No Word (Poetry)

Another year without a word —
I’ve tried to keep my hope contained
and not feel too disappointed that we haven’t heard
anything from you.

But hope won’t be denied —
it presses at imagination — tugs at strings inside
and thoughts, unbidden, tumble — wishes grow
impossible to curb —
as if you didn’t know
however hard the heart tries to forget
hope clings on — still loathe
to give up yet.

This hope cannot be locked
in any fabled chest —
it lives and breathes too free and will not fit
in any space reserved to comfort it —
for it has wings to fly
and fly it must
and on some branch it sings from dawn to dusk —
a song for you
if you have ears to hear
and any word of answer — send it soon
by thought or dream
or January moon ...

I’ll know your voice —
that whisper through the dark
jogs awake the possibility
you may, at some odd moment, think of me
and wonder if I miss you —
believe your silence lends
more poignancy with every year that ends.