Five Minutes in Heaven

August 05, 2005

An angel came last night
crying at the sound of loneliness.

I gathered your hair
at the base of your neck
like a funnel pooling water
cooling my palms.
I smoothed your brow
with my other hand
and a soft sigh tried to escape
from your throat
held back by--
waiting.
I would have gladly given more
at that moment
when time stopped
to make way for every movement
to be more palpable--
to draw out more of heaven
from this being who strayed
and came to my door.
Instead I stop,
just before the filmy sheen in my eyes
have settled completely,
and I let go,
knowing I am too human
to bear the sight of snow-white wings
breaking at the weight
of earthly tenderness.
You flung out your arms
to draw me back,
needing the sound of heartbeat
in your own chest,
made louder by the chorus of my own.
And yet you cannot help but rise again,
drawn back to the force
that gave you flight,
leaving me behind
with residues of clouds
that formed when you wept.





blue rogue