a sanctuary
in the long white clouds
a drowned valley of sorts
a crowning forest of sorts
the place I love so much
to write about
and words visit a lot
through tempered with
silence, the beautiful
meanings; the abstract
understood
without explanation
like my daughter sanctuary
your valley and legs
your womb flush and fertile
muddled with new life, this
confusing spring
and your thick mass of vines
and veins and lush boggy fluids
and what decay you bring
what decay you bring
and these centuries can only live
here because of the fence
(to keep out, not to keep in)
like the wind
way up there hardly
touching me
down here, I visit a lot
and I write again
not the obsessive pawning
of notes but a light
flexibility for my pen
and my hand to scribe
when I come before God
in hope that this place exists
(as I find it) for everyone
as prayers within the prayer.
Tags: 2010, inspiration, karori sanctuary, landscape, musings, sanctuary
Hi Alys. I’m not very good at computer things so I’m not sure you’ll get this message: I’ll probably hit the wrong button or something. Do you remember me? We were good friends at university and knew each other in London too. I’m writing full-time these days, so when I came across your poetry I couldn’t help but drop you a line. Send me an e-mail if you’d like to resume contact/exchange ideas/whatever. I live in Spain so don’t worry about me swinging by unannounced or anything. Hope all is well.