The stone in my belly is warm again
coaxed from its cold slumber
by her gentle voice and honest concern.

We talked all afternoon,
but our words fell as faulty arrows:
well short of their intended marks.
But where our words could not go
our eyes tread gracefully,
full of understanding and affection.

While I cannot recall with any clarity
a word we spoke today
it may be a lifetime before I forget her eyes.

AcB 11.21.00