Sitting under an ancient tree
surrounded by that decreasing degree
deep in his heart the six year old boy knew
it was going to rain
the sky has hinted with grey clouds
the birds have silenced as if
feeling the child's pain

He was lost in the jungle bush
not to give you a tremble
he was not in real danger apart from starvation
and attacks from all of creation
nothing major
He was supposed to be home by the beach for lunch

He sat there straining his ears for hope
and heard the faintest whisper
it was the sound of a rushing water
dad always said every beginning has an end
so does a river
The rain was coming
The wind was blowing
and the boy had drawn a plan in his mind
follow the river until the end
Run the river Outrun the rain

And like the Olympians warming up for a final
the boy splashed in the water feet all wet
all the while repeating the same words
Run the river Outrun the rain
by the time he reached the beach
The river did the rains job
The boy hung his head without looking up

On the beach was his grandfathers house
the boy looked at his scars from the run
and smiled he had tried to outrun the rain
he trod the beach weakly looking at the smoke
rising from the house
he caught a whiff of coconut milk heated in flames
The smile remained the stomach complained
oh The memories of Rivers and Rain

Do you suppose the earth is round?
do you suppose all birds make the same sound?
to know we need evidence
i met an old woman the other day
she was a wriggly old thing sitting by the bay
I'm sure she's never known how to use e-bay
she had a camera and was staring,
staring at the last ray of the sunset

somewhere in the mist of her thoughts
she spoke to me of how wonderful nature is
how every living thing strife to survive
to evolve and exist and keep on existing
That was her evidence
I guess we have to live long enough
to see the world in a different perspective
to that i was nonobjective

she stood up and bid me farewell
after our conversation
and left me to my thoughts
i took a deep breath calmed my thoughts
and spoke quietly to myself
what a wise old woman

Have you ever gazed upon the sea
and wonder how magnificent it is
i have
i love the sea
maybe cause i live in the south pacific
the way the tides sway to the rhythm
of the wind
that sweet bitter scent of the sea breeze

I read that the highest mountain is under the ocean
three times taller than Everest
can you imagine if a fish gives you a notion
that the sea is similar to  the land?
I'd believe
the conviction and impression would change your perception
that's how much i love the sea

I
Have decided
to build my own house
i know it will take a lot of planning
first the material then the budget and the timing
I can picture it in my mind
I'll have big parties so wild
that when i do have a child
I'll be a legend in his eyes
The legendary self reliant
old man who build a house
strictly for partying nothing else
we'll be partying from dusk till dawn night til morning.