Let me hide awhile behind halcyon moments
before I contemplate my re-emergence
from some obstreperous creation
into something more palatable for easy digestion.

Let me escape awhile into tangential forays
before the corporate devil spawns
yet another black-besuited beetle
scuttling insanely around its concrete jungle.

Let me drift, gentle, wild and free
shriek with delight, weep unrestrained
over joys as well as pain
before handing over the keys
to my freedom, expression and sanity.

Let me breathe and dance and sing...
just be that wild thing
before donning the implacable mask
androgenousely walking, talking,
sharp, hard and fast.

Let me hope that The City has changed...
but, if my hope is a snowman in the rain
then I will bring with me the wildness of the country
and while I assume the crust of respectibility
I will remember the wind stealing my breath
hair whipping my face,
rain saturating my skin.

I will bring country to town and with it,
everything that is clean, simple and good
and while I deliberately tread the hot tarmac
with aching heels and an empty heart
I will remember how the grass feels
I will remember how the air tastes
I will remember for as long as it takes.