Ground

In these languid, hug-free days
of strictly enforced distance
my head against his heartbeat
delivers the echo of my footsteps
on the road home
this small act of communion
is the ground that brings me
back to my reference point
current passes between us
telegraphing messages conducted
through physical connection
this, my safety plane
providing the earth for my system to rest upon
the circuits click with the press of lips
transmitting positive voltage
from an infinite source
a little spark
to light the world

This is a poem from 2020, and here’s the caption I wrote for it on Medium, which – sadly – I feel is just as relevant as ever. Here we are a couple of years down the line, but do we really love each other? Did we ever? Can we ever? .. . . . . What the world needs now, is hugs, more hugs . . . . . I heard something from someone, sometime about how a hug that lasts more than 3 seconds builds up trust. I am looking forward to the day when I can hug my friends in greeting again. Right now, I’m just thankful I have a couple people in my house who are (mostly) receptive to hugs and snuggles (this may or may not include the cat).

PS today is the man in the photo’s birthday – happy birthday to you, love of my life!