An Announcement

Today I held my lover's hand
Whilst walking through the market square:
A public act, not sought nor planned,
But simply done to show I care.

The Earth, it seems, kept spinning round,
No lightning struck us from above;
An old man smiled, another frowned,
To see two women clasped by love.

I could have briefed the local press
Or published in the 'Lost and Found'
But who reads tales of happiness
When war and hate and grief abound?

Instead, I held my lover's hand
Because I could no more resist
And, later by the taxi stand,
We thanked the world's neglect, and kissed.