he stood still looking at the sky. clouds like his life flittered by. the sun said nothing new. still he wished he could fly. he looked down on the fields of men. trying hard to think when. he first dreamed of birds and soaring high. how he loved to stand there and pretend. feel the wind through his hair. the rain hit cold and wet. the truth not hard to forget. but all the world. it could see. he was no bird. he was a tree. and the turning tide stops. to hear the voice that beckons. it back again. one time more. to the familiar shore. lapping softly. as it has before. and leaving again. always on cue. leaving behind a surprise or two. stranded high. a shell or two. a shoe. waiting for it’s moment. or a passer-by. and then. unfazed. back to the sea. it’s fate ablaze in destiny. peeing under the stars. standing beneath the universe. contemplating god. and aliens. and that elusive second verse. let’s crack another bottle. go full throttle. and laugh about the things we didn’t do today. or this year. let’s sing it big and loud. let’s get away from the crowd. and have another beer. and waste another year. beneath the milky way. standing there alone. under the moon. talking to the stars. and pissing on the night tigers. slithering in the grass. don’t get me wrong. if i come on too strong. i’m just concerned that i keep falling for the same old shit. lap it up. then pick up the plate and get that last little bit. i should have been warned. i shouldn’t be surprised. you leave me out in the cold. like it means nothing. i’d like to prick your little bubble. but i don’t want to cause you any trouble. giving away secrets. imagined and real. stripping the onion peel by peel. thinking no-one else will hear. or pick this moment to interfere. fateful words chanced upon without thinking. the horror of the ordinary. the fear of sinking. letting someone else do the kicking. as you're going down.