Wardenisms

I’d like to say ‘bless you’ to every stranger who sneezes.
I’d like to smile at every creature that passes me by.
I’d like to carry every old lady’s groceries.
I’d like to hug every tree, every lamp post, every brick wall.
I’d like to dive into every lake.
I’d like to swim with every crocodile.
I’d like to smell every flower.
I’d like to read every poem.
I’d like to stare at every piece of art.
I’d like to dance with every dragon fly.
I’d like to sing every time it rains.
I’d like to visit every museum.
I’d like to run through every park.
I’d like to pet every tiger.
I’d like to free every caged bird, every trapped fish, every harnessed horse.
I’d like to listen to every angel.
I’d like to live every day without fear.
I’d like to love with a heart that is wide open.
I’d like…

We fall asleep like pretzels
and though my dreams take me far
I know you’re just a breath away.
Then the morning comes
and we must separate
out into the world like warriors of light
turning dreams to reality and the other way around.
The day is often beautiful
often melancholic
often profound
but not even one is exactly like the other
and through years of fine tuning
I’ve learnt to accept the fleeting
instead of running after it like some wild creature of the night.
Then the evening comes and I make my way back to you.
I unlock the front door and my heart leaps out of my chest
and onto your sleeve
where you keep it safe in that strong silent way of yours.
We sit
we eat
we watch
we…..
We fall asleep like spoons or pretzels
and then the dreams come again.

The cars of cold and warm hues
Man in a white tee shirt
and sunglasses over his head
decides whether to cross the street
or not
The feeling of the machines rolling
when I lean my head back
The occasional tram
Girl running by
The Safeway trolley
Mother and pink baby
A couple of canoodling pigeons
Green’s Furniture
Kiwi Koncern
Lebanese Pizza Bakery
An imprisoned bicycle

A mixture of straggling thoughts
Third Eye Blind’s voice like honey
People with outfits matching auras
the fragrant smells they bring with them
Sounds young and old
The lingering taste of biscotti
And then I’m off
and the day’s act two
makes room for act three

Paint your face
the walls
every shade of red
green
blue
and yellow
Speak up
for those who can’t
or choose not to
Write
about your dreams
they come true faster
that way
Dream
cos if you don’t
who else will
Search for little things
that hold no meaning
to anyone but you
Talk to plants
they will grow
twice as fast
Keep flowers in pots
instead of vases
Bicycle
tricycle
recycle
Vandalise the street
with poetry
Contemplate in graveyards
go tribal dancing
make your own tea
perform rituals
in your backyard
or out
in the bush
Send messages in bottles
you might get a reply
twelve years later
when your life has changed
and nostalgia makes
a tear trickle down your cheek
Meditate
discover who you really are
Travel
take pictures
of multi coloured people
in black and white
Sponsor a child
take your dog
for a walk
without the leash
Smile at old people
young people
middle aged people
Smile at trees
fleas
bumble bees
Join political choirs
sing for your rights
Do cartwheels
roll down hills
drink shots
of chocolate
and essential oils
Believe in something
greater than yourself
Believe you are one
in a million
and the million
is one in disguise
Make change happen
rise
rebel
revolt
revolution

May blessings find you
through curtained windows
and doors ajar
in the crevices of cookie jars
and under your bed

May they reach you
through your dog’s hair
decorating the new sofa

May they whisper in your ear
on windy afternoons
and in between verses
sung by choir boys
when it’s too early on a Sunday
and you’re at church

May you see them
in smudged ink on damp postcards
wet in the rain

May they call out your name
as you drive past bill boards
running late for work
and you miss the messages
written in the clouds

May they drift
into your nose
by florists in alley ways
and you forget about coffee
for just one second

May they hug you
in the arms of friends
or smile at you
in the faces of strangers

May they make you cry
may they make you laugh
may they make you laugh, then cry
or cry, then laugh
it doesn’t matter

May they fill your heart with joy
as angels sit on your shoulder
and saints tell you jokes

May the rest of your days
be blessed with blessings
my dear

The birds chirping
The humdrum of insects
The plants whooshing in the wind
The cars gliding peacefully along roads
The wind flirting with my hair
The bark of a dog
The sound from the tv he’s watching
The memory of things still to come
The promise of pizza
The blissed out turtle
The last remnants of sunset
The closest moon

You’d squeal at the sound of squid
moan at the mention of mutton
shriek at salmon
puke on poultry
lament over lobsters.

But who will mourn over the murder of melons
cry for cauliflowers
or pray for potatoes?

At other people’s houses
there are camera shy dogs
who run away
then pause
turn around
and pose
for gangly photographers

At other people’s houses
there are hangers on walls
tabasco bottles in walk in closets
rats in air vents
clothes piled high like mountains
pianos
ducks in tubs
and chicken noodle soup

At other people’s houses
you make the bed
as soon as you get up
leave dirty dishes in the sink
with a little water
or you’ll get told off

At other people’s houses
you get special cupcakes
hand delivered to lazy boys
as Bret and Jermaine
argue on the tube

At other people’s houses
there are really small potted plants
and even smaller bowls of potpourri
guinea pigs
live pate
spices
incense
wind chimes
photo frames
hat racks
and umbrella stands

At other people’s houses
I have slept on singles
doubles
queens
kings
boys
girls
over floors
under quilts
on couches
roofs
beanbags
grass

At other people’s houses
I’ve raided liquor cabinets
made prank calls
sung limericks
cooked brunch
suntanned
passed out in showers
lost shoes
mobiles
books
house keys
and my mind

if God is love
and love is God
then what is love
and what is God

if God is beauty
then beauty is God
if love is imperfection
then imperfection is God

God is hope is love
God is sorrow is love
God is magic is love
God is frailty is love

God is in
jars of honey
socks with holes
paper planes
slugs
feathers
fat men
skinny dogs
lepers
carpets
carnations
ear wax
mud
guns
cranberry juice
heroin
homosexuals
folk songs

if you want love
open your eyes
there’s love all around
and when you love
you are God
love is God is love