new city, new moon, new beginning...

A new moon
smiles overhead.

The stars have fallen
from fedora-grey skies
and scatter
along these strangely familiar
rain-stained alleyways
& streets...

...Leading him on,
though his vision be blurred,
leading him ever on;

these grounded
(yet still shining) constellations
a reminder to this wary
(but happy) traveler
that he has
(after forty two long/short years)
finally
found his way home.

It is
a new city,
a new moon
a new beginning;

It is a time to shine,
girls & boys!

A time to shine!!

(c) Brent M Harpur, 26 July, 2011.

"Follow your bliss & the universe will open doors
for you where there were only walls...” (Joseph Campbell)

-thanks to Sam for the quote. I have always loved Mr. Campbell.

not a poem...

This is not a poem.

I decided on the 5th November (last year)

that I wanted to move to Melbourne.

On the 6th November

I met the most amazing woman

I have ever met.

And during our first two hours together,

in a crowded, noisy bar

I told her that I wanted to do this.

This same night we discovered a mutual appreciation for:

Museums, goat's cheese, Alice in Wonderland, avocado, sci fi, Star Wars,

the Muppets, children's books...

the list could go on for quite some time...

Yesterday morning,

the 22nd of June

my third morning in my new home,

I met with this amazing woman again.

and we spent three precious and special hours together,

having breakfast, coffee, exploring the back streets & alleyways

and shops

of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

She is just about to embark on her own journey.

I am just gladdened that

(before she left)

she got to visit me in my new home...

One that I told her about

eight short months ago,

in the Golden Barley Hotel.

Godspeed,

Sweet Princess Jess!!

Keep in touch...

(23 June 2011)

"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart." (Jung)



scattering of joy

"This short, precious life, I have spent so much time scattering joy to so many. A move to another state in Australia feels so right, so why am I equally terrified as well as excited? I have been wanting to move to Melbourne ever since I went there as a young art student, way back in late 1993, to see a Van Gogh exhibition. It felt right then, it felt right a year and a half ago, it feels like "home"...

(not many places have felt like that, even most of NZ)

I have many dear friends here in Sydney now, but it is not enough. I have family, but it is not enough either. I came to Australia for my career. I had taken things as far as I could take them in New Zealand.

Without work (paid or otherwise), constant work, MY work - the work I've chosen, that chose me!! (the work that I created that  I can see to do, when there are a lot of things I cannot see enough to do in this world) - The teaching, the aforementioned "scattering of joy" (apologies, Emerson) & light.

Without a constant market willing to give me that work, family and friends will never be enough. Like it says in the song, "just cause I'm leaving, doesn't mean I love you any less"... I feel stuck, broke, heartbroke, helpless, my self esteem wavering, unsure.

I must once again employ & re-engage my troubador heart... Painfully extract my roots from this so-called home. Throw myself to the wind, uncertainty, change and the challenge once more;

Begin again, shed this snake's skin again!! Pack my bags, discard the clutter and safety I've built around me... I must follow and listen to my heart's call and voice once more. My intuition tells me that this is the right time. Melbourne's harsh winter does not scare this 'kiwi boy'.

Like I said somewhere above... For all those I leave behind, I love you no less!! The precious moments we've shared over the last three years, they inspire me still. I close my eyes and so many memories make me smile. They will add fuel to my journey ahead, light my uncertain path and help me grow more confident. Sure, I am broke, brokenhearted, more than a little scared - but I am happy.

The time is right. NOW. This monkey's journey begins again: Your blessings & well wishes mean the world to me - let's stay in touch... in this crazy, beautiful rollercoaster adventure called life!! And your company in the journey makes it SO MUCH more enjoyable & memorable!!"

(BRENT HARPUR, 9/5/2011.)

"A ship is safe in harbour - but that's not what ships are for." (John Shedd)

FOOTNOTE: I actually decided to move on my birthday, November 5th, 2010. But I was distracted from this decision for a little while. A big thank you to the distraction. Life sometimes surprises me in delightful & wonderful ways I could never have dreamt possible!! (thank you, JC)

Orion Chase Sirius

eleven short years
have passed.

I am no longer
the failed astronomer...

I guess I am now the
unfailed
(er)
failed
failed astronomer.

thank you for the
BEST five months of my life.

(I am more afraid
of never seeing your smile again,
than I am of going blind)

these hands
that you once so lovingly admired,
they are now covered
in self-inflicted scars;

You pulled a loose thread
on my heart, girl
& have unwittingly
unraveled the stars.

& when I used to move
inside you,
you'd gently touch my face
& I'd close my eyes;

and in the darkness I'd see
a glimpse of eternity,
an expanding universe
of mystery:

& Orion chase Sirius
across
your moon-lit skies!!

***

I close my eyes,
wherever you are
your smile
will always burn inside me...

Like a fucken supernova!!

(c) Brent M Harpur, 2011.

"I like to think that the moon is there, even if I am not looking at it." (Albert Einstein)

stars born of the same sky (Dec 4)

(i) These words are not to hurt you,
to mislead or confuse
They were written in the stars tonight
for my favourite muse.


(ii) I've felt the space between sun & star
seen snow fall on sandy beach
Know so little to have come so far
Your sweet eclipse just out of reach.

(iii) My life it is an open book
when I am with you I have nothing to hide
You touch my heart, steal it to a secret place
where the sun & moon collide.


(iv) And as the cells of this
borrowed cornea slowly die
the constellations, one by one,
they fade from view
May delight & desire
set your star on fire
for my love is blind but true.

(v) And in different beds
we may both lie
But I feel we may be...

Stars
born
of
the
same
sky.


(c) Brent M Harpur, 4th Dec 2010.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." (Anais Nin)

Footnote:
"I wrote this poem late last year, and it really did come from the deepest constellation in my heart. I am now attempting to put a tune to it,  so I can play it on the ukelele or piano. And the woman I wrote it for still makes my heart flutter, every time she smiles in my general direction. My life will never be the same again..." (Brent Harpur, 11 April 2011.)

dancing star (i) glasgow winter

today I saw a young woman
struggling with a suitcase
on the train.

dancing star,
near or far,
just remember that 
wherever you are:

you are filled with courage
and fire
and
I am so, so proud of you, girl.

try not to be angry.
learn to channel that anger
into your art

your dancing peers
are not always your best friends
or housemates

make new friends
with different kinds of creatives,
they'll inspire and nurture you
in ways
you never dreamt
possible.

(and they'll share their chocolate & music with you)

and I,
I who have nothing of great value,
all I have to offer you 
from this tyranny of distance
are these tiny few words...


when you have to venture out
into this overlong,
harsh glasgow winter
hold these words
tightly in your hands!!

may their warmth
gently tickle & burn
within your palms,
ignite embers in your heart,
& your wings

and your feet


may they light your path,
take the edge off these seasonal chills,
melt the snow and anger away.

close your eyes for a moment,
and you'll see
a flicker of blue flame
behind your lids
feel its glow,
be filled with wonder,
birdsong & my
invincible
summer.


and it bears repeating:
I AM SO, SO PROUD OF YOU, GIRL!

(never, ever forget that)


(c) Brent M Harpur, 2011.

- For VK


"For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." (robert louis stevenson)

untitled

It is going to be
really hard
not
to look behind me,
when the view is still
so...

AMAZING!

(c) Brent M Harpur, 2011.

"It is okay to look at the past, but don't stare." (anon.)