The Space Between

Dedicated to Jenny Hudson and Nick Getsen

It's hard not to make all the stories of triumphs and tragedies.
But then you will miss the weevils in the flour
that Jenny and I  built our friendship on
cleaning every kitchen cabinet.

The part where I set the kitchen towel on fire
will be left out
it did not really burn much of consequence
and the smoke did not spread far enough.

The marathon of anime will be cut
because our laughter
was not loud enough.

The flees may make it in though
they just might
but the rats will steal the show.

If you only get the highs and the lows,
the lulls of silence will be absent.
The secret prayers will be missing.

It's the space in between
that gets us where we're going.
We build the triumphs
in our silent time
and rest our struggles
on the pillows in the living room.

Those cushions carry our stories
more gently then the mines or the mountains.
They speak only of comfort.