No small things to hold

I left without even being allowed to take my personal clothes.
Only a few photos remain, no small things to hold. Still,
Gaza is in my heart, every street, every voice and every loss.

Mohamed Abu Mughaisi on LinkedIn, 18 September 2025.

Monday morning sijo

Just got up from the basement, after clearing up dog sick.
Was emptying the dishwasher, and dropped the Denby bowls.
Two have smashed, so annoyed. Now I have dropped bin juice everywhere.

(Text messages from my wife)

Tell him we love him

He has just gone in.
I am on a chair just outside.
The nurse promised to hold his hand.

They do it in the theatre
but I expect he will be sedated.
Others coming out have been.

Done. Full sedation.
I am with him in recovery.
He is snoring.

In the waiting area.
They will give him tea and toast.
He is a bit unsteady at the moment.

Everything ok.

(Texts from a hospital waiting room. Submitted by Angi Holden)

Sorry to hear about Bubbles

Charlotte commented on your photo
hope you’re ok?
r u not by a computer?
I know you must be feeling bloody sad
u r doin the rite thing 4 her
not to let her suffer
I will try and cheer u up
when i next pass that way
you gave her a lovely life
huggs will comfort u thru the night
her body will slip away quietly
plz stay warm in your water bourne nest
happens to us all
goodnight x x x
Reply with your comment or “like”.

Taken from the last 22 messages in my phone’s inbox. Original spelling, case and punctuation preserved. Submitted by Winston Plowes.

Hi Emily,

This is just to let u know
I love u no less than I did at school.
Maybe it’s time we both moved on,
I will always love u
no matter how this ends.

From a text message that was sent, accidentally, to my friend Anita, 1 May 2012. Submitted by Lynda.

I love you and I

I love you and I
will be screaming with my love
from San Jose.

Taken from an MSN conversation, 4th November 2011. Submitted by Devin.

Remember This

Thanks to the girls for
a laugh-out-loud weekend
away. I will never forget
us walking into that bar
full of golfers when we
were dressed in our
white dressing gowns
and slippers.

A text message featured in the Metro newspaper’s Good Deed Feed, 4th October 2011. Submitted by Marika Rose.

This Text Is Just To Say

The rose bush
is falling over
with the wind.

(A whole text message from my wife)

Park Life

Took nuts w me to the park today
Squirrel sat on my lap

Closest I’ll ever get
To anyone

(Eating out of the palm of my hand…)

Text message from a sister, submitted by Steve Kirk.

Planned Engineering Works

Sorry, I am so fucked!
Picc and vic lines down
(At least it sounds funny)
On a bus
will need +1 more bus
or 2 more tubes
Going to be very late
I am so sorry.

Text message sent by a friend running late for dinner, 13th November 2010. Submitted by Fiona Green.