you don’t have to be here

lie flat
on a rolled out mat
count the thoughts
floating and gloating
cause you haven’t found
the knack to bring them back
to the room
the heart
of where
you
are

yoga is tricky
with a mat
still sticky
from the last class
and dates and times
a bloody calendar
climbs into the front seat
of your consciousness

your thoughts will be
fine without you
open the door
let them tumble out
if they’re worthwhile
there’s no doubt
you’ll see them
again

and then
when you’re
all alone
just your body
left behind
you might find
something
amazing

the longest night

the little girl sat by the window
watching the rain coming down
she wanted the drops to stop dripping
because she needed to run around

dad had said “it’s too wet outside
just play with your toys in here”
but she went back to the window
and waited for the clouds to disappear

she waited and waited
and then she waited some more
the cold air whistled
as it blew underneath the door

and then it got dark, really dark
maybe there’d be a storm
her dad hadn’t even noticed
because he was keeping warm

all curled up like a cat on the couch
with the heater going strong
he was just about to nod off
when she asked him “dad what’s wrong

with the sun?
where has it gone?” she said
“it’s only five o’clock,
it’s already gone to bed?”

“um well er y’know ah”
he didn’t know what to say
but he looked down at the newspaper
and read: “today is the shortest day”

which means, he thought,
that tonight is the longest night
“young lady” he smiled
“everything’ll be alright”

they put on their boots and their coats
and her dad held her hand
they walked out the door
and across the open land

phwoar it was cold
it was absolutely freezing
before too long
they were shivering and sneezing

but they had big smiles
frozen on their faces
and probably just to keep warm
they quickened up their paces

then they heard voices
coming out of the dark
and above the roof of the school
they saw a single spark

rise slowly
until it was so high
it had joined with all the stars
way up in the sky

around the back of the school
there were people standing around
they had a roaring fire
and they were stomping on the ground

the girl and her dad
joined in the happy group
someone gave her a hunk of bread
and a mug steaming of soup

it was warming up her tummy
phwoar that hit the spot!
the fire made her cheeks go red
she was really getting hot

she took a few steps back
just to cool her body down
and saw that all her friends were there
and they were running around

her dad was chatting with his mates
just keeping her in sight
and that’s really all that happened
on the night of the longest night

under the bitumen

when cars fade
and the roads become
so lonely
the tram tracks wish
they could one day
meet

when the petrol prices
are taken down
and we wonder
what might be
under the bitumen

when the car park
closes
for the last time
and the attendant
sells the boom gate
on ebay

maybe then we’ll walk
somewhere
together smiling
shaking our heads

the wings of my dreams

you know
there will come
a time when
you must go beyond
what you think
is possible

why wait
for the universe
to ask: are you ready?
make yourself ready
in the deciding

your first step
is burdened with
fear and excitement
but it carries
momentum

from here
your dreams fly
way out ahead
and you give chase
on the wings
of imagination

under the missile shield

i am putting in a tender
for the government’s new missle shield

i believe my proposal
will be the most sophisticated
and efficient defence system
ever

in my presentation
i will need no powerpoint
because it’s rude to point
i will need no props
but i will pull out all stops

except my fingers
shoved in my ears
keeping out the talking
until someone hears
me going la la la la la