Outer Hebrides: Signs of Tenderness

Grandparents:
A boy wrapped in a thick towel,
After playing in freezing water.

A young couple:
refusing to declare defeat
against the evening’s chill.

Two women:
Spending time in silence,
With beers.

Little girl:
Carrying sibling piggyback,
Down sandy dunes, too short legs dangling.

Elderly man alone:
Cannot get his tent set up,
Younger man walking over, helping.

There is hope,
Always hope,
Where love is.

No matter what love looks like.

Hands

original title:

Männerhände

With gentle strength
The tip of your thumb
Caresses
My fingers

Your nails worn from work
Warmth spreads
In little electric shocks
All the way to my heart

And bits I won’t mention in public

Eyes

Eyes: locked into one another
My strength
Your strength
Drawing level

The wild child stirs
A playmate found
Control—Surrender
The couch breaks

The sanctity of snails
And pizza
Drown in tenderness
Eyes: again

The walls tremble