Veinte preguntas

Is it circumstance
Or that time in life
When the focus is inwards
And questions are rife

Am I just getting old
Said with heavy sigh
Looking in the mirror, asking
What am I?

The statement echoes
A hollow sound
No responses forthcoming
Or reasons inbound

I could list one or two
Sure, but is that enough
Or even the right answers
Given from off the cuff

Play twenty questions
Purely with myself
Try to work out my niche
And place on the shelf

It's a bit like a crisis
The identity sort
Each exam that is sat
Results keep coming up short

Churning over and over
Who, what, when, and how
It's staring to grate
A little, somehow

The absence of feedback
Is killing me so
What am I?
Wonder if I'll ever know

Design

Ever woke and knew deep down
This is the day for you
When all your planning pays in spades
And all your dreams come true

The excitement tingles every nerve
You're just raring to go
Head held high, a spring in your stride
Time to be your own hero

This was all your own design
Time to proudly stand and shine

You make your own luck
The story says
When preparation meets opportunity
On the best of days
The dice rolled your number
Magic 8 Ball agreed
You're getting your reward
Without gloating or needless greed
Remember
This was your design
No need to wait for fate
Or stand in line

Ever stopped and wondered
Why the hell you're standing here
Jaded, downcast, pensive
Without love, lust or career

The dullness shrouds you always
The only colour now is grey
Can't lift yourself, no motivation
It's the same chores every day

This was never your design
Sour like the taste of the cheapest wine

You make your own luck
The story says
But preparation missed opportunity
On the worst of days
The dice never rolled in your favour
Magic 8 Ball wouldn't commit
Nothing coming as a reward
Feel like you're in the shit
Remember
This wasn't your design
Screwed by fate
Time after time

Screwed by fate
Are you going to resign
Time to make your own luck
Or just stand there and whine

In motion

Gazing at the puddled floor
Light reflects back to me
Shimmering, moving as I watch
And all so hazily

My world is in motion
Though I'm sat very still
Everything around is shifting
Giving a heady bizarre thrill

The air burns my nostrils
With every single breath that's made
Take in slowly to the lungs
No outward panic displayed

Swirling, whirling
Heat in the extreme
Mind drifting endlessly
Caught in a strange daydream
Silhouettes surround me
Though their conversations stream
Taking in the pleasure
Of a room that's filled with steam

Eucalyptus oil penetrates
Each pore and inch of skin
Sweat bubbles cover me
Heat escaping from within

Stretch out every muscle
Let the heat penetrate and soothe
Draining away the weekend's excess
Making my stubble soft and smooth

The room's still spinning
Or is that in my head?
The mist totally blankets me
Turns my skin bright red
Valve pumps out more
I can't stop it's spread
Steam's endlessly in motion
And I'm losing the thread

Exit and a cold cold shower
Brings back reality
Looking forward to the next visit
So the steam can batter me

Based on a true story

Wanting a signature
Was the purpose of his game
Nothing more he bargained for
Than the writing of a name

His tactics failed to shock
It took him by surprise
Before he knew he'd gained a job
With a sparkling bathroom prize

Watching the relationship
Like a seedling grow
Built out of a strange respect
Or something we'll never know

Was it because no kid gloves
Were donned right from the start
That the walls came down with ease
Tugging at each other's heart

Midnight walks
Along the Seine
Tenderly
Easing phantom pain
Racing the Maserati
Police in tow
Earth, Wind and Fire
Blasting as they go

Opera visit
Laughter filled
Paragliding trip
Scared and thrilled
Dunkirk drive
When love was dearth
Prove to the man
Still held worth

The tale of friendship
Played out for us on screen
But in real life
They held each other's dream


Inspired by the film 'Untouchable'

Absorption

Are you taking it in
Each word, every phrase
Not put off
By the sun's morning blaze

Not disturbed much
By the noise all around
Of passenger's chatter
And the train's rumbling sound

But you looked up, I noticed
When we sat opposite you
And I scanned the title
Of your book, greyish blue

It is having any effect
As the journey goes on
Digesting the pages
Filled with love and passion

You look outwardly calm
But are you stirring inside
Sunglasses stop me seeing
If your eyes go a little wide

Book's packed away now
This must be your station
But did the book take you
To your destination

But before you depart
One question, if I may
Have you absorbed everything now
After reading Fifty Shades of Grey

Where sky and earth meet

Watch as the light fades
Clouds sucked to the ground
Closing in on everyone
Darkness wraps around

Save for the smallest sliver
Of radiance so complete
My heart wants to journey to
Where sky and earth meet

Let's travel there together
You and I
Battle wind, fight dreadful rain
And lightening bolts in the sky

Promise you, it's worth it
A place to rest, relax, retreat
Love and endless warmth await
Where sky and earth meet

Hold my hand
It's all been planned
Every detail, just for you
In this promised land
Of sun, sea, sand
Any wish here can come true

Let's stay a while
It's charms beguile
All your passions re-inflame
It's all worthwhile
When you wear that smile
And remember your own name

Here nothing ever fades
All your thoughts are crystal clear
Recall those you're closest to
And watch them all pulled near

Choose your favourite memory
One you've long yearned to repeat
Then spend forever in that time
Where sky and earth meet

What lies beneath

Suit up
Final buddy check
Take your tiny timid steps
Across the soaking deck

One last look
Hold tight and grit your teeth
Take the step and discover
What lies beneath

Senses bombarded
Each and every one
Bobbing at the surface
The adventure's just begun

Drop below the waterline
Listen to the sound
Of your heavy breathing
Echoing all around

The cold lasts a second
Till you're distracted by the sight
Of fishes swimming at your side
Surface distorting the sunlight

Drop your head
And fin towards the deep
Feel the pressure wrap you tight
Over the precipice I want to peep

Noises carry to you
But are distorted all the same
Refraction plays tricks with distance
Laws of physics I can't explain

Want to stay here a while
As soak up every detail
But the water's getting murky
When I kick up silt and shale

And when I check my gauges
I see I'm low on air
Time to head for the surface
But I'll be back, on that I swear

Dive day

Alarm clock shakes me noisily
At something past four
Food to make, stuff to pack
Before bolting out the door

Darkness still reigns here
The sun is yet to shine
Cup of tea and shake my head
Clears remnants of Friday's wine

Butterflies swirl around inside
The adventure's not far away
M6, then M69
Stoney Cove for me today

Park up, join the queue
Hear laughter up ahead
Is it fake, bravado
Covering up their nerves instead

I am nervous, I'll admit
This is a new world for me
Plummeting in to the deep
Wonder what I'll see

There's all sorts, apparently
In this big hole in the ground
Hope I get to take a look
And have a swim around

Want to gaze in to the depths
Held down by tank and weights
Float, and watch my bubbles rise
The underwater world awaits