Going Nowhere—sometimes I don’t know if I’m coming or going.
This little soldier was relatively determined there must be a better place but she’d have to put all these constant distractions out of sight and mind before she could possibly arrive at a decision. As she began the packing away process, a thought occurred that helped her stop for longer than intended…perhaps by trying to do everything, she could very well end up doing nothing of great significance at all. Or worse still, she’d just be tugged and pulled in all sorts of directions—other than her own. Case closed, she set foot and mind on a moth ball free path, steady as she goes—her own way …
(Reposted from 2011. Find her in ‘Clunk & Jam’ book.)
And what if a BOy stops pretending he’s fine? What if a BOy cries? Lets out the worry? Says he’s scared? Puts his hand up for help? Why should he be called a sook, a pussy, pansy, poofter, sissy or EMO? Why do they tell him to pull himself together, keep his chin up, soldier on, tough it out – not to worry because … you’ll be right mate? Finding words can be hard for a BOy, so is finding his feelings – showing them even harder. But if it’s really so hard for a BOy to talk and feel and cry – doesn’t that make the BOy who does – tougher than all the other BOys?
So let’s champion for a new age BOy who has learnt that more is lost in war than won and fighting his own battle; conquering his own fears and demons; freeing himself from the silence and pretending will be this greatest victory – and contribution to the world.
(BOy Series, Clunk & Jam book 2019)
Boy Oh BOy .
Oh BOy. The bound up BOy. Crushed beneath the pressure, the grind to be tough and strong. Big. The overwhelming wave of responsibility to save everything from time, to the environment – the world itself. But I’ve seen the BOy dance and cry. Read poetry out loud. Wear makeup. Pick flowers. Speak his truth. Challenge his world. Name his feelings. Play piano and sing. Hug another BOy.
BOy oh BOy I cried…and a dream saw hands on the wheel of change. Ploughing a culture in where the feelings, vulnerabilities and experiences of men and BOys cannot be freely expressed and accepted. Burying the angst that has the potential of bringing BOy to his own end.
BOy oh BOy said the dream … may ideals and expectations of the BOy be reset, redrawn. May BOy be moved and freed from his grueling vigil by the roar for change. The momentum of the march towards it. And the wonder at a way and time when BOy is no longer required to be just one of the boys anymore.
(Clunk & Jam book, 2019).
And anyway, fixing is rarely quick and some things are better left alone – like the notion of the Super Hero and this whole saving the world business.
(Clunk & Jam book)
Was it at all possible to know where he’d end up next? Skipping tomorrow and the next day and the next was no great way to travel but it seemed the only way of leaving well behind where he’d come from. But maybe his place wasn’t up ahead somewhere, beyond the days (and the daze). Maybe there wasn’t such a thing as a ‘right place’ after all – which left him free to travel with absolutely no idea where he was going…
(BOy Series, Clunk & Jam book, 2019)
Sometimes when answers can’t be found – questioning is a good alternative … like why is a BOy suppose to have all the answers anyway? Who’s a BOy to turn to when he’s not sure what to do or where to go? How’s a BOy suppose to live up to all these BIG expectations? What if a BOy can’t? Doesn’t want to? Doesn’t think he can? Doesn’t believe he’s good enough? And what if he doesn’t want to be like all the other BOys? If he doesn’t fit in – then where’s a BOy belong? And if a BOy can’t stop the trees from falling and the ice from melting- what then? What if a BOy doesn’t have answers to these questions – doesn’t that mean he’s not as alone as he thinks he is?
(BOy Series, Clunk & Jam book, 2019)
