We Need Things We Can Touch

Put away the glare of worlds within those squares of light

Because we need things we can touch

 

We need the metallic smell of yeast

The touch of dough in the webs of our hands

The comfort of butter

 

We need to light candles

on our tables and in our hearts

We need the Autumn sun to leak out of the sky

and into our skin

 

We need to notice how the clouds are in pieces

How the moon is a rind

Watch the leaves gather in silent groups

as the trees are suddenly unburdened

 

We need hugs, warm ones. Long ones.

To breathe each other in and to rest there for a bit

Because now we can.

 

We need to hear voices

Ones we love and miss

Hear their fears and their joys

because we hadn’t really been listening

 

We need to press pen to paper

Trace words with our fingers

Make the music

Paint the colours

 

We need soil in our fingernails

To press a seed into the warmth

To watch that green shoot heading

upwards towards the light

 

Put away that rectangle, which reflects where you are not.

Because we need things we can touch.