No.8
.
She takes you in, much the way the spider webs a fly.
She doesn’t care if you prevail and make it out alive.
She’ll take it all from you and give you nothing in return;
She leaves it up to you to find the solitude you yearn.
.
Perhaps you’ll find a good place to pitch a tarp tonight,
Perhaps away from all the things that scratch, sting or bite.
Perhaps, but perhaps not; you can only try your best.
Perhaps you’ll get the sleep you crave, now you’ve earned your rest.
.
Listen in the night to wombats burrow below,
Listen, try to sleep, but something nips at your toes,
Listen as the wind picks up and whistles for rain;
Listen, night goes to bed and day wakes up again.
.
You process wood and make changes to your camp.
You must keep dry; all your clothes are cold and damp.
You push back all thoughts of doubtful relevance.
You fill your shyness-cup with total silence.
.
Do not wait for thirst to tell you to drink.
Do not ignore the last coal-ember’s wink.
Do not do something to damage your health,
Do not, unless you can rescue yourself.
.
No-one that matters knows where you are.
No-one will locate your burned-out car.
No-one has noticed that you are gone;
No-one, by your absence, overborne.
.
See the python unhinge its jaws,
See the raptor stoop, flex its claws,
See the pale egret stab its prey;
See how small lives end each day.
.
My veins are like those in leaves
My skin is the bark on trees
My blood rushes in rivers
My breath the grasses shiver.
.
Strip away all your clothes
Strip away all of those
Strip down to your bare skin
Strip down, and start again.
.
Bee’s legs pollen-packed
Bee’s travels are tracked
Bee’s treasure raided
Bee’s ire evaded.
.
Eyes wake to light
Eyes focus sight
Eyes hunt ahead
Eyes close for bed.
.
Lost for words,
Left the ‘burbs.
Looked for quiet;
Lousy diet.
.
You think
You are
Yourself.
Are you?
.
Be
Free:
Lose
‘Me’
.
No.8
Erik Kaisson, 2017