#0068

I've been in love too many times
To say my heart is whole
But I don't regret an instant
As through these times I've grown.
Yes, it's caused me heartache
I've lost many along the way
But I can say I'm gratified
To be who I am today.
My eyes were blind to what was real
Too many times to discuss
I reached out for any friend
To be him and I, never 'us'.
I tried to enclose those I loved
In arms that held them tight
Yet I always designed to let them go
When the time was right.
Perhaps I've caused much pain
Along my crooked path
But be that as it may
I remember all the times we'd laugh.
Raise a glass to freedom
To choice, to memories
And drink that down with wedded bliss
Promised upon your knees.
I've been in love one real time,
This is the one that counts!
My heart has taken shape and now
It's yours, by all accounts.

#0067

"Do you see this?- Here?"
Excited gestures to the screen
As the coral mound becomes more visible
A quick flick of the tube,
Ignoring the flesh attached,
And there it is.
"This is exactly what you see in the bladder usually...
when there's cancer."

I should be interested, and I am,
But as I stare in the darkness
At the screen that predicts fate
I'm suddenly lying on that couch
With a voice booming over me.
"There's Cancer."

I splutter, shocked,
But he lies still.
I realise age has been kind
His hearing is gone.
But he's heard the word before.
"Cancer."

I look at his body, filled with pity.
Objectively, the doctor tells me it is superficial-
it can be cut out- just a short dose of chemo-
it will not shorten his life-
He's 86.

"Mr X", the doctor shouts,
"We've found a cause for your bleeding. Cancer."
"Cancer?"
"Yes"- he explains that they will cut it out-
just a short dose of chemo-
it will not shorten his life-

At 86 years old he shuffles out of the room
Stick in hand. I watch him go.
Shoulders lower than before,
Succumbing bit by bit...
Prostate, Bones, Bladder, Shoulders...
Expressions, demeanour.
His life expectancy hasn't changed while
His expectations of life lowered.

#0066

Secrets hide beneath your skin.
The greater part of you remains hidden
Under decorative flesh
Wrapping, protecting the secrets you keep.
A still blanket over an ants' nest.
If only we could peal it back
Testing the machinery
Stripping you down
To analyse every function
And improve the efficiency-
Correct the malfunction;
Save the hardware.
Would we?

#0065

At first glimpse there was intrigue
So in our first moment of introduction
There was a hesitance and anticipation
As if with baited breath
The universe paused for the reaction
To this encounter.
If reaction there was,
It passed silently by
And I left with my heart untouched,
My world unchanged.
You created a new opportunity
And as your lips touched mine
My world twisted and expanded,
Forming a perfect place
For you to inhabit.
You shaped and molded it
Adjusting it to suit you perfectly.
I became more and more convinced
That these alterations were permanent.
I floated down the river you created
Fearful of treacherous rocks or crocodiles
Looking out for a cliff edge.
You seemed to whisper constantly
Reassuring me in words I couldn't comprehend
But my heart held hope
And you were my champion.
I committed myself
Even to the waterfall, if that was our end.
Your river gaped forming a lake;
Still and serene
With beauty I'd never imagined
That I became accustomed to.
Here I stay, exploring coves
And finding beaches
Discovering all the time new wonders.

#0064

Transcendent light
With clouds raising me
Rest in the silent air
As the world swirls and tugs
Eyes closed- no room here for that
Only space, without time
A room full of mirrors
Muse on the reflected image
No ownership of the identity
The tick of the clock loses meaning
As every limb bear its weight
Floating upward
Toward eternal timelessness
A beauty beyond mortal comprehension

#0063 in iambic pentameter

The moment when you see me first in white,
A spark will shine in your eyes, catching mine,
A dream fulfilled- now all the world feels right
And to your heart I'll lovingly incline.
As we promise now to love and cherish,
We'll speak eachothers' names in fulness there,
For nothing greater could I ever wish,
Than to know that I'm always in your care.
To the temple we will reverently go,
Covenanting as we kneel together,
We will feel the Holy Spirit and know,
That as we live, we may live forever.
All the days from this our love will increase
Through His glorious plan; and never cease.

#0062

This day, I am assured,
Is a day for you and me,
To join together in a church
With friends and family.

A day of celebration,
Of promises to be said,
And moving forward on this path,
We're determined to tread.

Our hands entwined,
We exchange rings as a vow,
That between God, You and I,
We are truly one from now.

I will love and cherish you,
My love I'll freely give,
As I share with you
All the moments that we live.

#0061

It seems funny that hands so small
Can change a life-
Two lives.
Yet I know those hands reach out
Beckoning you and reminding you
Of duty, love and honour.
For me, it's them,
For you, it's him;
The thing that makes us who we are
And dictates who we won't ever be.

The tug of war was never uncertain to me
When those eyes had the greater need
And all you wanted was to provide.
I pulled with half a heart
And then relaxed my grip and freed you.
For me- it's them.
These are the things that make us who we are-
The building blocks of our existence.
Take them away and we'll crumble,
It's only a matter of time.