Shiva

The Ganges flows through his hair

A cobra is wrapped around his wrist

Beneath his foot a a monster squirms

Held firmly by the throat

And Shiva dances in his ring of fire

Watercolour on paper

Your Kali Face

Your black wood is polished smooth by many devoted fingers

A blue crown sits lopsided on you head

and you hold a pomegranate in your hand

Blood and water flowing 

Into the salt from your eyes

Ink on paper

Mandrake Mask

The mandrake lay harmless

Wilting in the heat

Too hot to scream

Indian ink on used FFP2 masks

Adam's Rib II

You have told me all my life

How to think and how to be

That what I am is not good enough

That I need to be more like you

And keep my mouth shut if I don’t agree

You are still doing it I notice

In another guise

Although you are all dressed up

I can see through you.

Ink drawing on Japanese paper

Dream Tide

I came to the end of the city and there was the sea

The sea where it shouldn’t have been.

I started walking down the slope of sand towards it.

When I looked up, the tide was coming in from where I had just been walking.

I was walking towards the sea, yet it was behind me

And rushing down the slope to sweep me away.

I saw a large rocky outcrop of brown sandstone.

I could run under that and hope that the water would pour over the top

Keeping me safe underneath.

What a mad, hopeless idea if it was a real sea!

But dream seas are unpredictable that way.

watercolour drawing

To my daughter

My advice to you, dear daughter

is to press your feet firmly into the ground

Feel the earth between your toes

The dirt and grit and stuff of life

Feel it in your body

It is full weight moving upwards

Then lift your chin and face what is in front of you

Stare it unflinchingly in the eye

And give it what for

indian ink on paper

indian ink on paper

Jacob and the Angel

A little East of Jordan,
Evangelists record,
A Gymnast and an Angel
Did wrestle long and hard —

Till morning touching mountain —
And Jacob, waxing strong,
The Angel begged permission
To Breakfast — to return —

Not so, said cunning Jacob!
"I will not let thee go
Except thou bless me" — Stranger!
The which acceded to —

Light swung the silver fleeces
"Peniel" Hills beyond,
And the bewildered Gymnast
Found he had worsted God!

A little East of Jordan by Emily Dickinson

Feather Pelvis, ink on Japanese paper

Feather Pelvis, ink on Japanese paper

Pelvis

The tendon is damaged, torn from the bone, it needs time and stillness to heal. The surface is without feeling but there is a deep ache in the bone. It was a small thing that caused it, holding tight to anxiety, clutching fears closely, afraid to let go. The sadness comes in dreams, gently and you are there, quietly being you. You worried in life but in dreams you are more reassuring, as if just your presence is enough.

Skirt, ink on Japanese paper

Skirt, ink on Japanese paper