this is how to place your hand on someone’s chest “
and feel their heart beating against your palm
we take this for granted–
blood coursing through veins and thoughts powering movement
sometimes there isn’t anything to say
and sometimes the only thing that can be said is,
"i’m glad you exist.”
embrace existence selflessly,
leave personal gain behind and see something beautiful
recognize productions and facades and everything that will fade with time:
leave those and find meaning
fill in the unknowns with answers to question that matter–
first notice
        the mornings where the shadows underneath their eyes are darker,
then wonder
         what it is that kept them up.
ask when it is they feel most alive,
find out if they keep all of their kings in the back row,
when a storm brings deep grey skies and wind and rain
do they stand outside to feel small?
this is how to place your hand on someone’s chest
and feel memories and thoughts and pain and love
beating against your palm