Air hangs in grey of
plasters strain,
sitting in solid mass
lost tirade.

As trees branches
searching rain,
grass in half light
gold plaid.

Sheen of showers
palings decay,
cracks pink glaze
sills framed.

Shadows of birds
upon do stray,
to an ebon sheet
airs aimed.

Torment forlorn,
memories drain,
gathering salt beside

Course rare,
valleys stain,
ageing lives remind

Mind womb,
amber retain,
moments before find

Pleasure brief
retrieve pain,
minds intricate design

Upon stars orbits dust,
you circling too distant,
moons do reflect on,
stalled an iris.

By in rollicking hurdy,
tatty circus flows, the
sideshow vendors
hear my sigh.

Fragrant sweet pearls,
pink rose waters slide
Mars raining onto
snake skin.

Asian dwarf orchids,
burning in fragrance,
seen luminescent
ebon petals.

Till again beside me
waters sweep slate,
to a satyrs dance,
my arabesque.

Pastel of flowers sprayed
leaves a backyard harbour.

Shards of sunlight enrich,
as renews sleeping ardour.

Crescendo of insects hum,
in crickets, gnats and flies.

Skies soft rainbow palette
Winter's doldrums disguise.

On gypsum is waltz of hair bristles
wood directing the form into brush,
seated in a chair an artist whistles
background ebon yet fingers plush.

Paints salvaged from marked tray
wizened hands flick cigarette ash,
ember burns in a stubby end grey
his yellow teeth grinding as gnash.

Few lights linger dark upon studio
they track his shuffles and sways,
a feeble body his mind burns true
shadows lengthen in paints craze.

Ideas, a thought bubble,
constrained by a colourful
umbrella of canvas.

The inflatable was running
out of gas, chased by a
speedboat across a bay.

Leaving far behind
banks, stability and
vivid colours onshore.

Once people jumped off,
the purple banking balloon
was able to float ashore.

Remaining no wiser.
Leaving hot air, wet clothes
and the cast aside at sea.

Races at greyhound speed
across the manicured
lime grass of the park.

Pigtails twirling
in the breeze behind.

Red Wellington
boots at the ready
as she reaches the tree.

Her eyes smiling
at the rustle of leaves
from Crimson, through
yellow and brown.

She gathers a pile
and throws them to
the breeze.

The sun falling on
the rainbow colours,
her pink cheeks.

A lilting wind captures
her high pitched shrieks.

Design behind cast
find nature undefined,
fools, life and death,
rules left behind.

Nothing is as seems
Bluffing as cover hand,
cards past chance,
shards truth lined.

Rules following blindly
jewels miss then within,
stressed is world
best know random.

Random know best
world is stressed
within, then miss jewels
blindly following rules.

Lined truth, shards
chance, past cards.
Hand cover as bluffing
seems, as is nothing.

Behind, left rules
death and life fools.
Undefined nature find
cast behind, design

Peer into the night skies. Now drive into the country, a view afresh.

As galaxies of timeless dimension.  Nebula born in distant sands of time.  
Clouds of energy and a kaleidoscope of colours.  

For bright lights can charge or obscure.
Dreams live when our souls yearn beyond darkness.

As the candles burn
Eiffel Tower is in relief,
we recall a city
whose presence is grace.

Grace in design
of style and of beauty.
So far removed
from recent pains transpired.

But while pains
will never be forgotten.
Anger burning,
pale flames have the answer.

Flames of life
spirit of remembrance.
In love recall
from warmth burn shadows.

Syncopated beat of bass
off beat to whirr
of conversation
bouncing around
xylophone ring
as cello claws

New tune, space, breathe
in autumns depth
drums rattle
military in sound
guitarist circling
hands implore

Long involved discourse
passionate corners
Pan pipe whirs
dances rebound
until bass sting
under scores

As Monday approaches
afternoon darkens
synth drags low
coffees ground
sky threatening
my cafe lore.

Fine droplets yearn in time discern
Moving while script written
We find beauty in forms we yearn
In sweep of wind listen
Our world a heart, rain is the mould
Watch skies in blood towards rolled
Our world, a heart
Our world, a heart
Clouds harbingers of lives untold

I turn into comets fire
you bend avoiding glare.
I imagine craters on moon
you are aglow in beauty fair.

I seek out falling stars
through blankets weave.
You thrive in colours seen
while black holes I conceive.

I observe planet rings
dangers in rock or stone
you are penning silver ink
as fairies dance past known.

As I go orbiting to left
and you aquaplane right
we meet as one in eclipse
in moments of pure delight.

For most, death dark as night
As compare visions, flowers bright
Death brings maze, confusion imbue
Unsettling when grief raw, all can view

As we dislike being reminded
Of this time primal, while blinded
Reaction, pain, anger seem resigned
Instead I view death, a companion beside

As simple as falling leaf swept
Or seed floating, for winds to direct
For replacing fear, loneliness and strife
Recognition of death gives freedom in life

Clouds go carousing past me
view a distant patter of rains,
for while cotton spirals I see
you see the cumulus strains.

In the place breeze hovering
faint zephyr is rustling trees,
holds my cheek clamouring
reaches both, instant seize.

And the leaves past tussle
upon basalt skies left torn,
lies within depths of rustle
patterns once steps worn.

By day's end stars do dart
another frame set to view,
in hemispheres find apart
patterns upon skies, you.

Bare branches against a meagre sky
Leaves flap like birds moving by
Magpies song mute and taut
Garden chimes sadly retort

Dull light rising to steel grey cloud
Gathering with a heavy shroud
Leaves still fighting as hold
Dark dawn, presence unfold

..                                                       For as flying.        
                                                 ­              Spying
                                            ­             Places repose.  
                                                       ­Dream, suppose.      

   Dreams loll without respite       Shady oak.      Bright swirl spring breeze
      Of green crisp apple bite.    Shelter bespoke.   Insects morn, vast seas
        As gold burns warmer.    Sleep, still abuzz.    Clouds as beat wings
            Sun shadows corner        Seconds love.      Million insects sing

          Dreaming more light      Eyes shut, island.    Time goes, seconds fit
            Colours mix despite.     Twig woodland.     Seen today, exquisite
                Great light bested.      Instant, rested.      The rays pestered
                      Shadows nested      Dreams vivid.    Up, now rested
                                                          ­   Colours
                                                      ­          Mull

If I posit people are composed
of facets that vary in shade,
and that glint as sparkle
towards a stage.

Then, if so, could we describe
the behaviour of a gathering,
as glass prisms interacting
in a group together?

Baffling the light,
meshing shadows, while
at the same instant,
glinting in separate paths?

Hanging near to each other
in fixed positions,
that vary only in intensity
and not direction.

Meanwhile technology has
changed that simple linearity,
with parts no longer fixed,
but on separate rotating orbits.

In close contact, then away,
to deep darkness like comets.
As I begin to understand why
chandeliers are now passé.

Ducking and weaving
in and out of faces.
Appearing as a smile,
willowy as stride,
I reach,
you meld to spaces.

Casting a stray gaze
in crowded alleys.
I see in fragments,
photos bare,
they fade,
in sepia tones I rally.

In the whirl of people,
swish of coat wear.
Familiar hand passes,
jigsaw pieces,
hovering,
at a grey mist I stare.

Then your pen answers
cutouts joined into.
Again within my reach,
in memories,
connect,
my eyes fall upon you.

Steel fog of messages,
televisions, white noise mists.
Metal industrial heater
burning brown coal.

Ridges of cold air snap,
press stories headlines leap.
Bush skyline winter burn,
kept in patrolled lines.

Clouds of wisps trailing,
phrases forward, reblogged.
Cars exhaust glows red,
as circle back roads.

Poetry uncoils sparks,
petrichor, instant before rain.
Fireflies dance circling,
embers bore space.

Friends we find in the strangest of places
around and between as branches of trees.
Leaves gather to rustling in sunny spaces
growing as sway upon canopies we seize.

Joining together leaves touch by degrees
within stars plume find special dust graze.
Upon ebon bustle swirl patterns of leaves,
galaxies surging brightly in desire ablaze.

In the shimmer of cosmos hands we raise
connected by words as upon spirits muse.
To carpets of light we join fingers in praise
found brightly burning into desires infuse.

Forest joins, if gather leaves in stars tune
a night sky reveals two faces in one moon.

Chinese friezes seen metres high
reaching as stairs toward clouds,
ebony black, bamboo tints apply,
conversation hums in the crowds.

The distant clink of fine porcelain
hurries by metal clatter of spoon,
marble witness in pale grey stain
as table cloths sweep over room.

Central chandelier orchid below
flowers hang heavy in pale lilac,
conversations soft in space row,
plants thick of shade right back.

Large formal chairs around brim
mobile phones, duelling in stress,
half will exit to the pool to swim,
others suits as go about business.

Gates climb


News and paraphernalia
Modern communication
Internet on vacation
Today, rural Australia

Goes awol in valleys, hills
As seeking when hiding
Frustration biding
Trees, various pitfalls

An Insufficient population
Say Cannot build towers
Excuses bely hours
Trying, for connection

Work with what's known
Try cavalier solutions  
It's the execution
When, creativity shown

First try computer waving
Above head I'm shaking
Signal not taking
Despite, the swaying

Next option lying on floor
Hint of access, fleeting
Patchy greeting
So slow, won't store

Then stand on top of bed
Try to reach high ceiling
Wobbly feeling
Response, still lead

Despite heat, go outside
The temperature violent
Connection silent
If Home far, just beside

Time past, similarly stung
Found access best rate
The paddock gate
Balancing, top rung

Troop to gate hopes keen
As Searing heat, metal
Stand and settle
Tightly, cradle machine

Process long, time lost
A Connection success
Finally access
But who, counts cost?

Eventually, its loaded mail
As Balancing hold keen
Humorous scene
As Sway, in light pale

Internet access by Gates
Not Bill, Steve, Microsoft
Hung steel aloft
So basic, surely debates

Climbing for a signal now
Is the practical response
Sadly ensconced
As Rural, area know how

But surely it must be time
When access essential
Internet critical
Yet today, gates climb

Tiniest three sprites
whispering whether
if today go together,
across bold sunlight.

Trapped their steeds
each a small harness,
destination but guess,
flying gossamer seeds.

Twirling onward skies
sun dances upon rays
into a warm heat blaze
brightly within disguise.

As travel past a valley
land in a soft meadow,
set free their shadows,
if floating we must tarry.

Was present, "long termer",
around years.
Has beaten odds, helped learners,
beat their fears.

Last eve, strange experience,
gave all, fright.
Had a funny turn in his appearance,
wasn't quite right.

Maybe stroke, small attack,
while seated.
Yelled to nurses urgently to get back,
checks greeted.

Tests and "risk man" passed,
cleared home.
As left, he crushed my hand grasped,
Eyes black, honed.

Felt strong underlying crawl,
right away.
Of black, dark, evil sweeping pall,
I heard death bray

So this burning disquiet rests,
now am thrown.
As the clinic tomorrow, commences,
he there, unknown?

Desire
astounds, by glint of a smile.
Always careful when find,
dream wearing awhile.

In gold
reclaim, mindful of failings.
Gift precious when dare,
love among tailings.

Ink navy, a tide of emotion
blink as hurls stormy ocean,
fallow seethe, etched scripts,
shallow eddies capturing rips.

Salt of waves, currents snide,
faults gloom in foam astride,
mull cliffs, my stories baulk,
gleeful gulls, sly hover gawk.

Words go splash losing sight,
emerge to dune brief respite,
graze leave sharp, corals seer,
blaze raw depth my atmosphere.

Atmosphere, my depth raw blaze,
seer corals sharp, leave graze,
respite brief, dune to emerge
sight losing, splash go words.

Gawk, hover sly, gulls gleeful,
baulk stories, my cliffs mull,
astride foam in gloom faults,
snide currents, waves of salt.

Rips capturing eddies shallow,
scripts etched, seethe fallow,
oceans stormy hurls as blink,
emotion of tide, a navy ink.

Notice we always want,
what we do not have?
Mostly its money,
recognition or such.

Or, it's what we missed
or left behind.  
We pine for the
should have been ours.

Selfishly.

For we ignore,
this great gift.
We simply overlook,
what reflects in the mirror.

A unique collection of cells,
a grouping of thoughts,
living.  An unnatural state,
by rights, it would appear.

So maybe we should
instead consider ourselves,
unbelievably fortunate.
In simply living.

Steel verses steam water's strain
odes dissolve the waves to ship,
humanity barely buries the slain
in consciousness blood left drip.

Battles we enter as pathos seize
enemies seen with false minions,
warships hunt in distant degrees
as we battle currents of opinions.

Muse off upon sorties with guns
poetic rhymes left below to sink,
shattered bodies blood left runs
lives staring at foam in the drink.

Creativity of world will dwindle
as the sweep of sand and waves,
blasted back by a cordite spindle
where was that peace all craves?

When I find art
brightly questions,
answers entrancing,
lights space.

Emotions dart
wake suggestions
chords enhancing,
answer bass.

Memories start
whisper intentions
as imprints dancing
minds embrace.

Touch, impart
cloudy tensions,
our souls advancing
wisdom trace.

Funeral depart
Tune of emotions,
with tears glancing
my pained face.

Songs craft,
words suspension
be an ***** prancing.
Let it be, grace.

© A P Taylor,

Life many mysteries would seem
I constantly scratch my head
Always can never find ice cream
Seems that aliens eaten instead

Are those big as to others small
Many have a common thread
Why a kitchen bin left to sprawl
Or why there is an unmade bed

Often household mysteries kids
Parents notice things unsaid
Balancing both haves or forbids
Praise as restrain judging ahead

The trailing ring of a trams bell
competes with a guitars strum,
soon the old GPO tolls in swell
while chatter of voices to hum.

Tables and chairs out at lunch
the parking here closed by six,
public holiday less of a crunch
echo of voices in phone sticks.

The hum of trams hover upon
child after a treat whines loud,
toward Autumn grey, roof wan
rain gathering to a wry shroud.

As trams echo carries on past
upon their patina a clatter too,
languages of street flying fast,
barista stirs his caffeine brew.

Waters embracing,
foam screen draught.

Reflecting galaxies,
shadows, cloud craft.

Nebulas surround,
brush colours palette.

Rainbow mirage,
imbibe histories ballot.

Heated cheese, gooey head
as screams writhing.
Voices cackle, sense long fled,
nails board scrape, fleece,
dry scything.

Metal taste in jaw arriving
of sharp magma lead.
World is bent as pitch striving,
hot, red muddle increase,
coals spread.

Head beating as jaw swoons,
vice builds steel grip.
Confusion by drugs flail moon,
as soprano screeches piece,
tune shred.

Sauce pan cooks on shoulder,
steam heats, thriving.
As ventures across my left ear,
in fingers of molten grease,
pile driving

Bed a moon shadow,
image grey crescent.

Your legs stretched,
taut, sleeping, bent.

Ears pricked sharp
cars morn disguise.

Hesitate to disturb,
pink gaze, sunrise.

Blonde hair swirl,
fine yellow straw.

Inks tattoo black,
in charcoal raw.

Eyes blink open,
red thread grain.

Reigns my plain,
fair lady, Spain.

Narcissist I


Money questions hidden in cultures
Instead of debates, we have the vultures
They will overspend whatever their budget
Destroy years hard work, their odour pungent

Often called users, epiphytes of highest order
Those that cannot earn sufficient to quarter
Or manage their own, so they use others
Spending, unfettered, is their druthers

Cannot accept responsibility for damage
Continue to feast on their host, they ravage
Hollowing out from inside, funds they suction
Weakening the structure for eventual destruction

And weakened, debates then start about savings
Too late, funds gone, too late for the cravings
Absent conversation, leaves a bad situation
Long ago, train of debate left the station

What we have now is death and decay
All caused by silence, as the vultures flay
It will not be long until they seek a new host
Just when their former home needs them most

So leave they will, to claw the next poor victim
Removing their talons of love and devotion
Moving on, leaving behind just carcasses
Warm used bodies, mark of a narcissist

Its darkest navy
seas onward bore
relentless as undercut
cliffs near the shore

not yet halted
as swarms up a beach
across bold sash
a deep golden crease

easy band of waves
reveals a carpet bare
vista though bold
in death and despair

being a combination
of life and movement
mix the colour which
is most verdant

green

Phones are bleeping,
as bell rings, gone age before.

Emails hit with bing,
as inbox sings, challenge raw.

People are hurrying,
as stride heavy, upon corridor.

Cars angry blaring,
as daze cast, expletives roar.

My space is glaring,
as corner table, trees restore.

Home foreswearing,
as serenity rules, office four.

Media is disintegrating.
Powerful Death Stars,
Internet smashed into
pieces of space junk,
floating meaninglessly.

Pale imitations of past
glories.  Instead, Blogs
and sensationalism are
bare distant relics of a
once proud profession.

How do you hint one needs help?
When you realise there is wrong

Where do you aim when seeking?
As there is injury within already.

Where to start as mood draining?
Know will darken scene further.

But others meant to be assisting.
When does a fixer help oneself?

In faint edge find a light breeze
cutting through the koel’s song,
bustle of cars in amongst trees
as thunder rebounds in among.

To mesh of blue and grey skies
confining as a hand knitted top,
lightning fizz in zipped disguise
street crowds shelters if shops.

Between vast European brands
add upon best Asia can supply,
there are centres more strands
for miles as if the crows did fly..

Porsches racing Lambos speed
noisily down a one way avenue,
passing small trucks soon freed
are carrying tens to open view.

While clouds clear in moments
now the people walking return,
a sun bold is drying pavements
once more tourists parts burn.

Resting in hidden on a branch
koel’s continue a pitch refining,
another nest to join to tranche
their calls, Singapore defining.

In life, journey upon challenges based,
some treatment within times design.

Limits surprise spirits often,
as resources when assigned.

Decades by hours grow,
overcome, consigned.

II

Treatment based in decades
as sometimes, hours design.

Within, challenges often grow,
surprise when limits assigned.

Upon spirits, journey overcome
by resources my life consigned.

Always say, hitchers be wary...

Rain drives eve, dark assassin
Pitied her, my new companion

Soaking wet in dress pale blue
Dropped her in Archer Avenue

Her shadow gone, in car though
Inside phosphorescently aglow

While clouds tumbled, chill scary
Had I driven Resurrection Mary?

Pastel of flowers sprayed
leaves a backyard harbour.

Shards of sunlight enrich,
as renews sleeping ardour.

Crescendo of insects hum,
in crickets, gnats and flies.

Skies soft rainbow palette
Winter's doldrums disguise.

From my window,
in corner of an eye,
see a pink flamingo.

Broad curves,
into familiar shape,
grounded legs,
Iron weighted.

Been there
for years,
quietly sitting,
amongst roses.

Pushed by storms,
changing winds,
yet surprising,
inner strength.

Retains balance,
keeps small piece,
staked out,
of much larger plot.

Slowly losing,
it's distinctive hues.
Dissolving,
fuchsia to palest pink.

Every family
has their own,
pale pink flamingo

A lie is a spark in a pine forest
as it dances a weave in fir needles.
Bright embers jump in the wind as
they warm the speaker.

And most, quickly, find their end.
Extinguished, small burnt patches.
Cold, dark hollows, black soot,
in distant groves of conversation.

In each patch remains a potential,
when the winds of argument rise
and in heat of a battle stoked,
of a runaway wildfire.

Deep searing heat burning all
as it careers into a forest roof.
Conflagration less, if prior
planned burns completed.

Hot air balloons,
brightly float past,
light intersects.

Cafe, olive green,
old rounded chairs,
flimsy tables.

On an antique maroon
espresso machine,
a wizened lady.

Slight, bent,
hair coloured light brown
against grey.

Wearing black,
Greek mourning dress.

Only shop open,
muffins fresh.

Coffee rich,
delicate.

An institution,
may poets never
be exiled.

Days beginning,
most important.
Plato's forum.

Glitters among a casing of gold
quartz are veins infused riven,
to welcome a stranger are writers
glitters the gift all seem given.

Sparkling the halls of ascent
promise as hail associations hence,
artistic endeavour rich in crazes
space lies between a barbed fence.

Crafted a virtual playground
distant so borders do not touch,
where vultures flying do roam
only created in dreams or such.

Descends a sense of unease
inside the quartz, wringing blood.
those welcomed are of difference
outsiders find their end in mud.

Tradition from a single nation
familiar as observe roles supine,
radical, a narrowness of thought
spout ever a complimentary line.

Precious metal naturally nuggets
then refined down to gold bars,
on the surface easy to miss
if defined an authoritarian parse.

And those that dare question
(as if in true art we are bound),
politely discarded to chambers
challenge lost in excuses found.

And as taken out of the group
noted the absence of noise,
originals have nuggets panned,
from the passing girls and boys.



.