the winking heart

For a moment, I thought the muscle had relaxed, lay flaccid

against my bed pillows, consenting to this new embrace.

My lips puckered open. The rain was coming down hard,

wiping the street free and spring was upon us, of course –

that would have been reason enough to say yes to the clean slate

of whatever this was. But the drama on the skylights jolted

everything inside of me, and I felt how quickly my heart

rose from its horizontal idleness, gathered its boots, and bolted

out the door. It knew the risk, returning – the house quiet and alone.

But what can I say? I am more river than rest, more flesh than bone.

- Maya Stein