Poems (2014)

Hope

A man showed up on my doorstep today

He had a kind smile,

and in his blue eyes I could see the secrets of the deepest oceans

He had a package I wasn't expecting

and as I stared at it, I couldn't speak

The package was water-stained,

torn at the edges,

and covered in tape from various attempts at keeping it from falling apart

I didn't want to touch it

It looked so vulnerable,

and it couldn't possibly be for me

But in those knowing eyes and that gentle smile,

I could see a challenge and hear a call that I never thought could arrive at my doorstep

So I held my hands out

and he placed the package in my palms

I could feel its warmth reach the darkest places of my soul

I could feel the drum,

        da-dum, da-dum, da-dum,

of the countless hearts before me as they matched my own

On the package's rough surfaces,

I could feel our journeys through heaven and hell

But for the first time in my life,

I knew I wasn't alone

And for the first time in my life,

I had something to hold onto

I couldn't speak

but the man said "thank you" and began to walk away

I stood there, frozen,

with my package that was so old, yet so new

and all of the things I wanted to say but was unable to

I wanted him to know that this meant more to me thank anything else ever could

But maybe he did know,

and maybe he understood

because I felt his wings brush against my fingertips as he left

11/22/14