the shiver of hands
blind without memory
and so,
friendly still
yet sweet like the words
forgotten
to the tremble of lips

quiet
there are no surprises here
rest your eyelids
until they become stone
rest your heart
until it stops

(it beats now only for itself
in some secret place)

turn your back
but stay in view at the same time
(now look away,
anything else confuses)

stand still without saying a word

you can’t see but this is how
i separate day from night

and the starless sky
from the empty heart

I touched your face
~ today*
I drew
     the fingers of

     my right hand

         down slowly,

              gently along

             the left side
    
              of your

            beautiful

           face


I cupped your dainty chin
between thumb and forefinger

I willed with all my energy that

you might feel my touch and hear

my heart whisper your name -

"my darling little bird"

~

and I heard you softly say my name ...

"ant..."

"stay with me ant..."

"don't leave me,  please..."


I heard you say that

~ today

when I touched

your beautiful face

in my favourite photograph of you.