Lead the Way

Take my hand, draw

me to your warmth.
Show me what you
want me to want.
Unconfuse me. Simplify,
eye to eye. I'm so tired
of being supposed to know.

So show what you know
I want, what you want.
Clearly you know. You know
clearly. Into your warmth I go--
a room, a place, a bed, a world,
a dream with walls and pillows,
perfume, talk, and linen. So
take my hand.

hans ostrom 2024

Hugging on a Bed

Just two people holding

each other on a bed
for some minutes in eternity.

It's an ancient, common,
immediate act--warm.
Only vaguely do we bring

specific memories of
our long time together.
We're prone and holding

one another's fated
bodies, that's all,
that's plenty. We're

not here to work out
problems. Or to achieve.
We're here to hold.

To hold on. To feel good.
And rest! To let our minds
float as if on slow,

salty harbor water.
Here to step briefly
away from pressuring

time & to shape
a space in which
we know we fit.