took a bottle from the cupboard
then she tilted back his head
this meant trouble, he discovered
when she read out what it said

it said hazardous to health
twice as poisonous as bleach
keep it on the highest shelf
keep it out of children’s reach

treat like pepper spray or mace
or an acid that could maim
store it in a cool, dry place
and avoid all naked flames

the instructions then suggested
it could leave him stiff and pale
if by chance it was ingested
if by chance he did inhale

then its pungent, toxic odour
from its allergens, writ BOLD
burned his nose like caustic soda
made his nostrils yearn for cold

since the content seemed unstable
so she handled with a glove
but she let him read the label
and the word he saw was LOVE

held his nose and told him ‘swallow’
made him chug it in one go
and the pain was quick to follow
why she did it, hard to know

felt like acid ingestion
not a gentle warmth inside
so he asked the girl a question
‘is an antidote supplied?’

she said ‘there’s no medication
just a long and slow decline
there’s no cure or vaccination
you can only pray for time’

and that pain he still remembers
since his stomach’s still upset
just a pit of glowing embers
from that girl he can’t forget.

Take hold
my heart
upon the moon
as you dangle
down
a hot air
balloon
holding on
a silver string
carried along
a nightly swing
over the world
beneath
who’s dreams
are of hero’s
and of
better things
who’s hopes are high
in the sky
and in you
who come
floating by
to carry them
who need a lift
take hold my heart
as you drift
among midnight cries
you rise and save
take hold my heart
and be brave
and find the courage
to keep holding on
between moon and man
and holding strong

sometimes
on late thursday afternoons
when the day was longer
than the night expected
and the coffeepot emptied
before the first lunch break
when every inch of muscle hurts
most of all that one called brain
on days like that
in moments like these
there can be nothing more beautiful
than utter
silence

Nonsensical in speech
but with deeper understanding
you can follow my words
rise to the poet panting

For he stands and sits
upon those emblem crowns
gives emotion to listeners
adorned in silk gowns

You say I can't, you say "Don't!"
But I won't listen, my dear
Because I'm here to prove you wrong

You speak for the average
you guess I'm the majority
But have you ever though
I might be the exception?

The thing is,
we all have wings, my dear
but some of us
just don't know why

So speak for yourself, my dear
Shut your mouth. Sit back.
And watch my wings fly high
Watch me as I paint the sky!