d) 26 august

stones are given up slowly

I watch you kneel
elbow deep in the gravel packed
cinder black earth,
in triumph
graze knuckled draw out another
hand it to me
to add to the path's edge;
I take its weight
unseen for how many years?

hold you, crying, sweaty
from dreams of your past
brought on by a film
where children are beaten
for no reason.
Such nights are getting fewer
need such a trigger now
rather than just the stepping over
of the wakeful wall.

Soon all the fenceposts will be in;
I see in my mind the roses climbing
petals soft against your cheek
scenting your path