The Tower
...when the walls come crumbling down....
I am standing by a dark, black, stone sea,
where nothing lives
no reflection sees.
They tell me they used to swim in it
but now there are merely
tourists behind a rope,
dipping distant fingers
into the icy
ink.
I turn to walk the path into the red-brick, splendid town,
Where the proud, clock tower
reaches haughtily high
for a non-descript sky.
A white bus corners
too fast,
(was it driverless?),
and pivotting,
I know
without sight,
that its blind velocity
will cause it to roundabout
crazily into the tower’s feet.
I feel the toppling
sense it
and start to run.
Some stand and stare
cameras
capturing
their own destruction
for instagram.
But I run.
I feel the bricks topple.
hear the rumble.
I don’t look back.
The brickdust clowd surges
tsunami
sweeping
those who hesitate
those who crowd
and distract themselves in gift shops
away.
I run,
sensing others with me,
but I do not turn to look
at what or who is falling.
I look straight ahead,
feel my muscles pull me forward
away.
We meet by the sea,
we escapees.
dishevelled
silent,
fewer.
There is not other way than to swim.
We
I plunge in
to a living sea.
I am not scared
though there are shadowy shapes swimming beneath me.
I do not stop
my strong strokes,
just onward.
Onward,
reaching arms
kicking legs
breathing
until,
from a distant shore,
people swim out
to greet us,
swim with us,
as we land.
I land
and turn to see wild haired
women
licking salt from their strong brown skin
Kind men
offer
a safe
undemanding embrace.
I try to dry myself,
to find my feet in this new place
which is familiar
yet strange
hotter.
The suriving swimmers
move,
some towards
a tidy line
awaiting work.
I see rails of my clothes
suspended on wire wracks
in the empty parking lot
patiently
lined up for office hours
and desk.
I do not try them on,
Instead
I lick salt from my tough,
strong skin,
and join the wild haired women
and kind men
as we move
silently
on.
Julie Leoni
Coach, author, podcaster, facilitator, Yoga and psychology teacher, learner
I have over 30 years of experience and qualification in various therapeutic and meditation/mindfulness based approaches. I work with change. Some changes we chose, others happen to us. Sometimes we know we want to change but don't know how. Sometimes we don't want to change but external events or people are forcing us to change. The menopause, children leaving home, the end of a relationship or job, becoming a parent, coming out, bereavement are just some of the personal changes I support people with. I also work with people who want to make changes to their life and wider world in response to social issues such as Covid, the climate crisis and racial, sexual and gender inequalities. Times are changing whether we want them to or not and we need to be nimble, agile, curious and open in order to part of the new story emerging. Work with me to get clear on what matters to you, what makes your heart sing and what kind of future you want for yourself and those you love. It is possible to live differently, get in touch to explore how.
