I would not stay were
it not for love.
The heart wears out.
The doors that lead to people
close and never open again.
The very joy of youth itself
swims away,
legs tire,
eyes close,
and sleep remains.
The streets have emptied.
I see old dogs waiting like ghosts
ready to be walked.
I talk out loud
and the night stays quiet
as it should.
I can not go.
I pray for time.
I soldier on
because my love is here.
I stay
to guard my love.
To nourish its eyes,
to teach its souls,
to guard them all
until time takes us
to the kindness of other places.