the completeness of night

1

the quiet completeness

of night

after the day is finished

the dishes put away

the joy of no expectations

of nothing to be done

together

2

the darkness that reveals the stars,

the infinite indigo

3

of being the only person awake

the comfort of listening to you, my people, sleep,
breathe,

the purring of snores,

the grace of having you

near me

in the night

4

the changes

in your breathing 

that tell me you’re asleep

relaxing into the rhythm of your body

the twitch of your limbs

as your body lets go of the day

5

you, asleep on my shoulder,

my arm numb

breath of my breath

soul of my soul

the bliss of “No, don’t go,”

in the night

6

of listening to you breathe

these many days and nights,

these many years,

of knowing you there

of knowing you

of matching your breath with mine

7

measuring my nights by your breaths,

my life by your heartbeats

2012-12-25