To you:
The one who walks strong
The one who speaks gently
The one who thinks carefully
Who listens first
And speaks second
Who loves first
And hates seldom
Who brings me warmth
And meaning
And peace
And wonder
O, that I might give those things to you
To you
Hide me away
In the crevices of your heart
Where I am safest
Hold me there
In the warmth of your embrace
Where I am strongest
Keep me here
Beside the kindness of your soul
Where I am truest
Where I am most
Where I am best
A breath
Is the fire
That burns against the cold
A salve
Is the rain
That comes amidst the drought
Salvation
Is the green
That sprouts from winter’s melt
If only I can nurture it
I have often wandered
And often wondered
Whether I have wandered enough
Seen enough
Heard enough
Been enough
Yet in my heart of hearts
I sense
I know
I wander
Not for an answer
But because the question
Is worth the wandering
There is a shadow
Buried in my corners
Hidden in my nooks
Hidden from me
As I’ve hidden from it
Never stopping to wonder
Does it feel?
Does it fear?
Does it wish for my embrace?
Is it me?
The days grow short
The air, cool
And ‘neath the starless skies I marvel
That as all dies
The shadows grow and grow
When it has been a little while
Since last I felt your hand in mine
Heard your heart beat
Saw the deepness of your eyes
I want for it all the more
And when I feel it
Hear it
See it
It is all the sweeter
For that little while
Fair weather
Is fair until
The ground is dry and cracked
Fair play
Is fair until
Another breaks taboo
Fair chances
Are fair until
Your feet are bruised and bloody
All’s fair
Until
It isn’t
I think of decay
And the chill
And the next warm drink
And the next fire
And though renewal is far off
It does not trouble me
Heaven is not a place
But that moment
Surrounded by laughter
About a crackling fire
With winter’s chill but a thought on the windowpane
A Poem A Day 