survival shoots

even in the worst conditions
starved of love
and water
even when the sun relentless
leaves no shade for comfort

with enough perseverance
survival shoots stretch
from the bottom
or the darkest
deepest problems

just one chink of light
can save
the least amount of grace
that plays it's colour
on these walls

with enough determination
survival shoots branch
green and strong
from the furthest
continents

a little hope in someone's eye
could bring me happiness
even in my saddest moment
silver lining
decorates this heavy cloud

with enough simple wisdom
one can trust
blue sky
still lingers
up above this raging storm

and any rain
will feed survival shoots
that dare to challenge
this parched wilderness

the mill

the mill wheel turns
and grinds
stone on stone
around and round
slowly pressing
down the husky grains
to soft fine powder

but those seeds that escape
the constant friction of the wheel
are left on stems
to blow and wave the sun down
and feeding birds
and insects perch
like crickets
in amongst the seed heads
left behind by scythe
and combine

these the beauty left
oh why does beauty
sacrifice itself
to the constant grinding of the wheel
when strength is found
in staying still
and swaying in these breezes

knock down the mill
and let the grain grow
free and blonde
on earth's soft headed hill

only the winds know

i have always been clear
on my direction
there is now a mist descending
where once the road held no
hidden twists or bends
i find at this juncture
the road ends

and i need
someone to show me the way
give me the strength
to move forward
will i follow
or will i lead
only the winds know

harbours docks and ports
call this boat
without it's sails
it is slow
to reach it's destination
and guided by stars
if the clouds grow heavy
the navigation points
lose their clarity

and i need
someone to show me the way
give me the strength
to move at all
will i follow
or will i lead
only the winds know

as they carry the birds
to their nesting shore
as they sweep the waves
and bare the trees of leaves
as they toss my hair
so my eyes cannot see
only the winds know

and the dawn will call me
to rise up like the sun
i will say a silent prayer
and start my day
i will hope that somehow
the message is sent
and delivered to
the one who holds the key
i need someone to show me the way
give me the strength to take the fall
will i follow
or will i lead
only the winds know

will i follow
or will i lead
only the winds know

freedom

stretching in the sun
i find i am the only one
and happily i guide my smile
o'er rivers hills and verdant
miles

i know it's only me that can
allow the pain to feel this way
i now know how to let it go
to let it pass
like melted snow

like birds that must migrate
i see that this will leave
someday
and find the place the climate suits

but first i wave goodbye
i let it go
open the window
not mine anymore
and though i should be sad
i'm not
we worked so hard that we forgot
why we were working so hard

so bring me in to this new place
and i will softly turn to face
all this hard work
brought me to
and not look back or forward
drink in this fine air
and mood
the now is freedom
i've done good

kindling

in the forest
we walk soundly
searching for dry
kindling

and hoping our arms will
be burdened
to build the evening's
fire

with twigs and branches
saplings' cast offs
brown and grey and beige

you found most
and i had little
even though neither lot
was heavy

now on home to start
the warm

and my face fresh
and ruddy with the cold
and you
warm hands
cold nose

i sit
and watch you lay the fire
spark the match
and smoke grows
slowly into flame
and now to just enjoy
the light the heat
the time
alone
the embers glow
and us
asleep

island of stars

he is waiting
on an island of stars
the dark does not betray him
luminous arc
of the milky way
i see
from this place
where no one lives
but me

he is walking
an island of stars
way above
the curvature of
the earth
his footsteps fall

the dark does not betray him
luminous arc
of the milky way
i see
from this place
where no one lives
but me

planets strung
from invisible string
dangling from the fingers
of sky
jet and purple
you know
how to hold on
and not to let go

he is calling
from an island of stars
i can hear his magic
ringing over
forests rivers valleys

the dark will not betray him
luminous arc
of the milky way
i see
from this place
where no one lives
but
me

asking for help

no good
asking for help
always try
to do it all myself
but here is a mountain
in front of me
i am tired
need company
up the road that looks so steep
must keep climbing
in my sleep
in my dreams
and up against
the dragons
bad witch of the west
let me pass
so i may find
the best of me
before too long
hold my reserve
my dignity
in grace and silence
i will free
the spirit
of a kinder heart
and ask for help
right from the start

the curvature of words

this love
the curvature of words
and spines
backs and books
and page after page of
physical verbs
that slide and stretch

and speak
a language of their own

this love
the curvature of words
and trees
with branches lifted
arched bent grasping
towards the sun

this love
the curvature of words
that winding road
over dappled hills
and sunset valley's
darker wood

we swing we sway
we float
towards the next page
of lines
and characters
this love
the curvature of words

shore

the sand
dark grey and wet like mud
as the sky cried
a little overboard
the mist descended
round the crooked evergreens
giving them a regal shape
like kings

though i was cold i felt alive
suddenly
my purpose had come back
the driftwood
i was sitting on
was slick
where tides had carved it out

and softly over all these tiny grains
the hermit crab crawled sideways

never a home of it's own
carrying someone else's shell
alone

and tidepools
where the purple starfish lie
anenomes like undulating hair
stroking water
eating tiny particles
to keep themselves alive

and barnacles so hard
with those soft feather tongues
trawling in their catch
before the tide
pulls out
again

i share this solitary memory
with one
who sees
the moon is calling for the shape
to change again
as waves perform
the constant lick and pull
the rolling sea
reclaims it's
one and only shore

give it time

i have seen
birds fly through colder skies
i have seen
trees grow through the ice
i have seen
flowers bloom
when the sun refused to rise
when there was no season

give it time
give it room to breathe
give it time
give it everything it needs
give it time
and you will see
it's already happening

i have fought
with myself for so long
i forgot
what the fight was all about
may be time
to accept what i know now
and start to move on

give it time
give it room to breathe
give it time
give it everything it needs
give it time
and you will see
it's already happening

starting to stretch
starting to change
starting to reach for the light
in it's own way
isn't it strange
how we suddenly see
what we do
is what we come to be

i can feel
the sun on my back
i can see
that the days are drawing out
i can touch
the dreams i hold
that once seemed far
but now are here
within reach

give it time
give it room to breathe
give it time
give it everything it needs
give it time
and you will see
it's already happening