Hidden Riches

What beauty you have hidden
all these years
tucked away gems
like private thoughts

I have moved all over you
but know now
I will fall off the grid before
you stop taking people in to you

I have walked to your edge
but you go on
beyond my capacity to cover you
endless valleys, hills, secluded bays
kaleidoscopic Auckland

How ironic that your secrets
unfurl under my feet
one kilometre at a time
as I walk walk walk
for poverty...

Copyright 2011. Training for OXFAM Trailwalker 100ks. Sponsor me at:
http://www.oxfam.org.nz/events/teams.asp?a=show_team_pages&eventid=28&teamid=4901

Night walking belongs to men

Walked the Pakuranga Rotary Walkway at 9.30pm Saturday night. A little bit scarey. Pleased to report that my Energizer head lamp worked really well though. It has 3 settings: red, spotlight and three lights that throw a wide and high light.

I walked fast and jogged a bit as well because it was so scarey. I passed one couple (a man and woman) walking out of the park when I entered. After that two young guys on bikes passed me, then a single young guy strolled by. A long while later I passed another young guy, and I still think it was the same one - which is freaky. Another 10 minutes and there was an older man out walking his dog. The night belongs to men. That's the fear of rape and attack - the consequence of the war between the sexes - that leaves men with this private men-only domain.

I won't do the walk at night again, not on my own.