The mighty elephant stands in the shade of invisible shackles.

So too do I stand, in the cage of

A distant past and painful memories of the present.

Freedom must exist first in the heart and mind;

The spirit must soar,

Albeit on broken wings.

For even caged birds sing

To keep their spirits alive.

Let’s go then- you and I

And find the wind beneath our wings,

That will set us free…

From bitter…

I pack my memories in little cages,

Wild beasts of an intemperate youth,

The struggle against the walls of time

And seek recognition-an admission of guilt.

But I am past the gremlins of that time.

No amount of persuasion will allow me to set them free.

However, the past clings to our skin like some terrible odour which

Present fragrances cannot mask nor dispel.

So at the helm of all affairs I struggle to shut the lid…

Let the winds blow and scatter these fallen leaves.

I couldn't rake these pieces of my life into a comfortable heap,

That would fit into the fireplace and burn away a scorching memory.

Scarred for life, my experience was my only beacon in the darkness that surrounded me.

Some years later I was reminded, my experience is a falsehood.

A pitiful reflection off cracked mirrors that distort reality.

Whose reality should I fall back…

I was on a ship not long ago

That seemed destined to reach the horizon soon.

But you could tell from the growling and grinding of the engines,

The furrowed brows of weary seaman and bleeding deckhands,

That the captain’s dream was paved with  bloody sacrifice.

Our lives became a living dreamtime story.

Blurring sunrise and sunset till the holy Sabbath

Became depressing metaphor.

I saw the flag fluttering…

I'm tied to the circle.

Moving my yoke around the circumference

Determined by home and hearth and the

Trivialities of bills paid and unpaid.

Fish bowled and circumscribed

I use the drum of my dreams to

Compose fantastical melodies

Of what I will do when all is done;

Home repaid-the birds have flown the nest.

Helloa! Traveler. You that stopped to read my musings.

Are we in the same boat?

Or are you…

How do I mark the line

Between a compelling truth and your fantasy?

Those primary teachers that taught you well

Made your spirit swell beyond the reality

Of childhood dreams that friends and family stoke indulgently.

Loving adults-cowardly in their kindness,

Added fuel to your fire!

Afraid brutal criticism would kill your untamed desire

And leave you weak-broken-perhaps uninspired.

Follow your…

I am an open book.

Turn those dried, crisp leaves and read sordid tales

Of my past and scribbles for the future.

Don't judge me by the smudges that scar the reading.

Where tears have splashed the ink across the page and

Obliterated the passions of that hour.

Perhaps, you will be able to fill blank spaces

Where my tired soul has omitted to make mention of 

Trying times that needed too much of an explanation.

On…

Let's speak a common tongue.

Erase boundaries and barriers

That have bred deep trenches

And left hearts and minds

Bristling with the hurt; the rage and the hate

That politicians exploit  to strengthen the "STATE".…

I put away the toys.

Cleaned the room and

Cursed and dammed the mess you made.

Grumbled about the many stubborn stains.

As I washed and ironed a million clothes.

Then I fell on the couch-

A tired heap of ageing blood and bone.

And looked around in sweet despair.

This home is....

-too quiet now!

-too clean !

-too orderly!

Come back!

I'll gladly trade this

for the joyful…