You bundled into our lives from a land far away
But it didn’t make it any less special
You’re ours to celebrate

You’re a perfect little tot popped out a most beautiful being
So how could we love you any less?
That’s just not

And just because you’re far out there
So some things we’ll suffer not to share
It doesn’t mean that we any less care
No way

So long as now and then
We meet on Skype time again
I hope you’ll know I’m me
Your Auntie Kirsty
She or Orange and a little crazy
But no less part of your loving family

The part that’s all the way over here
Too far, not at all near
Yet still loving you more each year
As we watch you grow from far away
Waiting for the day when with you we’ll get to play
With anything

For I’ll play with whatever you enjoy
And whether that’s a toy
Or imagination
I promise we’ll have loads of fun
Be that in our cold or in your sun

You see you get the best of both
Given by your Mum and Dad
The world is yours to be had
On both its’ sides you’ve heaps of love

Only difference is
At this end it calls a need for gloves

A man of no worries
Of no definite plans but discovering
To meet new places and new beings

A man of few belongings
Just the necessities to exist in a transient life
Picking up pieces of those he meets on the way

A man who makes friendships
Then offers opportunity to create special memories
With his modest experience of life on foreign ground

A man who lives in a small space but sees vast land
Accompanying others to view it as freshly
As he first ever did see

He’s a man who gives and shares
But doesn’t ask for and needn’t take

Because he’s a man who lives contently
In a way we wish we could embrace
But perhaps would not manage alone

A man who leaves us wondering
What will be of Adam number 2

It was a momentary meeting
In which I confessed all
When prompted by his probes
So much was shared
In a shortage of time
Knowing it would no further go
I let him read my words
He an active audience to his subject studied
Lay no judgment upon my sole
In our temporary togetherness
We spoke as trusted friends
Covering topic acquaintance need not know
He knew me well for that moment
For we shared past and present
And played with ponderings of future
With no pretence to ever know
Because the moment passed
And we moved on

You move in slow motion
Like there’s no urgency
Yet you cause a commotion
When Muzungo pass you in the street

You speak so softly
We miss what you’re saying
Until we enter town centre
Where you expect us to be paying

It’s contradictory
We sometimes are relaxed
Welcomed and absorbed

But the stress picks up heat
When we’re heckled
Grabbed and yelled at

Yet somehow even with this invite
We never want to leave

I’m anti-socialising the recent activity
That has seen me living liberally
Quite ridiculously

So now I sit in a bar of beauty
Hanging too much in the heat
To bother with speech

I wonder why
Just recently
I’ve been inspired
To make
Poetry

Be it bad
And randomly
Not following
structure
I’m sure the laurette would go mad

But hey **
I’d let them know
I didn’t mean to
Words just came easily
It just happened
So
Anything written
By silly me
Is simply just
Because
I am happy

just there in rhyme
words led me astray
To an answer
I didn’t think to find
Quite so hastily
or in this way
but that is it
this helps me say
things that sit
deep in my mind
without realising

that is why

You can leave your mark here but it wont last long
Winds continual movement spreads a sheet of sand upon
And within minutes your footprints are gone
You were just a mere one
Atop quadrabingle trillion little silky pieces
Held firm and strong
Solid so to stand upon
But still swept in motion of airs light weight
To yonder dune top for clinging on
And another gust carries a distance long
This topcoat surface is a transient one
But structure it shapes is still so strong
Thousand billion gazillions little strength holds like scaffold
And form strength together as one

Atop an Orange van driving through the jungle
Journeying toward Ugandan Safari
Heads skimming branches and hanging leaves
And above us super sized spiders held between the trees

Up-tailed Pumbas dash into the unknown
where branches are tangled within themselves
and cacti are dressed with vines like a curtain
giving lives some security from the hunters hidden within

Nearing the fall the redness of soil shines shards of diamond
like the confetti of angels
Whilst the deathly currents are gushing a fierce calming
the spray saturates us in a welcome cooling
as we view the hanging rainbow of bliss

The journey continues with our legs dusted in glitter of the earth
and wind blowing the wet from our skin
A knock delivers generous giving’s of green
And we listen to an orchestra of nature
welcome us to the scene of Africa as it should be

Within the park we’re stunned by stretching scenery
Raw Africa as far as eye can see
Afront us a distance of still Savannah
Yet life roams within in abundancy

Of which life we’re left wondering
As we reach the camp of the red chilli
our favourite taste of beer greets us
So sitting back we see the sun sinking
Whilst man builds for us shelter to sleep in

Next morn rises early setting out for sightings
And we watch the red-hot sunrise upon the Nile
The light catching glistening ripples of water
and the painted sky reflecting onto the hippos habitat

Our first taste of the wildlife we wish to see
Their faces skim the wet shallows
and occasionally rise to gather gasps of air
Father and child fight for hierarchy
And we’re excited to witness the creatures’ honesty

Across the water atop Betty life feels complete
Without doubt there’s no better place to be
Chapati and egg breakfast with wind in our hair
whilst we look for movement of life amongst the trees
Our faces stretched with permanent grins of glee

It’s so quiet we can hear the grasses rustling
The tempo set by the crickets chirruping
Interrupted only by spontaneous sound of birds singing
And whistles of romance as the winged ones are wooing
Peace is so perfectly performed it’s mesmerising

Of animals and birds we encounter many
The signatory Kob prance elegantly upon the heath
and dodge road collision at the last minute
Reminding us that this land is theirs
Pace needn’t pander to our presence

We catch glimpses of mongoose scarpering into bushes
And guinea fowl following the leader as they dot along the roadside
Kingfishers fluttering flirts in the skies above us
then make a sudden swift dive for feed in the ground beneath

The giraffe stand still like statues
all pointed toward the sun like proving a point of endurance
Determined not to let us see them run
While the birdlife exceeds expectations
as we score sight of spoonbill feeding breakfast in the lily littered lake

We meet herds of buffalo grazing
whilst birds peck the pests from their backs
proving every part of nature has its’ purpose
And making their bulky weight appear as no threat

The queens of the food chain are found chilling modestly in the shade
ignorant of our privilege for close proximity
Unfazed by vehicles gathering in view of her public rarity
she relaxes comfortably at roadside so calm she’s almost cuddly

Upon the Nile we witness wildlife washing
Flumps are cooling in the muddy waters
Ears flapping whilst feeding on the grasses of the riverbank
oblivious to the still and sinister crocs waiting within for prey to pass
their jaws held open ready to strike a snack

The blazing heat and gentle motion leaves passengers falling into sleep
But they willingly wake to view the gushing falls of Murchison
cascade down the rock front separating the hills of pure luscious green
and creating current for driver to fight so to journey back safely
Not become another story of tragedy

Then as we wait to board the boat back
Baboons come hither to hunt our rucksacks
To spite their unwanted paparazzi
They help themselves to our belongings greedily
Mother carrying child throughout the robbery

In two days atop Betty and water we’ve been enriched with excitement
and opportunity to see so many new beings
Route home passes Ziwa meeting the endangered rhino species
And we share time with Obama and his protected family

Our last portion of pleasure is hopeful
as we watch the bulky beasts live life naturally
in a sanctuary maintained by committed rangers
who help us follow their motion so closely
we see them soak and scratch their skin

Then back in Betty we have one last long journey
that takes us back to our dreaded reality
of a working week back in capital city
We’re sad but glad to hold a memory
of what was a fantastic fateful opportunity

Betty
Gives me cake
Of the homemade kind.
And
Sometimes
We make the cake
It all depends
On how she shakes.
Sometime’s
It’s so bad she can not move
She can not talk. Only cry
It’s painful, distressing, morbid and weary
It makes her wish to die
And then
Other times
We bake
We clean
She is back to
Her role as wife.
You wouldn’t know
That
She hates life

These two aches of mine
Need not be felt
But dare to distort my vision
Removing all rationality
So I'm squirming in angst
And inane anger for even trivia

I'm boiling in bitterness
As they curdle pananoia
And brew me with tension
Tainting me with madness
My thoughts can't be trusted for now
And I've no time for trusting

So stay safely away
Or be wise to forget
To remember me today
Or for the next few
For these bggers haunt me
And steal sense and reason

Leaking all logic away
I'm punished by my own fertility
So try desperately to hold strength
And let it be known no offence meant
I but bleed bitchiness
But believe me it's not me

Excuse not made fairly
But these bstards don't play fair
So know for now
I know I'm beyond difficult
And in temporary madness
But at least my womb works

It's your birthday
And you've not hit the hey
Yippee, horay?
Shall we celebrate?
But no
Not with cake
Not now
Or again ever for you
So should we really be cheering?

Wheeling our way around the continent
On an eight wheeled whistlestop tour
We sample cities with bite-sized sightings
But our bites are big because it's our choice to make
Walking in wonder until even wheelchair weakens
And our legs are limp from exploratory ache
​
And our bites are big because also
We share the same love of sampling food
So we get a daily dose of deliciousness
Healing our hunger with what locals bake
Too much temptation here to watch waistlines
We want to try every traditional taste
​
And our bites are bigger come tea time
Once we've crossed country again by day
From breakfast we watch out the window
And wander new place on the way
Miles mounting high on the dashboard
On our mission for mobility's sake
​
And so we've had a big bite of Europe
Big bite and plenty bites each day
These bites are teasing our tastebuds
We want more world at a later stage
​

It took a ten point turn with a trailer to get here
But after ringing roses around each other
Around and around the bends of the bush
The reasons why were made so clearly
When we were to make new home
Our shaded shelter to save us scorching
And within walking reach of tide
And so we commence a life sublime
Home upon wheels erects so shortly
And the best help I can give
Is to sit here and enjoy myself
Tough life felt as freedom repeats in my ears
My bush family treating them to their sublime sounds
Though denying my withdrawal we do Ron Ronnie
And so I punish my lungs
But please myself
With beverage we watch the waves curling
And the sun sinking
Reclined on a hot stone seat
Simply living out life's treats
Then suddenly Sara felt the southernly
And so wine tasting moved back home
Where divine racks so generously shared
And we talk allsorts until the stars are shown
Next day spent content in my own aura
Deciding where best to be idol
As there's no effort in anything here
Later hearts are opened upon the rocks
Whilst we fathom full year risen
But with no known destination
A wondering quarry of confusion
But not now to disturb us greatly
For now we are too content to much care
​

Can't be here and there
Not if we don't try
Can't even correlate time
Not now can anything be together
Whilst you hold that thought
You lost me before you let me in
So you can't carry my weight anymore
Or choose to spend your strength elsewhere
So sure for self security
That you can't counterbalance love
But can't hold distance practically
Needs nurture and patience
So if this future you speak of
Has any hope for us
It needs to be wanted
Needs to know it's worth waiting for
And to accomplish compromise
But whilst your mind's yours
I can't make a non-believer believe

So soft and squishy
I'm invited
To roll you
Make angels in your comfort
And stretch out softly

But not so nicely
You'd land me
Fall right through
Freeze on route
And have crash landing

So spoilt with space
You cloud me
Drowned with choice
And deluded by opportunity
Stay grounded to survive

Possessed with a pain like no other
Rationality decays
And i'm dying from the inside
Like acid in my throat
It's a gag that I can't hold
Sickness spread beyond my stomach
Overtakes my veins
It lives me here
So each breath hurts
​
I'm yearning that you take the pain
Yearning that you come back to me
Come back to me
Else take me down with the plane
​

I wish I could count the trees
Right here in front of me
Tree upon tree upon tree
How many just baffles me

Reliving last night because living today hurts too much
Tidying the remnants of what was
Utter ecstasy and pure bliss
Time spent with brilliant people
Vigorous dancing using every muscle to the max
The dream of a hedonistic socialite was lived
And every moment felt like it counted

Today it’s as if we were gifted
But now have all the wrapping to tidy up
No amount of Detol could put it right
Nag Champa only masks the pollution
And Happy Hippy can only wash away the accessories

The engravings of disgrace remain felt
We need a deep clean
But exhausted our energies on the mess
We’re stewing in our own filth wishing for some pro-activity

It’s like picking up grains of sand with a pair of tweezers
But the sand is glitter, feathers and ash
And the sea is beer, cocktail and jelly
Reliving the memories takes the edge off
Because the pain of today is justified
Words can’t speak the pleasure experienced
And the pleasure is relived as we reminisce
This day of suffering will end
But will retain the happiest of joyful memories
Unforgettable and never to be cleaned away

Did you know that where you were born the water goes down the plughole in the other direction?
I don’t suppose you do know because you’re still rather small.
And also, why would you have noticed?

Did you know that you were born somewhere with no reason to fear spiders?
That although ugly their bites would cause no harm
And also that you were born to a land with no koalas?

Did you know that the sun didn’t feel as much heat where you were born?
That people wore wetsuits to go in the sea
And beaches were more often walked down than lay upon?

I hope that this you do know
And that now you’re there you know to play in the sand
And feel your feet in the sea

Did you know that where you were born people barbequed only in the summer?
And in winter where you were born snow fell and lakes froze?
You’ve seen snow before, did you know?

Did you know that where you were born there’s no eucalyptus or kangaroos?
What we do have is squirrels, badgers and bulldogs
And a lot of cold rain

Did you know that you’ve been to the queens house?
Have you noticed that the Queen makes you seem nearer?
Because even with the distance our Queen is your Queen
We can both call her ‘The Queen’

Did you know that when you were born Mummy was more worried about losing your woolly hat than wearing sunscreen?
It was so cold where you were born that Mummy couldn’t feel her fingers
And Daddy always wore jeans

I bet you didn’t know that where you were born people ate yogurt and pasta
That yoagurt and parsta were not spoken of
And people asked how you were, not how you were going?

Did you know you lived your first year in a country the whole world was looking at?
You probably don’t remember the Jubilee or Olympics
But you were here whilst the world was watching

There’s a lot of things you might not know
But one day you’ll realise perhaps you did know
For just because you’re upside down now
We’re still here
And we hold your memories of the land where you were born

But meanwhile whilst you’re there
We’ll be loving you
Which is really no different all the way over there
Than it is here, where you were born

Your land is red decorated with green
And your people are fascinated by me
Because I am Mzungo
White skinned with fair straight hair
Which presents a surprising similarity
Whilst your soil and trees impress me
Our differences reflect a common interest in the other

I am an orange disco ball
But not to be span in a hall
My venue is the great outdoors
A field dressed with music, and more
No boundaries to the dancefloor
Tonight I will spin spin spin
After a loooonnnnnggg awaited drink
No guilt
For I deserve this disco

​The city lost in love or simply sold to consumerism
Is as heartfelt as each petal slowly curling to a drooped fall
These flowers mean love like blue means cold
We want them because it's what we're told
And he buys them because he'll lose lust tonight otherwise
Yes one day they might together grow old
But not because of today this gesture given
The gift that conforms is not so bold
No strength built in surrender to society
Trust not earned in prompted acts of endearance
And respect for independence is gone
For a life lived by public calendar is not yours
So whose thoughts do those roses hold?

I've not forgotten
Your sound so playful
When your fingers own the keys
And their touch teases me
I still hold your weathered hands
Cherish the break they give to me
And I see your smile daily
The gaze of your colour confused eyes
Great me when I wake still
So hug me tight like ever
And a world wide cuddle
Will reach me
So long as you believe
Even with my wings spread
I am yours

Have you heard
Of ol' Dox Bird?
If not then go and find him!
He'll make you laugh
He'll make you think
He's sure to get you singing
All he knows he'll give you
All he has he'll share
He's a man
Does all he can
To make your life be winning

Breathing deeply
Or sleeping slightly
Lazy as this room
So who knows?
If he is dreaming
Or his mind is steaming
On exhale

lazy day
my favourite day
no stressful work left
in my way
of letting loose
and being free
from all the work
that comes with
my degree

so what next?
well let’s just see
for once I can
let things just be
and whatever happens
will come naturally

for I don’t care
just one day now
this day
my favourite day
is just for me

One
Two
Miss a few
Ninety Nine
One Thousand
Words till we meet
Well twice that
Then you come to me
To my new place
Makes my nerves race
You’re new to my bed
But already in my head
And in my thoughts
So I hope not to be a bore
I’ve not before
When we’ve met outside
So why do I now need *****
To keep the nerves inside
I need not hide
You know me
Well at least more than he
Who last I shared
But that’s the point
This time I care

Fluffy for what you are we wait
And we’ll wait for you need not come with haste
Now but a bump to hide mummy’s toes
Yet you’re more than that Fluffy
Inside much more of you grows
A whole little person
Little boy or a girl
That we don’t really need to know
So long as you’re safe and sound
And Mummy’s face still glows
We trust you Fluffy
You’ll come with hands, feet and toes
It’ll all just be smaller
From your knees to your nose
Little learnt lungs and happy heart we hope
We’re sure when you come it’ll all be just so
You’ve had the time to get it right it right
As this started some nine months ago
So we’ve waited until you push and kick
And now you can begin your fight
Because little Fluffy the time has come
In fact it’s late Mummy feels your hics
But now you’re here oh so quick
So hello there little man
Welcome to the world
You’ve joined us in our land
And came perfect-
Face, feets and hands
So hello little man
Our little Magnus
You’re Fluffy no more

There's a fly in my eye
But inside he waits to die
There's a fly in my ear
But yet inside he wonders
Will he live another year?
There's a fly up my nose
But he has not enough time
To watch his grandchildren grow
All these flies in my hair
I'm not sure I even care
Flies all over me
But I'm here because I'm free
He's here because he's dying
But slowly slowly dying
Watching his body fail him
Function leaving limb by limb
He doesn't even know about the flies
Not anymore
Because he doesn't go outside
No his life is best inside
Whilst it's still with him
Which is why he waits
For it to end

I broke my promise
Not to love again
So now I've lost my logic
Taken when you trampled me
Blinded by pain I can't see sense
The ache takes my breath away
And I'm not so sure I need it
For my minds too messed up
I'm broken because I'm still believing
Knowing your lips are lying
With no shield to your eyes
They say it all to me
Yet not enough from there
Pushed away but no further from you
Waiting with hope to switch off
Then wishing not to love again
For this I'm too fragile

Sat here feeling sorry for myself
Like a girl's got flu
Though I've had the jab
So this cannot be true
​
Now the embers flake
Because I'm burnt at both ends
I lie looking for sympathy
And some kind of mend
​
So pity me please
It hurts and it aches
My sinuses hate me
This flu is not fake
​

In the lowalnds in the humid heat
Lushious green landscape strikes me
And the Amazon greets

Upon its' murky water I float
Whilst a bright butterfly furiously flutters
Like to keep up with our boat

Looking into the jungle upon the shore
Hunting birds are circling above
A hint that there lives more

And sprinkles of colour season the trees
A sample of the inner variety
In front me is countless species

That's a sad story over there
Hand held tightly in her hair
Last night hanging on
And she's hanging
Hanging onto the pain
Wanting it to go away
But suffering all the same
​

Have you seen the wombat?
He's chewing on the grass
We wanders around the camp posts
Using them to scratch his ****

Have you seen the wallaby?
They're right outside the door
Don't mind to have an audience
Whilst they graze upon the floor

Have you seen the padimelon?
She's outside amongst the bush
With her baby in her pouch
You can watch them if you shush

Have you seen the possum
And heard them heard them have their fight?
There're out there causing trouble
They'll be playing by the night

Have you seen the humans?
All wrapped up nice and dry
They think they live in nature
But to nature this is a lie!

I’m heading west and I’ll tell you why
I’m young and the world’s still mine
Last chance whilst I’m not tied
And West has caught my eye

Where to go was hard to choose
This world of mine is rather huge
So listening to other people views
South America suits me, so why not Peru?!

One stop there I have to make
The Inca trail, and not a fake
So I booked it first, even before the plane
A starting point to lead the way

Flights further west frequent from Chile
So that decision made more easily
And then with Bolivia’s close proximity
My route was made clear to me

The finer details I’m still unsure
The options are vast of which I’m allured
Spoilt for choice of landscape and more
No part of this continent will be a bore

Except perhaps the time spent on roads
Long distance between places that I’ll go
And doing it all whilst alone
My own head may become too well known

I’ve written a route but expect it to change
As I meet new people along the way
Stories of experiences will lead me astray
Or personalities might hold me for an extra day

This is the beauty of this trip
All the decisions are in my grip
And although daunted by the Spanish lip
Independence will force me a learning hit

I’ll tick some boxes of my bucket list
Some of which I know I wont miss
Lone travel, new language-even if just bits
Volcanoes, salt planes, surfing-they’ll be blitzed

Then further west I’ll be on my way
To meet my family for that special day
Hear new words my niece has learnt to say
And meet her little sister, for which I cannot wait

But before they show me their new home
Up the coast of their country I shall roam
Starting Sydney where I’ll be stunned I know
Then toward where all the hippies go

After Father Christmas has been
And they’ve shown me all that must be seen
And fed me plenty barbeque supreme
The West of Aus is where I’ll next lean

Here I’ve more family ready to meet
And a New Year for us to greet
My uncle will keep me upon my feet
Showing me places that make their life neat

These chances I’m so lucky to take
Though I miss them so and it does ache
At least they all live in a wondrous place
And happily share with me all that is great

But it doesn’t quite end there
There’s more the world has to share
So to make the most of my fare
I’ll touch down in Bangkok to taste Thai air

And although I wont have long to lurk
I’ll squeeze in sights the city serves
It depends on when I am due to start work
For at some point it’s time I became a nurse

But even that I look forward to
I love my job and what I do
And at least the role is not all new
I know it but my responsibilities’ have grew

By this time I’m sure to say
I’ll be in desperate need of pay
So although I’ll be living back in gray
I’ll be glad when a salary comes my way

Breakfast salt served with honey on
Is a surprising treat to my tastebuds
So I'm looking forward to lunch
When honey hits the spot so perfectly
Who thought meat would take it so well?
So tough choice to make come tea
With what to take this condiment?
It's too versatile
All I know is
Tea will be served sweet
​

These words feel all too small
As thanks for your kind gift of all
With you wellcome comes with ease
What's yours is ours if we please
You've shared with us your perfect home
And taught us of the land you know
The food, the beds it's all been great
But more than that you've been our mate
And our first sight of kangaroo
We'll remember was all thanks to you
So I think we've had a lot of fun
As you'll hear in our happy hum
Now how to thank you I don't know
But I hope these few words will show
Of all the hosts you've been the best
And the best Bob we'll never forget

Morning rose early to sunshine bright
And heat perfused air
Cooking already
When skins still imprinted from bedsheet
The grooves need covering with cream
But before sun even rises much more
A new found company come provide a chilling green
And so nearly back to sleep
But for now this relentless speech
Which he wont hinder even for honest hints
When I tell him my minds dreaming
He lingers on still
But in this heat I'm chilling
I wouldn't know how not to here

If I hadn't had to go
You may have opened
If you had not had ambition
You may have joined me
But I may not have felt it
If you could be stronger
We could try our best
But if it's just me trying
It won't work
If I came home for you
Your pressure would grow
If we carried on
You'd miss me
I'd miss you
But not forever
If you joined me
We could have our adventure
If you wanted me more
If it's the end
We'll miss each other
Just for longer
With added pain
If I could convince you
To believe
It would be different
But it shouldn't take convincing
You should know
No matter if I'm here
Or if you're there
I'm worth waiting for
If not
You're right
It's over

I question how they took the trail here
How many men it took
And did many die trying

I question their strength
Are they a breed of superhuman?
To build such weight at this height

I would question why here
If the views did not speak the answer already
And for knowing their mountainous belief

But how is my biggest question
Just really how did they make it possible
For this path should fall to its' death

I give the Incas questions
But moreover I give them my greatest respect

I’m sorry I ever doubted you
For now not even a punctured tyre would dampen my spirit
I literally love life whilst I’m living you
These days cycling through the city I feel like I belong
And I’m privileged
By the prestigious and historic buildings that I encounter on my route
Each one its’ own reason
And corresponding people who represent it’s intent
The city shows an eclectic display of cross matched personalities and purpose
The game is to guess whose disguise defines them
And who wishes they worked differently

I thank the Thames for the bridges
As I pass over and view the landmark tower
A structure whose presence I envy
And who tourists flock to see
Not even tourists blindly stepping in front to gather perfect snapshot souvenir
Can bother me today
I relish the feeling that this place I’ve made home
Is somewhere so many people save toward just so they can see
It impresses them but it truly treats me

It’s days like these I love you stronger
The sun shining a blue backdrop to the cityscape
Not even traffic can temper me
I love you and the life your offer me
For now I’m where I’m meant to be

So scratchy I'm squirming
By the sound of your insescent itch
I lay irritated and feeling involved
With the insescent tickle on your torso
As if it were my own skin crawling
With an irritant I can't eradicate
But insist on trying
So still scratching Insescently
I struggle to scratch the itch of numbness
And lay listening to your insistence to persist
​

He spoke in not quite sentences
His speech held in ****** muscles
All polite and kind
But lacking the sense of communication
So even though we share a language
Now my ears could not make sense of his words
And his mind is unsure of whether I heard
So he took me to his level
And I found the place his mind was
Then woke next day
Wondering where it was

Lust like jelly inside
Wibble wobble when we touch
When your hand brushes mine
A lost feeling
One I can't decide
Losing myself
Hysteria
But not so refined
Myself plus more
Contentment when with you
When we're entwined
​
But for fear of disapointment
Too much too soon
Someone only just knew
Yet feels right
Enough now for me
This the same for you?
Let us brew
Please
Let us wait this jelly
And see what can be grew
​
​
​
​

I knew that I’d come here
And that I’d nurse here
But not what the work would involve
Or what it would miss

I should have known
That this would be like a home
My companions would be like a family
And that I’d make friendships I’d miss

But I didn’t know
I would be so afraid of leaving
Wondering how to return to what my life was
Having forgotten the things I thought I’d miss

Probably because of now knowing
It’s been more unforgettable
And something I wish to relive
A place I am truly going to miss

I’m just glad to have known Uganda
So intimately and realistically
Absorbed in work and local culture
Those things that just tourists miss

Hair tied tightly back into a bun
Ears naked of jewellery
For today it is on me whom they depend
My every action has an impact upon their being
Our body contact to be distant
Yet requires touch to reach their needs
Words to be spoken with consideration
And some sentences need to be withheld

My hair tangled and decorated
They sight me by my orange markings
Expectant of excited energy they embrace me
Intertwining our pleasure with no physical boundaries
With them I speak brutal honesty
Perhaps curse words will expel me
For with them I’m me
Some sentences need not be finished

It doesn’t matter how my hair is
They’ve seen it all before
Although sometimes they say too much is shared
I can’t help but speak comfortably
After all they are a part of me
Which is why even with my piercings they’ll care for me
They knew me before orange when I was raw
Some sentences need not even be said

Those words he spoke
Were his last
Not for now
Forever
It is my unfortunate privilege
To be the first to hear
Given to me before time
The time being
Once he is dead

His hands have failed
So he shares me his tongue
Whilst it hangs on
We should never have met
But now I am his accessory
So he gives me honesty
Breaks me his fears
Confesses his feelings
Not for me
I am just a stranger
A stranger he needs
So to give his family
His last chance of love

This isn't you

Or it's not meant to be

For why you've gone you wont say

Not saying a thing anymore

Don't I deserve to know why?

Instead I speculate

But nothing makes sense

Unless you're not you

Who I thought

So this I should be surely glad to know

Whilst my heart is still mine

Though on loan to you it is not yet life long

From now I start to switch it off

So in six months if you decide to speak

Don't expect me to be me

Little by little we thought we’d wait
But you’d sooner a grand entrance to make
Even before Mummy took maternity break
Yes you came little
It gave Daddy the shakes!
So little man
You’re already here
So everything’s smaller
Your toes to your ears
Your little legs kick
And your little lungs we hear
Little but perfect
And one thing is clear
Your love is not little
Oh no It’s not!
There’s many of us love you
And we love a lot!

Living the dream and living the cliche
On route around the world
Ticking boxes off the bucket list
And collecting souvenirs
A poncho in Peru
Bag in Bolivia
Charm in Chile
Amber skin in Australia
A tatoo in Thailand
And bandaged bruises in Bangkok
Living in the moment
Helped me do it all
​