i‘d rather be soul food

such a simple sentence, yet it exceeds the depth of mankind. the light surrounding your soul— the lightest energy i constantly consume, keeps me kneeling; praying to God to not take you away from me.

you're my direction, my source of purpose. without your fingers intertwined with mine, i fear i'll soon find myself lost in the misery of my own mind. you straighten the knots in my being.

Short of breath, I took my phone and pulled up your contact. I almost hit dial but then hesitated.

I write you a text, tell you what’s going on, and almost hit send, but then I refrained.

A certain voice in my head stops me from reaching out to you.

I don’t want to be too much or too little.

The call unmade, the message unsent, And I’m left with this ache, A longing to be heard. Yet silence is the weight I bear

I could be

in the right lighting

viewed through the eyes of a loved one

if you could love me first

Sonia Sanchez, from Like the singing coming off the drums: Love Poems; “Remembering and Honoring Toni Cade Bambara”

i'd always run after you —

even winded,

in agony,

and through all of life's dark and unknown paths.

this life.

the last life.

the next life.