it seems a little surreal that
as I stand here ironing creases out of cotton shirts
my sister is high above the clouds 
being propelled at high speed towards new zealand

wedding small stone for fiona & kaspa

despite the forecast being for stormy weather
most of auckland is enjoying glorious winter sunshine:
may the sun cast its blessings on you
today and every day

somewhere at the edge of my dream a voice calls out 'Mommy'
sleepily I call back,
and a few minutes later a warm body climbs in next to me

an orange and some chocolate chips
thrown in with the usual muffin makings
becomes a plate of half time fuel for the kids' street hockey game

a woman - grey hair, bright pink crocs and a red cardigan -
raking fresh grass cuttings into a neat pile,
looks up and greets me with a friendly smile

sounds while walking

persistent yapping of a distant dog
low drone of a lawnmower
constant twittering of birds
steady tread of shoes on tarmac
soft smooth in breath
long slow out breath
gradual crescendo of approaching car
and the ever present voice in my head

first day of school

new pink-spotted school bag +
new black shoes and navy socks +
big sister's hand-me-down uniform =
one excited little sister

a single clear teardrop forms at the corner of her right eye
I hug her, hoping that somehow it will help

blue-tailed kingfisher perched on a black power line
grey skies above, green fields below

in the morning sun

an eerie mist rises from the wooden fence,
waterlogged after yesterday's rain

her leg, heavy with sleep, hangs down the side of the bed
I lift it gently back under the duvet and lean in to kiss her soft cheek

winter morning

the cold creeps into my bones and seems to freeze me from the inside out
it will be 10am before I thaw

perfect orange sphere fits neatly in the palm of my hand
glossy dimpled rind encases all that sweet citrus nectar

.