Come across
New place
Shrink
Overwhelm
Too big for me
The city
Or my feelings
Gestate
Shrink
Contract
Big
Noisy
Raw
Too fast
My feelings
Jangle
Retreat
Into the quiet
Countryside
That surrounds
You
Shun
Reject
Push away
Jerkily
Boundaried
Shut off
Shut down
Ignore
Choose another
That is lighter
In feel
But I can’t forget
Your
Jealousy
What did I do
Why do you go
Why must I
Remain
In the shadow
Of the other’s
Light
See me not?
I retreat too
Jaded
Prickled
Not forgotten
Thorn in my side
Then a trip
To you
Unfamiliar route
Taken by lover’s hand
The back way in
Gently
Shock!
The truth
Stares out
Coldly
Through stone
Memorial
The dead
The lost
Those who fought
For their beliefs
And for their city
Jerked
Abruptly
From my comfort
Zone
The names
In stone
Go on
And on
And my heart
Bleeds
Stark
Reality
Jolts
Me
Out
And love
Flows
And the old merchant’s house
Reminds me
I have always loved
You
Jubilation
You see me
Really
And I
Show myself
Little by little
I arrange guides
To show you
Who I am
Beneath my wounds
Enjoy your
Joy
And mine
Hidden gardens
Splendid parks
Magnificent coast
A long story
Of a tiny place
That grew plums
Upon its river banks
Grew
And grew
Generously
Giving home
To settlers
From moorland
From coast
From overseas
Grew
And grew
Defences
Invaders
Jostled
For my
Substance
Fought over me
Tussled
Between them
For my riches
Growing richer
Growing bigger
I expand
With
Generations
Till the ravages
Of battle
Done
Take their toll
On my ground
And on my people
Till war torn
I see my beauty crumble
And my heart despairs
Jilted
I become
As the once proud
Temples to my wealth
Tumble and fall
Bricks upon flesh
And streets
Hold rubble
Shrapnel pierces
Me
Through
Jagged
I stay fallen
But I am not dead
I stay alive
But not seen
My people are numbed
My centre is crushed
Alien culture
Takes me over
But inside I breathe
Jaunty
Tunes
Seafarers’ shanties
Struggle to bring
My spirit
Back
The pilgrims they left
Don’t you give up on me
My soul remembers
My
Joie de vivre
Don’t you?
I am in darkness
Only because
You are afraid to look
Shine your light
Here
And see my beauty
Too
Dance with me
Drink
Gin
Remember
The good old days
When sailors
And their many wives
Met and trysted
Loved
And lost
Lived as if it were the end of time
And fiddles played
To the tune of
Jollity
I am the once proud
Queen of the ocean
Clippers and steam boats
Merchants and goods
Safe harbour
And brave warriors
Unearth me
From the rubble
And make me your
Jewel
~~~~~~
