Where I lay my head tonight

Upon your shoulder

And let your sighing fingers play

Among the spidery strands of hair

There I found the peace of mind

 I sought all day, and in that hollow

 I lay content, until your kiss

Awakened me at dawn.

We said little in the interlude

But in the silent night long essays

Wrote themselves and argued our continuance

There I lay all claim to being

Your sustenance, while you,

You struggled

For yet another reason

Why we shouldnÂ’t be.  

I see you sitting up some nights

Your long hair sluicing through your hands

Your face a crease of soft concerns. 

I know I am debate you have within

Yourself, one which you will never win

But it wracks your poor brain anyway

As you try to drift to troubled sleep

Without a word, I coiled up against

Your soul tonight

And waited ‘til the shivering

Died, listened mutely ‘til the tears you sobbed

Had dried against the pillow case.

You might leave me, love, I fear

Someday, but this was not the time and place

You say, and so, tonight at least

We both can gently sleep.

11/03/2002

Posted on 11/03/2002
Copyright © 2025 Ken Harnisch