a poem, as read aloud on Sept 6

In these moments of waiting—

this simple wait—

from which I learn the voice of my soul,

secrets drip from my tongue,

reaching for my pain to lie

there

in surrender of this silence.

Swinging on this trapeze of unforgotten love,

I hope.

Hope.

hope in the abundance of laughter

hope in the renewal of rain

hope in the promise of this dream

In these moments of inhaled breath,

I beg for grace to reach down and cover

fill, even smother,

this jaded self

arms-knees-face-tongue.

And with this glimpse-

mirroring eternity-

my soul cries,

“take me with you—

in your naming, forget not me.”

-CHL