Who has Died?

I had a flourish of poems,
and a storehouse full with them,
but they were led to the river,
where I watched them drown in my pain.
For they had no love to give them flight,
they had no warmth to nurture them,
and washed about the stony bed,
their seedling verses lie unformed.

It is as if someone has died,
but I do not know who;
whether it is I,
or whether it is you.

I had a partner sweet and kind,
and a storehouse full with promises,
but they were led to the river,
where you drowned them in your pain.
You had my joy to give them flight,
you had my peace to nurture them,
but you spoilt the soil where they could grow,
so, they too lie unformed.

It is as if someone has died,
but I do not know who;
whether it is I,
or whether it is you.

I had a home that sang with life,
and a storehouse full with children,
but they were led to the river,
where they watched us drown in pain.
For we had their faith to give us flight,
we had their love to nurture us,
but I alone had the roots to nourish them,
and I alone would give them form.

It is as if someone has died,
but I do not know who;
whether it is I,
or whether it is you.

When I am Breaking

Hold me gently, friend,
when I am breaking,
like a lilac flower in your hand.
Upon the soft cloud of your palm
raise me high above dark waters,
then draw me close to your chest
and carry me, to where a gentle sun
offers its reviving beat,
to where nutritious soils
hum cordially with life,
and the rains caress me.

Hold me gently, friend,
when I am breaking,
even when my pain spills bright,
and drips like paint upon your shirt,
for one day when you gaze
across the span of years,
you’ll see the painting there in full,
and no other name but ‘Joy’ will fit,
for you knew, didn’t you,
when we first met,
that I would do you good?

Hold me gently, friend,
when I am breaking,
far beyond claw of wolf or bear,
for one day when the moon is lost
and all the stars have been put out,
I’ll carry you, like a tiny seed
within the cradle of my hand.
I’ll plant you where there are no thorns,
and stay to guard your thickening stem,
I’ll wait with you until the dawn,
till all your tender roots are long.

So, hold me gently, friend,
when I am breaking.
Come find me in the wilderness.
There will be many sorrows here,
among the sparkling gems of life,
and many a lesser character
will never dare here to tread,
But courage always knows its own,
as kindness knows her kind,
and I knew, didn’t I,
when we first met,
that you would do me good?