untangling the web

Forgive me for making you:

too clinical and clean

too safe and secure

too hygienic and sweet-smelling

too sterile and respectable

 

I want to keep you here

in my middle-class neighbourhood

amongst those with clean clothes

and nice breath

and keep everything sewn-up and predictable.

 

Whereas the reality is, while on earth

you mixed with those whose lives were

messy and not clear-cut

sloppy and exposed

unsafe and unhygienic

insecure and unlovely.

They came from all classes

all professions, and none.

 

Following you means

less disinfectant

and more tears.

Less safety

and more dirty hands.

Less deodorant

And more diary re-scheduling.

 

Helping heal broken lives

will need broken hearts.

And the only security

will be the sunshine of your smile,

and the touch of your hand in mine.