Interface
of tai chi feet
and icy tiles
of round on flat
of dry on wet
of soft on rock
of pink on black
A single moon
lopsliding off
to let the morning in
– – – – – – – – – –
Rachel McAlpine 2016
Interface
of tai chi feet
and icy tiles
of round on flat
of dry on wet
of soft on rock
of pink on black
A single moon
lopsliding off
to let the morning in
– – – – – – – – – –
Rachel McAlpine 2016
She whispers his name
to the night
and her voice trickles down
to him.
Across the moon
a skin
crumbles patch by patch
as they watch.
Water, water.
Who knows when
these two will blend
again?
*
Rachel McAlpine
If I had a tree
I would carve it.
If I had a pie
I would halve it.
If I had your heart
I would marvel
all over again.
– – – – – –
Rachel McAlpine
Love is God
antique and electronic,
lighting up the logic
of the past.
The symmetry of love
let loose
holds the balance,
keeps the peace.
– – – – – –
Rachel McAlpine
I told my admirer that men are abundant.
I told him explicitly he was redundant.
I gave him the sack
but he simply came back
and expected a seat on the board.
I asked if he fancied an early retirement.
He said, I believe it’s a basic requirement.
He took me to bed
and seductively said,
I’m expecting a seat on the board.’
He’s easy to hire, he’s harder to fire.
I can’t afford him but still I adore him.
Should I give him a seat on the board?
He blithely agreed that I ought to retrain him
but soon I discovered I couldn’t restrain him.
He entered a bid
for my heart and my id
including a seat on the board.
I had to acknowledge the man had ambition.
I tried to remove him by subtle promotion.
He wanted a share
and it seemed only fair
to give him a seat on the board.
I’ve met many shyer but none I admire.
I’m quick to demote and I’m slow to promote
but I gave him a seat on the board…
I gave him a seat on the board.
– – – – – –
Rachel McAlpine
I’m bad with faces
and bad with bicycles too.
Was my Kyoto bike ‘Merry Bell’
or ‘Joyfully Sue’?
– – – – – –
Rachel McAlpine
Lovers apart
spin cobwebs
round the heart.
In the office
did you think of me?
Thought not.
– – – – – –
Rachel McAlpine
Don’t be too hard
on your ex,
who was frequently
faithful to you.
Woo woo woo woo
singing on the radio.
Yayee yayee yayee yayee
started many years ago.
Not another summer
in a wimple!
Someone roll that lady
in the hay.
Friendship slips
out the window
when lovers shout
and part.
It may ring the doorbell
later,
when neither hurts
not wants
nor waits.
– – – – – –
Rachel McAlpine