Bryan Sefton Poems

Elizabeth papers the walls of her mind
With cartoon characters of various kinds
Believe me, I tell you, there isn't much space
There's colour and laughter all over the place
...

How far would you take me?
How far in this unnatural way?
Held aloft by unseen strings
Even the bird must flap its wings
...

Once there were warriors who's colours were red
Wise men with ideas of gold
Once there were young men with dreams in their head
They'd sit and they'd drink in the tales of the old
...

When did that simple toss of her head
Become a come on to the boys?
And when that gangly gawkish look
Become such polish and such poise?
...

Is not their laughter the pouring of gold?
Put it away.
The beauty of this kiss must never be sold
Put it away too
...

His face is lined with creases.
Round his eyes, crosses.
Horizontal, slashes.
Time will do that to you.
...

There is a face in the darkness of the corner, and a hand reaching out for her to come
Though it's just imagination she feels it will be real when the last day of her life is finally run
Sometimes when the firelight makes her dreamy, and the days end lets her mind run free
There's a shifting in her consciousness of time scale, removing the ties 'twixt time and memory
...

I met a woman in a burned out land
She had a frog clutched in her hand
'What's that? ' I asked. I heard her say
'Its my families food for today'
...

'The world is white! ' Your voice seems to shatter the quiet
The early morning scene is dressed in pure untrod virgin snow
We move along in slow soft strides, feeling it crunch beneath our feet
We are content, my brother and I, the whole street is our playground
...

They said I was mad. Oh yes, quite insane
They said it's all up here in the brain
He's cracked up, broke down
Whatever level you prefer, it's still the same
...