November
Post-election of the ape
It's time for me to don the cape
Enough of Facebook slacktivism
And its echo chamber mechanism
Moving concepts into daylight
No longer a bystander to the fight
The path of greed can be diverted
It's time to shout what once was skirted
Moving on and letting go
Relearning everything we know
Letting go should be so simple
As a smile reveals a dimple
But we cling on because we can
It's what we knew; it was the plan
But the joy, the water fresh and cold
The rolling stone sheds the mould
A TV binge is the modern drug
Known side effects: feeling snug
A gateway to horizontal inaction
The temporary high of satisfaction
The screen becomes a confidant
Whispering the things you want
Calling, pulling, shocking, soothing
All the while you remain unmoving
Sometimes on your wanderings
You will order the wrong things
Not out of choice you see
But an inability to speak accurately
What was once a burger is now pasta
There are ways to mitigate this disaster
Gesturing transcends all tongues
Saving inefficient use of lungs
After so long on the road
I'm tiring from the load
It might be time for a reshuffle
Give the feathers a ruffle
I need to sit still
And care less about the thrill
Travel is wild - without a doubt
But I just need some time out
The struggle, the grind
To mould your rigid mind
Letting go of certainties
Of ego and false expertise
You are learning as a child
Open eyes, curious and wild
The world is just a place to play
It is time to have your say
Another kiwi enters the fray
Ollie is here looking to partay
I dragged him along to salsa class
It turned into a bit of a farce
Dancing has never been his strong suit
It was all in Spanish so he went mute
Rather humbled we left with a grin
A pat on the back for taking it on the chin
My phone won't turn on
The phone doc doesn't know what's wrong
He's prescribed a surgery of sorts
It's hard to really gauge his thoughts
Maybe doc will keep it in an induced coma
I can only hope he has the right diploma
Time will tell, all we can do is hope
It won't do any good to mope
30 years ago
The first domino
Mum said yes
And off to an NZ address
Only $8 in saving
They went about paving
The way for me
Happy anniversary
Leave everyone with a gift, as my dad would say
A compliment or smile might just make their day
It's a cheesy concept, but who doesn't love cheese
Forget the lactose intolerance and let your smile be free
For every person that frowns in response
There's another in need of a positive renaissance
At the end of the day we all want to get along
Just a smile will do, no need to burst out in song
I'm off to India at the end of December
A less intelligent decision I cannot remember
My siblings and I have entered a race
Driving a rickshaw across India's face
I expect India to put up a bit of a fight
Throwing our stomachs around like a kite
I hear the roads are all exceptionally well-paved
The kind of tranquil driving I've always craved
I've picked up many skills this year
Some of which I'd like to share
I've learnt how to ride a motorbike
And how to ascend 5000m on a hike
I've learnt the correct technique for mopping
And the art of innocuous Spanish eavesdropping
I've learnt how to build a functional bush hut
And that I need at least a bi-annual haircut
I chop lemons every morning
Coffee casts away the yawning
Chop, turn, chop, slice; repeat
The knife marches to its own beat
The kitchen is a blur around me
Waiters carrying toast or tea
All I see are lemons non-sliced
Looming, lurking like a poltergeist
Careful not to step on her toes
I move with the grace of Shakespearean prose
My salsa skills are shaky at best
My partner on the other hand appears possessed
She sways her hips with frightening speed
I momentarily forget that I'm supposed to lead
The teacher barks out a further instruction
We dive straight in with no introduction
I have been recruited by a football team
It has done wonders for my self-esteem
Plucked from a pub after over-selling my ability
What I lack in goals I make for with poor agility
The first game was a tense affair
Our tactics were ancient - at one point I swear
I heard, 'pass it slower, let's bore them to death'
I would have responded but I was out of breath
Granada lies in the South of Spain
A place with very little rain
Tomatoes inhabit almost every meal
Afternoons are spent dozing like a seal
Yes the siesta culture is alive and well
The city retreats to sleep in its shell
Dinner only gets going at around 10
I'm clucking for a feed like a mother hen
Run you good thing run
Chase the dying sun
Let run be the thought
No fear of falling short
In this place there is peace
Let your demons release
We've only just begun
Run you good thing run
News of a big earthquake back home
Made for a horrible day watching the phone
Updates indicated that a tsunami might occur
Heading towards where my siblings were
Thankfully it didn't eventuate
For them, the worst was the anxious wait
The house pitching and rolling through the night
As aftershocks shook them towards daylight
Granada is not conducive to casual rugby
Be safe with your hands or things might get ugly
You have to get creative with the public spaces
Throwing the ball amidst confused faces
Most of the locals have never before seen
This monstrosity of a ball shaped like a bean
This sport will rise up out of the ashes
We are just honoured to educate the masses
The stage was set for a mighty battle
Two players looking to jostle and rattle
The chessboard glistened in the crowded room
My opponent forecasted my impending doom
I started off strong, my pawns forged ahead
Smelling blood, I tried to put the game to bed
A mistake! I'd left myself fatally open
The result was not one that I'd been hopin'