better

BETTER

For Oscar

You felt ill, threw up.
I lay on my back on the couch
and you on your back on my length.
I pulled a blanket over the one
body of us both. Occasionally
I took my arm away from round you
but you took it and put it back.

Daylight, and people
coming and going but you slept …

From time to time I thought
I might ease myself out from under you.
But I was your ship.
We drifted the breathing deep.
You steadied my hold. And both of us
were better when you woke up.

From Family Tree (2016)