staggering

the word you used to describe 
this thing that was happening
between us. not a flowery 
sentimental word no 
staggering like the earth buckling
beneath our feet my thin response was
oh no no this is not the correct
order of things its repercussions
too severe, so no. 

yet my heart leaped and my soul drank 
your offering the way parched soil 
cannot refuse rain the way we cannot
withhold our next breath, or heartbeat
love’s safe harbor held us through the thunder
lightning, wind that ensued. 

not one day in our time together 
did we doubt our destiny or each other 
our hearts might break at how the world 
could turn to ash but we had all we 
ever needed in each other. then

in a supplication of tears at your diagnosis
you sat on the sofa, i kneeled 
on the floor at your feet, head in 
your lap as you cupped my cheek in your hand
our faces wet, i said remember how mystical 

it was the way gates opened on a path 
neither of us could have conjured
to bring us together? you nodded
surely love like the force of gravity will 
go before us in whatever lies ahead we 
will be held no matter where the detour leads.

we fell into the shimmering depth
of each other’s eyes and felt 
in the scaffolding of our bones 
this was true. 

staggering is the word to describe 
this thing that is happening between us 
even now. we were children a year ago, 
terrified yet yearning for a future 
we could not have known then 
how love could hold even 
the ashes.