Coastal Burn on the Horizon

‘Coastal burn’ were the original words,
A feeling of expanse across water plains.
Flatness extends to clouded skies,
Struggling sun to break through.
Here come the sparrows a’ pecking for grubs,
A mast sleeps high.

I wandered through tiredness
Night shift changing the slumber posts.
Manic expressions left their disease,
A desire to please beyond anything seen.
Ball sacks swagger between canine hinds,
A nose sniffing for traces of territorial claims.

I make peace with the ease
Words stumble from pen,
It was an exaggerated plea
Got my ass rushing to seat.
For I had to kill time,
And sleep evaded the watch.
– A Kererū comes to say hello


Little mutts prance on by,
One squatter a piss in the grass.
Fem-sparrow checks me out,
Fem-persons were never that forward.
Saltwater burn an aqua blue,
Light reflection a convoluted mirror.

Words run dry,
They always do.
Saltwater never lies.

• 17/11/17, Motueka