82. Al-Afuw – Blow the ashes

Suggests Forgive, pardon, blow away, burn – Pablo Neruda
'if I touch near the fire the impalpable ash or the wrinkled body of the log'

To my sons
I fear I did not give
enough attention, time,
and, when I look death in the face,
will my dreamed-of God forgive
a working father’s crime;
not far beyond our last embrace?

Heart

In my heart - a water bomb –

like a spirit – bubble –

locked within my heart’s divide

in closets, rooms and cupboards

on the slant and stuck there,

unable to burst out

‘cos every chamber’s boarded up

with dust and drying wattle.

I need to scrub and scrub – berserk -

and clear the crap away

from here - in here - it’s Banksy’s work,

graffiti’s everywhere.

Bristle, scrubbing brush - and soap -

and with a leap - at last, at last -

my bubble levels - bursts – and softly - oh - I seep.