holding hands

you cannot do
any more than this:
let the earth hold you

when you feel the soil
the sticks the stones
the grass
under heel and
between toes
you know you are held

i am the earth
i hold you
in an open hand
my valleys and hills
guide your way

your family and friends
they are the earth
let them hold you

when you feel the embrace
the cuddles the kisses
the hands
within hands
between eyes
you know you are held

i am your husband
i hold you
with an open heart
my love will
guide your way

life had worked out

there was no resentment
from the others
even though
they had taken
a harder path

they were happy for me
that life had worked out
i was married
settled

they were my brothers
my sister
they looked like me
and i felt guilty
that i had taken
an easier path

my adoptive mum was there
and we all chatted

now i have two families
and i could see
that for each of us
life had worked out

hard rubbish collection

there is
out the front
of every house
a public display
a mini-monument
of wastefulness

washers dryers fridges
everything must go
to
waste

and no-one
seems to show
one ounce
of regret
of shame
of embarrassment

yes
we deliver
gleaming white appliances
direct from the shop
to
a hole in the ground

now
it is time
to repair
what we have broken
to share
what we don't need

emergency contact

on a form
for a fun run
i wrote down
all the usual
name
address
date of birth

i rushed through it
male
open
category
thirty
seven
dollars

then i stopped

after being alive
for thirty-two years
after going out with you
for two and a half
and after a few seconds' pause
for the first time
but not for the last
i write your name
as my
emergency
contact