Origami City II

This is an origami city and

sometimes the lines

have been folded over so many times

if I run my thumb along once again

the washi paper rubbed so thin

I could trace these terraces

with half closed eyes

layers underneath starting

to show through (to show their lines)

I went to a show at Meow

and there's this place I used to go -

Next door, above whats now

a Japanese restaurant

I lean back, try to see the second floor

those beauful old windows

This was a special place once

 We used to dance, we used to -

I just see office desks now

through dust-filmed windows

this space used to be

ours

It's Valentine's Day and I'm meeting

a new friend at an old haunt

and this is a love letter

to my origami city

this wind swept place of 

outsiders and playful hipsters

artist and realists

this the only city

that ever stole my heart

 

February 14th, 2020

Origami City

This origami city

layers pressed against each other

complicated and compact

favourite haunts

tucked away in hidden folds.

I follow the 

valley fold of

Plimmer Steps to 

a tiny scrap of Japan

sip matcha from a wide bowl

nibble taiyaki, read my book

then follow the mountain fold of

The Terrace to an ancient brick building

Waiting inside

our lawyer with a stack of papers

the sticky notes mark where to sign 

the next chapter of our lives

My breath catches though

I know this door

that ancient elevator with 

the metal folding gate

I took one level up to

free counselling when

I was new to motherhood when

I was having trouble

I touch the door handle - 

This is an origami city and

my fingerprints are everywhere

my hands have traced

these folds and now

the pages of my life press 

so close one against another sometimes

I have to stop and catch

my breath

and touch my fingertips to where

my younger hands once pressed

and pause in reverent kinship with - 

my past

 July 18th 2019