rose bush in winter

leaves shriveled
    dark and sparse

skeletal mass
    of rattling thorn
    and branch

do not be deceived

it holds deep
    the heat
    and thrum
    of life

for a time

it holds deep

Reunion

We gave in that day
to laughter
long and delicious,
not at all our usual
smile-then-back-to-business.
No...

We lifted up a rare and
precious music
together surrendering to
simple delight
as the canopy of green spilled
innocence down in
droplets of blessing.

But the walls that had so long shielded my spirit,
built stone by stone of remembered pain,
mortared with shadows and secrets
by long labor of my own hands,
fell away
some way
in this Sharing.

Startled, my smile began to falter…

In that moment,

I saw you

for the first time
in years

and my heart swelled
to sudden pain,
unaccustomed
to the light.

the rabbit's lament

no more need
   to strain my neck
      looking back
         over my shoulder

no more need
   to run so hard
      to push my heart
         beyond its reach

the pain of piercing talons
almost a relief

pencil-thin line

I did well today.


   my finger lightly traces

     the ridge above my eye

       perfectly, pleasingly

      absolutely smooth

   as I reflect…


I did not cry today.

I did not yell.

I did not panic under pressure.

Yes, it was a good day altogether.


   my finger lightly traces

      the ridge above my eye

        still warm with the lingering sting

      of far too much attention

   as I wonder…


Will I do as well

tomorrow?

And how much time

might be required

for an eyebrow

to re-grow?