_“What,”_

you may enquire

is…

**_“Playing with fire?”_**

‘A little harmless fun’

never hurt any one!

_Right?_

*

**_Fire_**

sometimes …

a friend so true,

spreading

comfort and warmth

in flickering tongues of many a hue.

_Cosy_.

*

**_Flames_**

flow freely

entertain and energise

dance and mesmerise

lift spirits, link souls

while huddled round

campfires as stories are told.

*

**_Fire_**

...

Rose

Red bloom

Fragrant scent

Blossom unfurls

As soft as velvet

Swaying on slender stem

Irresistible beauty

Beware! Take care! Thorns lurk nearby

Warn, “Think twice, before you snip my stem!”...

Oh, don the apron

Pick up a knife

Nothing’s more fun

Than to peel, chop and dice!

To measure ingredients

Using a finicky scale

Recalibrating repeatedly’s ever so tedious

Persistence at last does prevail.

Cream, whip, and mix

Sift and then fold

Are all cute culinary tricks

Grease those trays, oh so old

Preventing disaster when baking sticks

‘Fan Force’ oven’s a farce

Delicacies remain pale or ju...

Silken floppy ears

Flip ’n’ flap as along he trots

Pricking at whatever he hears.

Twitchy wet nose like a melting ice block

Follows the scent everywhere…

To this here tree and that there post

Without a single care

He zeroes in on the smell he likes most.

Patient and lovingly faithful

Tail waggingly grateful

As to discriminating palate… utterly disgraceful!

A ‘Security Guard’ against intruders so...

_Brrp brrp brrp_!

Fall out of bed

Untangle untidy limbs and hair

Quick glimpse in the mirror

No time to care!

Gulp down some breakfast

Tug on flouro exercise gear

Scoot into my car, don’t want to be last.

Hustle and bustle

Sprint into my class

Legs pumping frantically

‘Warm up’ so fast…

Straighten my back

Stretch those legs

Bend at the hips, can’t be slack!

Three exercises, she said…

One fo...

_“We ___

_all look _

_the same in _

_the night!”_ She breathes,

voice trembling in low light.

Gloom creeps, curls round us both

Silhouettes swim, swing and sway so close

While a zephyr playfully _t i n k l es_ some wind chimes.

Inching forward, hands outstretched, her fingers lightly brush mine.

*

_“We_

_Might all_

_Look the same _

_In the night, however…” _

Her jasmine scent draws me

Unerringl...

**_January…_**

Searing humid heat

or Cyclones and flooding rains

What a summer break!

*

_February…_

Soggy start at school

Lush green grass shoots from the earth

Unrestrainable!

*

**_March…_**

Cooler fine weather

Frolics… picnics, camping, swims

Perfect time of year.

*

**_April…_**

Showers and sunshine

Easter… family gath’ring

Celebrates Jesus.

*

**_May…_**

Farewell, autumn leaves

Evergreens sti...

Madness and mayhem lurk at my left

To my right, chaos crouches… promises a riot

Escalating anxiety paralyses… leaving me stressed

“Just a bit of peace and quiet

That’s all I ask for my birthday!”

_“Can’t we take you out for a nice meal?”_

The mere prospect fills me with dismay

My life’s frenetic pace has become surreal.

*

My heartfelt wish is reluctantly granted

Totally alone on a ‘desert islan...