Anniversary

by inches the shadows climb the wall
i watch you sleeping and i breathe in time to your rise and fall
i can’t believe i’d spend a single year
cultivating my accumulating fear
lord, how can it be that it’s only been that long?

there was a time when i’d have taken you down
once upon a time we’d broken through
lights and music up, shake it all around
that’s all we ever knew

afraid to wake you so i watch you sleep
afraid to touch you, i’m afraid of the thoughts i keep
and all the subtle changes in me and you
you know i’d rather be alone
than to have you be a stranger in my home
and there she still is, sleeping
think i’ll sleep some, too.

© 1998 David Stoddard