It’s not the words

It’s not the words

It’s the talking

I remember

Lying together

Late into the night

Knowing we should sleep

The world turning,

Renewable energy

Birthing the dawn.

Sometimes the world

Breaking in through the curtains

Noisy neighbours,

Car doors crashing.

The touch of your nose against mine

As a fight began

Somebody banging on the door.

Getting dressed

To help a stranger

Who had fallen from a cab

Blind drunk

Otherwise, he would have killed himself.

We were the people to go to

In a crisis,

Apparently.

One Saturday afternoon

Returning from a shopping

Expedition,

I was Sherpa Tensing,

We tried and failed

To save a woman

Who had fallen in her front garden.

She was probably dead

Before she hit the ground

So the Copper said

Later,

When he came to thank us

For our efforts.

We had tried

While you went mouth-to-mouth.

Very brave I thought.

Your lips were like velvet

We would talk in the dark

For hours

No drugs involved

I was just high on you

Tender in the night.

Once there was a fire

In Bridget’s house

The fire brigade was called

Everybody streamed out

Onto the street

Gawkers and gawpers

Do like a treat.

Bridget was screaming

Worried her house would burn down

I didn’t want that

As she lived next door

Ours could be next.

I walked in

Bold as brass

The kitchen ablaze

Turned off the gas

Put a wet towel over the chip pan

And put it in the sink

Stupid I know

But instinctive.

I was walking out

As the Firemen charged in

I stole their thunder

But they got the glory

We all love a man in uniform.

You loved me.

Some of those nights

Were among the happiest

I can recall.

Most nights I am half-drunk

In the dark

It is the only way to sleep

Without the melancholy

Stealing you away.

I mumble into the pillow

And wait for an answer

I can wait forever

I might have to.