perhaps I should genuflect
light a candle
mumble something holy
but when the night terrors come
to this private vault
we call consciousness
only my dog can hear me
be near me
comfort this old skin
so I say a little prayer for him
and whisper I’m ok
[first posted Jan 8, 2016]
while she held on to my hand
and whispered soothing words
she had one eye on her car keys
and a quick getaway
there is no common currency here
just rates of exchange
that fluctuate wildly
in different circumstances
try calling the helpline she said
there isn’t one I said
well try calling anyway she said
so I did
many times
many helplines
fifteen of them
[first posted Jan 2, 2016]
in the electric sympathy of your touch
I found my wilderness
and heaven both
but heaven is not measured out in dust
and dust was all I reached for
when I woke
you had a birthmark
we all have birthmarks
that much I can recall
here on this barstool
this barren outcrop
I recall the electric sympathy of your touch
found among the effects of a man who passed away
a child’s painting
snowy mountain
winter’s day
fingers of the forest reach out to grab the heart
male driver
no passengers
little blue car
you sit at your table writing
while I sit at mine
I’d like to have coffee with you sometime
a glass or two of wine
discuss the price of light bulbs
or the intricacies of verse
there are subjects far worse
such as love
loss
domesticity
it would all be with the greatest civility
though I cannot remain serious
for too long
I knew a girl once made me laugh so much
I could have wept
but now she’s gone
and I am undone
so here’s to you
and whatever it is you write
so feverishly
uneasily
at your table
I am unable to stand the light
for much longer
at any price
[first posted Jan 10, 2016]
that cloud
on the edge of the cliff
from the coastal path
like the head of the patriarch
only a flimsy thing
that soon blows over
leaving clear day
and little else of meaning
on the headland
where we leave eggshells
for the birds
and scatter
sorry
I meant to show you something special
when conversation became difficult
I made for the shelter of the trees
looking back across the sun-bleached field
to where the party was in full swing
appreciating the amplitude of tall silences
that I could navigate more easily
from there I could see you slowly circling
coming to rest
before finally heading out
navigation
ascertaining a position
calculating the most favourable route
between one point and another
even when there is no point at all
navigation
just moving around
it takes skill
practice
finesse
when even gentle waters
can seem treacherous
safer amid trees
they don’t move around
at least don’t appear to
I whispered a quiet thank you
and plotted a course back
