touching your face
with that
silence
it creates
allowing
and
trusting
the allowed;
all that’s
been said
and is saying
this time
breath
held
between us
each time
familiar
each time
new
About this poem
This poem was included in Best Scottish Poems 2005. Best Scottish Poems is an online publication, consisting of 20 poems chosen by a different editor each year, with comments by the editor and poets. It provides a personal overview of a year of Scottish poetry. The editor in 2005 was Richard Price.
Editor’s comment:
Tender, observant, poised.
Author’s note:
‘touching your face’ is a poem written for my wife Sonya. The title is meant to have the double meaning ‘about, concerning your face’ and ‘touching’ as in fingering.
When I read the poem aloud at readings I naturally pause between each line. Maybe that is to mimic the delicate action described.
I was thinking of a kind of sacred silence, a sacred place that exists in conjunction.
That’s all I can say about it.
