‘Linger’

It once roared loudly
With an abandon that belied the ordinary mouthpiece
It once shone with brilliance
And heat
That even the blind couldn’t doubt
It poured torrential waters across thirsty furrows
To quench loneliness’s deep thirst

Time has changed its face
Its roar is now a purr sounded in quiet corners
Its light has deepened
To a soft amber that heats as slow fed coals
Its waters have slipped deep
Locked within rich earth carpeted with green

It is a love that lingers into the beyond dreams
Infusing every breath with trust
Each morning with assurance
Even tears with hope
As fingers curl around each other
Locked in companionship
And gray hairs sprout to sparkle against tired temples
It is a love that lives

©2022 Mary Grace van der Kroef