WORDPLAY

there was no wordplay
between us, on point
of fact, anything more
leading to full conversation between us-over the years
as the words became less and less
knowing ourselves;  as we do,  in the silence explicit
between us-felt reassuring, as a blanket to cover us up; it was
what we wanted, craved, coveted, expected of ourselves
until the day, you came to me, knelt down
with your hand on my knee, and began to cry still born tears
I knew then, our silent world would be shattered
without any words or objections, I held you; felt your heart beat with mine
we stayed that way as the day melted into night.

by Michael Perry