The Poetry Marathon

I rise before the sun, leaving the dark rain cloud, my gumboots and forestranger hut behind me.

The wheels roll through miles, until l reach the ocean, the beat of wave upon shore, a pile of periwinkle glitter like gold in the light from the rising sun, l search for the elusive seahorse alas it is not to be, like looking for a needle in a haystack. The horizon stretches flat except for one lonely distant skyscraper.

I walk towards town my favourite storefront coming into veiw, l take a seat wànd my love is waiting to spread golden honey on my sourdough.

The drive along the main highway seemed endless, holding my sisters hand as the road rolled on behind us.

Our first holiday.

Through country, small town, city, a pit stop, in a strange home, filled with family.

the noise of the city, unfamiliar, restless, back in the car through city, country, over water, to a small town.

A caravan, an anex, a beach, new friends, cousins, aunt and uncle, different rules, new freedoms.

Hours spent roaming scruby bush and white sandy beach my home for those summer days.

Imagine life without pain

Without tears

Without growth

Who would l have been

Become

if time healed all wounds

I guess it would be okay

as long as it didn’t take the memories

that made me

the woman

I grew to love

love..happened in a fleeting moment

by chance on a lonely roadside

it climed mountains

crossed rivers

it laughed in the pouring rain, running hand in hand for shelter

love… stayed on even when she was alone

in her body

in thier house

in her tears, as they fell in all the memories that followed

love… grew a new shape

a new melody

and sung a new rythem each day that dawned

normal is a strange word,

a strange concept,

a belief born from ignorance,

from a herd mentality

for normal is

different

for me

for my child

my mother

my father

the lady accross the street

my best friend

you.

ther sounds of grasses caressing my my feet as i wander the pre dawn are a soft song,

a dreaming, this world that i am anchored to sings many notes as i linger on crushed rock

and sweet clay, i conect to many lovers as i travel through this brand new world.

the storm has passed, like all storms do

me, i made it, but as i walk the new day

l see all have not, the ancient legs of the

snow gum have been pulled from the earth

line upon line of its history bared and washed by rain

i lay my hands on its curves, listening to it tale

how the world has changed, it tastes sour

in my mouth, i cannot swallow this song

it changes flavors, my taste bud read this language

a skill pulled from memory, wings resting in tangled words

i know this breath it is mine and the planets

i am not mine, i am not whole when i am alone

in a prison of four walls, of screen

i belong like all things, to the earth

come join us we leave at dawn

the day has been long and i am ready to rest

the journey infinite

then i open my eyes

i feel history

its fingers gently massaging my ego

a heavy blanket

to wrap a soul in

the memoies of rock and soil

reach into my heart

they beat

storys walk on the winds breath

the need for faith, wains

the need for truth, grows roots

i become the leaf

looked apon as a simple moment

exsisting

evolving

one peice amogst many

i hear your thoughts and fold them into me, into you, around us

today i want nothing but to breath this love deeply and rest in your arms

to let our impefections fall away, to resist the urge to ask for more than you give freely

to be…happy

i hear your thoughts and fold them into me, into you, around us

i have known for a while now, that this love was real, not that the others werent

just that i couldnt sustain the feeling, i never surrendered my heart

with you, my heart…sings

i hear your thoughts and fold them into me, into you, around us

time has given me many things, treasures, tears, laughter, wisdom

i am still a fool, but a grown fool that learnt to love, a brave fool who learnt to trust,

a lucky fool…who took a chance

you hear my thoughts and fold them into you, into me , around us

cool on skin

in the dark hours

filling me with dreams

with life

catching in my throat

when thought drags me under

wave against wave

calling

the earth dancing in your rythem

birds soar

leaves glide

I breathe