Oma Niebuhr (a dream)

at the falls

or a reservoir

cliffs

                railings

                                water

Oma Niebuhr in her old age splendour

decides on one final flagrant feat

disappearing and returning in

that black one-piece

bathing cap

pushes through jostling

bossy voice clearing way

steps through railing and stands

on

edge

infinite moment of resolve

we watch eyes wide

as she pushes off

diving

perfect somersault

into churning pool at the bottom

and we wait for the cap to re-appear

well        we say

she always did like the water

je suis Charlie?

unending

anger violence blood terror

killing of innocents

killing of innocence

BokaHaranAlQaedaISISTaliban

keep killing keep growing

keep waging holy war

what is the answer?

killing people will not kill the anger

the idea will keep

blossoming

in the bloody soil

and so we stand               by

and let short-term politics pour

more blood

on the hot land

and holding up our

je suis Charlie signs

does not question the answer

Shostakovich

driveway not totally

cleared

from the last storm

and he marches resolute

towards me

boots crunching                on January cold

rings doorbell once

I pull open ice-encrusted door

and endure blast of cold as he enters

round specs clouding in warm humidity

he sheds coat and we drink strong black coffee

sitting stiff and serious

black suit

I ask about journey

and he says in that strong tone

that it is all journey

no departure

no arrival

just enigmatic meander through

cold and snow

sun creating shadows and piercing sparkles

always ears ready for that distinctive

mad endless march in the snow

on putting my back out four days after Christmas

body a jumble

ropes and wires interwoven

perfectly              until…