No.27

It is madness
says reason

It is unhappiness
says caution

It is nothing but pain
says fear

It has no future
says cynicism

It is ridiculous
says pride

It is foolish
says insight

It is impossible
says experience

It is what it is,
says love.

No.26

The sun beats down more heavily

on this little morning patch.

Its weight slamming onto the concrete

like a cartoon anvil.

Everything it touches

immediately molton-

The floor, a cushion, my foot.

I watch my foot melt over the step,

gloopy, fleshy, messy.

Splodging down onto the step below.

The heat causing the air above to shimmer giddily.

I imagine the foot in a frying pan, 

sizzling brightly, exuberantly.

Turning golden brown,

a diathermy smell filling the air.

I see the foot shrivel in the drying rays,

withering to a third of its usual size.

It resembles a relic of ancient Egypt, 

curled at the edges, bereft of moisture, crinkled, brittle.

I shut my eyes to the sun's leering stare.

When I open them, 

my foot is a foot is a foot.

No.25

I want to wrap you up
In a cocoon.
To envelop you,
To protect you,
From the world's ambushes.
My arms a shield
My love a bullet-proof suit.
I want to be your lifebelt -
I will pull you back to shore,
If you will let me.

No.24

Let's settle this

Like cats.

Let's settle this

With claws and teeth

And fur flying

-I'd like to take a chunk out of you right now

And I'm sure you feel the same.

I'll arch my back

Stretch it right out

Goosebumps attending every hair

Adrenaline fuelling my fight-or-flight.

And we'll circle each other

Ready, so ready

To pounce.

Have no doubt:

I'll fight,

and I'll win.

No.23

I feel what is in your heart so keenly
This dark day, this sad day.
And if I could lighten
the heaviness of your heart I would.
I don't claim to understand the pain you must be feeling;
But know that although
things seem empty now
You will come to realise that lightness and joy
were only hiding in the shadows.

No.22

You're gone again,
And my head is filled with you again.
I have plenty to do
But daydream instead
Of you, again.

Come back soon.
I've had enough of missing you.
Somehow, your absence
Is more of a distraction
Than your wonderful presence.

No.21

7 times.

You don't answer

7 times.

That's 7 times more than I'd like.

It makes me

7 times as mad

As I was before.

And makes me

Think I love you

7 times more

Than you love me.

Number 8 is trouble.

Number 8 is borderline hysteria.

But you don't know that,

Because you didn't answer

The first 7 times.

No.20

Questions I would ask you

What do you do.

Why do you do it.

What do you think about in times of nothingness.

Who do you vote for.

How do you eat your food.

How many times have you existed only in a moment?

Can you stand short socks.

Are you ticklish.

What do you think of earlobes.

How do you hear your voice.

What colour are my eyes.

Can you do a crossword.

Is life what you imagined it should be?

What colour will you paint your walls.

Do you like to dance.

What do you think of the sea.

Do you like your family.

Do you like fairground rides.

Why do you play guitar.

Can you fall in love with a song.

Can you lift me.

What's the first thing you notice about a person?

Do you like camping.

Do you like pens.

Can I joke with you.

Tell me everything.

No.18

The all of you

Plus the small of me.

This works.
The evidence is two-fold and abundant.

Addition results in multiplication:
You and me squared.

I'm not enjoying these mathematical analogies
But a pattern is emerging
This is happening repeatedly
To the power of I-don't-know-what.

Attempts to find some sense
Are feeble and truly,
Unnecessary.

Sense is not the point.
Maybe a biology lesson
Would be better.

No.17

Crispy thing,
Let me inside your shell.
You're a little tough today.
I want to see again the kernel
Nestled in your core.
I'm a human nutcracker,
And you, my love,
Can sometimes be unyielding.