The Dimly-Lit Path

by Warwick Allen
Tuesday, 1 February 2022

Eggshells narrowly escape
feet awkwardly crash between
And the load shouldered
precious, fragile, teetering

New terrain, strangely familiar
strange turns
through pit holes and trenches
gradually climbing

A torch for the feet
a necessary comfort
The direction unknown
just press on up

The terrain is rugged
But the load shouldered
precious, fragile, balanced
Is not shouldered alone

The Minstrel of Summer

by Warwick Allen
Saturday, 3 March 2018


How wonderful to listen
To that minstrel of summer
What sweeter sound to bask in
Than the song of the cicada?

Never-failing evangelist
Faithful herald of the sun
“Foul weather is banquished”
Announces cicada's hum

Don't go quiet on me
Keep singing little friend
Keep humming in your tree
Don't let the summer end

Ruru's First Call

by Warwick Allen
Tuesday, 30 July 2017


Ruru wakens
Heart hastens
Is it really
No, can't be
That time again?
Again

Day's been
Done somethin'
Much not done
Racing the sun
The sun won
Again

Race fail
But my battle
—Important one
It is won
When I say "yes"
When I ask
"Did I love?"

Dead Faith, Breathe

by Warwick Allen
Wednesday, 7 June 2017


You've no qualm
Recite your psalm
On the corner
Don't ignore her
She's hurting
You look

Words cavernous
Now disastrous
She will hear
You don't care
She's hurting
You ask

Pontificate
Form of hate
You say grace
See her face
She's hurting
You know

... breathe ...

Words substantial
Being filled
In the doing
Lives combining
She's waiting
For you

To be Me

by Warwick Allen
Friday, 12 August 2016


white whiskers
whisper
of my folly

muscles strained
well trained
of my weakness

learned brain
exclaims
my ignorance

a beast without Your mind
a babe without Your strength
a fool without Your word

I need You
                if I am
                            to be me

Dissonance

by Warwick Allen
Sunday, 18 October 2015


I take my soul for a stroll
Along the crumbling edge
Cliff face, to face
Imagined and the real

I see my world dissolve
In an unread history book
My space, marked place
Recorded but never told

I watch and sigh as they divide
My soul and body cannot decide
Can't agree who'll they'll have
Me be, so they fight

Ever Isle

by Warwick Allen
Sunday, 18 October 2015


Every day I breathe a while
Throw my thoughts on a pile
Up there on the top
My dream of Ever Isle

Every day I run a while
Chasing an ephemeral smile
Many-coloured gold-in-pot
My dream of Ever Isle

Every day I stop a while
Resting with easy smile
I know what I've got
My life in Ever Isle