Every sip of that tea
was bitter
today

i sat alone
with a saucer in one hand
absently taking the cup
in the other
bringing it to my parched lips......

the bitterness came
from the bitter-sweet memories
of those days
funny
how the bitterness alone stayed
until...........
you walked through the door
and with a brush of
your hand
and an air of happy abandon
you made the saucer drop
edgily
onto the table

that sound i will never forget
it clangs in my head
and reminds me of when i looked
longingly into my tea
searching for signs of a prophecy
when you walked right in through the door......

These precious moments

I was walking along the harbour
with the wind
unsparingly ruffling my mind
blowing my unconnected thoughts
in different directions

I would have thought
that a walk
along the water
amidst a silent bustle of people
wearing grim expressions
would be quiet
How was I to know
That the wind is not polite

I am now sitting at my desk
reflecting on today
on the moments we stayed close to ourselves
and the moments we strayed away

those moments that we were close to one another
the laughter
the frolic,
the alchemy in the air
the peace of understanding,
the giving
I savour
every minute detail there

I will walk around henceforth
holding these memories delicately
afloat
And as they sink
into my skin (for they eventually will)
these sweet thoughts of a day well lived,
yet another tomorrow
will come
to lay claim
over an unsuspecting me
with new drama unfolding
delicious story telling
no facade of stifling composure
to hide behind
you see

for even if the past does not exist
and a future arrives, unbeknownst to us
this moment will persist
infused with the pure joy
we shared today
a precious feeling
we created together
will stay in the now
with me
forever

Now.

So much of what we call memory
or desire
is nothing but a string
of thoughts
passing endlessly through a cage
like hamsters on a treadmill

we think back and look forward
and say o how wonderful
was that day
or
perhaps tomorrow will bring
another thrill
never mind
i can wait
while i gaze beyond that hill
drawing pictures in my mind's eye
projecting them onto the vast blue sky

how is it that we always escape
sitting in the one place
that is located in forever
it is called a moment
and incase you are wondering which one i mean
it is this one, right before you

i hope you can view it
for what it is
and love the promise
of nothing
except
perhaps a perfectly formed
eternally present
moment
it depends
on you

See it.

Now.

Down memory lane

I spent today wandering down memory lane
The same lovely houses,
safe streets, happy neighbourhoods
with us kids wandering into and out of everyone's homes

The parks that kept us occupied for hours
with no playground attached to it
just grounds
to run and yell
in gay abandon

I remembered how we used to admire
those great trees
Flame of the forest
Jacaranda
Cherry blossom
Such a riot of colours
This was the stuff of our arena

I remembered how we used to dive into the gutters
to retreive our playthings
while laughing uproariously
over a joke someone made up

I remembered how we would cycle
up and down streets
and then park our bikes
by the gate and walk into
our families
sitting for dinner

And if I were to ask
my playmates of then
what they remembered best
they would probably say
the elephant that used to surprise
us every once in a while
by walking majestically
down the road
with its keeper

such pleasures
we can only re-discover
if we are bold enough
to take a trip down memory lane
where we know these things surely still exist

Inspiration

Just the other day
inspiration left me
and went for a walk
down a dark alley

There she met
two monsters
one called misery
and the other called death

“Wait!”, said inspiration
don't go yet
I have come here
only to meet you
so i can validate myself

i have nothing to say to you
misery said
Then why dont you come with me
instead?
cried death

I am going nowhere
with you
for i want to emerge
Not move into oblivion
so everyone can search

I want to live up
to my name
dear sir
Not surrender to you
and leave behind
an empty world
for you to plunder through

I will turn around now
you catch me if you can
i dont recommend a chase
You will see me
i will race

I want to go back
to where I belong
into the hearts of men
and women
who's work
will live on

forever.....

I am once again inspired
And i hope to god it's true
that anything
i write from now on
is bound to be true
and with this little
piece
of personal hope
i will leave
this peppered page
and take my pencil over
into yet another
clean white space

Now tell me, my friend and fellow-seeker,
pray tell me, do
have you ever been
in these same two shoes?
has inspiration ever
left you?

Open the door
i am waiting
outside
knocking
softly
because i know that
you can hear me
or surely you can see
me
standing by your window
pensively
how many times
must I knock before
you move your chair back
and get yourself to the door
to bring down the barricade that shuts
everyone out of your soul
can't you see its late
at night
your cat is curled up
and the scent of the nightqueen fills the air
a snake is hissing
and yet you see no reason
why you ought to open the door
and let me in
your secret world will
stop breathing
in the presence
of me
standing outside
knocking silently
on your door

You never step into the same river twice

No guarantees in life
my friend,
nothing stays
quite the same
you never step
into the same river twice, it is said
the writing on the wall
reflects it too
the grafitti expresses
someone's angst
the drawing
grotesquely represents
the truth
and what might that be
do you understand?
or are you in the same
boat as i am?
Ignorance is not bliss
but a painful
trip
a different ride
everyday
a turning tide
no, don't run away!
for you never step into the same river
twice.