Embrace

There is a part of us that needs to feel

Embraced by love

It is no disgrace to wish for this

The comfort of a soothing touch

The healing of eyes opening deeply

To see the truth that lives behind

A painted smile

And that is why today

I cried

So deeply

When you stood just the right social distance

Away from me

I longed to give you an embrace

To say how much your help had meant

And so it was I walked away

And hugged a tree

While crying deeply

With my heart in pain

Then nature heard my tears

It was only later

That I recalled

One of the few times I heard my father say

I love you

The day we found he was diagnosed

With cancer

That day my heart and body broke open

As he held me within his embrace

It was no disgrace for me to long for this

And it was so sad

That fear meant

You could not

Would not

Embrace me

And yet how could I be hurt

It was just that once again

It felt as if

My pain had no place

Could find no comfort

Held deep inside

The healing warmth

Of another’s embrace