Burning, Again
You are a hot ball of fire
on an invisible elastic band,
always flying away,
always snapping back
toward me.
Always tethered.
Always aiming
for the softest place.
My poor heart.
You leave it gaping,
a little red mouth
where something used to be,
and I learn, slowly,
how to close it.
You are cruel like that.
Kind, too.
You give me just enough time
to forget the shape of the wound,
just enough time
to believe I am healing,
before you come back
burning.
And I let you.
I don’t know how long
you will stay this time.
I don’t know
how long before the band
pulls you away again.
I only know
that somewhere between
your leaving
and your returning,
my heart has learned
to wait for the impact.
