By Reverend Leona Nicholas Welch
I AM STILL HERE, beneath this unfamiliar, quizzical,
and often non-responsive face.
I AM HERE, sitting in this maze of vague and undeclared questions.
Questions that can only stir deep down in my still vibrant soul.
Questions, never passing my lips.
Questions, never reaching your anxious, hopeful ears.
I search for us both.
I breathe on yesterday's conversations, stored up between us.
Yes, my mind is more acquainted with
oblivion than it is with cognition these days.
But please know that I AM STILL HERE.
Though my laughter may not surface
to meet your tremulous smile,
my heart moves toward the love in your eyes.
On some mysterious plain, between us
a connection is realized.
Stay. Even when I stare, or
when that blanket of fear grips me and I take stiff, cautious steps away from you-
when I turn from your needful embrace.
Even when I boldly and callously ask you who you are,
please know that I AM STILL HERE.
My mind has gone off on its own,
but my spirit stayed behind and knows you.
Though my mind has retired, my soul is very much on duty - alerting me, deep down to the quick, where my love lives.
It tells me that I have held you close.
It tells me that I have reached and found you there,
that we have lived responsively in each other's lives.
It tells me that we have laughed at the meal table
and talked late into the night.
My spirit attests that we quarreled now and then
and made it right again.
It tells me that we often sat staring out at a world
with plenty of woes but with more of what is worthy.
You - Me - My soul knows.
So please, heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul
Let Us Breathe!
Don't walk cautiously, timidly, or fearfully through my door.
Don't be on guard for the worst.
Don't greet me with a nervous voice.
My spirit hears it all. My soul knows you.
So come, move with loving assurance.
Walk through my door like you know - that I AM STILL HERE.
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