Left Luggage (Poetry)

I sent my soul out travelling
deep into sunset woods
among the brambles and the ferns
where thrush and blackbird broods
on April’s scattering of nests
hid safe from eyes that pry
and dying day streaks spills of red
to bloody primrose sky.

So quiet. So very quiet and still
nobody trespassed where
flat water spread its mirror grey
and willows dipped green hair.
For one long moment all was peace
nothing broke the calm
as Nature settled for the night
with neither pang nor qualm.

In awe my soul tiptoed away
and left the tranquil scene
inviolate — as virginal
as Eden might have been
before contamination —
humanity’s disease
killing off the wildlife
and savaging the trees.

I trawl for scraps of wilderness —
map islands in my head
observe each butterfly and bee
I’m weightless as I tread
in places where the soul roams free
seeking peace of mind
my body’s clumsy bags of flesh
like luggage left behind.