I’ve learned to be still enough to

hear your breathing warm

the other room

—

Let my pen pause and wait

to join in the rhythm of your

reassurance

—

To anticipate when the record skips;

welcoming the contented sigh

flipping onto your back begets

—

To make enough noise as I shuffle

my feet so that your worries

are quieted before they wake you

—

To find a small song in my gentlest

moments

the one you compose for me

with each breath