The Animal Poems

The Silent Spaces

I. The Awakening

When I first awoke a hand touched me
and it felt of kindness and love
and trust, the promise of safety and security
I learned to love the touch in an instant
through the skin all the way to my heart and soul
I learned to await the moments of caress
and savored each as if it would continue forever.

When I first awoke the scent surrounded me
and it smelled of love and kindness
and trust, the promise of safety and security
I learned to love the scent in an instant
replacing the scent of my mother in my heart and soul
I learned to await the times when it filled me
and savored each as if it would continue forever.

When I first awoke I tasted that which held me
and I drank of the kindness and love
and trust, the promise of safety and security
I learned to love the taste in an instant
it sated me as if it filled my heart and soul
I learned to await every bite of belief
and savored each as if it would continue forever.

When I first awoke I saw the face above me
the look of gentle love and kindness
and trust, the promise of safety and security
I learned to love the sight in an instant
filling my eyes, my being, my heart and soul
I learned to await the coming, every appearance
and savored each as if it would continue forever.

When I first awoke the sound engulfed me
and I heard the kindness and love
and trust, the promise of safety and security
I learned to love the sound in an instant
hearing fulfilled my being unto my heart and soul
I learned to love the arrival of the sounds
and savored each as if it would continue forever.

II. The Letting Go

When I last closed my eyes the hand lingered
and it still felt of kindness and love
and trust, the promise of safety and security
but I have learned many kinds of touches
the kind and the cruel on my heart and soul
I learned to love the caresses unconditionally
and savored each as if it would continue forever.

When I last closed my eyes the scent lingered
and still I smelled the love and kindness
the trust, the promise of safety and security
but I have learned many kinds of scents
both wary and eager for my heart and soul
I learned to love the knowledge they brought
and savored each as if it would continue forever.

When I last closed my eyes the taste lingered
I yearned to drink the kindness and love
the trust, the promise of safety and security
but I have learned many kinds of tastes
the sweet and the bitter pierce my heart and soul
I learned to await the feasts and the hunger
and savored each as if it would continue forever.

When I last closed my eyes the image lingered
a look of sorrow filled with love and kindness
and trust, the promise of safety and security
but I have learned many kinds of sights
gentle, angry and indifferent to my heart and soul
I learned to treasure every appearance
and savored each as if it would continue forever.

When I last closed my eyes the sound lingered
a sad litany of regret, pain, kindness and love
and trust, the promise of safety and security
but I have learned many kinds of sounds
silence, whispers, calls, shouts in my heart and soul
I learned to love the silent spaces, to wait
and savored each as if it would continue forever.