was something there
a little frisson in a look
or simply compassion
community expectation
of wealthy landowners
enough left at harvest
for those in life's rough
yet one glance too many
for mere duty's sake
a particular welcome
encouragement to stay
glean, gather only here
water in the day, food
almost one of the team
but what next, such risk
foreigner, of a hated tribe
accepted for Naomi's sake
yet a mis-step, all could fall
not, and what might be lost
move quietly in the shadows
slip silenttly through the night
avoiding attention needs care
denoument in the darkness
cloak lifted, slips beneath
tentative touching shocks
a fierce passion roused
arms, and lips, and *****
bodies with souls uniting
till shared hungers sated
presence rests in silence
murmurings intersperse
with possibilities open
for shared becoming
communal niceties
legal requirements
notwithstanding
Jan 7
Jan 7, 2026 at 3:01 PM UTC
was something there
a little frisson in a look
or simply compassion
community expectation
of wealthy landowners
enough left at harvest
for those in life's rough
yet one glance too many
for mere duty's sake
a particular welcome
encouragement to stay
glean, gather only here
water in the day, food
almost one of the team
but what next, such risk
foreigner, of a hated tribe
accepted for Naomi's sake
yet a mis-step, all could fall
not, and what might be lost
move quietly in the shadows
slip silenttly through the night
avoiding attention needs care
denoument in the darkness
cloak lifted, slips beneath
tentative touching shocks
a fierce passion roused
arms, and lips, and *****
bodies with souls uniting
till shared hungers sated
presence rests in silence
murmurings intersperse
with possibilities open
for shared becoming
communal niceties
legal requirements
notwithstanding
4th January 2026
Eleventh Day of Christmas
cf. Ruth 3
Stephen Cooper
