When I opened the Christmas gifts you got for me and vice versa.

On the way out to eat, you looked over your right shoulder just to observe traffic and all I could think about was how clear your eyes were from my view.

Every single time we say goodbye on the phone.

When we were sitting in Qdoba and you grabbed my hands, stared at me, smiled, and chuckled, insisting I was cute.

We were looking at the Waukesha skyline, and as we turned to get back to your car and escape the December cold, you tripped over the last standing Christmas tree that overlooked the city and I laughed hysterically.

When we raced across the Target parking lot and you beat me by a landslide, but you almost knocked a family over as you hardly stopped yourself from running into them.

The first time we ever skyped, my heart stopped as you looked at your whiteboard, doing homework. I still stop myself from saying it, every time you do.

When I was sitting in the passenger seat of your car in the Target parking lot, and you leaned over and kissed me. No warning. Just the kiss. You pulled back and smiled, forehead to forehead. Neither of us said one word.

When you spoke to me in nothing but Dance Gavin Dance lyrics for practically a whole day.

When you told me that this wasn't the relationship you thought it would be. I bit my tongue and held back tears.
I let you vent.
I let you disconnect.

We start another brand new year
Another chance of opportunities
Time to build on your craft
As you continue on your destiny
No one knows what will happen
That is the unpredictability of life
We rise and shine
Through all of the corruption and strife

In fields of frozen crystal white,
in refractions of an inner light,
that stretch on for miles,
& miles & miles,
I hear a call in icy hills,
and birds with funny frozen smiles,

I see the clouds of white applaud,
as the colors take a little bow,
in pinks I've never seen before,
burning oranges on fire now,
I wish for you to see this place somehow,

It really takes your breath..
a w a y,
this place I love so dear,
I tell you in these words tonight,
to draw you really, really near,

For hours,
closely as I...

W h I s P E r

gently,
in your ear,

As we head off now & off we go,
into another year,
& again we go with what we know,
on without a single fear,

I say dear ones,
I say this too,
I say my dearest poet friends,

I say to this,
I say to you,
I say to all,
I say,

AMEN.

Cherie Nolan © 2016