Between You and I

There is a place

In my mind’s eye

Where there’s no distance

Between

You

and

I

Who I am and

Who I was, at birth

Congeal and twist

Under hot, grey earth

Silt and clay beds

Grey, steel sheds

A Kelpie smiles

Her spotted face begs

Chicken poo

And paper thin, snake skin

Shedding the old

Starting again

Blood, sweat and tears

Infuse this place

Thick diesel oil

Stains every hand and face

Put the jug on

Make a cuppa tea

Where no words

Infuse dead leaves

Between

You and me

Beneath the overgrowth

Of old things and time

New shoots sing

With manure and lime

The old grapevines

At their core - are strong

Their heartwood

Beats a familiar song

My first picking knife

I was eight or nine

I learnt to cut

I learnt to heal

I learnt to toe the line

Cut away the dead

And nurture the new

Pain is quick

But healing too

Careful with the buds

They bring new life

Tie back wild limbs

Trap the mice

And if you’re lost

Whistle, or call out

Over the tractor’s roar

You’ll have to shout

A dog’s limping paw

A weary back door

Teenage fights

Moth blurred lights

Second hand furniture

Second hand dreams

School lunches on tables

Broken fly screens

Quiet during dinner

No giggling, please

Manners and prayers

Don’t be seen

Races down the driveway

Quick, mum’s home

Put on the jug

Get off the phone

At dusk, we climb

Barefoot, one by one

Onto the roof

To watch the sun

Wherever I go

Whatever I’ve seen

I can count on home

To wipe the slate clean