Of Tea And Coffee...

The delicate golden liquid

Steaming gentle wisps into the air

A teasing hint of its scent hid

Behind leafy ripples, here and there

Poured out with shimmering grace

In a sparkling amber arc,

Day after day, a ritual hostess

As light gives way to dark

But the day had begun with another

That scowling dark prince of the morn

Not for the weak-hearted to suffer

That scalding caffeinated scorn

The wonderfully robust smell

The jolt to the senses with each sip

The brew that can compel

Slumber to relinquish its grip

Simpler Times

When I look at how the world goes so fast

With ever-changing tastes and shifting climes

Each person scurrying even more than the last

My thoughts turn back to simpler times…

A world where a child could chase a dragonfly

Running through grass, with barefooted glee

A man could fold back his arms and just lie

Soaking in sunshine, heart and mind free

Apron-clad wife in the kitchen awaits

His trudging footsteps after a long hard day

Ladling warm wholesome fare into plates

Sharing a meal, and some love, is on the way

A world where nightfall means dad reads you stories

Mom tucks you in with a warm goodnight kiss

Weekend means picnics, circuses and movies

Playing in the mud and tree-climbing bliss

Simple needs and simple wants, limited possibilities

Is that such a bad thing? ‘Cause then you notice time

You stop to feel the first rain, to hug a friend, to tease

Not just wish you had done it all, after you’re past your prime

Slow down and stop, ignore that Blackberry’s chirp

Let the deadlines just die, once in a while

Let the smoke-blackened traffic jostle, horns hoot and parp

Feel simplicity calling… Just sit back and smile

The Solitary Rose

The sight of which was breathtaking,

Which made one miss a beat

Was the blood red rose

With petals knit close,

To see its beauty was a treat.

It bloomed on the pavement so dusty

Yet it spread its fragrance around

Poised to intoxicate

Using beauty as a bait,

Every soul, whose view on it was found

So delicate, with a pallor

That outlined each vein

Of each superb petal

One glance at which was fatal

Which made one look again and again

It bloomed in all its splendour

Winning with its charm, every heart

The solitary rose,

In its ethereal pose,

A finished piece of the Creator’s art...

Melancholia

In a dark corner, curled up

Arms drawn tight around knees

Swimming in the dregs hurled up

From the deepest crevice

That which started as feeling hollow

A mere void of emptiness

Unaware that soon to follow

Is the darkest despondence

Dragging you below the surface

Drowning you in despair

Shackling you to that place

Where you’re broken beyond repair

Crushing weight, constricting your heart

Unable to breathe, clawing for air

Watching it rapidly all fall apart

Any pretence at normalcy long stripped bare

Life and death, death and life

Cease to exist, cold and alien

The spirit stops fighting, weary of strife

Sinks into nameless oblivion

Turmoil

Sloshing around your core

Twisting, turning, tearing

Deepening evermore 

Until you’re past caring 

Eddying swirls of dismay

Roiling turbulence

Stormy shades of gray

Screams of silence

Ripping your heart to shreds

In anguish you recoil

A feeling the soul most dreads -

Turmoil

Chocolate

Melting rivers of dark silk,

Rippling, stroking, slipping

Smooth sweetness of milk

Tartness of cocoa dripping

Laced with orange or mint

Warm roasted nuts abound

Perhaps just a buttery hint

Or a dollop of rum to be found

Velvety sensation so potent

Eyes closing on their own

To savour the fleeting moment

Of being in the Chocolate Zone…