Warsan Shire

When We Last Saw Your Father

He was sitting in the hospital parking lot
in a borrowed car, counting the windows
of the building, guessing which one
was glowing with his mistake.

Tennessee Williams

We Have Not Long To Love

We have not long to love. 

Light does not stay. 

The tender things are those 

we fold away. 

Coarse fabrics are the ones 

for common wear. 

In silence I have watched you 

comb your hair. 

Intimate the silence, 

dim and warm. 

I could but did not, reach 

to touch your arm. 

I could, but do not, break 

that which is still. 

(Almost the faintest whisper 

would be shrill.) 

So moments pass as though 

they wished to stay. 

We have not long to love. 

A night. A day....