Gaia

Gaia

Can’t you hear the breath of the trees,  

sharp, exhausted, like two tarry lungs 

expending ‘til death, limp as two tongues; 

once Gaia bloomed, now She does wheeze! 

Can’t you see our Earth recoiling,

choking on spoilt soil, flinching away 

as mutant seeds spread death and dismay;

it’s our children’s blood we’re boiling.

Can’t you taste it in morning’s haze?

We suckled at Her, then discarded

the divine beauty, disregarded,

then exploited in our careless ways. 

Can’t you smell it in the fruit's decay?

Our disunity bred a ruthless terror;

plunderers misled our pitiful Terra,

now, civilisation will have its way.

Blue Dreams

Blue Dreams

There was a mother I once had,

an unmaternal demon,

a good-willed Tragic,

cursed by black magic, probably,

immersed in a hell of childhood trauma,

hate and self-satisfaction;

her false declarations

will be carried to the grave.

All her secrets were stowed upon me,

pressed and branded across my head.

I wore all the burdens,

all the lies and the mythos,

evolved from the fiends,

bad fathers; misguided teens,

when young love was in vain,

and when darkness wed pain.

I had to sever my heart from her.

It’s just another tragic tale,

another tyre on the bonfire.

Using my nostalgic strength,

I’ll unleash all I have kept.

Though I’ve recuperated

from the miserable memories,

her grey shadow darkens the history

and my blue dreams mimic old misery.

But, I won’t contribute to this tired legacy

of dysfunction so bequeathed unto me.

Everything

Everything

How can I be proud 

if I am ashamed?

If love is a secret,

I’m keeping it so.

How can I have faith

if I am a sinner?

If love is a regret,

I am doomed to rue.

Still, the time goes on

and I live partially:

keeping one eye open,

sleeping one eye closed.

Noon until the night,

love hides from the bright.

Moon until dawn’s light,

love blooms out of sight.

How am I so vacant,

timid and self-betraying?

If love is everything,

I’ve everything to give.

Why am I so distant,

fickle and self-decaying?

Now I’ve given everything,

I’ll wait forever to receive.

Life

Life

Why can’t you just be happy?

You could fall to domestica,

have love and the small things.

‘Twould be a dream realized. 

Instead, the fires lit in you

destroy, destruct and damage you. 

Living is a simple joy,

but life is Hell, a curse, a void.

Sleeping comes so peacefully

but living - you will cease to be.

I write to say, regretfully,

in living - you have ceased to me.

A New Smile

A New Smile

I saw myself today

I was in one of those houses that echos

With a grand hall and piano

I was opening a drawer and laughing

My lover stood to my right

My son played at my feet

And I saw a new smile on my face

I tried that smile on today

But it just did not fit

And while I suffered in the grey

Breathing in darkness

I remembered that one day

I’d find my way to the light

In the house that echos

I know one day I’ll open the drawer

And I’ll smile that new smile

With my lover to my right

And my son at my feet

So I'll cease filling the void

And breathe in today’s darkness

I'll be playing the piano

Oh, I’ll play the night away

When I live in the house that echoes

The Email

The following is an excerpt from my untitled novel at the start of the seventh chapter:

Dr. Percival Young,

It has recently come to the attention of Felema and The Listeners that certain therapy sessions have not been recorded and sent to their archives for inspection. Whether this is negligence on your behalf or a deliberate series of mistakes, The Listeners are demanding that you record every session with your clients from now on. Not only will you face severe consequences if you refuse to follow The Listeners’ instructions, but you will also be contravening your contract with Felema. This will result in your immediate dismissal from Felema as a Primary Therapist.

The Listeners have advised Felema that they are sending a representative to your premises this week to examine your work performance and current lifestyle. This examination will determine whether you are capable to resume work for Felema and adhere to our policies and procedures. If you wish to discuss this matter further, do not hesitate to call me at my office or on my mobile phone.

Kind regards,

Patrick Washington

Director of Felema

Pirate

Pirate

There was a lull in the night

from all the green we’d set alight.

Vespertine and layered grief:

the face you wore, the man, the thief.

Pirate, you’re a stealer of kisses!

It was definitely a privilege.

The other side of unrequited

doesn’t really feel like a privilege.

I thought I had a friend in you,

together dark, together blue.

Your hunger, lust and weary eyes

burned to dust and snuffed the fire.

“Why couldn’t we be?”

Why did it have to be?

You’re off threading another cocoon,

but I know love is coming soon.