I was reading a book on mindful compassion
but I fell asleep

I had good intentions
but something better came up

I went to Vipassana meditation
but a **** broke my focus

I went on a 5-2 fast
but I had to finish the plate

I made a New Years resolution
that fell into dissolution

I had a healthy constitution
till I found a lazy solution

Once I was undecided
but now I'm not so sure

I thought I had climbed every mountain
but have never climbed Mount Druitt

I thought I had all the answers
but never really knew it

I thought I was young and fit
till a girl offered me a seat

I thought I was in demand
but nobody rang

I sat in a "quiet" carriage
but announcements left silence in carnage

I'm not a racist
but ...

each moment is golden
not to be squandered on worry
that is to say
action from a good heart
is all
with a good heart
as a foundation
then spontaneous action
will be kind to people
be for a greater good
or just express love
without fear, suspicion or rivalry
then moments will count
and a person can be joyously light
living in gratitude
of each golden moment

here I am
there you are
hope there to here
is not too far

again time
has moved on
without my permission
leaving me here
older
and full of wonder
about
what I don't know

in a world
where any shopping mall
is just like all
when we all
worship Paul
when pervasive banality
and conformity
leaves me
in a sea
of mediocrity
you give me
a reason to be
happy
sweet pea

sometimes I stop at you
and look
with eyes of grateful wonder
your spirit still all shiny
yet you are still here with me

yes  some things aggravate
but why should they, if unsurprising?
they shouldn't really get to me
it's  your different way of singing

well-seasoned are my campaigns
i've loved and lost a few
i come with all my baggage
to be here with you

i think that I am blessed
and live by this adage
happy with a playful angel
not being unaccompanied baggage

screen obsession
has taken possession
our lives are not our own
we spend all our time
looking down
at laptop or smart phone
why do we need
the data feed
at every living moment
perhaps we could learn
to ditch the phone
and just think of what the day meant?

east of the sunset
stands our house
there and west of the dawn
are seven seas
to sail our ships
for we are the vagabonds
I believe in the wonder

It's here again
more gentle light
a welling of spirit
the urge to move
limbs eager to
gambol and play
the song of birds
senses soaring
green growth
erupting sunward
blooms posing
both with flowers and people
my heart is singing
my outlook sunny
I feel like making
love to life

life is the sequel
after Mum and Dad
******* into existence
you go on each day
busy in your sentient head
but your body is naturally
drawn to others to ****
whether you are seeking
to shoot ***** *****-ward
or milk it toward yours
it is our primal procreation push
oh yes we are sentient beings
who are very clever in contriving
higher purpose for our existence
in denial that
we are basically here to ****
while we do crosswords
or sudokos
in between time

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