It's been a good thing and might again

Here is a poem by my former lover and best friend, Ray Lear, who passed away at the age of 37, from a sudden brain tumour. He is sorely missed. I used to call him Quip - we were always having a laugh. Here is a poem he wrote for me. 29/3/1997:

I peer through work-a-day window

Searching vainly for that beautiful vision.

Without her ice-cream has no taste

Laughter sounds like tears.

My all for one sweet kiss, one more slap-head.

I look to the empty pillow beside me

Once soft, now made of stone.

Wrapping myself in the warm quilt of memories,

I dream...

Perfectly fitting lips that filled my soul,

when met.

Hair of spun silk framing a face of both beauty and character

Bright, intelligent eyes that search to see more

Hands capable of the most caring touch

Or setting the flesh afire

We went trekking in the stars as our

worlds spun faster.

Heart of bread devoured as if it were each other's

Long walks, hand on leg while driving - 

I don't remember it ever having not been there.

Every meal a feast of senses

Six gifts of flesh exchanged, sublime, savoured, treasured, eternal.

French, the language of love was ours

Spoken without words.

In love and making love she cried

'This is how it should be!'

Empty words or a standard set

Your glow not from the sun but from within.

Linga longa in my heart beautiful Jennifer, Linga longa.

by Ray Lear

Ray

Daffodil

Daffodil - Cruden Farm, Victoria © Jennifer Phillips

Asymmetry

You tried to stop

my mad dive

into that icy February

lake on my dark

Sunday. 

But the shiver,

bone clicking source,

was your blue 

longing eyes

that I did not love. 

So alive and alone

we trembled 

in that embrace. 

© "Neon Veil" (All rights reserved)

Icy Lake - Copyright Free Images

Part time lover

Call up, ring once, hang up the phone 

To let me know you made it home 

Don't want nothing to be wrong with part-time lover 

If she isn't with me I'll blink the lights 

To let you know tonight's the night 

For me and you, my part-time lover 

We are undercover passion on the run 

Chasing love up against the sun 

We are strangers by day, lovers by night 

Knowing it's so wrong, but feeling so right 

If I'm with friends and we should meet 

Just pass me by, don't even speak 

Know the word's "discreet" with part-time lovers 

But if there's some emergency 

Have a male friend to ask for me 

So then she won't peek its really you my part-time lover 

We are undercover passion on the run 

Chasing love up against the sun 

We are strangers by day, lovers by night 

Knowing it's so wrong, but feeling so right 

We are undercover passion on the run 

Chasing love up against the sun 

We are strangers by day, lovers by night 

Knowing it's so wrong, but feeling so right

[Repeat]

I've got something that I must tell 

Last night someone rang our doorbell 

And it was not you my part-time lover 

And then a man called our exchange 

But didn't want to leave his name 

I guess that two can play the game 

Of part-time lovers 

You and me, part-time lovers 

But, she and he, part-time lovers

by Stevie Wonder

Playtime with Papa

Take this knife, 

kill thy neighbour-

commands the father

or the father 

gun get will

and kill 

all 

to feed

the nothing. 

Think boy

fast, faster

distract 

to distraction

sleight of hand

and twist of question

hide the edge 

of lies

and hide

hidden fear

behind your back,

a smile in front,

and terrible

laughter between.

© "Neon Veil" (All rights reserved) 

Füri knife © Jennifer Phillips

Mental disorders

If you are having trouble seeing any pictures on this site, just click on the picture and you will be taken to a full-size image.

Leunig in The Saturday Age - May 25, 2013

Facing the ocean

At Merimbula - New South Wales © Jennifer Phillips