In the Wizard’s Garden

Sycamore seeds
picked up and
spun on a soft wind
little fluttering distractions
that made
eyes meet eyes
across the garden

where the man in the black
overcoat waits behind
you by the wall
and later, the walls
will come down and the
powder man in his
sycamore suit will smile
and buy you a glass of wine
and you will
drink from the cup,
the wind blowing up
your scarlet dress

you know you want to go
there and be blown away
read from his book of spells
and cantations
you can look into
the eye and see
straight through, and
now your eye is open too and
the caterpillar fingers
sink in

but his nails are sharp
like cutting shears
and the sycamore seeds
are falling

[Author's note: In response to George Dunlop Leslie's artwork, In the wizard's garden c.1904, oil on canvas. Housed at the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu, New Zealand.]

What Sigmund Has To Say

Twist and Pop, goes the wine
bringing a little social lubrication
to the party
And everyone unwinds themselves
over a glass or two

She is a compulsive liar
he warns me, before dinner
and over braised duck
the stories
unravel themselves
complimenting the wine
quite nicely

She adds into the mix
a salty lover
fabricates a summer in the
islands, I smell the
coconut in her hair
The texture
hangs on brackish air,
A capital performance!

I suggest switching
to a peppery, yet
balanced Pinot from the
Bays, consider

getting Foucault and Faustus
into bed to see what
Sigmund has to say