Deception

Deception is alive and well
It stimulates some people.
Seems to be like a rose bush
where they wallow
in the beauty,
sight and smell of the flower
forgetting that along the way
people are scratched
- and sometimes mangled -
by the thorns

 Peter Bean

Change stopped coming, it arrived

You can hear the cries of jubilation:
No more waiting, no more waiting
You pick up the scent of excitation
Change has arrived, change has arrived
Would you like some more exploration?
There is no need, there is no need
Since we’ve moved on from expectation
Present reality, present reality
Allows us to end the recitation
Change has arrived, change has arrived

© Peter Bean

Liffey Falls

Rock pool
Tantalises
Surprises

Sunken wood
Waterlogged
Shelters frogs

Slippery eel
Swims around
Food abounds

Coloured rocks
Lay at peace
Final release

Everything drowns
But is given life
A different slice

Discordant sound
Hangs around
As chainsaw lunges
And forest plunges

© Peter Bean

Alum Cliffs

Alum cliffs
Stately serene
Where have you been
I’m so miffed
I have not seen
you sooner

Alum cliffs
Grey, blue, & green
Present a scene
Not to be missed
The birds are keen
to croon – ah!

 Peter Bean

Garden Ramble

(poetry on my feet)

Bumble bees bulge
drooling lavender syrup
pollinating
to their heart’s
(as small as it is)
content

* * * * * * * * * *

Variegated trunk
displays maps
indicating
various journeys
insects have taken

* * * * * * * * * *

Forecourt bare
although
icebergs
(roses not water)
encroach

* * * * * * * * * *

Hydrangeas
are thankful
the river
provides
endless supply

* * * * * * * * * *

Garden pond
stands sentinel
lilies express
cool life

* * * * * * * * * *

Willow, birches
combine
to transform
this Tasmanian hideaway
to British cottage

* * * * * * * * * *

Always
the birdsong
punctuating
the crisp
morning air

* * * * * * * * * *


 Peter Bean

Flight

Flight
takes place
more easily
in my mind
than
in a machine

Lumbering
to lift
the body of
passengers
and
bags in the hold

I close
my eyes
imagining
floating away
on
clouds and breeze

Until
the captain’s
voice so loudly
interrupts
my
reverie

Fragile
soft thoughts
peaceful
disappear
in
very short time

So,
which flight
is easier?
Suggestions
for
one or the other…

 Peter Bean

Criminal?

(for the Baktiharis & other refugees)

Criminal?
Depends on your point of view?
We, behind razor wire are depicted as such
Yet all we do is flee
Flee our enemies looking for freedom
Flee our fears, hoping to develop trust
But then
Flee our captors, avoiding beatings

Criminal?
Depends on your point of view?
Those, with power, determine who will touch
This sacred soil, called Australia
Soil, which flows through our fingers
Soil, in which we hope to grow our own vegetables
But then
Soil, red & dusty of detention centres

Criminal ?
Depends on your point of view?
Are you free, or imprisoned – what’s your hunch?
This body, or this soul
You can tie the body, but not bind the soul
Physically separate, but not drag apart like minds
But hen
The body may resist, but the soul withers

Criminal?
Depends on your point of view

Reflections on Philippians 2:2

Being like-minded
challenges conventional thinking
yet the journey will reveal
scenery beyond splendour
while the destination
beckons sensuously

Having the same love
flows from the Love giver
enabling each to look beyond
the narrow confines of self
towards the other and the
wider world waiting still

Being one in spirit and purpose
occurs when encouragement,
comfort, fellowship, tenderness
& compassion permeate the pores
of your relationship, holding together
in times of distress & pointing
forward to a future hope

Reflections on Philippians 2:1

Do you have encouragement?
Words whispered
inspiring higher
A look or touch
secret message of praise

Do you have comfort?
Holding tight
when times are tough
Looking ahead
when eyes are downcast

Do you have fellowship?
Joined together
with common goals
Resting hand in hand
as you plan to share

Do you have tenderness?
A soft caress
restoring hope
Healing wounds
with gentle touch

Do you have compassion?
Sitting alongside
suffering with
Waiting for the sun
to break through the clouds

Out There

It’s scary,
sometimes dark and overpowering
Out there

I prefer
to be safe in this sanctuary
In here

Yet I’m called
to explore and be adventurous
Out there

That’s OK
but I need strengthening, empowering
In here

So I can
take some risks, be creative
Out there

All the while
longing to return, to receive comfort
In here

This happens
when we share stories and excitement from
Out there

Challenging
all those secure, perhaps locked away
In here

What do you
expect to see, envision, capture
Out there

Can you share
your dreams, hopes, challenges
In here

And then go
strong, hopeful, trusting, empowered
Out there

Uncertainty

The minutes tick by
The moment approaches

Where have the weeks
the days
the months disappeared

Restlessness
Wandering
Uncertainty all arise

What if…
so many what ifs
pushed to the further recesses of the mind

What if…
And yet they are still there
The voices will not be stilled

As
The moment approaches
The minutes tick by

Work, Prayer, Laughter - aTriad

Work consumes
tires and wears out
But only when it
is not connected to
Prayer and laughter

Work is prayer
(laborare est orare)
Except today
they are so far separated
all we can do is laugh

Laughter – the elixer
of life – restores,
relaxes, rejuvenates
Laughter allows work
to resume rather than consume