that as you get older
the spirit in your head
doesn't.
did you ever think
you would ever get
to this age at all?
do you ever feel
too young
to be this old?
age just increases the gap
between our bodies
and the spirit in our heads
so what's the point of a number?
the spirit in my head
is still the child
it ever was.
how's yours?

if the furniture of your mind
all came from IKEA
if you have not
an original idea

if you think Ray Hadley
is your rough diamond Jesus
you are probably a far
cry from genius

if all you believe
and all you conceive
is Alan Jones
or 9 on the teev

if all that you've said
and all that you've heard
challenges not
and runs with the herd

if all that you've heard
and all that you've said
makes you
a derivative ditto head

think for a bit
and marshal a thought
test every idea
that you ever bought

run it up against
a value frame
does it work? Is it
worth your name?

do it with care
you know that you should
get a grip
on all that is good

you don't have to accept
swallow and follow
you alone can
make your tomorrow

break from the herd
all fears surmounted
be your own hero
stand up and be counted

"Pardon brevity"
says smart phone poet
just doesn't cut it
and they know it

with a love of words and
care for their composure
you are moved by one whose
craft gives you closure

so give us your muse
the essence of your stuff
don't hold back and know
when enough is enough

can anyone tell me
why East and West are fighting?
in an indisputably Round world
going West far enough
will put you in the East
and vice versa

in a round view of things
people of the east
need the same things
as people of the west
and what about the middle people?
what do they need?
roundly the same I'd say

so roundly I also say
otherness is to be avoided
otherness to be voided
replaced by roundness
roundness is to be embraced
all around the world

so I'll start
and put my arms around you
like a circle around the sun
for I am
as round as you

big moon
you transfix me with your gaze
you hold me in your eye
with your muted clarity
your simple mystery
your enigmatic answer
your reflective light
your seductive hypnotism
your soulful beam
you didn't tell me you were there
did you?
but I knew ..
because I can feel you

life is rich with chance to risk
with wonder and supposing
not to live and love in cliche
please stand clear doors closing