Articles of faith
20 March, 2008

A well-sucked thumb
A clenched blanket
And a hand in the dark

An indulgent smile
Furtive back-row kisses
And rock-star clichés

Drunken camaraderie
Light-filled dreams
Friendship never ending

A well-folded airbag
Four stout stone walls
And a wife’s cold feet

Deep-rooted opinions
Underwritten insurance
And rewarded loyalty

The promise of scions
The indulgence of others
Pension-plan provisions

Long afternoon visits
A nurse’s kind smile
And a pain-free death

And through it all
Serried outstretched arms
And the hope of love