Partners in Sadness
I cut our white sheets into rabbits.
Your mother was terrified.
You laughed. Saw only the hopeful and misplaced talent.
I tried to make breakfast in bed
but you started kissing me and I forgot.
You put it out. Didn’t say what could have been.
This was everything and enough for you
and I kept chasing dust.
That peace…I couldn’t accept.
When you cried, I thought that hurt was mine.
Then you smiled and I was once more a child.
In your boredom, I grabbed my uke and made (bad) music,
a whole minute you stared, whispered “I only need you here”.
Had to stop chasing. Took the time to be still.
In my doubts, you called the pixies out.
Pulled on each of their little hairs so they popped,
ended bald and ugly like a potato.
They could but glare, we could but giggle.
You were with me but so was Depression.
We slogged at it day by day.
My regular regeneration.
Stephanie Farnsworth is a queer poet, activist and charity worker based in the North East of England. Her focus on identities, particularly of bisexuality and working class backgrounds, have directed most of her poetic works.