ANOTHER FINE MESS

ANOTHER FINE MESS

Sweet

cold

flowing

corridor

of fresh air filters

through the windows as clean sheets are

laid out to rest upon their bed. Windows open to

the tangled beds of garden remind the housekeeper to water the wind blown plants.

Winter’s pale is unsettling in this inclement weather.

News comes over the radio. Plane blown apart by rebel forces in Ukraine.

Many die, no reason why, someone pressed a button!

Broken bodies lie amid crash debris and cameras whirl, whilst thieves rustle through baggage.

Were they on that plane?

Excitement of homecoming fades.

She stares out.

No need to bake their favourite meal of roasted cauliflower stuffed with capers, olives, rosemary - doused with extra virgin olive oil -

accompanied by a leg of lamb, bought yesterday, in joyful anticipation.

She knows.

They won’t be coming home tonight.

She sits

quite

still.

VGow   21/07/14

KITE MAKER

KITE MAKER

Boy

carves

slowly,

in balsa.

He knows the best wood

for kites; light as a baby’s laugh.

Blond head focuses on creating a half lap joint.

Butchers’ paper enfolds rigid, flush crossbars. Add a touch of paint. Wild eyes will show the way.

Whip up a tail of silken ribbon from sister’s plaits.

Knot string in place, parachute-like!

Let dreams become reality.

Run into the wind,

laughingly,

as it

soars

high.

VGow 04/08/14

LORD OF THE DANCE

LORD OF THE DANCE

Tin

and

copper,

bronze art,

sacred craft

placed here in temple,

some eons ago. 

Gifted to a humble village by a grateful king.

Whoever defiled its resting place was pronounced cursed.

For money, men came and stole Shiva away across the seas to a fine city of steel and glass. Skyfire burned to the heart of that city.

Sold on, for millions, to a southern land. Bushfire burned to the heart of that city.

When the theft became known, this statue was returned to its former abode.

Now the Lord of the Dance is in its niche once more,

where reverence mingles with the monsoon.

Rainbows sing in verdant fields.

Devotees now smile.

Destruction leads to creation,

purifying life’s illusion.

Reality may be preserved.

Bliss walks hand in hand with people.

Essential

goodness.

is

ALL.

VGow 11/08/14