Hands

does a hand come, disembodied
from the depths of hammerspace
to shelter your spark as you build a fire?
one does for me

and though i try now to live
to love
to bask in the light
i cannot find it in me to scoff at the dark
for that is where the magic trickles
from fingertips
from smooching lips
from lovers' hands on lovers' hips

and given a chance to pay it back
a hand reaching out to soothe
or protect or caress
or merely let someone know it's there
it exists
and it knows you exist too

you exist too
and i am thankful

autumn (remembrance, the sacred act of)

..........(breathe in. take it in. keep it in.)
think of the things you'll never have
and the things you have but don't need
the rule of things, and things ruled by
or fooled by
and you try not to let go of
..........(breathe out. let it out. force it out.)
cry your fool eyes dry and sandy
and cry out for something better or worse
when crying means an idea passed due
or last due
and you hope that you can just make
..........(clench those tight fists tighter)
wonder why death tastes like chocolate and ashes
and will wonders never cease
with wonderful woe and wailing hearts
or failing hearts
and you never got that last chance to
..........(open your mouth. wider. widest.)
fall in love and from grace
and fall comes back with its colors and smells
and falling down feels like growing up
or throwing up
and your scraped knees and clear mind show that you made it

this time