Song of the Heathkeeper, Lover, & Sleep

Song of the Hearthkeeper, Lover, & Sleep

Knock, knock what closed -

once opened?

Perhaps never, perhaps yet.

Knock, knock closer.

Wish-you the hearth-keeper

attend this entreat

as to the whisperings

of a lover,

bedded & content?

(Know well it can only be so,

that such summons be heard!)

Closer, closer still,

holding a stillness -

suggestion of a breath

in the darkness:

Sigh,

porter of words

lost to the oblivious

realm of the day.

Buried - no, less buried than subtle,

the mysterious paisley

lost in the noise

of a teardrop.

(Distant from you,

the rain falls

into my empty shoes.)

Would you that he listen closer?

How much wish you so?

Be words there not formed of palette,

nevertheless, making a silent movement

within the stillness?

(Starlight, twisting a quickest 'round the earth

casting an affectionate eye upon moon -

back at us, either

she winks or she smiles - )

Closer, closer, moving closer -

the ear drawn towards

throat strings of chording -

Breath of a breeze, the stillness, such stillness -

Still, so still those strings be -

Breath -

Sleeping, her fingers lay upon them not.

Still, still closer? Still closer still?

Further, further still? Still further still?

Follow, then, follow the wind downwards,

that melody of the luminous rhythm

Follow, then , follow the stream -

whispers of cascading ripples,

towards the snow-glazed origin

of the still-most mountain

between the breasts,

towards the numinous cave

of the heart,

and still -

Breath, listen close, you, listen close -

hear you words?

Closer, closer, closer

Deeper, Deeper -

Silent.

Thought you that breath need carry some burden of word?

You're attention, the breath, she garnered -

you, blessedly mistaken,

not words, you

the breath -

she carried you.

She carried you

and lay you down -

having listened,

buried beneath contentment -

Sleep.

Would-you the hearth-keeper

listen so at his door?

So as to hear you -

so as to let you in?

Would you rap with knuckles,

or with fingers tenderly tap?

Place a rubbed-warm hand

upon the door -

in circles gently slide -

The rhythm, let it be festive,

The song, let it be sweet.