Seeing you today was like seeing you for the first time.

I saw your past, in me, as I held your hands.

You reached out to touch your memories,

gently caressing clarion air

through age-bruised fingers.

My hair in ringlets – to you part of an animal, a cat, a bear.

All your life in cloudy eyes,

the searching look of wonder and primal trust.

Where are you? And who?

But you still know me.

You can hear me.

I am brought to my knees

as I hold on to you, who is me.

In elements and sands –

collective nouns

and up at dawn chorus;

twinkling stories,

finely raucous.

My gentle man,

who will never be bettered.