Silence

We like the dead of night

When the stars shine

And the moon hangs low

It feels like our time

Special and glowing

We do not like noise

It scares us

Makes our heart beat faster 

We close our eyes

To try and block it out

Curl up tightly in a ball

We like silence 

It is golden 

It makes us feel peaceful 

And warm

Not that total silence exists

There is always a hum

The fridge

The lights 

The birds in the tree

The electricity of being

Of life

We like our waking dreams

Our tea parties 

And warm tea

We like each other 

How quickly the days pass by

How slowly the hours

We open the window

Let the dark air

Wash over our skin 

It gives us pimples 

Soon the sun will rise

The world will stir

There will be noise 

That makes us nervous

Just breathe she says

And with her help

I will. 

Roots

We pick up the axe

Chip away at the stones

Our roots 

Our lips are salty 

Covered in brine

From the sea

Or our tears

We are not sure which 

Habits trickle out of the shadows

They loom large

Vast and secretive 

Our mind is brimming over

So many thoughts

We cannot contain them

They simmer 

Like a kettle on a stove 

Just in time for tea

She whispers

Always finding light

The sun in the sky

That will make us grow

We huddle up

Wish each other well

Sweet dreams and sugar thoughts 

Perhaps one day 

We will be as tall and as strong

As a tree

If we find the roots

We can build something new 

Something better 

Maybe there will be colour 

Beautiful greens and pinks 

Just like her cheeks 

I watch her breathe 

Reach out for her hand 

Like a sapling 

Reaching for the sky

Out of strong roots

We can only grow

We close our eyes

Peaceful 

A gentle smile upon our lips. 

Teeth

We dream of losing

Our teeth

They fall from our gums

Like lost pennies 

Dropping from 

A ripped pocket

How peculiar 

She giggles 

Perhaps we are consuming 

Too much sugar and tea

Never she declares

Sitting on the window sill

The morning consumes us 

The birds trill

Our hair shines

Our eyes are clear

We have one path to follow

And follow it

We must

To turn back now

Would be heartless 

The sun is rising

Like an inflamed face 

We will wash away 

Our sores 

Walk on the dewy grass

At all costs we must 

Avoid the powder 

Get lost in words

Not in dust 

She hums a tune

I join in

Rub my tongue around my mouth

Thankfully toothlessness 

Was just a dream. 

On Poetry

What is poetry 

She asks

I stop and think for a moment

The tumbling down

Of words

I say

She licks her fingers

And frowns 

Considering the answer 

There are patterns 

And forms

Rhymes and rhythms 

Clicks and sounds

Flowing or stilted 

She wipes a strand of hair

Away from her face 

A tiny smile

Forming on her lips

I am your poem 

And you are mine 

She declares

With a giggle 

Exactly so 

Little Cricket

We watch the night sky 

Anticipate what the day will bring

Like wondering what words

Will tumble down

How we will fill a page

Everything is both a story

And commonplace 

Little victories 

Giant gains 

The moon dips

The sun will soon come up

The birds will sing

Their song

Their poem

We will listen 

Learn their words

Maybe make them our own

Our poem. 

Footprints

We leave footprints

In the wispy grass

Drawing circles 

In the leaves

Slivers of stories

Entering our mind 

We are on the outskirts

Under a sleepy moon

Wrapped up 

Between sky and sea

The cracks on our lips

Stinging with salt 

The wind is sly 

It brushes against 

Our face and back 

Whipping up a storm

In the night 

We like the silence

Just the gentle lapping of waves

And the feint light 

Of stars 

Only a handful of clouds

Blocking out the constellations 

The sky is a footprint too

A marker 

A route of navigation

A map to our heart 

In the morning 

We will write our story 

Languish in the sun

Wrapped up warm in bed

Happy with our words. 

April Sun

The April sun

Fights its way 

Through the clouds 

We let the light 

Slowly kiss our skin

Fall upon our cheeks 

And eye lashes 

The warmth makes us feel safe

We open the curtains 

And the window 

Let the air drift 

Into the room 

Later we will take tea 

Let the sugar 

Fill our veins 

Soon it will be summer 

And too hot 

For tea

We will drink ginger beer 

Or lemonade 

Nibble on sweet cakes 

And candies 

She giggles 

Her hair is like the sun

Golden and glowing 

She is April in spirit 

Glowing and warm. 

Poem

We write these little poems

On the edge of our bed

Wrapped up warm 

Against the chilly winds

Poetry saved our life

Words like heart beats

Electricity 

Running through our veins

The only thing 

That is living 

We get lost in the words

The sounds and the clicks

We take deep breaths 

Watch the clouds

Passing in the sky

Rain not far away 

The window shines 

The tree is coming into bloom

The birds sing

The leaves rustle 

We are at one 

Dreaming of the sea

Touching the cold water 

One day we will swim

Meet the horizon 

Fall down 

Like the sun

At the eve of the day 

Poetry in motion 

Words in full play

We get lost in this world 

Thankful

Scared

Always ready for the next verse

Poetry saved our life

For that we will 

Always be thankful.

Twigs

We stand on the window ledge

Unbroken 

Everything is crystal clear 

Divining time

With twigs and water 

We remember when we

Woke up in blood 

It is etched in our memory 

Clear as wallowing cells 

We create ancestors 

A family we never had

She hums a tune

I watch her head sway

Never missing a beat 

The twigs sway too

A sad song 

A cheerful bird 

The sky is blue 

We hide behind the clouds 

Another day has passed 

We have survived 

I kiss her gently 

On the cheek 

Draw the curtains 

Step down from the ledge

We will watch the 

Flowers bloom 

The magpies settle 

On the branches 

Our special music

Our tune.

Book

I have read you many times

On yellow paper

And fresh shiny sheets

I read you every day

She giggles

That is how we know 

One another 

I didn't understand you at first

All the potions 

And cake 

Bigger and smaller 

It made it hard to think

Now I see you clearly

In my world

Not Wonderland 

You shimmer and shine

Crisp as a winter day

A bright sun 

In the darkness 

A day full of adventures 

Simple joys like tea 

No Red Queen 

To spoil our table 

Or riddles from 

The Cheshire Cat 

His duplicitous smile 

Not genuine like yours 

I will read you again 

Make the story real 

You are my Alice

And I am your reader. 

April

April come she will

The seasons change

The words fall down

The wind blows 

The leaves off the tree

The birds float 

On the breeze 

We await daffodils 

And cherry blossoms 

Blue skies 

And April showers 

We wrap up warm 

Slip under the covers 

See the skies from 

Our cotton pillows 

The sun breaks 

Through the clouds 

We missed the moon

Blocking out the sun

A moment of darkness 

We remember the cathedral

The birds flying 

In the momentary darkness

The coolness of eclipse 

A life time past 

Were we happier then

We spent less time in bed 

So we welcome April

The cusp of summer 

The promise of brightness

And dreams.

Constellation

We look at the constellations 

In the dreary sky 

The stars shake

Cast a spell over our limbs 

A slither of jam

Slips off our spoon 

Shards of sugar

On a sour night 

We nibble the bread

Hands wet 

It slithers down our throat 

Like water 

Filtering down to the root

Of our favourite tree 

The branches a platform 

For the birds 

Trilling and singing 

Welcoming in the day 

We cannot name the constellations 

But we marvel at their light

The sun takes over the moon

Today there will be rain

It will hit the ground

Make the concrete steam 

We marvel out of the window 

We wish upon a star

Revel in the constellations. 

Youth

Youth is the gift of nature 

But age is a work of art

She giggles 

We are both young 

And old

At once 

Passing our days in silence 

Looking at the sky

We wake up in 

The middle of the night 

Drowsy and warm 

We touch our skin

It is full of lumps and bumps

Our history 

A gauge of time 

Like wrinkles 

Our hair turns grey 

We brush it 

Like the sound 

Of the bristles 

Electricity 

The birds sing 

A new tune

They watch us from the tree 

We wonder at their song

How much noise 

From such small beaks 

Another day will turn 

Another step of ageing 

One we would not miss.

Miracle

I look at her shining face

She is my little miracle

My sunshine 

In the darkness

I like to see her smile

It fills my heart 

Sweet as the blossoming tree

She hums a tune

It blocks out the sadness

The banging and clashing 

She will keep me safe

When all is tumbling down 

I am glad we have each other 

I am glad we can take tea

Play and dance 

Skip around with words 

We will look at the night sky

The shimmering stars 

Above the street lights 

Clouds slowly parting 

Opening up the night 

Perhaps the moon 

Will glow 

In the day time 

We close our eyes 

Dream 

The bed is soft 

The covers cool 

She watches over me 

A miracle in the making.