Thoughts Have Hands

Take a moment 

Untangle arms and legs,

throw back the covers, 

Feel the sticky remains of love, 

get out of bed. 

March to the bathroom mirror 

Take a moment to see yourself:

Hair mussed after twisting about,

Cold water to awaken the face,

A washcloth to warm your skin, 

The morning chills bare feet, 

As your eyes take a moment for remembering.

Lick your lips —

Taste your night time pleasures, 

Recall the thrill,

The giving one to another

The joy of a rhythm as one.

Be still as your muscles and bones

Resonate with being held.

Stretch and flex your arms, 

hug your half dressed body

Rejoice in the echo of the moment.

Recall the surrender of your daytime face,

The giddiness of yes,

The dropping of worry and petty obligations

The letting go.

Then notice how separation invades

your senses; 

Standing alone

Watch distance rush the quiet morning,

Push work on routine drills, 

Blur your reflection on the night’s passion. 

Remember and look back 

Smile from inside out, 

Refuse to let the moment pass, 

Leap back in bed,

Pull the covers over your head 

Snuggle up against your lover’s skin,

if he protests the chill,

Kiss his eyes open.

Whisper —

Let’s do it again.

THH

10/29/24

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Disasters storm across our lands these days: Rivers forget their banks, 

pour raging waters into our streets, 

wash out bridges, trash our treasures, leave us to cry in the dark.

Funny we never expect such happenstance.

Winds bend trees to breaking and limbs crash in rooftops, turn homes into unsurvivable wrecks —

Victims by tragic circumstance.

Overwhelmed by loss

And the muddy mess,

we fear what will come next:

Wonder just what we have reaped,

What seeds have been carelessly sown.

Times of struggle loom ahead 

Times of discomfort,

Little time to recover tattered remains,

We will have to make do with less.

But surprise awaits as people

gather on site, where we learn 

What neighbors are really like:

The ones with a flashlight,

The ones with chainsaws to clear debris, 

The ones with power, food, and a freezer to share,

The ones with brooms and shovels,

Ready to get down to it.

Ready to make the day worth living 

With helping hands to restore 

Better times for the rest.

Even people from far away places, 

People with unfamiliar faces 

show up at the door,

To make for us a hearty stew.

And in their love plainly demonstrated,

We find humanity at her best.

Tragic experience shatters norms.

Sufferings shared makes of desperate people one. 

The mystery of hope held in common, bends in one charitable direction

To make real corrections.

The blessing rarely spoken,

learned when disaster strikes, 

As you face frustration, worry and strife,

Is the joy brought by people who knock 

Twice; People waved at yesterday in passing, now offer a hand strong and lasting.

Neighbors you barely knew 

Become trusted friends: a whole new community for you.

The realization of solidarity and 

respect provides healing for human grief; the faithfulness restored by willing hearts, gives hope in spite of worldly distress, 

The unexpected grace of nevertheless.

THH

10/01/24