Lead by example

The politicians discussed war
and decided the fate of
unknown soldiers,
whilst drinking sweet tea and
having lunch
at an exclusive restaurant.

They laughed and joked
at obscurity,
whilst for dessert,
they enjoyed double helpings
of backslapping.

Beyond the sea

I wish you
with your hair
the crisp delirium
of sunrise

would join me
on a morning
constitutional around
my heart,

so,

with your hand in mine
and your lips
as enchanting as
eastern sandalwood

I could show you
past the angst
of my soul,

past the barriers of
my resolve
and show you the special place

that you fill

within the caverns
of my heart.

From sea

From sea,

the sunset turned
the fishermen
into indigo shadows
on a distant beach,

while lights in town
appeared as millions of fireflies,

endlessly winking

and the ambience
of cafe thronged boulevards,

hummed warm welcoming
tunes.

Later the bay
became a collection
of stars and ships navigation lights,

imprisoned beneath the sea
until sunrise.

A garden conference

Through the window
mired with morning haze
stood a tall leafy birch

at silent attention;

a lonely soldier of nature
waiting endlessly
for the crisp delirium
of summer's breeze.

Delicate butterflies awash with colour,
danced and intertwined,
oblivious to the woes of the world,

and lonely sparrows gathered
to chat incessantly;

all the while daffodils blew their trumpets
announcing attention
to their yellow hue,

as a boisterous breeze
swept past,

following the gulls to sea.

The pensive gardenia

If I was a gardenia

I would grow

strong and tall

above the lavender grass

at the end of your garden,

I would enjoy the sun

intoxicate the rain

and eat my greens -

- with the knowledge

that one day

as you walk jauntily past

you will notice

me in full stretch,

pop me in your lapel

so I could travel

silently with you

in the Lone Star State -

- next to your heart,

listening to every thump and beat

dancing and quivering

as fluent and in love,

as the sea and the shore.

I Love You

Slipping from a café

near sunset park

i think of a woman

who walks the

canyons of

my mind,

her footsteps

marching with

military precision

in tune with –

- a Texas Rumba

 that a man announces

with a tambourine

on a boulevard

where washing lines

hang like toothy grins,

their sheets brilliant white

sparkle like Hollywood smiles -

- remembering earlier when

the sun had been

a monument

I had followed a butterfly

towards the sunshine

its wings had flapped in

a haze of delicate crimson

as it had meandered

spirit like

towards the end

of my jaded thoughts.

I stopped under

a large smile

while the tambourine

was near its crescendo

Called you and said

with optimism

“I love you”. 

The Lovers

She was mirrored against

a long window

that reflected morning rain

perfect

silvered 

and descending somnolently.

It dripped down and washed the colour away

leaving her alone in the darkness -

- and decorating her pensive morning

with tender drumming

that marched in tune with her heart.

She imagined him listening

somewhere

beyond the window,

cross town……maybe

and as pensive as she,

hoping that the rain would

slip its wet fingers through his hair

and wash him up to her window

So she could make love to him

silently

with the rains tender incessant drumming

a soft background beat

slowly

the rain eased to sleep

colour restored -

- and

all empty and spent

they dreamed,

once again

alone in their world.