When She’s Gone (Kairotic Moment: Watching Her Sleep) by Richard PaezWhen She's Gone (Kairotic Moment: Watching Her Sleep)
I am holding breath
and holding on
and holding still
my muscles, sinew, and tendons,
each beat and pulse and throbbing –
because a single word,
a single sigh,
a single blink of eye or slip of tongue
could send this holy spire crumbling, tumbling down.
And I’m holding breath
and holding still
and holding on
in my anticipation,
my hope and fear and longing –
absence that builds me up
and fills me up
so please hold me tight so that I do not
trip or crumble, slip or fall again.
And I’m holding breath
and holding on
and holding still
to the image of her spreading
across my field of vision –
motionless and silent,
less I disturb the dream
for if she speaks a single word,
if she lets loose a single sigh:
her single blink of eye or flick of wrist
could wipe me away
and send this my holy spire spiraling down.
I am holding breath
and holding still
and holding on
until that kairotic moment
when she returns
to build me up
and fill me up
and show me what it’s like to live again.
06/25/2010 Author's Note: For Kim
Posted on 06/25/2010 Copyright © 2024 Richard Paez
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