Ephemeral
it is a calm wave
a small rise in
the level of the sea
a small rise in
the level of the sea
it travels
at a gentle pace
towards a beach
where it covers the sand
and disappears
without a sound
at a gentle pace
towards a beach
where it covers the sand
and disappears
without a sound
as if by magic
a small bird
appears
its slender beak
poking around
for food
a small bird
appears
its slender beak
poking around
for food
its feet leave a trail
sharp imprints in the sand
until
the trail is washed away
without a sound
sharp imprints in the sand
until
the trail is washed away
without a sound
-o-
Emerging
the light was dim
a soft and silky glow
of light
from every direction
a soft and silky glow
of light
from every direction
the space was small
no edges no corners
just a shell
a smooth and silky shell
no edges no corners
just a shell
a smooth and silky shell
the world outside
did not exist
its sounds obscured by silence
did not exist
its sounds obscured by silence
the little light
the close confines
the silence
a solitary life inside
was all she knew
the close confines
the silence
a solitary life inside
was all she knew
until one day
she broke the shell
she blinked at the light
and stepped out into the world
she broke the shell
she blinked at the light
and stepped out into the world
-o-
The briefest of moments
high against the blue of the sky
motionless
like a drone without a sound
a bird of prey
eyes like a laser
looking
motionless
like a drone without a sound
a bird of prey
eyes like a laser
looking
a wide expanse of shimmering gold
undulating
on minute movements of air
a ripening field
a slowly dancing pattern of waves
undulating
on minute movements of air
a ripening field
a slowly dancing pattern of waves
carried on strong straight stems
the crop
a canopy
a shelter
the crop
a canopy
a shelter
and underneath
in the dim shimmering light
but for the briefest of moments
a face appears
of a mouse
in the dim shimmering light
but for the briefest of moments
a face appears
of a mouse
-o-
she was aware of
vague slow rhythmic sounds
as if of lapping waves
but there wasn't any water
anywhere
vague slow rhythmic sounds
as if of lapping waves
but there wasn't any water
anywhere
a tiny gentle voice
whispering at first but
gradually growing into song
joined in
in perfect rhythmic harmony
whispering at first but
gradually growing into song
joined in
in perfect rhythmic harmony
and the song embraced her
and the song took her
by the hand
and the song led her
into dance
and the song took her
by the hand
and the song led her
into dance
a dance of slow
lapping waves
lapping waves
and she danced and
felt the water rise
until she swam
felt the water rise
until she swam
-o-
Like a cloud
he closed his eyes
he closed his ears
shut down all his senses
until he floated in the sky
like a cloud
he closed his ears
shut down all his senses
until he floated in the sky
like a cloud
at first
he felt heavy and burdened
he cast a dark and gloomy shadow
on the ground
and out of sheer sadness
he started to rain
he felt heavy and burdened
he cast a dark and gloomy shadow
on the ground
and out of sheer sadness
he started to rain
but they were only gentle droplets
of rain
welcome and refreshing and
soon he felt lighter and brighter
and he rose a bit closer to the sun
of rain
welcome and refreshing and
soon he felt lighter and brighter
and he rose a bit closer to the sun
and as he rose
his edges started to fray
his fluffiness melted away
and he spread into
a hazy veil
his edges started to fray
his fluffiness melted away
and he spread into
a hazy veil
he opened his eyes but
could only see light
he carefully listened
to silence
could only see light
he carefully listened
to silence
and a sense of freedom
engulfed him
while he slowly
disappeared
engulfed him
while he slowly
disappeared
-o-
The silent sound of rain
the stillness was absolute
a silence as if sound
had not yet been created
a silence as if sound
had not yet been created
an ancient tree stood motionless
not one branch swayed
not one leaf moved
not one branch swayed
not one leaf moved
a subtle sound emerged
like a little stream trickling
through an upland meadow
like a little stream trickling
through an upland meadow
and the leaves stirred
and the sound swelled
as if the tree was breathing
as if the tree was breathing
and the branches swayed
there was movement in the sound
no notes
no rhythm
but full of music
no notes
no rhythm
but full of music
and the tree sang
a slow and steady crescendo
louder and louder
made the music turn to noise
louder and louder
made the music turn to noise
and the tree groaned
the clouds turned black
until it was night
and the deafening noise raged on
until it was night
and the deafening noise raged on
and the tree howled
but then the heavens opened
and as if by magic
the noise gave way
to the silent sound of rain
and as if by magic
the noise gave way
to the silent sound of rain
-o-
A gentle little autumn shower
a flock of friendly little clouds
each carrying a minimum of rain
basked in early morning light
and scattered it around
each carrying a minimum of rain
basked in early morning light
and scattered it around
a breeze
a whisper really
tickled the leaves
on the trees
gold-glowing leaves
trembling
in the gold morning light
a whisper really
tickled the leaves
on the trees
gold-glowing leaves
trembling
in the gold morning light
a single leaf took leave
of its tree
it leisurely drifted down on the breeze
till it came to rest
in rippling rings of water
of its tree
it leisurely drifted down on the breeze
till it came to rest
in rippling rings of water
a barely visible blanket of mist
rose from the lake
shrouding the golden leaf
and its rippling reflection
rose from the lake
shrouding the golden leaf
and its rippling reflection
and one by one
friendly little droplets of rain
added countless silent rippling rings
to the misty surface
of the lake
friendly little droplets of rain
added countless silent rippling rings
to the misty surface
of the lake
-o-
a shimmering summer sky
at the centre the sun
warmed the woodland with light
at the centre the sun
warmed the woodland with light
meandering eddies of air
tickled the leaves on the trees and
stirred them into sound
stirred them into music
tickled the leaves on the trees and
stirred them into sound
stirred them into music
the leaves began to dance
and the shadow of the leaves
joined their dance
as if the music was their own
and the shadow of the leaves
joined their dance
as if the music was their own
and they danced till
the sun hugged the horizon
and slowly disappeared
the sun hugged the horizon
and slowly disappeared
the light faded into darkness
the breeze died down and
the motion of the leaves was stillness
the breeze died down and
the motion of the leaves was stillness
but into the night
the shadow of the leaves still danced
a dance that no one could see
the shadow of the leaves still danced
a dance that no one could see
-o-
Start again
he was lying flat on the forest floor
eyes closed and dreaming
eyes closed and dreaming
he listened
to the breathing branches of the trees
they sounded like the sea
to the breathing branches of the trees
they sounded like the sea
a hazy sun poured through the canopy
dappling a dance of light
on his face
dappling a dance of light
on his face
from high above
a tiny spider abseiled
to the forest floor
her silk like
silver splashes of light
a tiny spider abseiled
to the forest floor
her silk like
silver splashes of light
when she landed
he flicked his hand
across his face
he flicked his hand
across his face
dazed
the spider sighed
and climbed back up the tree
to start again
the spider sighed
and climbed back up the tree
to start again
-o-
