Sometimes I had my eye too close to the keyhole
Pulled there by some force like gravity.
I was gazing with a sharp but narrow focus
into what I thought was the real.
But the precision of my gaze
left out the surroundings, the other doors and rooms
that I might have inhabited.
As he came to me and opened his arms with no rancour,,
so my eyes opened wider,I took in the new wide vision
and left my crouched and aching position
no longer attached like a magnet to your force,
He was there with his sea eyes.
He knew the human condition
And how to inhabit a conversation.
Of course he’s had his wounds but never failed to feel
for himself and others.
In the night he went through in his mind’s eye the faces
of his friends;holding them ,like he’d once held fragile rose buds
when we were married,
and asked silently for grace.
The keyhole no longer seemed important
I suppose narrowing the focus can keep out knowledge of pain..
But the pain is atill there;
I have always loved the word “Acknowledge.”
And now I use it. I acknowledge this pain
How my heart sings 