The Glue
By Jane Olivier
It was falling apart when we arrived -
separately, on different planes from
different destinations, time zones
and different worlds.
We didn’t know - and everything moved
like clockwork as if our arriving
held it together like haphazardly
applied glue – just for a bit –
for long enough.
And when our time was done, we said
goodbye – you leaving long before me;
but I felt comfortable waiting
as if by being in the almost
space you had left I could prolong
the moment – keep you close just a
little while more.
The time came for your plane to depart
and I whispered to an empty sky,
‘Hamba kahle ingelosi –
go gently, angel’.
But we hadn’t counted on Greece – or
perhaps Greece didn’t realise we were
the ones holding it together
even for a short while.
And together we left - separate
exits, separate planes, separate
destinations, to separate worlds.
We left as we had been for 6 days -
together; we held Greece together
just long enough.
Funny how things work.
Oblivious
By Jane Olivier
I splinter through the door, mind shards
still scattered between qwerty, screen and space.
Time hangs suspended in the hourglass
unsure of which direction to flow.
Puddles avoid careless feet, birds pause flight,
stones roll down edges, leaves and flowers retract,
trees suck in waists, river reverses,
all roads hastily straighten curving spines.
Words control my head and, body detached,
there are days the world needs to deflect me.
Together
By Jane Olivier
From the moment you see me hold me
with your eyes and I will draw you
to me with my smile until our arms can
take over. And as we walk
hold me with the sleeve of your shirt
as we move through places, both
hands occupied with things more
tangible though less important.
Just your sleeve - while between us
the hand of the breeze joins skin, caressing
your cheek with gentle fingers, its
palm against mine - the jogging rain
dropping its exertion into a
single pool until, now alone your
arms surround me, tucking me tightly
into all your spaces - brows, lips, hearts,
shadows - a giant oneness spectre.
Sighing souls at last a single
entity with phantom heartbeat
an uncontrollable longing come home,
wanting more needing more; ice melting
in heated ocean turmoiled into
deepening troughs towering crests
until together we break.