On the Bus


heat on the brink of intolerability
radiator under the seat
my lips burst in dry heat
even the fake leather is hot
my head against the cold window
scratched milky pane
the city moves past distorted
my backpack on the seat beside me
a men-spreading prevention system
I take a deep breath and quickly exhale
smell of old diesel motor
exhaust gritty in my mouth
and yet
despite heat encroaching
despite fumes
despite stranger’s crotches
I am relieved
For I don’t have to carry time
time clamps my chest
weighs down my shoulders
yet here in movement
I don’t have to carry time
frustrating forced flow forward
is paused
I want to meander
I want to press hold on a moment
I want to go back
I want to jump ahead
I want to rest extended in space
until I am ready to continue again
and right now
right here
I am free
the bus splutters along the road
carrying time and movement for me
my thoughts wander along the rhizomes of life
resting at nodes of have and could have beens

Our Street

It’s Christmas time the lights do shine,
In houses in our street.
I am bundled up in search for rhyme,
Because street, fleet, sheet, or sleet.

As I walk along to Christmas song;
In German song is Lied,
I wonder about the people
Who live along our street.

The old man in his red car,
Who really needs more luck,
And drives around the corners,
As if he is in a truck.

The people with a pack of dogs,
Who always look so happy,
The dogs are very tiny though,
And luckily not yappy.

Street, feet, eat, heat, sleet
The latter pelts my face.
Architecture on repeat,
This street is an odd little place.

What about the mathematician?
Deteriorating my rhymes condition!
Who calculates our lights’ algorithm,
Impossible they are an anachronism.

My rhymes begin to fall apart,
Although I am not yet loosing heart,
I tuck my scarf tight round my face,
And keep exploring our little place,
My steps begin to crunch on snow,
But only if I walk just like so.

There is the curious neighbour,
Who makes the curtains twitch.
And the really mean crusader,
Who makes my witch’s thumb itch.

There are a lot of little monsters,
Once a year to be seen,
But only if we respond,
To knocks on Halloween.

There is my garden hobby friend,
Who lives around the corner,
And gave me a pretty chilli plant,
Which has a place of honour.

The old man with the same name,
Gives the most beautiful Christmas cards,
I love to look at on my way hame,
They are light, blessings, and heart.

I’am running out of rhyme now,
If not out of street,
Have a very merry Christmas,
And do leastwise one good deed.

Outer Hebrides: Alone

Everybody is alone onto themselves
That’s the dichotomy of being
We are social but nobody truly knows the other
All we negotiate is a common story