that you overclassify love?

Drop it like a hot stack of old rainbows
expired ones, from that other time.
My ears are ringing, from you
I dare scream out your name.

And you know it's me in there
when you do it with another
The bells chime, I come forth
the light bursts, hurts a bit, I don't mind.

Have you done it yet? not yet
step inside---keep the pressure on.

Press, press, press---cannot breathe with all this
must let one of it go.

Happy now, real glad---are you ready to jump a circus?
must wait my turn.

You're ridiculously unfree---I'm losing my chance
Have you done yet? Not yet.

I might nag on you and cry like a dog
but you have drive, you put me to shame
those with their stupid papers flying about
bragging about knowledge and garbage
you have less and yet, twice a week
you produce, you put us all to shame.

As on an island, my desires stand
all alone, surrounded by salt
an ocean, a stubborn stain on a blue ball
stranded by angels who forgot about a child
who grew up
quiet
a mouse on a different plane.

Are you the salt?
and should I be rent with need for drink, how then?
perhaps sweet can soon come and clear the slate
so many images collide and they interfere with my day
no less, my mind.

Songs are sung by hearts alone
and many sentences lie low
in the sand
below
as the gentle wind lifts
and the spray reveals all.

will succumbs to quests of others
a purchase in kind for tattered words
leaving on trails hardy, a few wishes
I've but one.

when I've done letting others seesaw between my ribs
gathering coins paltry for sweat
ingesting pulses assorted, not my own
breaking heels on melting tar
seeing another's dream grow taller
swallowing possessiveness
accepting ultimatums and
then, can I come to you.

Feeling my fingers rolling in your head, so very high again
Pushing against the bark of trees
Rain soaking us both
soft, warm earth
taking us in.

If I can't make the tip, may you find another
To sink into you, into your sweet mouth
Delicious build up, can't hold back
How you held and kissed the open tears of heaven
And the mountains revealed secret paths.

A bout of
creative souls
to flood this.

I can't wait.
I will look out for you.

Oh, what a day for joy!

One scrum and a run for score
I'm making it, I'm making it
And oh boy, what a win!

May not be bigger than the rest, but never run.
Never underestimate the tinier package.
Unspoken contract in this wiring.

Sitting at my desk, head in piles of paper
unexpected surprise, really, a double take
Jaw dropping through the floor, it's you.

It's when you sleep.
Isn't it?

Cover your face, a white sheet to clear the eyes
So the one around you cannot see what you think
But we both know, it's when you sleep
Your body betrays you, you twist and turn
and you're warm to the touch, lover
of thoughts of us........

We both know it is so
Magic.

Delectable surprise, been searching so long
and bread (chunky slices), absent cliches.

It's a sad world when suppressed genius
is not permitted to shine.

Through the mesh of midnight, one refugee
smiling wide, a flower blossoms.

One day of tasting bitterness, a long day.

Contrast amiss in the forum.

A small Egyptian taunts the patience of a clock.

The dog and the mole in a showdown with no end.

Quires and polish vie alongside closed shop windows, pets doze.

Training is a long trip to secure a noose.

World rotator broke, needs hearts inside to churn
We are stuck in the same grid.

Agony on the forefront, sign your name to the list
Cardiac arrests in a jam and sad, nowhere out.

Rush your feet, paddle your wares
Sesquicentennial views would baulk at what we do.

He, growing, is nearly asleep but his psyche keeps fast to the tale
He hears:   The world at end, too many fights, ugly bites
                    They never knew or tasted peace, the blast on close
                    Rights, mere words.

He wakes, jarred by certain fear, praying the bubble at the end
Is big enough for enough
(Enough of the right people).

If the world should end this year and a select handful could make it out
Inside a scientific bubble, hidden in a volcano
(There is talk of super rich buying off tracts and strips
Away from when the crowds go mad........)
Will we need preacher or agriculturist, who will grow the crop?
Is an artist of importance or how about the taxman?
When this big, blue ball's reduced to rubble, do we need accountants?
The cave age beckons, folks and Lard knows, it seems not far off
Not the way groups take turns to hack away humanity.

Stockpile the water, canned food, save a let or two
And leave sentiment at the door, the bubble cannot hold us all
(Wait, where'd I leave my cell? Oh, there won't be electricity, no charge.)
No meat to eat, but hens to lay
Save the flint and remember: keep the secret.

World falls to pieces, some shot and others blasted
One stands alone, away from it all: this hot day
Jaundice nails disappear—
A few gems are pressed
Upright.

Skin rasps inaudible; tables unturned, and stones too
Barbed words blunted, a lonely figure in the light
Of ascertained darkness—
Sweet **** won't listen
Overt.

Silent consumption on the remnants another finds use
Night brings to life secrets behind the eyelids—tiptoe
Calm into your cosm, of bated breath.

I stripped the ocean of its salt, the winds whippingly
sailed to my
eyes.

didn't you write of how you tied the sun
to my
ankles
almost blasting
-uncalled.

merry joints never laugh and thank you
ever so much
thrice the crowing
in the morning, time stole away to the next month
a sixth of a year now.

thrash the whole grains, feed a flattened bread to the crowd
you can peer deep in the face of tomorrow's screen
but from these eyes
better to
turn your face.

Trellis twines and weeds unthrift, fruit hangs heavy, boughs low
I sense the power in those moves
Are you by the gate?

Full of dust and dried hands, whole day on the feet, shaking so
Sharp twinges in the back of calves
Are you by the gate?

Graying sulk, brand new phase seeks you every day, chagrined
My nerves full of you, futile dream
Never thought conjured.

A moth's carrying your face on mosaic metal wings, half of mine inside
drummer boy, she's in a long, black dress
drummer boy, don't drink the brack water
I didn't look up this time, so I guess I never saw it

The hot air balloon transporting a house with a bird in a cage inside
Tall plant growing through the sky, into space
The sun as its face of flower, petals falling and an insect mouth
There's horns on every building where people store their god and the stars discontent with simmering fires, coming closer to the forests
and goddess flies over towers and ugly stock remains undoused.

You cannot swim through the sea of letters in my head
I sent you only two, anyway and I don't know what now
Hearts grow skew and the plant twists, one root to your door
Right into the foyer where your wheels stand, now capped with cold
This river in me is colored by the cracks in your last sentence.

And as you're well aware, some deer skitter toward water's edge
to counter a thirst of madness, peaking to a frightening fall
I'd do well to break this branch, bugs in the mouth again and
some peepholes don't ever speak but see.

Sweet oil heats, burns and spills over
skin sublime, so sensitive
who'd have thought a spaniard could fly off
a round of expletives on parents

Don't try to figger what ain't fit for fools
go fetch your yella bucket and                 (we told you so)
that box is waiting for you and (tap, tap)
sooner 'n you think, they need your hide again.

Being on the end of your spine, roll on over here
cartilage swings better than spume
that ugly red mother (don't be sore)
ssssettling sediment: the ocean beats slats, always cleans up
you never asked
zero, one, one, one, zero, one one
done!

Isn't it just wonderful people love so deeply that a platform as powerful as hellopoetry ends up so inundated with woes of the self, self, self?

Are we truly aware of the horrors we are struck with every day, that kids get shot by the weapon wielder, that free speech gets rammed away?

Opinions of everyone should count and respected not traded as commodity and when opposed, why are all so quick on the high horse?

This platform gets wasted, let's balance the broken hearts, lovestruck, petty squabbles filling pages: simultaneously, diggers make brisk trade.

The world has taken thorough leave of its senses and in its wake, we're left to **** on leftover thoughts of philosophers and thinkers of long ago.

Originality is dead and inciting conflict is the new intellectual game.
Old hand at wars, we are.
Old hat, turn a blind eye.

Little big boy, throw your plastic gun away.
Little big girl, shut down that ******* and duck smile.
Little child, open up and read.
Write the wrongs and make it right.

It's the right of anyone to write, and shooting cameras don't lie.
But but somewhere, the balance is out.
Blind eye, blind eye, the lens takes in and spits out
Blind.

Ever had a blow planted unfairly?
You come in here with your svelte figure, taunting sleep from my eyes
I'm already so tired and everyone demands their ****
And you topped it off with retorts of wounded pride.

Now I'm granting you more of my time than I'm able to spare
Yet with gladness, I tip you patience into your cup
(because I like you, sweet Shining One)
Friendship from me means your life is safe in my hands.

I have no inclination for frivolity and even less for inanity
You found me catching respite and I broke it to serve you
When things don't fall in place, don't swing gazelle eyes like that
And postpone matters to fit in where they don't, talk now.

Ice-cream scoops are sweet, cold and messy, and sometimes they melt
I can see you're feeling hurt, but shove that ego into your back pocket!

On the very last day after too many activities after the other
I'd no idea how ruthless words could be
my sweet talker
beautiful bird out the window

Not asking, but telling
so, so telling
my sweet talker, no sweet talker.

it's so heavy, why's it so heavy?
it's the vegetable I ate or maybe too much.
strings drawn tight and a strong drawing
cleanse the inside and outside.

it feels heavy, a break to prevail
shrews in fields and thunderclouds
a different darkness falls on countenance
the railway shrieks, the train has come.

To catch a surprise on a wave of frustration
is as needed as
a cool dip in an ocean

for a man on fire.

Your 45 rpm singles on the sideboard
one kiss on the couch, all thought is fried
a single or return trip, first hesitation
I ponder who of us will choose a landslide.

Eleven bells split in half and desire is hauled away
I want to plant kisses inside that mouth
close that delicious plug with me
I die to feel that illicit wetness.

On the side of late reactions, pages are torn
you make little sense, so where are you then?
just say where and I'll ride the day through sun
light my cigar, ah but make it in time.

bland apple juice and spaghetti mince makes missed Friday dinner
on Saturday
and the little friend lost gains some anger
strange for a non entity

a heated one solo in the middle of night
and a solid one up there
did you like it?
it's not my usual, but it was ok

don't act sad when that beat goes off kilter
arms don't reach out but other arms do.

How wet the sand can get, there's a ***** wind
sitting inbetween the smiles of innocent looking people
their words catch the fancy of the grand old folk
and egos become grander.

Betty calls not far from a station and hails a private one
to take her away for a little bit
and even if red storms beat urgent
she decides to take to court one.

The bed becomes a friendless place
and in the study, welcome the branches
out of necessity, comes newer ways
of lonely angles and paper sleeves.

When you're looking for something you used to have
without realizing that in letting go, you get it.

It is made very clear, earn your keep or I'm gone
ok, sign away humongous liberties for appearance.

I'm not looking for you, I'm looking for people, that's
When callous got a backbone, the day it came.

Through the years, it took us
consistent feeling, never altering
content with complacent idling
until the night, a surprise came
and knocked us on the head
off our perches of self assurance.

The night when we stepped out of ruts
and cuddled close together
like never before, eye to eye
now, shivering and turning inward
our single sheet not enough
our embrace fiery, out the cold.

To partake of a strange feast where the price claims haughty
too, bits of sanity
or decline.

Courage must be the face to the lion
in a pool of fear
and recognize the unacceptable.

The scorpion waits, a grumpy nip the heel
going round, sprain in soft sand
dessication tripled, slip in butter.

The search via crumbs to secret root
underlining hefty conditions
undermining liberty.

made to hold a heart, but fit to catch your crash
you always felt me in the way, had to let it go
found it hard and made it harder

you were gentler with my thirst this time
slowly dragged the leaking cup
away from aching lips

never saw it coming, slow retraction
astute biding, the wait
the right moment, cut down the blubber

step by calculating step, it came round
sleeves rolled back, fields are spalled
choosing the relative best of the lot.

just another day to wade through and strange, that in the heart of it all
an unlikely blessing blown this way
an attempt at some lighthearted joke
work squeezing headspace into impossible places

debating whether to serve it on a platter or abandon altogether
scales tip, alarm bells go off and peril plays its little havoc games
an exile tired from the excessive demands slides out of view
and ends with a sidewalk splattered, sad remains

but someone sandwiched a smile
one more advised to take it easy
someone else laughed, the bag's not all lost
and another blew a kiss
      this way
today

as it stands, it runs
high tide stays out late
and the ticket's expiring
joke, right? conspirators on the sea
and it falls flat, hopelessly flat

it appears unseeable
I will wait, then
yes, I'll have to.

thinking cap and working cap and playing cap and so on
too many caps to carry and sudden changing
where's the simplicity in it all?

I don't want to be your keyboard lover
I want you for real
when will you wake and see
you're closer to solution and it's quicker for you?

bring me in, please bring us closer
the owl's call a hoot away
it's been a long, long time now.