Book excerpt

Published by L&R Hartley, PUBLISHERS, 2004

            Foreword

And Then We Were One (None) is a journey through the ecstasy of touch and surrender, joyous splendour, lost moments, bitter lies, betrayal, hope and blessings.

Poetry has the power to reflect your soul – the movement of it, through loves passages. I invite you into the passageways of my soul and heart through my poetry. You may even find a piece of you here…

For as long as I can remember I have loved poetry, whether it is poetry as lyrics or words on a page. To me it is beauty. To me it has power. I think Dylan Thomas succinctly tells how poetry impacts…"Some people react physically to the magic of poetry, to the moments, that is, of authentic revelation, of the communication, the sharing, at its highest level … a good poem is a contribution to reality. The world is never the same once a good poem, has been added to it. A good poem helps to change the shape and significance of the universe, helps to extends everyone’s knowledge of himself and the world around him." Dylan Thomas (1913 – 1953)

I have been moved and inspired by Thomas, TS Elliott, Poe, Rumi, Yeats, Nanushka, Jewel, Mary Makay, Mary Oliver, Walt Whitman and so many more.

Writing poetry is a primary way I access, purge and catharsises. It is the primary way I commune body mind and soul, with god, nature and others. It is through my writing that I discover my fears, dreams, pain, sorrow, patterns, grief, joy, and ecstasy. It is where I learn to set others free, forgive and let go. It is where I bless and give gratitude.

Writing poetry has taught me that I have a gift of being able to do all of this. I put on paper what others cannot. I bring to the surface what others are scared to.

Writing poetry is my gift to me.

Writing poetry is my gift to give.

Maybe in my writing, I found you. Maybe you will meet me here -within these pages. Maybe I told your story of pain fear or joy – maybe we shared the same journey.

May this book give you beauty in the yin yang of human emotions. May this book give you power to move through the fluctuating shape of your universe.

            Surrendering Touch

- To yield to the power, control, or possession of another

- To bring a bodily part into contact with - to handle or feel gently usually with the intent to understand or appreciate

Alive in my sleep

Heaven in my heart

Life’s Breath

Inner sanctum

Joyous Splendour

Getting to know someone is a deliciously enjoyable experience of long slow with a few rapids....

            Inner sanctum

My love for you grows stronger

with every moment we share.

When we make love,

nothing else exists -

no-one else exists.

I find myself wanting to laugh and cry at the same time.

I know within that moment that I only want to be with you –

never to lay with another -

never to allow another to kiss where you have kissed -

to touch where you have touched.

For how can I when my body has been claimed by your moist lips,

your tender touch.

My inner sanctum would find another as a trespasser;

my inner truth would find another, meaningless;

their kisses and caresses superfluous.

            Life's Breath

You lay next to me

your heart beat with mine

we touched each other gently

two souls entwined.

You lay next to me

we ran through each other’s veins

dreams and hopes together

creating the perfect way.

You lay next to me

I felt your life’s breath

asking for another chance

to be released from death.

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