Body

We must take care of our body

It is the only place 

We have to live in

She whispers

I run my fingers 

Over the scars

Over the damage and destruction

The years of pain 

And chaos

It really is a body

Beyond recognition

Past its purpose

Slowly battling between

Life and death

She holds my hand

Her skin is soft 

And creamy

We lie still

Thinking

Not thinking

Just being who we are

Who we will always be

Because we did not take care of our body

We wasted its youth

Damaged its future

But it made us who we are

Every cut and burn

And flurry of powder

Sculpted us into being

Perhaps that is just fine

She whispers

We snuggle up together

And close our tired eyes.

Reckless Sonnet

I am not sure I like sonnets 

She says

But I like to make a little sound

Or song

We have been left behind 

I think

The dusk creeps upon us

We wrap ourselves in towels 

And blankets 

Silently cry

Whirl in circles

Our own dance 

We think of the times

When the sand seeped through our toes

We cannot unlike these times 

Perhaps we argued

Perhaps we sang 

Always we found ourselves

A little strange

Both sapling

And grown tree 

When we are close to the wire

She sucks her thumb

And if she does

I do too

This is our reckless sonnet

Forever it will sing 

And sway. 

Sun

The last time we saw the sun

We smiled

It made our cheeks warm

And our eyes glow

We dipped our toes

In cool water

Sang a song

Danced a little dance

It was a good day

She giggles

Now we lie still

Let the light from the window

Cover our bed

Watch the clouds passing

And the trees swaying

This is where I remember you

In the sky

Flying

Swooping 

Soaring

I cannot remember if 

You came to me

Or I came to you

All that matters is that

We are together

Always she says

Reaching for my hand

Even when the sun stops shining

And winter comes again

I will be with you for all time

She says

The first 

The last

And the in-between

We smile

Yellow circles in our eyes. 

Goodwill

We find ourselves 

In the basement of the goodwill store

It is musty 

Tiny flashes of dust bounce off 

The carpet 

Like rust

It catches us 

In the back of our throats

Makes us cough 

And splutter

The curtains are thin

Alice draws them open 

It reveals a brick wall

Thick and sturdy

We hate not seeing light 

Perhaps we will 

Pick through the garbage forever 

It glitters and shines

Old treasures

Waiting to be found 

Stories waiting to be retold

What was given

What was lost

What was taken after

Books

Clothes

Toys

An old bicycle 

Once they were prized

Now they are fading

Perhaps by touching them

We will make them real again 

So many beautiful things

In the basement of the goodwill store. 

Feathers and Shells

We hold the feather in our hand

It is frail

Like baby bones

We lift it up to the light

The wind kisses our fingers

We see the skeleton lines

It is magical

How they hold the silken skin

We imagine the bird in flight

Struggling 

Then soaring 

Enjoying the currents

Discarding a gift

Just for us

Alice breathes quickly

We have been collecting 

Feathers

Shells 

And leaves

For Dormouse

We will build him the perfect nest

She squeals

We walk back home

Along the grassy path

The patches of green 

Stick to the bottom

Of our shoes

We have a box

For Dormouse's nest

We carefully place the feather inside

It looks majestic

Full of wonder

But we need something soft as well

Maybe tomorrow we will find

Wool on the fence

Or fur from a passing cat

Maybe tomorrow we will 

Have tea and cakes too 

For the tea party 

I would like that very much

She says

We close the box

Happy with our treasures.

River Village

I bend over to touch her face

It feels as soft as paper

As simple as water

As complex as a nest

All twirls and swirls

And broken branches 

We are enjoying our time at 

The river village

Time flows

Like a gentle current

No more needles

Or hammers

We have taken our medicine

And feel more alive 

It is humbling

To stand by the water

It sings a tune

We understand

Tiny drops

And big splashes

We let the mist cool

Our face

For this one moment

We are ok

No need to think about tomorrow

Or the next day

Or the next

Time stands still at

The river village

We feel at home there

Peaceful and quiet

Soft as rolling water

Ready to sleep

And dream. 

War Is Over

Perhaps it is sad

That we do not know

The war is over

It is because you are

Always fighting

She whispers

You can stop if you want to

I think

What would I be 

If I did not fight

Empty

Lost

Alone

I must always keep you with me

I say

Reaching out for her hand

Maybe war is like solving puzzles

Working out how to win

Finding your way above ground

Or maybe it is like a downpour 

Too fast and heavy to control 

Perhaps it is both 

It has been a long time

Since we have seen 

The night sky

The shining stars

And pale moon

The powder keeps us under

Quiet

Silent

Mute

We sit still in the half light

Waiting for sleep

The moment feels like a ceasefire 

A tiny break from our invisible war. 

Olive

The man has an olive-coloured face

He flies birds inside

We can see them reflected 

In the mirror 

Our hearts beat quicker

With every flap of their wings 

The birds line up

Like a list

A line of letters in a row

We do not want to disturb

This history

It unfolds before us

Like a fresh white page 

A plan of a city

All black lines and angles

Squares and circles

A place we will never go to 

A place which confuses us

And enchants us 

Where are we now

I think 

There is no answer

Where we are now

Is where we have always been

Where we will always stay

As permanent as the lines

On the man 

With the olive-coloured face.

Renewal

We wipe the dust 

Off of our shoes

Like a change

Or maybe even a renewal

She squeals snd claps her hands

Perhaps it is time to end this pattern

To find a smoother course

One without so much pain

And loss

She looks into my eyes

Are you enjoying your life

Someone says

I do not have an answer

I enjoyed the magical times

When everything felt possible

And I was set free from my rules

That really was alive 

Now feels like an endless grey dream

Asides from the times 

When we sleep and float away

They are good moments

Ones we claim as truly ours

Perhaps we renew ourselves every day

She whispers

Like breaking the dream

Emerging like a butterfly from a chrysalis 

I dare not say perhaps

It feels far too distant to be true

We sweep up the dust

Backs aching 

Fingers sore

The light fades

It was a good day

She murmurs

Eyes drowsy and heavy

Yes

I think

Today was good enough.