Reading Gil Scott-Heron poems
eating leftover pasta in bed
red wine in a teacup
5 AM and I’m still up
the late hours is where the magic happens
the teaching
unlearning everything I learned before
get rid of it out the door
I had to run to the ocean shore
stand knee deep in the water
howling at the full moon above
dancing for her
a wild dance leaving me
taking my breath with her
movement to awaken my body
push out the last lockdown dust
shake me to the core
I’ve been escaping into my dream world
but not anymore
I wrote this poem 18 full moons ago, on my first night in a new home in Mount Maunganui. I just finished working nightshifts and my rhythm was still all over the place. The moon, ocean and Gil Scott-Heron inspired me to go out and dance and write. You can find this poem and many many others alongside gorgeous illustrations in our book 'Poison Ivy'.
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