294 and 295

There are two tortured souls that will soon meet,

and no words shall be known between their lips,

but eyes shall say, and then, relief, repeat

their bitter cups that won so many sips.

And, silently, they look a thousand years,

as lines of sleeplessness fade from each face,

and hold out hands to catch each other’s tears,

no efforts made to quicken either’s pace.

Then, once a thousand years or two are gone,

and every ache that should be soothed has been,

they turn, hand in a hand, towards a dawn

that never shall be evening again.

And more than peace shall be between these two

than ever has been known by me or you.

~~~

A roll of tape on my computer desk

can stick two simple things together fast.

The stapler does it too, but more grotesque

is its adhesion method than the last.

A paperclip will do it with no harm,

a thumbtack with but one wound for the two;

but all can be repaired with care, and charm,

with varying degrees of scars accrued.

What binds a memory upon the heart?

‘tis surely no forgiving paperclip.

It is a gruesome weapon, for the art

of binding this way has a bloody grip.

And yet no volunteer will say “forget”,

to any memories he may regret.