when i speak
when i speak to you, i speak to myself
and the messages i send carry weight
a little bit more please
a slow pouring
a back and a forthing
a small dance
standing and shifting
when i speak to you, i speak to myself
and find in me a root
to take on faith your love
how else am i to see
behold, the you in there
you can tell, as much as me
the lines, the lines
they're everywhere
the towing,
the storing,
the knowing,
the knowing
what does it mean to love, again?
the truth is hairy
and loves the well
the spring in the garden
the show and the tell
the truth in the silence
cannot prove itself
so what of the proof
that the pudding tells
when i speak to you, i speak to myself
i keep checking back
am i loving well?
when i listen i hear
of your ache in forgiving
not knowing when—oh when
the heart—and it hurts
and then—and then
it folds its hand
surrenders its tale
in a quiet tone
a hum, a warble, or a gentle wail
i know you know
when your heart’s exposed
for when you speak, you speak
because i know you believe
in the stir
in the stone
in the soup
in the meek
in the tome
of the world
and the home
in the spring
in the field
in the taste
in the space
in between
when i speak to you
i speak to me