Touch

Touch

When did this happen

The moments are remembered

Some in cars

Some in walled buildings

Somewhere noisy 

Some on far streets

Somewhere furtive and secret

Longing for a loving kiss

Longing for a hug

That squeezes 

Almost breathlessly

Longing for a touch

That belongs to two

Longing for conversation

Where life decorates itself

Perhaps it's age or separation

A kind of life some call

A recluse

Or hermit 

Not chosen

It just happened because

Of bad knees and

A painful shoulder

A wheel chair

Or disfigurement

And lack of enough money

There are rare knocks

On the door

There is leftover coffee

In the pot

When it's seen after breakfast

Eyes raised to the door

Silence here

Silence except from outside

Where others live 

Friendlier lives

There were talks on phones

That lasted hours

Now it's just business

The boring minutes

Designed to keep a breath while

Sitting on the edge

Of an unmade bed 

Closed curtains

The buzz of a fly caught

In the window

While a soul dies inside

Across a dark room

Across a mystical barrier

Barry G. Wick

Dear Missoula

Dear Missoula

Your service at my table

Was friendly and worthy

Of a closer time

A few kisses and the pleasures

Of our bodies

We fell in love 

I held those memories

With me all these years

I hope we are lonely

And worthy of the remainder

Of our lives together

Yes, this is my proposal

Neither of us will be young

We will have kept our memory

All these long years

I hope the years have treated

You with respect and you survived

All the trials that came our way

All the losses we felt.

All the hurt of our separation

Please come to me

Give up what you have

To share the little I have

Where I cannot leave

Write me now

Believe in my love

Barry G. Wick