avé maria

I love you like a river loves a stone:

careening in chaos until I meet you,

home.

I dreamt of my death since days far too new,

but what brings me back to life each time is you.

Slipping notes under your pillow,

dropping secrets to the bunk below,

whisper down the lane, over dog fur, aglow.

Maria in the middle, jumping to catch ahold,

you’ve always been the glue, always been our gold.

You hold our world in the paper cup,

with sugar, butter, flour, love.

See us each for all we are,

give all of yourself, your entire heart.

You keep your pain in shadows,

in shackles,

in dungeons,

hold your bravery like you hold your grudges.

You sweeten every instant,

& hide from your glisten,

you’re the only one who ever listens.

You are the stream, the twilight, the hand spun lace,

Avé Maria, full of grace.

Without you, we’re nothing, a sinking slope.

You’re our life, our sweetness, & our hope.