Losing the Herd (Poetry)

I need another place to be —
a cave, a castle ruined and remote
somewhere I can call my own
a sympathetic space I can feel comfortable
wind down and be alone.

This world is too intrusive
with its eyes on every street
I cannot move for thinking
someone’s watching, taking note
and my thoughts they keep on sticking
suffocating in my throat
from the traffic fumes and noise ...
I need somewhere the road runs wide
                                        and free.
This town’s an open prison
and I have to get away —
break the shackles, shed belonging
                                        lose the herd
and carve another route across
the plain that is my life
and look for a location that suits me.

I need no modern palace — just a roof
                                        above my head
and some peace to soothe and heal the
                                        damage done
by a world that’s too invasive
too destructive and perverse
ruled by those too blind and deaf and oddly dumb ...

There are warders on each corner
there are ears in every wall
and a rumour they can tune to words unsaid
not much is private any more
our days are tracked online —
a pulse upon the screen until we’re dead.

I need a place that’s off the map
invisible, secure
unreachable by modern means —
no internet or phone.

I seek a life more real and true
where Nature’s simple rules hold sway
and that energy connects all things —
feeds light to every hungry part
and fills the sun-starved valley
                                        of the rebel heart.