Lawrence

haunts me like a ghost welcome to my psyche our home away from homelessness

the beach at Ma’alaea uncivilized

no place for mai tai’s

Rather home to broken things washed ashore

Like families and boogie boards and memories looking for repair

like poets aspiring to acceptance

Lawrence

“Who will stand here with me in the circle

in full testimony to all and hug me? I mean a real hug, full body.”

Faces avoided

Tim declined

As did someone else

I stood

I’ll hug you Lawrence you know I will

The privilege is mine

I moved myself to the center to join him

Opened myself

A small act I felt

his medication coursing coarsing rattling he trembled

his neck hooked mine and we hugged suspended from whatever chemical catastrophe

a life concocted

he trembled

let’s leave his demons out of this

a man once boy asking to be comforted

two hearts nearly touching separated by a prison tattoo

finally calmed

I’m with him still there in the circle

myself restored