New Stuff

TRUNK OF FUNK

the elephant faced child burst into flames
as the sulphur in his eyes ignited. His school
was bathed in glorious light as he hands turned to ash
only his parents cried because he had an unfortunate
manner and was the spreader of lies and disease.
The fact that he had spent considerable amount
of time underground was of no consequence,

just like him.


UNTITLED

she was so beautiful that God wept
when she returned to Earth, but return
she did for she brought hope to an ailing

and war torn world, where even love
was traded as a commodity. Orphaned
at a young age, she knew and understood

sorrow, how grief can seem like a burden
so heavy that no man alone can carry it.
That some can standby as the strongest

self destruct in front of them and
do nothing but mouth platitudes.
Empty friendships with filled with

doubt and envy, there was no one
there for her when she needed it,
this she understood but her belief

never wavered. For inside she carried
God greatest gift, a gift that burned
so brightly that even cold, cold logic
could not extinguish it. It was her

secret, her past, her future, her dreams
were filled with it. The day that she married
her secret was shared with the one that

she returned for, it was her wedding
gift. What was her secret? It is
not for us to know.



OKINAWA

He raked the gravel into precise lines, learned
from his master a life time ago, his mind filled with
the events of the day. Things that mattered not
to man nor child. He reflected that life is full

of little things that eat up time like it is a
ravenous parasite that has no regard for it's host.
The Yamazakura tree looked forlorn as he worked,
the tree was a favourite of his, old companions

both with the same desire, beauty and permeance.
Both with parts to play in the cycle of life.
The thought that he too would pass into the unknown
the unknowable had plagued him since childhood

He saw death and was afraid of it's simplicity,
one false step into the path of an oncoming
lorry and the laughter died within him. He
cannot remember that last time happiness found

him, since that day the world had seemed a
gray and unlovely place. He found his peace
in his art and meditation kept the worst at bay,
he tended the tree with love and devotion

the harsh winter months he endured with
a hollow heart, hoping the visitors would
still come, then spring returned and with
it hope, the Yamazakura tree blossomed

and his heart rejoiced once more, even
this only reminded him of what he had
lost. For underneath the cherry blossoms
laid the remains of his much cherished wife.


GOODBYE FIREBALL

He stood by drunkenly as the rain fell into
the open grave that was to be his own,
blisters covered his hands but his discomfort

was the last thing on his mind. He was waiting
till sunrise, the gun cleaned and primed
waiting to despatch him. He could hear

laughter where there should be tears,
Voices without bodies had driven him
to this, this act of cowardly bravery that

would be his final moment on this world
the sense of rightness that he should pay
for his sins in this way wavered and

he wondered for the first time if he
should go home and sleep it off. Sunrise
was not far off and he could see the outlines

of his blistered hands. No long to wait now
he thought as he brushed the rain of his
face, redemption through suicide is not

possible, only the one that watches over
us can do that, the redeemer of all mankind
he thinks as he checks his bullets. Counting

them as if they were his own children. No long
now as light steals over the land and
Fireball Roberts blows his fucking brains out.


THE HOSTAGE

Lord I asked you to lead me not into temptation,
but still she swings into my life like a wrecking
ball. She reduces all in her path to rubble, after the
destruction, calm. I assess the damage, shit man

the whole lot has gone. Self confidence, self esteem,
self, self, self. In our bedroom only the mirror remains
unscathed for she loved that mirror like her own pulse,
both she checked neurotically many times a day. OCD, OCD

I used to taunt, half in jest, half in spite. For I knew that
the signs were there and she did too but she would not
confide in me. It was a rare weakness in an otherwise
impenetrable armour. Not that she needs armour, the world

is laughter filled place, and that all she has to do to
is ask with a smile for the Lords love and the host of angels
will rejoice. Long ago, when the summers lasted for a lifetime
I saw her, with her red hair flying on the swings

I knew that very moment we would be together,
Oh, how I curse how right I was. Tied into a loveless
relationship I have attempted to end it before, but like two
bodies of huge mass we are drawn together, and I cannot

achieve escape velocity, I wish that I could but I cannot.
Helplessly held hostage by love, I ask the night who will
pay my ransom? No one answers and I am doomed to
life on the edge of disaster, but at least I am not alone

for she is here, loves cursed gift. Every night she rips
open the wounds that she has created, she rejoices in
my pain, she revels in it, Oh Lord! I cry, deliver me from
this evil!! Laughing she shoots me straight through the heart.


A HEART SHARED IS A HEART HALFED

The waves crashed on the beach as she ran playfully
with her dog, natures turmoil unseen, uncared for.
Only she existed in that moment as she raced across virgin
sands towards the last sentinel of land where her lover waited

with hot chocolate and welcoming bed. War's diligence
could wait while they expressed their love in time honoured fashion
they added their own interpretation of the classics
with happy hearts and willing souls. Replete with

love they watched the oncoming night, as the lighthouse
turned them to shadows. All too soon she had to leave
for she had made a promise that was foolhardy to
break. After all her husband was expecting her.


THE TRAVELLER

Where is the one that I am to Love?
hidden in the folds of time,
her signs are everywhere for
those that know how to read them.
A song here, a movie there
add them together and the path
is noon clear, only time
separates us, but time is a
treacherous beast who
can change chameleon like
so that all you can see is the
void in your heart. Many
have been lost in the ever changing
paths that time asks of the faithful
and be assured, I know which
path to take.



20:21:00

hand in hand they watched the sun as it died it's daily death
closer and closer they drew together as excitment and
trepidation chased each other round timorous minds. Then
they kissed and took the first faltering steps towards maturity

20:21:10

the anniversary dinner lay shattered on the floor, the gravy
mixed with blood as she lay unmoving on cold tiles. The kitchen
knife jutted out from her breast like an exclamation mark to
punctuate the drama of her life, short, pointless and filled with hate.

20:21:20

He still made supper for her in bed after all they had been through
the unkind word, her indiscretions, he never lost sight of her true
nature, he forgave her for every moment of discomfort. Still he remembers
the day he first saw her, she was wild and scintillating. Just as she is today

20:21:30

He sat there waiting for a girl that would never come
happiness was never meant for him, his sins too great
for love to find him in the vast and ridiculous world
helpess he does the only thing he can, he rents one for the night.

20:21:40

the note under the pillow was a habit of hers, a whimsy but
a pleasant one, filled with nothing and everything, the day
it was not there would be a day of ill omen. Such ternderness
and adoration from one such as her was a gift from God himself.

20:21:50

I lay in bed in the twilight of dreams, who could tell one kiss could
change the world, but change it did. Never have the angels rejoiced
so much than they did that day, heaven was filled with their laughter
and song, if you listen carefully you can hear it too. For it is you I kissed.



THE TREE HUGGER

The forest was to be his resting place, amongst natures bewildering
bounty. The coffin made of cardboard to help the world digest
the once revered son of blessed union, realities harsh lesson to those
that fool themselves that they too can cheat that which awaits us all.

Shovel worried soil lay in mounds, disturbed and disgruntled worms
pleaded clemency to their God as they slithered once again beneath
the soil that concealed them, the survivors noticed not their plight
but celebrated the homecoming of the one they had lost. Happy tales

told by torchlight helped them to understand the world. Death is
an equaliser, regardless of faith, riches and love. Sorrow is an universal
language spoken by all but never let sorrows darkness into your life
banish it with a furious love of those that matter to you and you will find peace


BLACK, BLACK THOUGHTS

life's questionable gift is wasted upon me, I long for deaths embrace
to free me from turmoil and anguish, the slow release of endorphins
does little for me, the world is a dark and wearisome place where the

helpless are merely grease for the never ceasing machine that
propels us towards extinction and abject horror. Mirrors only
reflect the revulsion that I feel, the night sky holds no distraction

only echoes th darkness that has encamped in my heart like
unwanted house guests, the memory of her perfume is
like biological warfare, I cannot escape her or share her

nothing is worse than losing the one you love through your
own stupidity and inaction, she is gone, she is gone.
I am becalmed of a sea of grief with no land in sight.


THE BOYS OF SUMMER

The summer blooms like a precious orchid and my heart
rejoices because of it, I take the family down the beach
to greet the day with lovers arms, camera and tripod
are taken to record the moments of happiness which

are so fleeting every second is scrutinised like a Muslim
air passenger in America, snap, snap, snap. Frozen time
where you age not, forever ten year old, later, years later
you still remember the clothes that you once cherished

and wonder what ever happen to, fashions, seasons
change, and children change quicker then these, catch
them before the burden of maturity stoops them, happy
days on the beach where sea breeze carries away all worries

if I could only stop the sand getting in the picnic
that I would be the proudest dad on the beach,
such bright and loving children who will carry
me in their hearts long after I have been called home.





MY LOVE

Her dress was the colour of twilight, in my dreams
I held her as we listened to the dawn chorus
as our souls sang arias so beautiful that the firmament

resounded with our love, the dream vanishes like clouds
of discontent as the storm brewing inside me breaks.
The ghost of her dress is still felt in eager hands and sadly

too sadly it is lost among the banal chores of absolution,
toothpaste white is her smile but she is once again adrift
amid the sea of faces that is seen from day break to

descending night, she is always with me but I cannot hold her,
I am in love with a thought, a dream, a memory of what is to come.
Certainty and uncertainty wavers in my heart, is this what God intends?

Yes, yes it is....BELEIVE.


SARAH JAYNE

They say that the only foolish questions are unasked ones,
you made a fool of me when I did not ask you out that
day when the passions pulse beat so hard I lost my footing

and ended up prostrate in the disabled toilet, oh how you
laughed. I thought the smell of wee would put you off
so I slunk into the distance with burning ears and the

moment passed, everytime you saw me after that
you giggled and my nerves got them better of me
and I could never recapture what we had lost. Fuck.

I was old enough to know loves path has many false
starts, I should have never given up until you were
mine, damn my feeble heart. I let you get away. Fuck.


THE FORGOTTEN ONE

She drove a green car, just like her eyes. With shadow dark
hair, her heart was filled with churchyard light,
grave yet full of worship of the right things in life,

family, friends and respect for those that come before us.
She had an easy laugh that sounded like the lock to her heart
being slowly opened, she looked for the one who held the

right key. She looked in pubs and clubs, then moved on to galleries
and book store coffee shops. Ads in the paper was her last
attempt, even then she waited and waited and the hope

in her heart died a little each day until there was only a birthday cake
candle left and that too went out. Little did she realise that the
the Lord in a tedium of madness had forgotten her, then

whilst he was reading the books of the living came across
her name and arranged a meeting that would revive her
and let her experience first hand his love for all his children

a whirlwind romance which culminated in an underwater
marriage in the Maldives, she never looked back to the
midnight black days of singledom and died as He intended. Happy.



TIWI ISLAND

Her visa had run out years ago, she wasn't going to leave
Elysium's clinch. She would never return to Manchester's
damp streets when Darwin was a short boat ride away.

Snake Bay was her home now, the interfering government
officials could go fuck themselves with a dildo of their choice,
anyway they would have to find her first, she spent a night here,

a night there. All her stuff was in her well weathered bag, not that
she needed much, the weather was constant and the food
plentiful. Diverse landscapes, everything that mind, body

and soul needs for a happy active life, saying that she needed
a bed mate, not that she had a bed, but someone to shared
the dawn and the glory of the rainforest with. A friendly fisherman

seemed her safest bet but he only spoke the language of his tribe.
His is manhood was impressive if a little too coarse and leathery
but she was missing the company of men if you know what I mean.

But before that she badly needed to shave her legs, Jesus she looked
like a French holiday maker. So much hair! Her dreadlocks suited her,
not that she cared what she looked like as long as she could call this
place home, then happiness would be hers. Eventually the officials stopped
coming and she found a lover in the missionary on the far side of
the island to father her children as she helped spread the word of God.


THE YOUNGEST

Here she comes a stumbling
down the street, make up
smeared over her face,
she resembles a childhood
nightmare. Why does she
do it? I ask the birds and sky,
they are mute with
embarrassment as the sky

blushes and the birds are
sadly silent as they watch
her downfall, clutching an
almost empty vodka bottle
as if it contained an elixir
of life eternal, she succumbed
to gravities pull and showed
the world her undies, the

urban foxes gleefully
laughed as I hid my face
from the fledgling sun.
Helpless in the grip of
alcohol she lay in a
puddle of dirty water
and searched vainly
for her mobile

which she had lost
days ago, dropped
down the club's
toilet and flushed
out of her life.
My sweet daughter
already has a drink
problem, Lord help her.


MONKEYTOWN

Drink and drugs made a fool out of a kind
and gentle disposition, friendship that teetered
on the edge of contempt, an action away from

hostility, beyond resurrection. Then whilst in
the depths of despair an epiphany of sorts, I realised
the two D's were not for me, that they were hemlock

to me and made my heart ache and filled my soul
with a drowsy numbness. The police at the door
decided my course of action, it has been months

since my last drink and I feel that I have served
my sentence, my banishment almost complete
and the time is near in which I begin the process

of rebuilding the bridges that in my stupidity
have razed to the ground. I love you all and
wish the joy of friendship to bloom once more.


PLASTIC

I love so in so many
different ways, you are
like a sun that has been
drawn by a child, different
yet basically the same,
endless variations on a
common theme, always
true to your guiding
principles. I really like
that about you, the
imperfect faceted gem
of your heart shines
brightly in your heart
and helps me to find
you when I'm pissed
and surrounded by plastic,
pompous girls who only
want me for my astonishing
sexual prowess.


ANIMA MUNDI

Many would agree that all living things posses a pure
ethereal spirit, that cannot be seen or held in love
or sorrow, but the mind is a peculiar thing and the disturbances
of schizophrenia are many and varied, your
mind is in constant state of flux and unrest.
Peculiar ideas are one of the sign that you

have been blessed/cursed with this affliction
as I have but this idea spans backward throughout
the years like a colossal bridge which the

seekers of the world cross to safety of land.
It was my habit then to send my mind across
to different lands to see how they faired,

this day, this memorable day the world's
soul spoke to me, in frail and delicate voice
she warned me of a catastrophe so great

the it would change the way the world
would react to such perils, that the world
would act as one to alleviate pain and suffering

in short a new era of man, she told me
months before the tsunami actually happened
she showed me the bodies of those unfortunate

people washed ashore and I was powerless
to stop it happen. It has always been a
burden to me and I have never tried

again as the thought still haunts me
like a stillbirth, or the plunging people
that jumped from the world trade centre.


NIGHT NURSE...BY SIMPLY RED
for Andrew Barr

Waking up in Baney's house is a treat reserved
for friends, laughter and song awash the room
like cheap aftershave. Regardless of time or
how much disco lemonade had been consumed

the previous night it is the same routine, the spring
the drives the clockwork is wound so tight that
on still night you can hear it ticking in the Uplands,
it either that or Barney has a really rubbish watch

considering how out of date our dear, dear adventurer
is it's a bloody sun dial. Off he goes and leaves us
bereft for a year, three hundred and sixty five
days of peace and quiet is the considered opinion

our dreamless slumber is broken by abusive and
drunken phone calls at a ridiculous hour. On
his return he will shake of the dust of the other
side of the world and regale us with tales of

laughter and mayhem, a gift which he has in
abundance. Who know how many people's
lives he will touch whilst he is out there
but there are two certain things, one, that

he will not be forgotten by friends or family
and two, our lives will be sadder without him.
Spread the word Barn and who knows what
lays around the corner in this uncertain world.



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