Encounter

We walk

together, alone, with others, alone

I walk

alone, yet over there

you, too, steps in the sand

gentle footfall, such softness

which means I rarely notice

you, too, are here

and we, walking in the desert

find it so difficult even to glance

A look? A glimpse?

A moment to see?

And, in my hand, I carry this

this which I’ve carried for years

weight in my fingers, holding it

for fear of dropping it, fear of letting

it go, because what then? What would

I be without this?

And then to turn, to move towards you

to look into your eyes, to give you

all that I have been carrying

and to feel you take it, to know

it is safe,

before we walk, together, alone

parting, alone

we walk on.

Nigel Gibbons

ADPCA UK

Association for the

Development of the

Person-Centred Approach UK