Drenched in Mercy

Only breath
Nothing else
Inhale
Still here
Exhale
Still here
Mercy.
Only breath
Then rest
Inhale
Still here
Exhale
Still here
Mercy.
Only breath
Then waking
Inhale
Still here
Exhale
Still here
Mercy.
Only breath
Then tea
Inhale
Still here
Exhale
Still here
Mercy.
Only breath
Then shower
Hot water running
Over my face
Down my back
Between my toes
My body
Drenched in mercy.

-RDP

The Consequences of Vulnerability

She’s quiet
I want to ask
But I don’t
Trying on restraint
Is uncomfortable.
Maybe I finally broke
our fragile peace
Finally pushed us
over the edge
We’d so delicately
balanced on
longer than I’d thought we could
Finally arriving at
the consequences
of vulnerability.
She’s quiet
And I wonder
But don’t speak
She’ll have to break
Our silence.

-RDP

The (always) Bittersweet Farewell

A storm cleared the air, finally
scrubbed the sky clean
and for one day it was perfection
the magical lake fresh with a crisp and stunning beauty I know so well.

The still evening called me, alone
down to the dock in just a towel
and I slipped down the ladder in the dark
the cool water sliding over my skin as I swam out to my usual spot.

Just me on the lake
just me watching the last light fade.

One more night, one final dip
less perfect but this time with stars
everything quiet, smooth, peaceful
the water lapping at the edges of my body
blurring sound as I gazed up at the big, dark sky.

Just me on the lake
just me watching the light fade
just me to bid the bittersweet farewell.

-RDP