I saw you from afar....

I saw you from afar
I called you near
In expectation
And anticipation

We clasped hands
And ran to dewy fields
Rolling among poppies
Breathing the scent

No need to talk
Our eyes said it all
Clasping bodies
Amid fever'd frissons

Slowly stripping
Our ev’ry vestment
Stroking, caressing
Feeling curves

We know so well
Memories refreshed
With time elapsed
Melted to nothing

Rising and falling
With deepest joy
Laughter ensued
Calm togetherness

Peace at last
Basking in elation
Holding each other
Sighing gently

©K M James  24.02.11

Time to move on

The new day is dawning
(I’m thinking of awnings)
More boxes to pack
Oh no, my back!

The sofas have gone
To a new home – tis done
New sofas appeared
No jam to be smeared

The cat shows confusion
Yet sleeps in illusion
A false comfort before
A new house… and more

In a few days we will go
From old to new - 7 years ago
A new pad by the river
The moon is a sliver

Imagine us in there
All unpacked with great care
Or three for new living
A fresh start to our being

Ode to Les Grisettes (on the occasion of a performance of The Merry Widow)

We stumbled on stage
In glorious assuage
We sang and we trounced
With our skirts did we flounce

We flirted, cavorted
And tempted and naughtied
Kicking our heels
Amidst gleeful squeals

Men seemed delighted
Eyes were not slighted
As they gazed on our
..Faces from afar

We danced on the stage
Despite our great age
Youth may be denied
But what fun, we cried!

We turned a cartwheel
(In our minds we did feel)
At the end, a tableau
Flattened oh ho!!

We staggered upstanding
Creaking and landing
Our breath barely caught
Our limbs far less taut

The wobbles and panics
We played out our antics
Next morning it seemed
What had we just dreamed?

Postscript: "my knees, oh my knees.....!"

@K M James July 2010

The Mask

I don’t wear a mask I say
Am happy, able and content
My fears you think you may allay
But I know best, despite intent

I have never worn a mask I say
Despite the past gone by
Naturally I have no fears to slay
You think you know best, you say

You think I wear a mask – who me?
But this can’t be so, despite my past
Honestly I am really fine and free
You think you can get inside of me

You’re in my head, you twisting snake
Round and round my thoughts
Don’t come in, there’s much at stake
You wonder too, can I be taught?

Really am at peace … no I’m not
You’ve found me out, I cannot lie
Damn this learning, I’m in a knot
What can I do now, to get on by?

I’m a place that no one sees
I’m living life with integrity
It’s sad, happy yet with more peace
Acknowledging inequity

Moving forwards, can you see
Acknowledging my outward self
Tangled webs you never see
Duality of my inner health

Who are you really, in my head?
My treasured learning, with intent?
Is it those around I see
Or my inner dread?

Is there light outside the mask
Realisation of development?
Can I complete the worldly task
And stay completely congruent?

Some have said...

Some have said
A funny poem
Is all I want to read

You sound depressed
And oh so sad
Lift your mood

Laugh out loud
And be uplifted
So why is it hard to do?

When times are rough
My mind a fluff
To focus is … hmm.. what’s that?

My mind awash
With blatant thoughts
Of killers and their prey

Oh yes I can find
A silver lining
I only need to look

Jokes and more
Make me laugh
Where’s the fun in that?

Next time the blues
Return again
Shoot them down!

Put them in a box
Tie to a balloon
Watch them fly away

Are you completely mad?
I can’t do that,
Means I have to think!

So there you go around
Again with thoughts
That find no end!

Victim

I thought I was a victim
But I came to believe
I knew better

Many years I have stood
Up to you and failed
Retreating

You believed I was stupid
Criticised me time over
I admitted defeat

The tables have turned
I’m standing again
No more defeat

You think you’re a victim
Hidden paralysis
Retreating

We are no victims
We have chosen our path
Standing firm

You still think you’re a victim
Because you haven’t won
Angry you seem

But you chose your path
There are no winners
A shared destiny

Unavoidably joined
Our future paths set
Anger must subside

The Beast

He waits and he watches
Considers his pounce
Not yet he ponders
I’ll wait a while longer

He waits and he watches
Enjoys his meandering
Perhaps soon he considers
Whilst he enjoys himself more

He watches and waits
Notices her squirming
A few words here and
Still he stands back to reflect

Watching and waiting
Now is the time
He considers his pounce
Leaps and attacks

He stands back and watches
Considers his catch
Not sure it was worth it
She fades and she falls

He stands back and waits
For grief to set in
He realises with gravitas
The vastness of error

Never again will he watch
Nor will he wait
The thrill of the chase
Is over indeed