eight years here

a rush,
a ride,
a roller-coaster:

everything we were,
what was,
what happened for good,
what never happened
and what never should have.

the promises,
the smiles,
the hugs and hand-shakes,
the hints,
the songs,
the things left unsaid.

the years,
the tears,
the best intentions,
the ones who paved that road
and those who got left behind.

this house,
this home,
this family

and our Father.

who art in Heaven.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done
on earth,
as it is in Heaven.

give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.

and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

for Thine is the Kingdom,
and all of the power,
and all of the glory,
forever and ever
and ever.

amen.

what little light?

i thought you were a firefly

when i looked down from hilltop high

to see you floating down below

and skipping 'cross the water so.

your course was straight; your speed was high:

it changed the mind of my silly eye.

it would have been a special sight

to catch a firefly tonight.

happy birthday to you

you’ve been thirty-five years

(and that’s more than a few),

in a world t'was much duller

before there was you.

you’re fun, strong and loving;

your walk's pure and true.

a man of integrity:

that’s ever-so you.

you’ve never claimed scholarship,

but you’ve half a clue;

and i’ve read worser grammar

before reading you.

i’ve known a few things –

made some wrong guesses, too –

but i knew i done right

when i made you my boo.

we root for arch-enemies;

jerseys red, white and blue;

but our boys are a hat trick!

make a good team, we do.

we’ve been bumped and been bruised,

eaten way too much poo;

but we did it together.

that’s the joy of me and you.

you bring out my beauty;

add light to my view;

help me to paint;

make every day new.

i can’t possibly remember,

but it seems truly true

that the world is much better

ever since there was you.

bathtub reverie

little boy,
lisping tongue and fingernails bitten under mess of blond,
i love you.

tiny joy,
soft and sleepy and heavy with sickness,
i'll care for you.

rub shampoo into your hair,
lift your face to the air,
let soap bubbles carry away.

i find it hard to be so still,
but when you need me like this, fall apart like that,
you remind me...

...of faith,
naked-flung along my arm,
slipping quietly into sleep.

...of love,
eyes closed and seeing, fingers softly holding
the places where i find myself.

...of duty,
and of beauty,
these moments i spend myself upon

against the water,
against time
-- i know not how long --

holding on,
holding you close,
holding you up.