hold me like you hold

                  yourself together
                                                                holding where fruit

                                                                will grow

                                                                (held for ripeness)




thumb holding edge of plum

holding fuzzy cheek

in shoulder
                                                                        earth holding body

                                                                        as breadroll

                                                                        on dinnerplate




how held did you       feel                                        when you were held




there are methods

                of holding

                with / around / in / of




          empty space

          holding against

          whoever may enter
                                                            (when you’re ready)




in light disappearing

softness enveloping softness




        cup face in glove
                                                        torso foams around jawbone




              curling around each other

              brush arm of feathers
                                                            drifting forward

                                                            to have held you

                                                            in my warmth




               lift body

               with thumb and forefinger
                                                            into open palm

                                                            close hand
                         in a fullest of holding




holding the same
                                 for each other




           refresh stale space

           for new potentials

           furnish new world

           through points of contact




space for being

space for staying




            can move you

            if you’re still




please hold

               softly through the exhale

(softly through the inhale)




            can let go of you

            whenever you want