Still

Still these trembling hands

With yours in woven bands

Show to me your grace in mercy

Lift to me your face though it hurts me

Remind me now how to hold you dear

Free from your touch that I have come to fear

Thaw this battered body so that then

I may feel the warmth of you once again

Relax my stuttered breath and noose

So we may tell each our silent truths

Every tear holds back an ocean’s weight

Every laugh conceals a pain far too great

The scars run deep as darkened caverns

And all that I’ve found are broken lanterns

Too long I’ve been left to lay in wait

Self-effacing and prone to hesitate

As you steady me, and I support you

Eyes show signs of all that we’ve been through

And we may not know what to do

But I will hold you

Just like I told to you

For a moment we may pause

Retract our feisty feline claws

To banish the weakness in our wills

And you to hear me say that I love you…still

-Brandon Fenton 2015