she went about her business
with kindness and good grace
and where she trod
little miracles sparkled
as morning dew drops
reflecting the dawning sun
like tiny prisms
diffracting and recombining
into a million rainbows
which lit the hearts
of whoever fell within
the spectrum of her love
everyone who loved her
carries that light still
.
you are not Orpheus
you can save no-one
you are not Christ
you shall not rise again
everybody dies
there are no exceptions
you can’t cheat death
we must live with that
once you’re gone
you can’t come back
it’s a law of nature
you can’t fight it
loss is the price we pay
for the love we share
everybody dies
and that knowledge
costs us dear
* image: Hades and Persephone listen to Orpheus’ song in the Underworld.
5132: H. Bissen, 1798 – 1868.
it’s the strangers you know
that generate the most heat
those that have your confidence
are the most likely to betray you
you held my gaze a little too long
I suspect you’ve made a bad call
the arsehole of humanity
is a regular garden of eden
for the hungry devotees
of the cockroach god
go give your face a wash
you have blood on your chin
rearrange your killing stones
we’re in for heavy weather
you pledged your solidarity
with a murderous mechanism
you tried to steal my name
so you could write it in the gutter
.
ocean child
hear my voice
dry your tears
you have no choice
you’re still alive
you should rejoice
reach for me
it is allowed
don’t be afraid
to show me how
for I am here
at least for now
we had egg and chips
and we were grateful
the children in Africa
had nothing at all
we dragged the low end
because we were brassic
when your stomach is empty
it’s hard to stand tall
the times sure were tough
but the people were tougher
when troubles are shared
they can suddenly seem small
