THERE, THEN

I was there when
the light burnt
eyes for the first
time,
when love
was felt,
I was there when
it turned ugly
and vicious 
and compassion
was near death,
when we
had almost
destroyed the
world’s beauty
and natural
resources,
I was there when
we turned
and looked at
each other
and wept
as our children
played games
long dead
in our hearts.




STEPPING

A step away from
victory
heaven
hell
beauty,
a step away from
war
peace
loneliness
 perfection
tranquillity,
a step away from
grace
harmony
failure
murder
fucking
riches
satisfaction
uselessness,
a step away from
hopelessness
genius
beginning,
always
one step,
a step away from
grasping
the preciousness
of this
life 
together.




TAKING AND HOLDING

I knew by taking
her hand
I’d end up in
places I’d rather
not,
but I reached
out anyway:
‘Hold on tightly’
she said with
a smile:
for a decade
or more 
our hands
were intertwined,
our heads
burnt like
roman-candles
and then she
closed her eyes,
forever
and now they
shine behind
mine.