The birthday came around again, a further step to
an eternity that they would spend apart.

The past had sent cards, flowers, words.

This year was thoughts, alone

Amended 16 November 2020

he stepped back into childhood like a warm bath. back to
the house and garden, the inside no longer brimming
with things that could or should be changed. a backdrop, then
to the memories which this time played outside,
stood by the in the garden, looking up, around, window to
window and across the old bricks.

your pardon
begged
once again
for this and any other

inconvenience

Amended 2 June 2014

Each of the frames
moments
caught in reflection in those spare
seconds

hands
touching the face, now that its
real
at least for a moment

and inside
voices

a radio heard
for those times
and these
and the future

another lie inter
up

said Ted.
disagreement to fine

and too avoided to be
missed
like yesterday

and the life before

Into and out
of the thoughts, she goes
ever present since

that first day

in memories, real
and faked, again
till ever more

Amended 2 June 2014

If I had a mind
like yours
I’d keep it at home
in a box
locked
away from the prying eyes of
the others
after all
its far too precious
to get broken

Amended 15 November 2020

He sits
in his head, a thought
trapped
that if escaped brings
unintended consequence

They sit
listening
perhaps it will go
a possibility
in existence