A Good Book

Nothing looks so innocent
And yet is so complicit
Nothing seems so ordinary
And yet is so extraordinary
Nothing appears so similar
And yet is so diverse
As a good book

Words cannot express
The power of a good book
The dizzy swirling galaxies
That can hide between two plain covers
The heart-twisting dramas
That can unwind along a trail of letters
The fizz-bubbling mirth
That can break ranks from the march of pages

Nothing is so publicly sold
And yet so privately consumed
Nothing seems so plentiful
And yet is so rare
Nothing appears so contained
And yet is so infinite
As a good book

Wayne Visser © 2017

Book

Seize the Day: Favourite Inspirational Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together favourite inspirational poems by Wayne Visser. The anthology takes us on a journey through the peaks and troughs of life, celebrating the indomitable human spirit.. It includes many old favourites like “Poets Must Be” and “Chasing the Blue”, as well as brand new poems like “The Writer” and “Making Ripples”. Sages through the ages wisely say: / Carpe Diem – seize the dawning day / Oh, would that I could assuage that thirst / But the day conspires to seize me first! / With the hurry and scurry / Of home’s frantic flurry / And the hustle and bustle / Of work’s tangled tussle. Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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Be My Kite

Be my kite:
Rise up from the earth
On a breath and a whisper
Dazzle in the sunshine
And tiptoe on the wind
Be brilliant in your beauty
And agile in your ability
Boldly fly your true colours
For your own delight
And for mine

Dart and duck and dive
As you streak across the blue
Leaving a ribbon trail
Swirl and shake and shimmy
As you sparkle in the light
Burning like a comet
Flash and flirt and flutter
As you perform your moves
For cheering terrestrials
And for me

Be my kite:
Stretch for your freedom
Beyond the ties that bind you
Feel the wind’s desire
And the tug of remote intention
(Almost imperceptible)
Sail the rough sky-seas
Until you are all spent
Until you are ready
Ready to return

Fly for the joy of flying
Yet also for the pleasure of another
For without its flyer
A kite is like a tumbleweed
On a dusty track to nowhere
And strain against your leash
Yet not so hard that the bond snaps
For without its strings
A kite is like a leaf in autumn
At the wind’s random mercy

Be my kite:
Resist the steady pull
Holding you back from the sun
Until you feel the warm glow
Of pulsing exhilaration
And hard-earned exhaustion
Then submit to the safety
Of the solid ground below
To be gently caressed
By rough hands

Reach for the horizon
Yet do not fear being grounded
For just as there is passion in wildness
So too is there satisfaction in peace
And in non-striving
Push out the boundaries
Yet do not fear known places either
For while there is tension in resistance
There is also relief in submission
And in letting-be

Be my kite:
Test your limits
But also trust the signals
Of the one who keeps you aloft
For to fly without strings
Is to soar free and high
But only for a fleeting moment
Before you plummet and crash
Perhaps never to rise
And fly again

Keep asking questions
And listen for the answers
For your strength is your awareness
Your sensitivity to subtle signs
And gentle shifts
Keep an open mind
And do not jump to conclusions
For your weakness is your stubbornness
Your failure to read the wind’s moods
And trust the flyer’s skills

Be my kite:
And follow your instincts
For you were born to fly
To dance across the sky
Moving to the beat of the wind
And the song of your strings
Knowing that you can let go
Because there is another
Who is holding tight
And taking care

Fly across the seasons of time
Float on the summer breeze
And ride out the winter storm
Surf on the autumn currents
And climb the summer thermals
But when the air is still and calm
Return to me and rest easy
Gather your strength
So that you will be ready
Ready to rise again

Be my kite:
Fly high and swoop low
Kiss the veil of the clouds
And taste the salty ocean spray
Wink knowingly at the birds
And giggle at the startled butterflies
Be my eyes beyond the horizon
And my ears upon the breeze
Then come home and tell me all
All the secrets of the spheres

So let the wind tussle your hair
But not tangle your mind
For there is no direction without intent
And be sure to let the sun warm your face
But not melt your will
For there is no freedom without choice
And now be my kite
Fly for me
Fly to me
Fly!

Wayne Visser © 2017

Book

Seize the Day: Favourite Inspirational Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together favourite inspirational poems by Wayne Visser. The anthology takes us on a journey through the peaks and troughs of life, celebrating the indomitable human spirit.. It includes many old favourites like “Poets Must Be” and “Chasing the Blue”, as well as brand new poems like “The Writer” and “Making Ripples”. Sages through the ages wisely say: / Carpe Diem – seize the dawning day / Oh, would that I could assuage that thirst / But the day conspires to seize me first! / With the hurry and scurry / Of home’s frantic flurry / And the hustle and bustle / Of work’s tangled tussle. Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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Sky Dream

A moon beam to brush your cheek
A star burst to lift your eyes
A sun ray to touch your lips
A bird song to greet your rise

A wind gust to clear your head
A cloud wisp to thread your sighs
A rain drop to quench your heart
A snow flake to soothe your cries

A rose bud to kiss your nose
A tree top to bless your highs
A duck pond to cast your wish
A sky dream to loose your ties

Wayne Visser © 2017

Book

Seize the Day: Favourite Inspirational Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together favourite inspirational poems by Wayne Visser. The anthology takes us on a journey through the peaks and troughs of life, celebrating the indomitable human spirit.. It includes many old favourites like “Poets Must Be” and “Chasing the Blue”, as well as brand new poems like “The Writer” and “Making Ripples”. Sages through the ages wisely say: / Carpe Diem – seize the dawning day / Oh, would that I could assuage that thirst / But the day conspires to seize me first! / With the hurry and scurry / Of home’s frantic flurry / And the hustle and bustle / Of work’s tangled tussle. Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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Pictures and Words

A picture paints a thousand words
And sometimes words are not enough
For pictures go where words cannot follow
And words remain long after pictures fade

Pictures are doors to time travel
And words are windows on deep space
Together they map our world of dreaming
And bend perceptions of reality

Pictures capture what can be seen
And words release what was hidden
For pictures are creations of the light
And words are born in the womb of darkness

Pictures are freeze frames of history
And words are visions of the future
For pictures trap moments in glaciers
And words flow like rivers to the ocean

Pictures are mirrors of beauty
And words are tides of feeling
For pictures shine with colours of the sun
And words reflect the mood swings of the moon

A word spells a thousand pictures
And sometimes pictures are too few
For words weave the stories of our lifetime
And pictures are cairns along the journey

Wayne Visser © 2017

Book

Seize the Day: Favourite Inspirational Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together favourite inspirational poems by Wayne Visser. The anthology takes us on a journey through the peaks and troughs of life, celebrating the indomitable human spirit.. It includes many old favourites like “Poets Must Be” and “Chasing the Blue”, as well as brand new poems like “The Writer” and “Making Ripples”. Sages through the ages wisely say: / Carpe Diem – seize the dawning day / Oh, would that I could assuage that thirst / But the day conspires to seize me first! / With the hurry and scurry / Of home’s frantic flurry / And the hustle and bustle / Of work’s tangled tussle. Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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The Tunnel

Every tunnel has its ending
Every aperture its light
Every rainbow arch that’s bending
Shows that you can win the fight

And though the tunnel may be black
And hardship cannot be denied
Keep moving forward, never back
And you will reach the other side

And as you sojourn in the dark
You have a secret light, it’s true:
On every journey you embark
Your loved ones always ride with you

Wayne Visser © 2017

Book

Seize the Day: Favourite Inspirational Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together favourite inspirational poems by Wayne Visser. The anthology takes us on a journey through the peaks and troughs of life, celebrating the indomitable human spirit.. It includes many old favourites like “Poets Must Be” and “Chasing the Blue”, as well as brand new poems like “The Writer” and “Making Ripples”. Sages through the ages wisely say: / Carpe Diem – seize the dawning day / Oh, would that I could assuage that thirst / But the day conspires to seize me first! / With the hurry and scurry / Of home’s frantic flurry / And the hustle and bustle / Of work’s tangled tussle. Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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Book Lovers

So what if it’s true
I sleep with my books
There’s no need for you
To give me strange looks
It’s just when I’m weary
From every day strain
I want my books near me
To massage my brain
It’s a way to unwind
And let my thoughts go
It’s relaxing I find
To let the words flow
Is that so insane?

So what if I keep
The dictionary next
To me when I sleep
So I don’t get vexed
It’s just when I’m dreaming
And wake up with words
Like bright ribbons streaming
And songs of the birds
It’s best that I check them
To see if they fit
Rather than wreck them
Before they are writ
Is that so absurd?

So what if the sheets
I have on my bed
Are blank paper sheaves
To lay down my head
It’s just when I wake up
With some swirling rhyme
Like leaves left to rake up
From star scattered time
It’s better to scribble
The words on a page
And capture its riddle
Before the spark fades
Is that such a crime?

Wayne Visser © 2017

Book

Seize the Day: Favourite Inspirational Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together favourite inspirational poems by Wayne Visser. The anthology takes us on a journey through the peaks and troughs of life, celebrating the indomitable human spirit.. It includes many old favourites like “Poets Must Be” and “Chasing the Blue”, as well as brand new poems like “The Writer” and “Making Ripples”. Sages through the ages wisely say: / Carpe Diem – seize the dawning day / Oh, would that I could assuage that thirst / But the day conspires to seize me first! / With the hurry and scurry / Of home’s frantic flurry / And the hustle and bustle / Of work’s tangled tussle. Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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Born to Fly

Threads of words across the miles
Dyed with tears and strung with smiles
Ropes of friendship woven tight
Bridge the gulf of day and night

Splashes of smiles upon the page
Brushed with youth and coloured with age
Canvass of memories and imagination
Reveal the art of co-creation

Glitter of laughter sparkling bright
Eases the dark and catches the light
Circus of clowns who entertain
Shine joy to lift the clouds of rain

Feathers of touch against the skin
Caress without and tickle within
Flutter of wings across the sky
Reminds us that we’re born to fly

Wayne Visser © 2017

Book

Seize the Day: Favourite Inspirational Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together favourite inspirational poems by Wayne Visser. The anthology takes us on a journey through the peaks and troughs of life, celebrating the indomitable human spirit.. It includes many old favourites like “Poets Must Be” and “Chasing the Blue”, as well as brand new poems like “The Writer” and “Making Ripples”. Sages through the ages wisely say: / Carpe Diem – seize the dawning day / Oh, would that I could assuage that thirst / But the day conspires to seize me first! / With the hurry and scurry / Of home’s frantic flurry / And the hustle and bustle / Of work’s tangled tussle. Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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Fragments

You make impressions with canvass and paint
Weaving great stories of sunlight and shade
While I am a pilgrim with wonder and faith
Picking up pebbles of beauty and bliss

You cast silhouettes with chisel and stone
Freeing trapped figures of memoir and myth
While I am a pirate with word-sword and page
Hunting for treasures of wisdom and wit

You craft harmonies with lyric and beat
Riding vast oceans of motion and mood
While I am a healer with metre and rhyme
Tending to ailments of passion and pain

You spawn adventures with heroes and fate
Mapping new fusions of player and plot
While I am a shaman with sound-spells and dreams
Grasping at whispers of longing and love

Wayne Visser © 2017

Book

Seize the Day: Favourite Inspirational Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together favourite inspirational poems by Wayne Visser. The anthology takes us on a journey through the peaks and troughs of life, celebrating the indomitable human spirit.. It includes many old favourites like “Poets Must Be” and “Chasing the Blue”, as well as brand new poems like “The Writer” and “Making Ripples”. Sages through the ages wisely say: / Carpe Diem – seize the dawning day / Oh, would that I could assuage that thirst / But the day conspires to seize me first! / With the hurry and scurry / Of home’s frantic flurry / And the hustle and bustle / Of work’s tangled tussle. Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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The Artist’s Gift

It was the faces
That first made me stop
And look
And linger

Their wise wrinkles
And smiling eyes
So alive
So beautifully African

How long had I searched
For carvings such as these
That reach into my heart
And whisper to my soul?

But the gift
That I thought I had found
Was not the gift
That I left with that day

It would have been easy
To dismiss him
As just another street trader
One of life’s desperados

He had the look –
This scruffy Rastafarian
With lopsided grin –
Of the joker in the pack

But something about him
(Was it his manner?)
Drew me in closer
And made me take note

He told me his name
And oh so gently
He told me the story
Of his artist’s life

It was clear to me
That he lived only to give life
To pregnant meanings
Forever gestating in his being

He showed me his drawings
Which swirled on music
And danced with contrast
And sang in symbols

And as he decoded each sign
And unlocked each emotion
Art became transformed
Into philosophy

Even the negotiation on price
(As if aesthetics can ever be valued)
Revealed layers of sensitivity
To deeper principles

For he spoke sincerely
Of the importance of finding balance
Between giving and taking
And having and being

Under the African sun
On the city pavement that day
I felt a connection that transcended
The suit and the T-shirt

And as I said farewell
Like old friends parting
For once in my life I had the courage
To speak my truth

“The money I gave
Is merely a token of my appreciation
For these priceless expressions
Of your artistic talents”

“But more than this
You have my admiration and respect
For you have given me a much greater gift
Which is inspiration and insight”

Now whenever I look
At the wise old face
Carved in rough wood
I think of him

And I smile
And wish him every good fortune
Knowing that I am forever enriched
By the artist’s gift

Wayne Visser © 2017

Book

Seize the Day: Favourite Inspirational Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together favourite inspirational poems by Wayne Visser. The anthology takes us on a journey through the peaks and troughs of life, celebrating the indomitable human spirit.. It includes many old favourites like “Poets Must Be” and “Chasing the Blue”, as well as brand new poems like “The Writer” and “Making Ripples”. Sages through the ages wisely say: / Carpe Diem – seize the dawning day / Oh, would that I could assuage that thirst / But the day conspires to seize me first! / With the hurry and scurry / Of home’s frantic flurry / And the hustle and bustle / Of work’s tangled tussle. Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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Look Up!

When you’re feeling brown
Look up, not down
Don’t fret or frown
Don’t dig a hole
Don’t be a mole
There’s nothing much that’s up
When you are underground
Instead, the thing I’ve found
Is that if I build a mound
I’m already much more such more up
Than ever I was down

And if you’re feeling sad
It’s not so bad
So don’t get mad
Rather think of all the good things
Like chocolate books and magic rings
And flying without feathered wings
Or think of something really fun
Like playing in the sparkly sun
And belly laughing with someone
Or anything makes you glad
Just not what makes you sad

And if you’re feeling low
Don’t stop, just go
Go fast, not slow
Go with the flow
Or plant a seed of happy thoughts
And watch it sprout and grow
Then climb your wavy happy tree
And from the top you’ll see, you’ll see
You’ll almost touch the sky
And when you are so high, you’ll know
That you’re no longer low

So when your sky is cloudy
Be bright, not dowdy
In fact be downright rowdy
Jump and dance and scream and shout
Don’t keep it in, just let it out
And if you’re loud and clear
The sun might even hear
And come out from its hiding place
And show its warm bright shining face
And say to you a sunny “Howdy …
Look up! It’s clear not cloudy”

Wayne Visser © 2017

Book

Seize the Day: Favourite Inspirational Poems

This creative collection, now in its 3rd edition, brings together favourite inspirational poems by Wayne Visser. The anthology takes us on a journey through the peaks and troughs of life, celebrating the indomitable human spirit.. It includes many old favourites like “Poets Must Be” and “Chasing the Blue”, as well as brand new poems like “The Writer” and “Making Ripples”. Sages through the ages wisely say: / Carpe Diem – seize the dawning day / Oh, would that I could assuage that thirst / But the day conspires to seize me first! / With the hurry and scurry / Of home’s frantic flurry / And the hustle and bustle / Of work’s tangled tussle. Buy the paper book / Buy the e-book.

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