Small Town Girl

Big city and big cars
Big jobs and rush hours
Power plays and battle scars
Parties, pinot noir and cigars
Caught up in the whorl,
Quietly watching it all unfurl
At the heart of it all,
I’m a small town girl

Night-time Terrace

As night falls and lays its dark mantle all around
Stars appear softly, on a dark velvet background
I look up and smile at the moon’s gentle glow
And give in to temptation, up to the terrace I go

Wind greets me by slithering hair down my face
It wraps me in its cloak of warm satin and lace
Leaving the heavens, my gaze skims below
Streetlamps glimmer, cars’ headlights glow

The chatter of crickets and bullfrog croaks rhyme
The trees wave their fronds as if keeping time
I choose my old spot, slide down to my knees
I savour the beauty, the darkness, the peace.

Mangifera indica

Spreading its arms towards the sky
Decked in dark green finery
Stands a mighty patriarch;
A century-old mango tree.
Silent witness of history.

Branches covered in scaly bark, laden
With fruit in ranging hues of golden
Emitting a sweet scent, very persistent,
Coupled with luscious curves,
Luring schoolboys to pleasures forbidden.

Shelter to many, pit-stop for some
Ants scurry along, getting work done
A cuckoo sings, enamoured
Of his own magical voice
Shrieks match his notes, the crows have come.

Wild parrots whirling from bough to bough
Pecking at fruit, here now, there now
A woodpecker hammers away at the trunk,
Knock-knock, tock-tock, the splinters fly
The sparrow builds her nest, her mate in tow.

A dog and a cow lie in its shade; sleepy,
Swishing off the stray fly or flea,
A friendly silence between them
Unaware of the benevolent smile
Of the towering mango tree.

Volcano

The breath of summer lingered
In dark woods, cool and serene,
A cuckoo let drop a jubilant note
The soft breeze plied unseen.

In the sky, each cloud
Outlined in comfortable brilliance;
Homely blossoms spread
Soft perfume, in alliance.

And then the mighty earth heaved
Its bowels lusting for destruction
Spewing liquid fire, molten rock
A deadly concoction.

Poison flowed out from its womb
Burnt orange lava so vivid,
Rushing out, glad to be free
Harbinger of death made liquid.

Time stood still
The obliteration complete
Fluid gray ash, like dark tears
Swirling reminder of fiery heat.

Total silence, eerie;
The gloomy hush of death
Shattered by a vulture’s quavering shriek
Life manifested itself in each breath.

Transcendence

With blushing cheeks and bright eyes she came,

Softly spreading her gossamer wings

She is Dawn, the fairest maiden of all,

“Rise and shine world”, she sings.

Across the sky streak the fiery steeds

Rides hard the messenger sun

He heralds the arrival of the messiah

For Day has already come.

The birds come home, the breeze dies down,

The sun sets with one final sigh

Clad in his rich purple mantle and crown

Dusk reigns over the sky.

On silvery feet she tiptoes in

Her inky black tresses awry

She is the seductive mistress of darkness

Night is the name she goes by.