"Waking Up to Soft Crying, 7:35 a.m."

You need not shiver,
you need not whimper,
you need not let tears fall.

You don't have to be on your knees, soliciting
prayers that can't be given from mute mouths.
You don't have to turn your back on the sun
as it streams down in forgiveness,
for you do not need forgiving.

You do not need to cry,
for tears resolve nothing;
you do not need to run away, your face
twisted and dark in lamentation;
you do not need to turn back in cruelty one last time,
then slam the door in the hot summer afternoon.

Just be still. Be still and be comforted
in the solace of this moment,
in the silence of our bed.

You, my love, in this moment,
need never let tears fall,
need never be good or evil.
Just let the soft soul
slowly warm you, my arms cupping the flame.
You are safe now, in this moment,
like the crisp breath drawn in on a winter's morning.