aubade

as he sleeps
she touches the pulse
at his temple with her lips
lets her black hair spill
across his chest
such beauty
they make a perfect pair
the palace is warm
music through the rooms
the sunken bath steams gently
with perfume what more
could anyone want?

yet pulling on her cloak
she leaves the farewell note
my happiness always
their first concern
they stopped at nothing
to give me pleasure
my seven little hairy men

size isn’t everything

Jean Frances

Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.
George Bernard Shaw

Yes, yes I’m coming. Suitcase, pram, dummy, bottle, handbag, change bag, car keys. Yes, I’ve got Dolphin, he's under the seat. Yes, you can take him on the plane. I’m sure you can, we’ve done it before. Don’t cry I won't put him in the suitcase. I didn’t have any choice last time, I couldn’t carry everything. You’re bigger now, you can carry him yourself. Then he’ll have to go in the suitcase won’t he? We’re going really soon I promise. Just let me think for a second. I can’t think when you do that. We're not going until you stop that. We'll miss the plane, is that what you want?
Hang on, I'll wind down the window. No you don’t, you’re just excited. Well if you'd had your breakfast you wouldn't feel sick would you? No you can’t, we'll have to get something on the plane. Hang on! I know it feels awful, I’ve just got to change lanes. Just wait until we’re out of the tunnel. I’m just stopping now, here’s a place, hang on. Oh yuck! Because the medicine’s pink that’s why. I don’t know, it can’t be food you didn’t have any breakfast. I’ll fix it, it’s all right. Don’t say that, Grandma gave it to you. Well you’ll have to wear it now. Nearly there, won't be long. No that’s not our plane. Stop it, our plane hasn’t left yet.
Because I do.
Why don’t you help me find a park? Yes it is a big mess. They're working on the airport for the Olympics. No, we’ll be back in Melbourne by then. No, we're not coming back for the
Olympics. Stop crying, you don’t even know what the Olympics are. No you don’t. I’m not arguing about it anymore, I'm looking for a park. We're going to have to walk from here. No I’m not carrying Dolphin. How many hands do you think I have? I’m not an octopus. Because I’m not that’s why.
Yes you can give the lady the tickets. Turn them around, they won't go in that way. Let her put them in, we're holding everyone up. No, we don’t need a headset. All right, just one. Because it’s a waste, someone has to clean them. I do not have germs. I don’t want to use them anyway. Can I just see the ticket? I’ll give it back, I promise. Yes, I asked for a window seat.
That’s an ashtray. Stop flicking it. Because it’s annoying. Yes that’s very fast, now stop flicking it. Look out the window. That’s to stop the sun going in your eyes. Yes it goes up and down very quickly. That’s great. Can you stop it please? Leave it down, if you don't like the sun. Then leave it up. That's the food tray please don&#14’’’6;t ... Give it a rub, it’s all right, there's no need to cry. I did ask you not to touch it didn’t I? Let’s put it back, yes you can turn the knob. Can you just sit quietly for a minute?
That’s Velcro. Yes it is a nice noise, but you might be annoying the man in front. He won’t be asleep for long if you keep doing that. Yes, I can see he's awake. Well it’s off now, just leave it on the floor. Would you get out from under there please? Nothing, there’s nothing interesting in there. They’re M & Ms, they didn’t have any Smarties. That’s fine, I’ll eat them myself. All right just a few. All right just one packet. Sit still now and eat them quietly. Why do you keep jumping around? Can’t you keep still for a minute? Yes, he is a nice man.
Did you wave back? Why not? You are not shy. He’s a special doctor for children, I’ve seen him on the television.
Where are you going? No, you’re not that sick. I don’t know but we’re not going to look for him. No you can't wander around the plane by yourself. Because I said so that’s why. Have you finished the Smarties yet? Well, have you finished the M & Ms yet? Why can’t you sit
still? Look out the window. Well lift it up. It's nearly our turn. No we’re not ready to land just yet. No it's not our turn right now. It hasn’t been ages. We can’t land now. We haven’t taken off yet.

Caroline Pursell-Williams

Nannup Flower and Garden Month, WA. Emancipation Day, Trinidad and Tobago. Independence Day, Benin. Harvest Day, Rwanda. Honey Day, Russia.