No Need to Be Strong

You’re Minding My Mice Again is a care poem, a medley of words and images surrounding the care we receive from the people, places, and things that surround us, a celebration of co-dependence of everything and everybody.

You’re Minding My Mice Again – Care Poem

While I'm away, you're minding my mice again
and pruning the branches
and making beds in the soil
for the tulips.

And at high tide, the moon's pulling the oceans
and washing the flood gates
and carving holes in the rocks
for kelp forests.

                           A nook exists for squids and sparrows
                              for brambles and thorny bushes.

While I'm asleep, binmen clear away my rubbish
and songbirds chatter
and twigs are reaching
for the stars.

And in the morning, the sun's baking the apples
and drying all the wet faces
and heating city pavements in time
for the bums.

                             A time rises for swallows and sharks,
                                  for roses and hummingbirds.

While I'm sweating, butterflies fan my face
and the wind cools my skin
and the rain's torrent fills my bowl
for our stroll.

And in the evening, street lights are watching the foxes
and minding the children
and holding the roads
for you and me.

                            A flare shoots up for cows and kids,
                                 for orchids and seahorses.