Assignation

Cool, dark air pours down like silent balm;

Silken brush of velvet wings

Rhythmic thrum

(Unheard yet felt),

Rush overhead,

Alighting in my tree.

A pale shadow

Obscured in analeptic gloom,

Vigilant, I pause;

Soundless, she wings down

Under streetlamp nimbus,

Reveals herself to me.

Reverent, I gasp;

August, serene,

A silver owl

Luminous lakes,

Her eyes intimate sage awareness

Penetrating riddles that be

Unravelled not by human hearts.

Before I turn away

I humbly bend my knee.

Love is Strong not Weak

In the waiting room

I await

The ministrations of caring, overstretched people

As usual, I occupy myself

Observing other waiters.

I am fortunate today

A beautiful baby boy

Cradled in his daddy’s arms

Bright blue eyes

And glowing golden skin

Watching me as I watch him

Engaging everyone around him

Yet he never smiles or makes a sound

I cannot help but smile at him

I am quite captivated

I have no doubt this child is loved

All the while

His father is silent too

In spite of the attention

On his darling baby boy

His gaze is always on the floor

He believes in showing love

He appears weak

He does not understand

When he is loving his little boy

(I know he does, behind closed doors)

He is at his strongest

Marvelling over a translucent, pearly ear

Delighting in delicious, gurgling baby laughter

All his troubles fly away

He exists only in that perfect moment

There is no past to regret

And no future to fear

In that instant

All ills are cured

There is only love

Love is strong; not weak.