You Are a Wonder

You are a juggler,

a triathlete,

a weightlifter,

an artist.

I know

you are all

these people

and so many more,

but somehow

you don’t realise

just what a wonder

you are.

Many Keys

My arms

are not long enough

for the reaching:

the box

in your chest

has just so many keys.

Would that I

could hold you

or open

your depths to the breeze.

And Quakes

A tightrope

in the wind,

over ground which shakes

and quakes.

Remembering Not To Be Selfish

Like handing over

a gift

to someone

who wants it less than you

but,

somehow,

remembering not to be

selfish.

Exhaling and Holding

To not have

but to hold

is like

exhaling

and holding your breath

all at once.

Maybe It’s The Ground

Maybe

your hands are shaking.

Maybe it’s

the ground.

Maybe

it’s both.

Maybe it’s time.

Better

Something is better.

Dance In The Nightful Sky

Looking out at the rolling lights

which dance

in an otherwise nightful sky,

how simple it seems

to know

all will be well

if we dance together

and trust that nightful sky,

holding on

for as long as we can

and until every soon

is a truth.

At Last

At last an escape,

a moment’s joy together,

at last is our time.

What There Is, Is There To Be Yours

What there is to be given

is there to be taken.

What there is to be possessed

is there to be owned.

What there is to be held

is there to be had.

What there is to be assured

is there to be controlled.

What there is to be experienced

is there to be denied.

What there is to be mine

is there to be yours.

Two Ways

There are two ways

to miss your hands;

two ways

to miss your lips;

two ways

to miss your sounds;

two ways

to miss all this.

There are two ways

to miss you.

Poetry Is

Poetry is

saying out loud

‘You have my heart’

and

‘You deserve’

whatever you think is my gift.

Poetry is

the words you say

when you can,

and just as much what you don’t

when you can’t.

Poetry is.

A Book, A Little Worn

You have made me

like a book you have for always:

opened,

and much leafed-through;

well-read

and understood.

Known

and so remembered.

You have me as I am

and as you wish;

well-used,

a little worn –

still loved.

Pick me up

and read me endlessly,

won’t you?

You

Sometimes

you are the poet.

An Archer, Your Arrow

Like an archer

with shaking hands,

I miss you –

but I don’t mind:

your arrow

hit me in the centre

of my chest.

Soon is a White Lie

Soon.

Soon is a short word

for a long time.

It argues

with itself,

like it knows better,

or like

a white lie you forgive

because it means well.

Soon enough

is not quite soon enough,

but it will be.

Soon.

Wrapped In That

If my arms,

with their shaking hands,

can’t

wrap around you

when they need to,

I will settle

for slipping my arms

through

a piece you left behind,

and take comfort

from being wrapped in that,

instead.

Build Yourself – A Haiku

Build up little things

and know they are monuments

to building yourself.

Turn the Valve / No Pressure Left

Turn the valve

gently,

your hand under mine,

til there’s

no pressure left,

and all things

feel fine.

Quiet Roars

Quiet

is only peaceful

when you choose it.

Otherwise,

it roars.

Pull the Rug

It’s hard to pull the rug

when you’re

standing on it.

Here’s hoping

no one else is watching.

Give Me No Finish Line

Let this not be a race;

give me naught

but track –

no finish line.

The only gold medal

to be found here,

is in this

never coming to an

end.

After the Trapeze Swings Back / We Will Begin to Move

There is a moment,

after the trapeze

swings back,

just at it swings forth,

when I find myself in

the air,

and time stands still

while I wait

for the touch of your hands

with my outstretched fingers,

knowing,

of course,

that I will find you

and we will begin to move,

together,

once again.

At Last As Imagined – A Haiku

There at last you are:

a gift awaited longest;

just as imagined.

Safe

I would

spin the wheel

a thousand times

to find

the combination to

your safe.

Don’t Stop the Car

Long roads and roundabouts

are endless.

But sometimes it seems

like the road should

keep going,

and the circles we travel

are just rings of pure gold.

Sometimes

it’s simple:

Please don’t stop the car.

If We Dance

Dance alone;

dance if you can.

Soon we will

dance together.

Every Station to Find You

You could be

every station stop

from the southern coast

to the hills

in the north,

and I would still travel

all the way,

every day,

to find you

and take in the view.

If Falter Yours, Take Mine

If falter yours,

take mine,

and take your time.

Unsteady feet,

take mine.

Shaking hands,

take mine.

Busy mind,

take mine.

Fluttering heart,

take mine.

Take mine;

take the last:

take it every time.

It is yours,

this thing;

take every beat

in time.

Take mine.

When the World is Safe

When

the world

is too loud,

too sharp,

too busy,

I will hold you

quietly,

softly,

calmly,

until the world

is safe

once more.