Because of you and me

1998

When we are one the world will be a better place to live
there will be less unhappiness, more love around to give
more happy smiling faces will be seen about the land
and as time flies there will be more who simply understand

When we are one together in each others warm embrace
more hope, more dreams, more peace will be within the human race
for we will be the center of a happiness profound
and from that center outwards love will spread to all around

When we have found each other and each others happiness
the world will be a better place and problems will be less
a simple glowing magic from our core of growing love
will brighten all the world around and all the sky above

When all our hopes are realised and all our dreams come true
we'll know that at the center there was always me and you
and hand in hand down lifes long road of all there is to be
the world will be a better place because of you and me

New Zealand Secret

1998

There is a secret place that few New Zealanders have seen
where lakes are pure, the mountains high and rivers fast and clean
where quiet alpine scenery surrounds a boundless sky
and simple carefree people wave to every passer-by

This place is isolated from life's normal cares and woes
and thanks to circumstances prices there are still quite low
there's all the valued services from shops to restaurants
and friendly country inns where keepers cater to your wants

The local river runs all year an easy walk from town
with swimming holes and willow trees and fish i'm told abound
the suns rays on the water like a zillion diamonds gleam
with cool and crystal pools surrounded by a wondrous scene

In winter the whole town can be just like a fairy tale
with frosted trees and bushes framing every snow clad trail
and every home's a warm embracing invitation free
of all your city worries and life's animosity

The spring and autumn sun-sets here just take away your breath
and fantastic mountain thunder storms that scare you half-to-death
and spring-melt alpine river flows canoers seek in droves
will guarantee you're absolutely thrilled down to your toes

i could go on forever 'cause it's easy when it's true
though you might not believe in all the great things here to do
so i'll just let you know the name in case you're driving past
the town is known as Twizel it's MacKenzie Country's Heart



check out Twizel: Hoar frost covers Twizel

Alone

1997

The nights are long without your breath
upon my face to feel
and waking up without you near
takes all the day to heal.
Another night draws closer now
again i am alone
and knowing you are far away
just turns my heart to stone
but brightly i will face my days
the nights i will endure
for soon i'll hold you in my arms
tou jours my love tou jours

Drifting

1997

I'm lost and drifting aimlessly
from phone to mail to phone
my work is begging me to start
but i feel so all alone

i'm trying hard to psyche myself
to raise above it all
but any thought that i begin
just splutters and i stall

i stall because although my work
is everything i am
it's everything i want to be
that's calling me to hand

to be your loving husband
your mate and friend for life
to be with you, to live with you
my loving darling wife

is all that i can focus on
it's all that i desire
and everything that's been till now
has lost it's charm and fire

oh woman why have i become
what seems a smitten fool
and cast aside important things
it seems to be so cruel

that you and i should parted be
because of circumstance
that many months may come to pass
before we sing and dance

before we sing and dance my love
in each others loving arms
free from all our problems
and free from pain and harm

until that day i'm drifting
i'm drifting in and out
of things i should be doing
the things i am about

and though i know it's all for good
that we should parted be
until we are together
i will always drifting be

Longing

1997

longing
it's a unique feeling
strange at first and a little sweet
but soon
it becomes a knot in my stomach
and spontaneous tears
at embarrassing moments

it's hunger
but food will not satisfy
nor is any palatable
so doubly do i suffer
drink quenches for a time
but enough leads to coma
and waking worse

i drive myself to action
for work forces thoughts of you behind
for a time
but then action fails
and i stumble again, lost
and self critical
of my state of heart and mind

like badly navigated ships in the night

1997

Can it really be that you
are so in love with me?
Or is your heart desiring just
to feel that your are free?

A tethered heart may well endure
a lifetimes fears and woes
but every binding has it's end
that's simply how it goes.

And as we grow in years and tears
for all that might yet come
what we will do will be for good
or bad but not undone.

My love for you is clear and true
i know the way i feel
but haunting is my fear for what
of yours i might just steal.

Undying love is hard to find
and harder yet to see
and finding all we want in life
just sometimes can not be.

But i will set my path ahead
and with your path unite
for deep inside i feel that soon
our lives will be more bright.

So love me true my little wave
and love me strong and free
for what will come will be our own
and what will be will be.

How shall I prove my Love?

1997

How shall i prove my love for you
might simple verses do?
Or shall i shower you with gifts
to prove my love is true?
Shall countless prayers on your behalf
procure your endless love
or flowing streams of priceless wine
ensure my names above?
i can not guess why i am blessed
to have what you now give
i only hope that it wont end
as long as i might live

Paris Metro

1997

I sit
my universe a cloud about my head like an unseen halo
shrunk
as the universes of those that sit, distant eyed
facing unseen me

i long to shout - i am, i am
but all that comes is fear
and my universe tightens about my self
shrinking away from those who seem
to have had their universes shrunk to less than mine is now

i look for another
who's soul looks out enquiringly as mine
for there are many eyes that surely echo more
than simple reflections of magazines and papers

there, a glimpse as we sway collected on a bend
but no, the brightness hinted seems obscured
or in well accustomed withdrawal
seeks refuge in a page

will i become as they
my universe withdrawn, within my dustcoat
unseen
unwanted
and unloved?

Paris Poor

1997

a pile of rags centered on the path
the crowd parting to avoid
the out-thrust dirty paper cup
clutched in a barely human hand

i walk past, confused at first
and glancing down
within can see a few lonely coppers
and then i'm past and free

what face hides shamed within these rags
a mother, worn and haggard?
cast out from some undone home
once built upon others older sins?

i feel the coins in my pocket now
like lead
and lead my heart is too
i turn and rushing guilty back
drop another nothing
and leave

a voice, thin and muffled
as from a tomb maybe
offers humble thanks
for what i see as nothing more
than a price to escape my own guilt

for if i have not made this world
who has?

Ohau Crazy

1997

Oh how crazy can you get?
the "Ohau Crazy" is the best thing yet.
From ridge to lake and then Twizel Town
the bravest of all go hurtlin' down.
They start from the top of Ohau's crest
and with total abandon their skill they test.
Boarders and skiers alike start off -
no contest you cry - but don't you scoff
for the snow's soon over and it's bikes that fly
down the treacherous field road (one slip you die!)
and once at the bottom of that murderous track
the kayaks are waiting the lake to attack.
The crossing's a killer and many there fail
before the cross-country with no defined trail
- that run too's a killer - alone it can make
the fittest and strongest think life's a mistake.
Then finally the road race to Twizel Town's square
(if you manage that last step you're tough I declare).
But wait it's not over there's one final task!
Oh How! That's your question (and well you might ask).
Fear not it is over the last effort's a breeze
you must down a pint handle of Speights if you please.