Our Happy Place
 
In this place we call love
I make new discoveries
I’m yet to determine if
they’re good or bad.
My heart pounds with
the excitement of it all.
 
In this place we call love
I approach the door with
a mix of exciting fear.
I am unsure of how unforgiving
the clasp of your emotions will be.
There is trepidation in these feet.
 
In this place you call love
The furnishings are bright, warm.
The clangs of security chain, cold.
I am the smiling resident whose
stay might end up unwilling.
Should I call into the night for help?
 
In this place you call love
I tread carefully, afraid to jolt
your emotions, live gingerly with your
tendencies to rage passionately.
It is love that rules you, moves you
to hurt, bruise and scare.
 
In this place, I look through bars of
cold comfort, open my mouth for a song,
nothing comes, so I purse my lips to whisper
instead into the night, maybe Sense will hear me.
Instruct you in loving me, if not
Set me free.
 

Eden
 
I don’t know how, despite
the signs, I married him.
 
Osa bo le gbe mi
Se mi bo se bami
 
His love is tight.
I stay here by decree
of his telling glance. His
warning touch of perceived endearment.
I daren’t move, gritted smiles.
Laughter torn from deep in my soul,
laughter, which follows the mandate:
Mirth or pain.
 
Osa bo le gbe mi
Se mi bo se bami
 
His love is hard.
His soft word placed in my twisted ear,
‘This hurts me more than you’
I’m a child, waiting certain punishment, then
the apologies flood my lap, as my
punisher blames regretful tears on me.
My fault for being not so right
‘See what I make him do?’
 
Osa bo le gbe mi
Se mi bo se bami
 
His love is deep.
Colours banned from my palette
Gold is sallow, silver is crass
The query of who’s mating dance I wish to attract
makes the peace of drabness comforting.
I am a bird of paradise made for one
garden, the flaming swords are for my protection.
Does it matter that my feathers droop and fall?
 
Osa bo le gbe mi
Se mi bo se bami
 
His love is constant.
Vows are taken seriously here,
there is only one god in this house and he's not above.
I walk and hear clinking gently
reminding me of no escape.
I am a gold-chained prisoner.
This union is till death, accident-prone,
my sure feet unsteady, I  will walk into
another doorknob, trip down another stair.
I am certain of this truth.
 
Osa bo le gbe mi
J’owo se mi bo se bami
 
His love will be death.
 
I don’t know why, despite
 the signs, I married him.


Introducing...
 
Let it be in the dark
This first time
Cloak shrouding me
Gently introducing you to
My identity
There are different names
 To be called by
Another descends and
Tonight...
My feet waiver from the
Passing of one to the other.
 
The past I was sure of
This present beckons with
Tender fronds swishing softly
In front of me.
Let clarity be this
I am afraid. Not of you.
Me. I fear a new rage
Discontent, a new curse
These scars, me again to
Stand , subject to another’s
Scrutiny, questions, always
A wonder.
So let this first uncovering
Be enclosed with darkness
Light filtering in, beam
By beam till I am
Ready for light.
 
 
Stream
 
I have to write my mind
Swirling as he breathes
He breathes loud and raspy
It grates, it grates, then stops
I'm adjusted to it, it's become soothing.
 
I am hesitant
My finger to my lips, hush him
In our shared secret
His eyes twinkle and his hands
Stay immersed in tomatoes and mushrooms
His beard invites tickles and I want
To link my tongue through his hoop.
 
His touch, warm, friendly
My mind is a vast kingdom
Nobody but children reign there
I desire to find new dreams.