Here’s one more piece from the book.
I like rooftops because they are freedom.
Every building has one,
and every person knows this –
yet most don’t give it a second thought.
They don’t know what lies above.
A world of freedom,
an escape from human-kind.
The biggest wide-open space in existence:
unobstructed sky,
endless horizons,
indistinguishable layers
expertly constructed
by the Builder of all things.
I once had a rooftop,
spacious and remote from everything,
a favourite getaway spot;
where the sun would kiss my face,
the breeze would pass my presence,
and all around,
peace prevailed in the quiet, undisturbed air.
Mountains in the distance,
oceans on the sides,
thoughts of what lay beyond
those distant waters.
What far-away lands existed out there:
adventures to live through,
sights to capture for the very first time.
Worlds beyond my own,
experience beyond my expectations.
From my perch,
way up above the bustling population,
I saw beyond:
beyond my own walls,
beyond my inhibitions,
beyond me;
All that could be,
if I dared venture out.
I like rooftops,
for they give space to my dreams.
Allow these inner eyes to explore,
and ignite in me the thought
of what could be.
Date written:
June 2008
Background:
I’d started a new job, based in dreary physical surroundings where only the awesome view of Table Mountain could break through the depressing mental curtain that clouded my vision. Yearning for an escape from everyone and everything, and remembering my previous fortress of solitude, I ventured up to the roof of the building to steal a few moments alone.
It wasn’t as spectacular as my previous hideout, but the new rooftop gave me an added appreciation for these under-used physical structures: with nobody around, most noise vanishes. Your eyes wander beyond the suffocating physical environment you’ve escaped. You’re not superior to everyone else, but your perspective is elevated. Like looking at the world from an aeroplane: everything down below is small and far away – a miniature civilisation filled with the stress and strife of day-to-day life, but you’re no longer embroiled in it. From where you are, it’s all insignificant.
For me, this is what a rooftop represents: a place to get away from it all, be reminded of the bigger picture of life, and allow your eyes – both the physical and spiritual – to envision what lies beyond the invisible walls of your regular existence.
An updated version of this piece appears in my book – Let it Flow – available via Amazon Kindle, Google Play Books, Apple Books, Kobo, and more. You can find an in-depth sample by clicking the image below:
slip-sliding away..... 
I enjoy seeing the different themes used in various poems. Thank you for sharing.