only
to
hold

Wait, now, watch, be
there, here, stand by
This a choice. This
asked for never; this all &
only her instinct. Even that uncertain,
for after all,
in his language
I'll be out-of-touch
for a while Might mean never,
Might be a year, but- Some
un certain surety. Perhaps in part latent
mis-placed guilt? Perhaps belief,
Or communication. Funny, were it that. so
Might be a next week
& he'll cry
only
to
hold

Not to her
off the face
of the earth
with no warning

In recompense
She will wait- ha! As if she could
over ride
this vein,
this knowledge sans reason,
basalt deep & solid
jasper lanced through sand.
And, so.
Keep this vigil, if only one
candle
rosary
smudging
circle
reading
prayer a day... She goes
through other motions. Keep
what little you can give,
priestess blood
albeit dilute
Stark bas-relief
stigmata of bones: She loves him
For this, if naught else,
reconciled & prayer
to a man she never knew
but fathered one she does