Imagine the womb
or even underwater 
a world beyond 
to behold muffled 
like earmuffs keeping 
out the cold 
and hands too
stopping the noise 
this I think 
is what this 
is like quiet
but not silence 
for in quiet 
things are there 
much more so 
than in silence 
I’m reminded that 
things are there 

I hear wind
behind the curtains 
not against windows 
much farther away 
going much faster 
almost a din
maybe a moan
the haunting kind 
of hearts cold
leaving their comforts
as they sadly 
drive to work 

I found it
I finally did 
hidden deep inside 
the junk drawer 
voila the putty
pliable and strong 
able to withstand 
and to plug 
the holes in 
my punctured heart 
left by those 
who had promised 
off they went 
leaving me with 
only ten fingers 
and my putty
to fill gaps 
and replace seals

He’s gone again 
maybe for good 
maybe for awhile 
who really knows 
come and go 
here and there 
on and on
back and forth 
a clock’s pendulum 
or the tide
or feral cats 
when they’re hungry 
or even birds
that come around 
when weather warms 

Breath it comes 
sometimes cold and 
crisp like apples 
leaving its trail
and other times 
it’s humid and 
warm and invisible 
felt but unseen 
like between soft
lips before kiss 
shared this life 
deep sighs and 
giggles and sobs 
oh so many 
sweet delicious breaths 
we do take