A Box of Nothing

I beg an invisible baited audience
to give me time
let the happy recipe
the DNA code of my heartbeat
let the puzzle pieces suddenly shot to shreds
ricocheting around my head with no order
without a structured corner
find their places.

let the collisions of mind and memory meet
let there be a moment of silence
in this box of nothing
let it become a speaking, thinking
plan again.

Oh Holy Night

Not a rain sunk mud road

with the prematurely lighted tree

signaling the space

the grace we have found

but a prickling wind sung road

suddenly,  a carol

incongruous

no decorations

a recruiting,  tired witnesses

a  car , a family

driving to the shops, driven

 another family

dressed for Home Affairs

uncomfortable,  unexpected

but in this strange silence

we hear the magic of Christmas day, radio random

a break in the stifled silence

happysad

goodandbad

the ones on the brink, edge of survival

the ones making small talk, hurting

sharing Charlie and Lola books in the back seat

unfairness, helplessness

guided, a safe place

God bless us

everyone

not just in December.

drowning

help
I am drowning on this air
full to capacity with voices
phone lines
never ending words
I cannot hold this air close in my chest
hold it like a life supply
permitting suffocation
removed from the blue gum trees
from the wind
the universe I chose.

Darkest Hour

I have been holding my breath
for a long time
exact heart drum beat
waiting for the first birdsong
signaling the end of night

This is halfway mark of  winter night
there is no sound
clearing my own throat startles me
and all the unexplained shadows surface
to the top,

The full moon speckles the lawn
prickling quiet
I lie red burning eyed
knowing they are braver,
deeply sleeping in the next room
dreaming of Rosy in a rainbow garden
rose tinted sounds in their minds
I have only pins and needles in silence
waiting for the gentle tread of dawn.