By christopher lake
Date: 29 May 2000

The Hard Part Comes

The hard part comes
when promises and apologies
are no longer enough
because they've been said too many times
to be real anymore.
I wish I believed in God 
I wish to God
late in the night
that there wasn't a me
to hurt you one more time.					
But there is a me
and there is a you
and there is an us
in spite of it all.
That's the miracle of it.
And today I sat on the bank of the river
and smelled the hint of salt in the air
and watched the oil tankers headed
for the ocean
and thought about you  
and smiled
and laughed 
at your latest poem
and was happy.
See,
the stakes are high and I know it.
I'll admit I need you.
I'll need you enough for the both of us. 
Never forget
that you are loved.
Never forget
that you are singular
and necessary
and cherished
like Grace
like Light
like life
like water
to the traveler
lost
in the very heart
of the red desert.