rich·ness

ˈriCHnəs/ noun

1.

the state of existing in or containing plentiful quantities of something desirable.

2.

the quality of being pleasingly deep or strong.

awakening in a car park

leaving all my possessions
in the boot
shoes, clothes, tent, pack
hairbrush.

walking half an hour
there and back

cooking lentils and tomatoes
on a camp cooker
bent double
metal spoons
steam on the car windows

echoes

waking at 4 am
waking at 5am
waking at 6am to finally arise
and see the sun greet the day

awakening to freedom
stretch, imagine adventure

nothing to lose

breathing in the fresh air
watching the last star fade

drinking in the pink clouds
buzz at sunrise
on the bridge
over blue waters

fueling up my body
with love, air and
fresh food

absorbing everything
conversations, moments
of a daydream
this is real life
true wealth

We had very little, and yet we had so much.

The gold of every shop window was mine, if only for a moment.
The smell of baking bread was mine,
free to inhale.
The colours of the waters
and of the pink skies
were ours that morning.
As were the songs of the gondeliers
rising on the fresh wind.
We had spent thirty dollars in two days
but were the richest people in all of Venice.

*

Richness is a state of being.
A way to exist in the world.
It is immersive,
all around us,
always.