I Want to Travel the World With You
written by: Justine Engelbrecht
I want to think of you at the moulin rouge,
with a feather boa brushing over the top of
your head as the cancan girl, with her concealer,
covered glistening skin, shines down on you,
with a twinkle in her eye.
I want to go back to the moment, we were staring across the
skylight at Montmartre, with the Parisian sky surrounding the
now shrunken Eiffel tower in the distance.
The City of Love, kindling its disappointment,
and its awe, in a rush of emotions.
I want to drink cocktails at the speakeasy again, with the laughter of the
locals resonating in the night. I want to leave my fear behind,
and indulge a little, as the night sky laps against the morning.
I want to sit beside our children on the rollercoaster,
and feel the world spinning around me in a vacuum of silence,
coming out on the other side breathless,
and exhilarated by their smiles.
I want to drink wine in the rain,
and hot chocolate on the side of the street.
And feel your warm skin against the sun,
and taste the salt on your lips.
I want to go snorkeling and watch the fishes,
as they swim around the children,
and I want to hear them laugh like they did when they were small,
and weren’t caught up in the adult world where happiness is sandwiched,
between obedience and money.
This Saturday can we put the reality away for a moment.
Maybe we can jump on that jet plane and hang out where the music,
is louder than the voices. We can watch the fountains in Dubai,
from a night club in the sky, and then on Sunday, I could take you to the Burg Khalifa,
and order you high tea, and you could eat macaroons while you watch the sand dust roll
in from afar.
I would even climb back into that basket with you,
the one that took us into the sky with a burst of flame,
and a gust of breath. But, before it is over, I would like to take you
to St Petersburg, where we will go to the ballet, like grownups,
and then we will sit on the balcony staring into the white sky,
while drinking champagne we cannot afford.
I want to settle with you by the sea,
I can see it billowing in creamy folds against
the rough English crags, it is tenacious, and beckoning.
But you light a fire, and pour a merlot over
crystal, before handing it to me and placing
a duvet over my legs as you sit beside me.
And together we will watch the light dim over of the horizon.
- I Want to Travel the World With You - September 3, 2024
- Mistaken Glances - June 6, 2024
- Two Willows - March 28, 2024
