I used to play

Upon on your words

Like my old summer swing set.


The sweetness they could bring

Brought not only joy

But healing

To the great depths of the inner me.


The weight of

“I love you”

Had the power of an avalanche.

It was a severe mercy

The way our love began

Merciful until the dreadful day

Our love died.


Now the garden of our love

Is full of weeds.


And the weight of

“I love you”

Has become like

a picture still mountain

In an an empty old house.


But, I close my eyes

And I hear your words

My body is floating

Somewhere in the space between

5 inches away from my swing-set seat

I’m up so high


I take a deep

Unmeasured breath.

As I come downward

Landing upon a merciful swing seat.