we walked in sunshine
along the reservoir
while the geese floated
and called to their children
powerlines buzzed above our heads
and I held your hand

we walked in rain and thunder
first day that we met
droplets that you kissed away
you asked me where my socks were
why didn’t I have my umbrella?
laughing I told you they
were in the car

we walked in evening
under the starry sky
I felt the world
fall away around us
until only we were left
looking up into your eyes
I smiled and then
you kissed me
~

leigh-anne fraser

in conversation
with the sea
I stood with day’s end
and listened to the waves
drowning in their song
I heard nothing else
not the soft lullaby of
the pale setting sun
not the coo of birds
hiding in coastal flowers
I heard nothing but the beating
of my own heart
until I was gone
and only the sea remained

in conversation
with my soul
I stood at the edge
of the estate
wandered in the darker lines
and abandoned buildings
breathed in the faint, heady scent
of who I used to be
I saw nothing else
but the spaces
until I was gone and only
only soul remained

in conversation
I stood with emptiness
arms thrown wide to
the night sky
under a canopy of silver
and listened
to my breath
the last one and the next
I felt nothing else
and there was nothing left
~

leigh-anne fraser

over the stone ledge
into small droplets, I fall
my heart caught mid stream
~

leigh-anne fraser

inside
your voice builds
through, upward
in stillness
I sit with you
listening
hollowed core
and the earth drums
against your limbs
through the labyrinth of
roots to heart
beating loud enough
for me to hear
and I breathe
in time
before you begin
to sing
~

leigh-anne fraser

drown me in this perfect moment
in your arms
floating in the nothing
of now
your hand reaches
and I hold on
I float
and in the over flow
find
myself

~

leigh-anne fraser

I grow in shadows
toes dipped in wet sands
and running water
protected under broad arms
trees with their ancient stories
and a song
from the deepest parts
of the horizon
told to me in the passing
of each gentle wave

I listen as the crest rolls
and touches the shore

I listen as the birds fly over
calling to each other

I listen as I come undone in the sun

I grow in shadows
they cling to me like threads
of a long dress
pulled away by the flow
exposing the skin to the air
until that me disappears

You will find me in the crevices
the cracks and broken places
where the surf falls
where shadows seep between the grains

oh my heart, you will find me there

in the last sun of the day
waiting in the light
waiting to soar
as the first stars bow
to the night

~

leigh-anne fraser

morning
I breathe you
hoar frost and ice fog
clothe the sunrise
I watch looking for myself
there in the soften outlines
of bare tree limbs
and evergreens
there in the sleeping earth
and dusting of snow
I lie in the furrows
stretched out
to close my eyes
while the day
carries on
~

leigh-anne fraser

you lift me
into the sunlight
and I see below
the outline of
butterfly shadows
~

leigh-anne fraser

you lost me
in the buffet
between the wind and sea
no flying here
on the shoreline
after the lightning struck with
reptile tongues to lick my ear
the stars paused
before singing

I lay here
waiting
for you

no flying
in the morning
with the frosted mist
rising
rising

on the shoreline
only the waves
greet the day
after the night has returned
and the dream
dies with the sand
fallen
between

then
as day passes
like a breath
heart stilled
the broken wings
no flying to you
my love, no
I am
already
gone

~
leigh-anne fraser
november 2012

a thousand false starts
stuck between pages
unused journals sleeping on the shelf
fragments and torn thoughts
lost between lines
I wrote words you will not read
stuck my fingers in open wounds
played in the puss
flicked the dead skin away
cleared for healing
I am dancing near the edge
distracted by the way
the shadows blind me
then drawing back
a flash that trips, reminds
tender scars are
still breathing

© Leigh-Anne Fraser 2012

turned in
a leaf called from the branch
caught
in the folding wind

©2012 Leigh-Anne Fraser