By Gala
Date: 14 November 2000

Love Abides

Wrapped in an old flannel sheet,
I lie beside you
watching for dawn
and wondering how the simple truths
evade our every attempt
at rationalization or logic.
Sleeping there you should be
but a sleeping man,
someone I have known x number of days
or weeks or months---
but a seperate entity
with a life that owes nothing to me,
that I can take or leave come what may.
But that is a flat lie---
because the sound of your breath
and your voice
and your laughter
is encoded to my being,
embedded in the fabric of who I am.
The days stretch before me
like an Iowa cornfield
unbroken
no end in sight---
and yet I know bone deep
that you will be waiting for me,
feel your hand in mine
feel your arms around me snug and warm
And I know before you whisper it
that I am carrying you where I go---
because when you came,
you brought love along
and introduced us like old friends
and were not the least shocked
when love made itself at home,
and stayed close by.
You came home to me,
wrapped me in your arms and touch
and filled me completely
so that fear had no room to roam,
so that doubt had no toehold
and sadness could find no purchase.
You fed me love and music and warm
until I knew
that you will be with me
through any hurt
catching tears with the back of your hand softly
and treasuring them because they were mine.
In the old words, they say "Abide with me."
and you my love, always have.

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