The Divide
A walk in the rain.
It's only on the outside—
An inner sunshine.
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flashy, facades, free, takeover, destruction, power, despots, low, hope, heart, hold, how
Lone Pine
"Old men declare war.
But it is youth that must fight and die."
-- Herbert Hoover
The bugle plays ‘Last Post’.
Many wear medals—
Pinned over their hearts,
Not flashy, just proud and reflective.
Some of them hold photos,
All remember.
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He stands apart,
Pondering the destruction
That lead to the scene
Unfolding before him—
The loss of lives,
The façade of righteousness,
The display of power,
The despots fought and beaten.
But what leader is not a despot
If given the chance?
They attend these events,
Take over the role of defender
With platitudes of hope and freedom—
But are less forthcoming
On how we arrived at this point,
This low point of human failing.
Few remember.
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A minute’s silence.
The bugle moves the soul,
But not the memory.
Reveille.
But we sleep on.
The errors repeat.
Few question why.
Best we remember.
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Brand, Veered, Afternoon, Impromptu, Holiday, Unaware, Companion, History, Paintings, Solace.
The Companion.
The train was gone.
Nowhere to be seen.
The platform empty.
The ticket office shut.
An impromptu stay,
A holiday of sorts.
An afternoon to fill.
The gallery was open.
Paintings lend solace—
An escape, immersion,
Into another world,
A history on canvas.
He is not alone.
She is not unaware
Of his presence
But looks ahead.
The next train is due.
He looks at her.
She looks ahead.
Decision time.
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gentle, organic, standards, odour, moisture, “20 years”, noses, pregnant, gloves, high
The Fish Market
Memories of Hoi An 2008.
The streets are a jungle—
A constant dance between
Eager sellers and reluctant buyers.
Suits? Shoes? Watches?
Less-than-subtle pressure.
“You want a coffee, Mister?
Euphemism. Caveat emptor.
Step into the fish market—
A different world.
Like a jelly fish, you glide
Unseen and unwanted.
The nose sees it first—
Odours, fishy but fresh.
Organic in the best sense.
Vendors, mostly women,
Sit cross-legged on the floor—
The young, the old, children—
In gloves, aprons,
Classic bamboo hats.
Lots of running water,
Everything is wet.
Fish are scaled, filleted
Stacked and sold.
The tourist is invisible.
None buy fish
So none are noticed.
They drift, observers,
In a different world.
Outside, pleading eyes
And sugared words
Await their return.
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races, wear, hound, brawl, song, hood, blend, heroes, flick, shoot, trip, beams
The Songs of Dusk.
Races down the street.
Duck—weave—don’t trip.
Wear them down. Tag!
Cops and Robbers.
Shoot’em up,
Shoot’em down.
Bang! Bang! You're dead!
Beware the Death Star.
Light sabres drawn.
Laser beams at the ready.
Robin Hood—yay!
The Sheriff—boo!
Hide and seek. Shhh!
The woods are alive.
Sleuths, like hound dogs.
Reality and dreams blend.
Every one’s a hero.
The odd scuffle. Sure.
Not quite a brawl.
Dust down, flick off‚
“Play on!” is the call.
And they do.
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Beauty, Missing, Totally, Roundabout, Belief, Suddenly, Peace, Rose, Calamity, Solve
The Café Roundabout.
It’s a quirky, peaceful place.
An under-stated beauty—
Deep, teal-coloured walls
Flowers, roses, on the tables,
Totally eclectic cutlery and plates,
People drift in. And out. Or stay.
Coffees are made, consumed.
Nothing happens suddenly.
No panic, no calamity, just calm.
A place for a poet to retreat,
To consume coffee and eggs
To solve the mysteries
Of the prompts.
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