Faith-bone.

It still takes me by surprise
like birds who forget the sunrise by night
They awaken
        delighted to the earth becoming
        what they knew it was all along,
the dark period is gone now
they sing,
get excited guys, we are still alive.

Clockwork beating of the heart,
A little faster the day after
           like my mind is racing
                       sweaty palms
           to harness first the memory,
           transpose it into poetry,
           sprint a mile in my reverie
bags packed,
lids heavy,
this steady return to life.

I can no longer pretend we
don't know what we're doing.
When the crew comes back from
                far-flung places,
                the universe written
                on their faces
in laugh lines,
                erased negativity,
in open arms
to the wider community,
what started 19 parties ago
remains
and my faith-bone, it grows.

It is true.
We've become a cult
of the highest order,
          acceptance breeds acceptance
          connected in our presence,
shoulders broad to build more
foundations
of sweaty inspiration.
The old city moults off me,
4 million blameless of push and shove,
I see no longer strangers
just soul's capacity for love.

You are,
what you want most,
a note I've learned through kindness.
Though lonely on the road to change
it's within you every time,
               to choose this stranger as your neighbour
               to choose this time to show your colours
               to cover this cement and mortar place
with your fortified shine,
your hopeful grace,

There is a different way,
You showed me,
There is a different way.