More love found

Unwanted in the world,

this fragment -

broken part

of what? -

that makes a heart.

Perhaps that's what love is -

the bits we leave behind -

fogotten

and discarded -

the taken-for-granted kindnesses

thrown into the world

like a smile

or granting space and time

like a hand reaching down

thoughtless

to stroke the head of a dog.

***

I actually found this on Valentine's Day. I think it might have been one of those polystyrene hands that people wave as sporting events. Though goodness knows why it was under a hedge at the bottom of a muddy field.