I came upon Neruda today,
laying open, catching the sun
Just sitting there on the old  wooden bench

Much loved and well thumbed,
spine broken, ringed a dozen times
with tea, coffee, goodness know what..

That lugubrious face, staring sightlessly
out into, the world...

and my thoughts, drifted,  to you,
my friend, whose voice I never heard
but knew the passion of the writer,
He Pablo, was one of your heros..
and as I flicked through the beauty
of words, so emphatic and beautiful
so sublime, so masterfully crafted.

I paused and smiled, thinking of
you and he sitting on a park bench
on some other plane....
discussing words and their worth...

I left Neruda there to captivate
another mind and heart....

and went on my way...
somewhat
lighter of heart....

I've got your kids
I've got your wife
in a stranglehold
I've got your life

I've got your joy
I've got your smile
I'll take it all
in a small while

I'll take it all
in a measure of time
through the splits
in your heart
and the cracks
of your mind

I'll mask all your grief
with a tiny white pill
I'll set your loved ones
free
once you lay still

I've got your family
I've got your friends
they were easier to
persuade
the feelings should end

I've got your hopes
your wishes, your dreams
locked inside a prison
crafted by you, it seems

I've got your mentality,
your morality,
your questionable
standing within society
so, don't dally
What's it to be?

Signed

**Your Anxiety

we think we understand gravity
we think it is weak
we assume some apples will fall

in fields of much less colour
the sound is flatter
the leaves are damper

gravity hangs too heavy on some
heavier than we think on some
or admit on some

it is natural to reduce it
we all know a guy who says
some apples just fall ka-plunk

and that's gravity   get over it!
knowing we can't actually
get over it

not really!
I know a guy who thinks
gravity works in multiple dimensions

and we can only account
for part of its strength
so the rest remains felt but unseen

That would explain the dimmer light
the clenched off drowning of sound;
that would explain this half-lit world!

the blurred nerves  in the going of motion…
I have adjusted accordingly.
I have a skeleton crew

to keep things ticking over
so I can take the weight
of all those other places.

it's licking at my toes
eventually it will
consume me
who knows?
what will burn away
with my sanity?
Sure, it will take my flesh
it will even steal
my last breath
But who knows!
If my bones don't go
I'll forever be
just another skeleton
in your closet
for all to see
When you open it
to hang the cloaks
of the ones that strip
for you
it's not jealousy
Only the fire
can cleanse
*you of me

I'll hold your soul whilst you are sleeping
When star light beckons for a home
When friends are there but your left yearning
When you cant find a way back home*

We can sit drink coffee
And chat awhile
Or get drunk on red wine
And go the whole mile
Soul seeking
Life stripping friendship
And a need to connect

Blow away the blue skies
Darkness is comfortable
And I can't hold my eyes above my chin today

Hold tight sister brother
Breathe and tell
Rid yourself from the burden of the pain you carry
If only for a while

You have shared your
Naked flesh
Naked heart
Now unclothed your soul

In blood and flesh
You reside
In mind and soul
You will remember

*Come sit awhile
The star dust is falling
And you are safe here within
The sanctity of connection