to my wife

through the airwaves

I heard you as you spoke

4000 miles of culture shock

cut short in land of Kroc

I imagine you for all you are

brightest European star

fruitful tree of Danube born

fruits that dress you and adorn

wishes coming

needs unmet

you lack a hand

when putting to bed

need to work

at midnight hour

to not succomb

to illness sour

need to rest

your weary head

’fore morning breaks

and gets ahead

need to love

those needy boys

help them sort

the heap of toys

I wish to love you

in ways regaled

to make up

all the times I failed

you speak --

I hear your words

but more than that:

I hear your voice

urban beatitudes

bless the waiter and the waitress
   for their unassuming service
bless the nurse
   for giving dignity
bless the air hostess
   for the journey's company
bless the cleaner
   for supporting her child
bless the child
   for his playfulness
bless the fat
   for wanting to feel valued
bless the ugly
   for the wits she needs
   and the looks she gets
   and the eyes that see
      her inner self
bless the retarded*
   for the dogma that won't wash with them**
   for all the doors slammed in their face
      to open
bless the living and the dead
bless those who haven't been blessed
   to get them through the day.

* I want to speak openly here. I am wary of using politically correct terms as a way of hiding (rather than fighting) prejudice. I don't mean to upset anyone.
** I have been told by an anti-cult campaigner that they are less likely to join or be influenced by religiously fanatic groups.

Alien

all alone
in a guestroom
at least I do not disturb

the merriment outside
what it must be like
to be understood

to be included
in a conversation
to be held

in esteem
not as the alien,
to be ushered

away; the outsider,
the gypsy,
the traveller

without whose instrument,
there is nothing to break
the silence;

but then,
a violin's note
filters through

and a flute's sound
pushes against air
to comfort

and long-forgotten,
long-suppressed
visions

enter one's mind
and the bells
start ringing

beckoning all,
an hour before
midnight