New Tricks

We remember the old tricks we played
Climbing on rooftops
Kicking down doors
Scratching our face in the hospital mirror
With a shiny sharp stone
We were strong then
In weakness we found freedom
Climbed to the top of the bridge
The rain on our skin
Music in our head
We were alive
Full of electrons and energy
We ran
Drank water from pipes
Sang a song
Twinkle
Twinkle
Little star
They held our arms
Put a pillow on the window
I wanted to thump it
But could not get free
We still feel him
Watching us
We still think of him
How could we not
We have to learn new tricks
Start again
It is hard to find the energy to change
But we must
Perhaps we can find a new path
Whilst remembering the past.

Crystal

The crystal ring
Shines in the noon day sand
We are alone
Starting a new dream
The lounge is empty and beige
We barely sit there any more
We check our pulse
It is steady and constant
A gentle pump of blood and water
The stone shimmers
Still and fixed
We dare not blink
Miss a second or a minute
We are lost and wondering
Dreaming sweet dreams
Wishing for nothing more
We like the light
We like the space
It consumes us
Marks a day
And a night
We will wear the ring
Covet its sparkle
Pull the blanket over our head
And sleep a thousand dreams.

Apron

She sweetly cleans her apron
Fingers busy as stitches
Casting a fine embroidery
Quiet as the sea
Lapping our tiny island
Her eyes frown in concentration
As she works around the body of her dress
Finely casting off at the corners
Coaxing the needle through the frayed
Blue cotton
She is humble
Yet daring
Lost in the quiet space of her work
I find it soothing watching her
Busy and content
Absorbed and connected
More than I could ever be
When she has finished we will close the curtains
Welcome in another night
Her dress will be fine and new
Ready to greet the morning
I offer to polish her shoes
But she declines
She likes to take care of herself
More than I could ever do
She lets out a sigh
As sweet as her stitches
Clean and fresh.

Sea

The owl sits by the salt water
It makes her eyes sting
And tears as fine as sand
Roll down her face
Her feathers shine and glow
Clear as day
She is hunting
The sun shines brightly
The frost crackles under foot
There is a chill in the air
She does not feel it
Buried as she is
Within her cloak
Last night she flew
Dodged the wolves
Settled in the trees
Slim chance of finding her quarry
They danced a merry dance in the leaves
She likes the horizon
The sight of land at the very edges of the sea
It makes her feel free
Alive
She does not know when she will fly away
The lapping is like her heart beat
Smooth and constant
She breathes in the air
Fresh and clear
She does not feel alone
She does not feel afraid
Out here by the waters edge
She is at peace with herself
And the world.

Snow

The snow falls gently on the house
It deadens all sound
Makes us feel warm
Deep down in the dark
A place where we will come to no harm
We make tea with the splashed ice
It makes our tongue bristle
And the cups chime
We find pleasure in these small moments
Still
Unmoving
Our thoughts pouring aloud
There is no need to talk
Our head is busy enough
Wrapping up the past
Holding on to the present
Hoping for a future
What will we do when the snow melts
She asks
Trip
Skip
Slide
On the ice
She claps her hands with glee
Falling for her is second nature
For me it is pain and sorrow
I do not wish to leave this snow cocoon
I have everything I need inside
For now
May it fall in blankets
Turn the sky pink
And keep our bodies warm.

Classics

The men dance around the earthen pot
Singing
Dancing
Chasing arrows and spears
They tell an old story
One of heroes and triumphs
Warfare and loss
We studied our stories well
Let ancient syllables
Drip off our tongue
Absorbed the myths and legends
As if they were our own
Every story read
Builds a person
Makes sweet memories
Or dark horizons
We are a fable
A story well told
Footprints in the forest
Powder on our toes
We do not run or dance
But like to play games
Puzzles
Linking signs and symbols
Meanings and confusions
We have had shining days
Enough to etch on a pot for all time
We have had low days
Fit to bury and be discovered
In time
It is hard to imagine another time and place
We are fixed in now
Same as those ochre heroes
We will dance and sing
Leave a message
A link to our mythology
A testament to our place.

Disguise

The sugar coats her lips
Like a disguise
A fly trapped in honey
In the distance a bell bows and buzzes
We see it as a sign
A call to prayer
A call to end
For one moment
For one blink of safety
We did not design this
Frayed cloth
Worn down shoes
A blurry style
A file of words
If we could channel our spirit
The world would feel warmer
As it is we shiver and shake
Dread the mornings
And the sounds
The birds like chainsaws
The light like a fork of lightening
Piercing us
Prodding us into an uneasy being
I dip a hand in the water
Wipe her lips clean
She will stay tidy
For a while
Until the next adventure
I wrap myself up in words
They muffle and darken
Comfort and soothe
Without words
We would not be.

Dove

She touches me lightly
Like a dove
There is no sound
But I know she is there
We are ageing in a quiet hush
Slowly stirring the elements
An amber sun
A wolf moon
Under the sky anything is possible
The tips of her fingers brush mine
I hear her breathing
Perhaps this is all I need
A gentle hope sits beneath her skin
It calls to me in the dark hours
Today we will raise our heads
Look out of windows
Open doors
Drink the potion
Eat the cake
She giggles
Moving away from me
I prefer when she is close
We have navigated many mazes
Been locked in
And sad
It still feels strange to own our keys
Govern our own days
The clanking doors are too heavy to forget
But it is past
A mark upon our soul
Just like the Red Queen said
Live well
And you won't have to survive the same struggles again.

Twilight

Her lips are warm against my skin
A sweet percussion
She glows in the twilight
Halfway between awake and dreaming
A light in the darkness
A shadow in the night
We have been dreaming
Pomegranate and amaryllis
It stains our skin
Makes us itch
Our skin is so fragile
A body with many stories to tell
Or the same one on an endless loop
We remember climbing
Setting fire
Pressing keys
Following codes
Every thing is a sign or symbol
All linked up
Like a daisy chain
They were not bad days
They seemed apart from us
A force so strong
We could not resist
It gave us freedom
Invincibility
Made our life richer
Just for a while
The kiss is brief and tender
It lingers like a cloud
Full of rain
Ready to burst
Cast a rainbow through our soul
I wish every day could be magical
It means we survived the fight.

Pop

Hope pops like a burst balloon
On a spiky branch
It makes no noise
Just silently deflates
Like a broken egg
Falling from careless hands
We lie flat on the ground
As if nothing else matters
Taking sweet notes
Painting a chart
We are a small family
I think
Smaller than most
Bigger than some
We are lucky to have each other
Perhaps we are givers
Not takers
We will stay still for a while
Underneath the tree
And the watery skies
The sun as fluffy as apple pie
Rain filters through the clouds
And branches
It mops our brow
Welcome and cool
We gather up our hope
Make strides
And falls
Blow it all up in a beautiful new balloon.

Darkness

We ring the bells in the darkness
It brings us peace
Makes our hands feel warm
We find comfort in the mournful spires
Music flying on a wild breeze
It has all been a false war
A feud of sorts
For a while they thought we were dying
Still we sing
The sweet chimes fill up the sky
Another day
Another year
It all feels so fragile
Time is like that
She whispers
I have forgotten the colour of her eyes
They shine bright underneath the stars
Full of hope and longing
As if morning will be a gift
All tied up with sunshine and bows
When the bells fall silent
We will sleep
Deep and dreaming
Warm and quiet
Perhaps we like our days and nights
Perhaps another year is not too bad at all.