The Whole Man

I'm going backwards,
to emailing your loved ones
asking them for poems

I endeavour to engrave
in clay or on copper.
A few respond at once

and I'm at the fire,
kissing your books,
your handwriting,

pressing my cheek
against that hard, blue cover (Strandloop)
full

of your spirit.
If each he loved 
send one poem, I said,

then
the whole man
will stand.