Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Joel at 58



Fifty-eight birthdays
But, actually: one
This is the only one
That exists
The others have passed
Or have not yet come
And so, this is the only one
That matters
The first one
We celebrate together
Sometimes it seems
So strange
How we found each other
And we are still
Getting to know us
But it is my privilege
To see what is really
Back there
Past the big muscles
And the bigger laugh
The beautiful voice
The handsome face
Behind what you
Show everyone else
It is real
And messy
And true
But also –
Beautiful
And there is weakness
And softness
Love
Pain
Sadness
And fear
But you are wrong
Wrong
If you think
That is it -
That
That is all
There is
Because I have seen
More
Beneath the softness
That hides
Behind your mask
Deep in the middle
In the quiet
In the dark
There is something else
You
The real you
Curled like
A bird
Inside an egg
Sitting like
A prisoner
In solitary
Quietly ticking like
A clock
Waiting
Waiting
And
I see you, in there
I see you





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