Nice Trip

I’ve been known to trip on air.

And not merely stumble,

but fall headfirst into


a tree, lamppost, grass, concrete.


Some times are more painful than others.


People tell me it’s lack of attention,

that my head

is so far in the clouds

I can’t see what’s right in front of me.

But I promise you,

it’s just air.


How can I avoid air?


Now don’t be silly, even if

I hold my breath,

it’ll still be around me.


My theory is a little different.

I think I get drunk

on the vibrancy in my head

and the earth gets jealous.

It believes it can never

live up

to such standards,

and so seeks to jog them

from my mind.


What it forgets

is that in order to think

such wonderful, impossible things,

I must first learn to appreciate

the real, the possible.


Otherwise, there is no foundation

for me to then sculpt with.


Opening credits

Pretending it’s okay

not to be cast

as the main character,

to always be left behind

while others race to the moon

and bathe in its shimmering



That’s you all over.


I’ve watched you

calmly accepting

year after year

day after day

hour after hour

that you’re second best.


I can’t hold back any longer.


I reach for the mirror,

grasping it firmly,

and force you to look

into it.


You do.


Your eyes meet mine.

You realise that you don’t want



to the moon, anyway.


You strap rockets to your feet

and fly


capturing its light

in your hands

to sculpt

the moon’s tears

one by one,

each different to the last.


People pick them up where they land,

marveling at their uniqueness.


Finally, you’re proud

of who you are.


Finally, I’m proud

of who I am.