Second childhood, second birth

you fall back
into the bed whence you came

how can you stay faithful
how can you be to blame

when you know not who is holding your hand
like a baby, but a baby is not in pain

her cries make you stronger, while yours
make you weaker still

it is the road you must travel
(as must all, in time)

give her grace, give us grace
to tread that last bridge lightly

let burdens drop

let ballast fall

let self remain and when called
make it across water wide

and let there be someone waiting
to take her hand on the other side

Universitas

Two decades of rain have
washed over the sandstone quad where
we searched for meaning in stars together

With teenage intensity of the soul
you talked of novels and fllms

and I tried to take it all in

In culture, girls (and bohemian vices), you were far ahead

where you had wit, I had pathos and burlesque

but we shuddered together at the thought of death

Björk danced in the dark
and I cried, stepping into the light
if only friendship could be mended

Like the tyres on a bike.