Death lingers outside

Death lingers outside
every shadow hides a corpse
in the summer heat

Daydreaming in loo

Daydreaming in loo
looking far out the window
warm urine on foot

Scattering galahs

Scattering galahs
disappear into the sky
at one with pink clouds

A meaningless sign

A meaningless sign
until I stopped there today
catching a sunrise

His stubbornness shows

His stubbornness shows
extraordinary feats
determination

Day is warming fast

Day is warming fast
son is wearing a jumper
seems disconnected

Says a lot really

Says a lot really
the church opp shop half-price sale
highlight of my week

I knew him as 'Pling

I knew him as 'Pling
when he took my photograph
20 years ago

Irresponsible

Irresponsible
showing my children old tricks
inner child unleashed

Homesickness at home

Homesickness at home
a dull aching in my chest
the weight of waiting

The hum of morning

The hum of morning
brightens and rises in pitch
as much as birdsong

You're not listening

You're not listening
women are getting angry
men need a warning

Morning melodies

Morning melodies
a mimic among branches
ahead of the dawn

My chest feels empty

My chest feels empty
it's only been a few hours
they left this morning

I walked in on her

I walked in on her
preparing to step outside
putting on her face

Can't throw you a line

Can't throw you a line
wade into an argument
without sinking first

People arguing

People arguing
I left without wading in
could have thrown a line

Buzzing in my ears

Buzzing in my ears
legs pumping under table
coffee flows through me

100 years

100 years
The Sentimental Bloke
Happy birthday

Feel kinda dirty

Feel kinda dirty
clicking on your marketing links
knowing your success

What happens is life

“What happens is life”
read a comment on Facebook
“dig it or frig it”

How to solve problems

How to solve problems
put them aside for later
forget where they went

Staff left against tree

Staff left against tree
sigil spray-painted on trunk
magician was here

Pink crack in the sky

Pink crack in the sky
a sliver of setting sun
remains of the day

A poetic air

A poetic air
vibrates possibility
open to meaning

I hear her crying

I hear her crying
we are alone in darkness
I can do nothing

Three bike rides today

Three bike rides today
each isolated a child
we found it moving

Closer to knowing

Closer to knowing
the form that I fever for
fully holding love

This gap we must bridge

This gap we must bridge
requires words as well as ears
know people listen

I saw aliens

I saw aliens
two shapes dancing with the stars
birds reflecting lights

Feeling where this goes

Feeling where this goes
pushing thoughts into a shape
pondering these words

Waking up early

Waking up early
listening to the rain fall
within a warm bed

Her handwritten note

Her handwritten note
requests unspoken actions
on waking from dreams

romance is not dead
it's now more articulate
expressing desire

The wind is howling

The wind is howling
as our intimate drought breaks
welcoming the cool

Wherever I go

Wherever I go
my emotional baggage
arrives soon after

It doesn't seem far

It doesn't seem far
thinking back to last summer
where did the year go?

The thoughts that linger

The thoughts that linger

expressed in words on pages

can see them released

Ominous rumble

Ominous rumble
vibrations from lifting towels
along the floorboards

Digital camera

Digital camera
squeaked a soundtrack in silence
like this dentist's drill

Can't return to sleep

Can't return to sleep
after my arse sounds a note
my guts say it's day

Sneaking through your streets

Sneaking through your streets
foraging in your gardens
picking some flowers

Villagers protest

Villagers protest
trucks driving outside their hours
this gives me some hope

Something is brewing

Something is brewing
foraging ingredients
making nettle beer

Dead hearts walk the streets

Dead hearts walk the streets
zombie capitalism
mindless consumption

How can I express

Words cannot express
this new energy I feel
blame it on the moon

Birdsong in the dark

Birdsong in the dark
a distinctive melody
hidden musician

As the sun rises

As the sun rises
I hear the man in my voice
crying for the boy

I cough and drums hum

I cough and drums hum
visitors pluck at my strings
music fills my life

Under a full moon

Under a full moon

I cannot return to sleep

life becomes a dream

I hear them chatter

I hear them chatter
flying swiftly overhead
Superb Parrot life

The end of the day

The end of the day
a glow that lasts forever
then darkness returns

Under the pink clouds

Under the pink clouds
dark winged shapes leave black branches
singing the new day

Living documents

Living documents
we rewrite our narratives
in conversations

The gentle rhythm

The gentle rhythm
dancing to a slowing beat
as sliding doors sway

In memory of (so-called) single-use plastic shopping bags

Looked like a singlet
but the armholes were handles
and the waist was sealed

If I'm looking blank

If I'm looking blank
there's thought fleeting at the edge
looking for meaning

Walking my suburb

Walking my suburb
listening to the galahs
incense surprises

Patterns are forming

Patterns are forming
I try not to see them yet
Can I understand?

Your spark ignited

Your spark ignited
a flame that smoulders inside
the fire consumes me

With all my mistakes

With all my mistakes
I find some consolation
I'm only human

In my solitude

In my solitude
I like to hear Ellington
travel down hallways

Preparing parties

Preparing parties
walking around big bonfires
in my dreams I burn

I left for one week

I left for one week
found the blossoms had fallen
green leaves have returned

That carrot won't work

That carrot won't work
on the end of your long stick
I'm not a donkey

I hear them at night

I hear them at night
my children making mischief
they must feel alive

I'm asking myself

I'm asking myself 
why fear opportunity
fear is not knowing

I'm moping at home

Confined in my home
surrounded by family
feeling all alone

Love the perspective

Love the perspective
one gains from climbing a tree
the world falls away

When they released her

When they released her
it looked like tentacles squeezed
sunlight from her flesh

One weekend each year

One weekend each year
the agricultural show
a ghost of it's self

Mr Magic's yard

Mr Magic's yard
holds dapper Dave and plastic
he's bought on Ebay

Hanging on the chain

Hanging on a chain
Australian canary
feeding their offspring

Does anyone hear

Does anyone hear
when the moon does not appear
a bird sings through night

From the living room

From the living room
all over the internet
talking with strangers

Measured by absence

Measured by absence
an expanding universe
sees light yearn for years

The light from one star

The light from one star
outshines our sight of others
as darkness retreats

Red breasted robin

Red breasted robin
sings a song to woo his love
who cannot hear him

"I won't be stupid."

"I won't be stupid."
Ha! As if one gets a choice,
I thought in reply.

Along dusty road

Along dusty road
a snail states slow down and breathe
lined by Cypress Pine

It began with lunch

It began with lunch:
"You know what your problem is?"
It ended in tears.

Warm afternoon breeze

Warm afternoon breeze
as the equinox draws near
seasons are shifting

Wings wave amid cries

Wings wave amid cries
they explode into the sky
morning breaks like surf

You are in my thoughts

You are in my thoughts
asking difficult questions
can I hope to hide?

Keeping the blinds closed

Keeping the blinds closed
avoiding my commitments
hiding from the world

Sharing gratitude

Sharing gratitude
for picking meal and movie
my children enjoyed

Moving furniture

Moving furniture
hoping to freshen my room
moved it back again

Inadequate words

Inadequate words
avoiding definition
thoughts without labels

The Junto this week

The Junto this week
music for insomnia
hope it works for me

Under ancient light

Under ancient light
alone in the universe
among many stars

She moves in the sea

She moves in the sea
stirring the tides and their waves
she moves in me too

Put the sensual

Put the sensual
back into consensual
make your move with swoon

Her twitch at my touch

Her twitch at my touch
betwixt and without the sheets
bewitching twitches

Sold a drum machine

Sold a drum machine
spent the money on my love
bought essential oils

There's a storm outside

There's a storm outside
hiding my thoughts from the world
my guilty pleasure

A downpour of rain

A downpour of rain
the streets flooded with puddles
thunder and lightning

The first sound of spring

The first sound of spring
as I walk the streets at night
the croaking of frogs

We loop the dark park

We loop the dark park
the birds seems restless as me
this time of the year

A letter arrives

A letter arrives
I'm summoned before the courts
my jury duty

My approach unseen

My approach unseen
I drag my foot a little
so I can be heard

A beeping wakes me

A beeping wakes me
early on Sunday morning
incessant pissant

To introduce food

To introduce food
a new family tradition
called Satur-noodle

My frustration stems

My frustration stems
not from the unexpected
the unattended

Father's Day lunches

Father's Day lunches
offered my kids I'd attend
I'm not needed there

On the astral plane

On the astral plane
we embraced and it was good
now I'm holding you

Not weighed down by rain

Not weighed down by rain
as showers blow from the north
wattle blooms dancing

As the weather warms

As the weather warms
my house feels part of the street
through open windows

Like a sporting win

Like a sporting win
the garden cheers green and gold
Australian spring

Make or be broken

Make or be broken
for 2019
plans keep piling up

My capacities

My capacities
a dam that hasn't been drained
as love keeps flowing

Dark shapes surround trees

Dark shapes surround trees
the birds seem to levitate
sitting on branches

Zooming in on poise

Zooming in on poise
watching myself from afar
being for others

One willy wagtail

One willy wagtail
builds a nest near my compost
two willy wagtails

We size each other

We size each other
after a sniff I proceed
and the dog is won

The signs hang from trees

The signs hang from trees
advertising the season
spring is on the way

I lose my temper

I lose my temper
a series of truths spill out
in front of my kids

Sitting in the dark

Sitting in the dark
unable to move forward
awaiting the dawn

Watching the tension

Watching the tension
wanting to resolve your doubt
conflicting desires

Abject rubbish piles

Abject rubbish piles
our collective unconscious
discarded dreams grow

That far away look

That far away look
among the frequent requests
where I find myself

Movement surrounds me

Movement surrounds me
walking the streets all alone
my shadows and I

Her voice reminds me

Her voice reminds me
the lover I neglected
now she too must go

My eyes see the news

My eyes see the news
my brain cannot take it in
the world just seems wrong

Where a tree once stood

Where a tree once stood
mallow weed now flourishes
I cooked these in pie

Misunderstandings

Misunderstandings
this silence holds my regrets
after our shouting

Smothered from above

Smothered from above
until the moment is right
then clouds reflect light

A timeless moment

A timeless moment
like the calm eye of the storm
in her loving smile

Jumping through the hoops

Jumping through the hoops
jotting down the fancy words
asking for money

Come join the Burners

Come join the Burners
they hang with colourful garb
and hanging cups too

Both a gasp and I

Both a gasp and I
suspended in the moment
falling off skateboard

Will the day better

Will the day better
after my daily caffeine
fear my morning peaked

Hard to imagine

Hard to imagine
other ways things could appear
without prejudice

Funny thing happened

Funny thing happened
"contemporary artist"
added to my name

Letting things pile up

Letting things pile up
until procrastination
dwarfed by panic

Wattle Bird chirrups

Wattle Bird chirrups
insects dancing in silence
friction haunts the breeze

Riding in low light

Riding in low light
breathless sprinting grinding arc
sustained high pursuit

Musty aroma

Musty aroma
aroused nipples hardening
firm flesh taut leather

The scar on her chest

The scar on her chest
next to the watch nurses wear
speaks experience

Fluid memories

Fluid memories
taking the shape of spaces
ghosts flow into gaps

I'm not yet ready

I'm not yet ready
to write the list of the things
I should be thinking

My personal worth

My personal worth
feedback loop generated
recalibrated

I am grateful too

I am grateful too
my spilled blood freed me from pain
dagger of your glance

The mortar of night

The mortar of night
dazzling in that velvet depth
the gap holding space

Run of steady creaks

Run of steady creaks
window shows growing glowing
the fireplace draws breath

Faint halo of hair

Faint halo of hair
shadows hint at her bosom
pale glow of bare skin

Brain cell one says “G’day!”

Brain cell one says “G’day!”
Brain cell two tries to say “Hey!”
Result sounds like “Gay!”

Art is alchemy

Art is alchemy
revealing what else it is
imbuing with thought

Low impulse control

Low impulse control
sensual hungry thirsty
happy to be here

Beautiful as you

“Beautiful as you,”
I said then looked from sunrise
to your sunlit face

As the sun rises

As the sun rises
it was like a laser fight
across the paddock

Minus one at nine

Minus one at nine
Great for our ice skating trip
Bathurst you are cold

Remains left in leaves

Remains left in leaves
skull architecture exposed
green mould taking flight

Pic by Rebecca Tapscott

That simple staple

That simple staple
combining fat, carbs and salt
egg and bacon roll

When things don't sit right

When things don't sit right
as our brains rationalise
in our guts we know

Shivers down my spine

Shivers down my spine
as smoke vortices leave flames
tears run down my face

The Rainbow Serpant

The Rainbow Serpant
connects country and Dreamtime
slithers once again

Holding onto form

Holding onto form
as the colours drain away
realising dreams

Sky like blank paper

Sky like blank paper
unlimited potential
on a rainy day

With my eyes shut tight

With my eyes shut tight
the vision I need appears
when my heart is open

I reject manhood

I reject manhood
that is lonely and unloved
I share my selfhood

Work with elderly

Work with elderly
you will hear the dying call
"mama" not "daddy"

Crew drink Red Lion

Crew drink Red Lion
beer that tastes bad cold or warm
so they drink it fast

Walking the paddock

Walking the paddock
on a damp foggy morning
inhaling cut pine

Kikuyu grass vine

Kikuyu grass vine
dessicated on concrete
waiting for a drink

Horoscopes are real

Horoscopes are real
not that planets paths change lives
the perspective can

Now my rooster sleeps

Now my rooster sleeps
through many winter mornings
I don't rise early

Will you yell "shotgun"?

Will you yell "shotgun"?
I'd like to give you a ride
you're going my way

How your longing looks

How your longing looks
contribute to my desire
now I long to look

Does this text stir you?

Does this text stir you?
It’s a heart-rendering tale
when you read and feel

Deceptive blue sky

Deceptive blue sky
offers a sunlit mirage
hiding freezing air

Unremarkable

Unremarkable
the sights and sounds that surround
taken for granted

Hope in my pockets

Hope in my pockets
the longest night of the year
star light far away

My resilience

My resilience
in the face of slow change pace
breath deep and relax

Asking for a friend

Asking for a friend
how do you stay positive
when you’re underwhelmed

Some nights I can’t sleep

Some nights I can’t sleep
I’ll lie in my bed thinking
everything is fucked

Floating free from cold

Floating free from cold
on the rays of morning sun
transcending morning

Jo asks directly

Jo asks directly
"Have you heard disapproval
now you’re not working?"

A pop and a spray

A pop and a spray
emanates from a cupboard
brewed my first bomb blast

As morning draws breath

As morning draws breath
the darkened fireplace murmurs
embers glow again

Uncomfortable

Uncomfortable
landing on one’s own premise
after rebuttal

To be creative

To be creative
in your arts means you respond
to your inner space

Cloaked in fuzzy light

Cloaked in fuzzy light
the landscape sounds different
walking through thick fog

Realisation

Realisation
the best toasted sandwiches
include three ferments

An unmarried ex

An unmarried ex
A childless unmarried ex
Blames me for these facts

Sometimes a question

Sometimes a question
makes familiar landscape
unfamiliar

That sad, sad story

That sad, sad story
that you've been telling yourself
over many years

When I think of her

When I think of her
there’s a word that comes to mind
callipygian

Rationalising

Rationalising
why we can’t be together
then swoon when we talk

A vision of flames

A vision of flames
autumnal colours glow bright
as the sun rises

Trying to hold thoughts

Trying to hold thoughts
craving a quiet moment
parenting solo

Down an unmarked path

Down an unmarked path
our hearts wandered together
we will meet again

Purple and orange

Purple and orange
that point between night and day
planets still shining

Make apple cider

Make apple cider
nothing could be easier
add yeast to fruit juice

First day of winter

First day of winter
a good day to stay in bed
first frost of the year

Cider, beer, kimchi

Cider, beer, kimchi
sauerkraut and kombucha
ferments on my mind

Can you meet with me?

Can you meet with me?
Hopefully we’ll meet halfway
and halfway undressed

Showers blow through town

Showers blow through town
dissected by a light beam
as sunrise begins

Reaching deep in drought

Reaching deep in drought
holding soil while river floods
gentle sentinel

Irrigation counts

Irrigation counts
how many Sydney Harbours
inland on rivers

Those reddening leaves

Those reddening leaves
sparkling with a golden glow
in the sunrise breeze

Explore random noise

Explore random noise
field recordings are fertile
constraints make music

Aeolian harp

Aeolian harp
music from the passing breeze
like these arriving words

If you're wild at heart

If you're wild at heart
you won't turn away from love
let your heart run wild

Early morning walks

Early morning walks
admiring the Milky Way
keeping perspective

Building momentum

Building momentum
pulling your hips toward mine
sighing together

"Witches live in swamps"?

"'Witches live in swamps'?
Is this a euphemism?
Swampy vaginas?"

Turn the other cheek

Turn the other cheek
stirring animosity
posting Jesus memes

The day starts early

The day starts early
drinking hot tea in cold air
my insomnia

Ambiguity

Ambiguity
context changes everything
meaning is not clear

Mute criticism

Mute criticism
look for the lights growing love
sing with their voices

I’m cultivating

I’m cultivating
my vulnerability
letting myself fail

I watch her smile form

I watch her smile form
an enthusiastic yes
our pleasure follows

Letters on a board

Letters on a board
waiting to be assembled
awaiting meaning

Silent foreboding

Silent foreboding
the eternal mysteries
Can I hope to know?

Revealing movements

Revealing movements
dancing on the air currents
rising perfumed scent

Gifted a bottle

Gifted a bottle
It will improve over time
Alica's Bitter

She lightens my face

She lightens my face
focus shifts in the landscape
watching the moon rise

She's finding her voice

She's finding her voice
making it break musically
making my heart ache

What does it sound like

What does it sound like
when a robot has the blues?
This week's Junto prompt

Feeling short-tempered

Feeling short-tempered
craving social distractions
Facebook withdrawal

Lactobacillus

Lactobacillus
I call on you to ferment
Red apple sauerkraut

Unfathomable

Unfathomable
deep waters of sparkling blue
her eyes hold oceans

Like a ship captain
I try to predict weather
as tides shift each day

These depths nourish me
I fish for thoughts with my lines
measuring each catch

I dive in calm seas
exploring dark mysteries
among hidden reefs

Navigating wrecks
where lesser pilots have crashed
sunken histories

On waves I’ll depart
voyage to see other lands
explore other seas

Catching other fish
charting unmapped shores again
as homesickness grows

Time to clear the decks
I’m ready to drop anchor
her harbour awaits

Now stirred from slumber

Now stirred from slumber
in sensual dissonance
sensing dreaming scents

A weekend away

A weekend away
mapping our intersection
told in six haiku

Natural retreat
animal spirits refreshed
washed by the river

Chirping among trees
our thoughts flew like birds at dawn
in all directions

Your warmth like the sun
fish jumped from those mottled eyes
your smiles seemed like bait

Challenging questions
a gentle vivisection
my heart feels exposed

We built a campfire
flames danced on questions of would
embers like your cheeks

Now filled with new words
after our time together
your cat missed my tongue

Along the Murray

Along the Murray
beaten through River Red Gums
paths of fine grey dust

Waves roll over me

Waves roll over me
salt water soaks into skin
balancing my scales

I think in darkness

I think in darkness
briefly illuminated
realisation dawns

Flowing like water

Flowing like water
octopus runs to the sea
before vanishing

Among the rock pools

Among the rock pools
cut from sea communities
awaiting high tide

Bubbling at the mouth

Bubbling at the mouth
arms raised and ready to fight
crab guards a crevice

When the light is off

When the light is off
I can no longer discern
the direction home

Party in the trees

Party in the trees
loud colourful characters
Rainbow Lorikeets

The beach arcs northward

The beach arcs northward
wave after wave crashing down
as sand reflects light

Rising and falling

Rising and falling
wearing away at the shore
the sea never stops

Old stones over time

Old stones over time
the motion of the ocean
crumble into sand

Clouded horizon

Clouded horizon
curtain hanging in the east
hiding the sunrise

Bugs on the windscreen

Bugs on the windscreen
our canary in the mine
warning of collapse

Disempowering

Disempowering
professionalism cult
remain amateur

It’s not a myth take

It’s not a myth take
Poseidon prefers photos
taken in profile

Birdsong falls silent

Birdsong falls silent
under leaves they hide from hawks
circling overhead

Dawn dancing on leaves

Dawn dancing on leaves
glossy again after rain
radiating tree

Greensleeves melody

Greensleeves melody
echoes throughout holidays
stalking my children

Awake to chainsaws

Awake to chainsaws
after dreams of barren parks
cue anxiety

You're searching deeply

You're searching deeply
my heart feels undressed gently
eyes closed to your gaze

Crows fly to the west

Crows fly to the west
dance on the river floodplains
sleep under the stars

I dreamed of salad

I dreamed of salad
sandwich within a sandwich
it tasted tasty

Crows and cockatoos

Crows and cockatoos
circling my town this morning
after autumn rain

If birds knew words

If birds knew words
as sun rises each day
I'd hear headlines

Like some trick of light

Like some trick of light
broken white lines on blue sky
waves of Corellas

Little victories

Little victories
lurking under piling angst
hidden for later

Microscopically

Microscopically
your cells are in my body
you are part of me

This thick crust gives way

This thick crust gives way
revealing comfort and taste
to deliver you

When I'm sliced open

When I'm sliced open
you fill me with wholesome love
butter me with salves

She showed me her heart

She showed me her heart
hungry for intimacy
I was distracted

In my dreams I'm high

In my dreams I'm high
you're carrying magazines
we talk politics

Our magnetic fields

Our magnetic fields
crackle as we overlap
tingling sensations

Sitting in the dark

Sitting in the dark
chill returns to the morning
sun rises later

Enjoy the silence

Enjoy the silence
swimming deep underwater
try to remain calm

Woke to smell of smoke

Woke to smell of smoke
farmers burning off stubble
hopeful for rainfall

From granite they grow

From granite they grow
in a landscape drained by drought
tenacious flowers

She opens her arms

She opens her arms
the embrace barely reaches
it is just enough

From Snowy Mountains

From Snowy Mountains
the Murrumbidgee River
flows onto tables

I stare in the mirror

I stare in the mirror
my ancestors gazing back
they live on through me

Under morning glow

Under morning glow
magpies gently chortle song
brightening my day

I feel that I am

I feel that I am
in a deep dark well screaming
no one can hear me

Solo performance

Solo performance
a dance without a rhythm
each step leads to more

Diesel engines stir

Diesel engines stir
carriages seem to fidget
train horn calls goodbye

Temperature dips

Temperature dips
distant sounds hover like ghosts
one hour before dawn

Shared among many

Shared among many
I learn to love and be loved
subdivide my heart

When a drop of rain

When a drop of rain
resounds in a still garden
the plants seem to smile