Parky Poetry | Glow-words
Glow-words
It turns out, I’m the lucky one.
You are forced to stay
You must watch me change
You will be immutable, strong
My rock. Always my rock
When I wake you are beside me
When I sleep you’re curled round me
When I walk, you hold my hand
When I sit you warm my feet
You make burnt toast for breakfast
We walk upon the heath
You buy me so much chocolate
My happiness complete.
You set your mobile for my drugs
You always have my meds
You help me drink my water
What is that oath you said?
“In sickness and in health”
You said
Heavy words, light touch
I look at you. And try to mouth
“I love you very much”
I don’t need to say these words
I look at you; you know
These words have their own inner strength
As I fade, they glow
Sometimes pulsing neon pink
Other times just slow
Flickering, irregular
As if they may just go
But they won’t. They will not fade
Those words are death defying
Not for them the grave
I will go and they will last
Solid, healthy, brave
Chiselled in the hardest rock
They’ll keep you warm when I cannot
Still glowing on the page.
Gillian Lacey-Solymar
St Andrews 27th Feb 2025