I held your hand -
the first touch for twenty years.
It just never happened before.
Hellos, goodbyes, done the man's way -
big irrelevance, sign of weakness,
no show of the overwhelming love in us -

yet I held your hand today
and felt stupid for doing so.
Deep in your coma you probably disapproved.

One of us had to make a move,
and you were hardly up to breathing
let alone touching

so I held your hand.
It was cold and weak
yet sweet to hold,
so good to find you again,

not to say goodbye
but hello.