I sit far from my evergreen partner
as the September light mates with its leaves,
branch to witness a return of breath
then welcome how its roots
sprawl toward me through soil
and darkness and uneven pathways
to touch upon my yearning to dwell
in comfort. Resist this world
less, brace less in the wind.

Between the ears
the tip of my spine slippery and fluid
moves front to back in agreement,
slow, then slower,
also side to side like a Nepali yes.

Movement lends this message
to the brain
in a discovery of infinite space
across hemispheres
and for a moment
I can feel what’s inside, liquid,
blessing my awareness,
waking to its own response
at being noticed.

All this newness
when I thought I already was open,
and willing, but somehow had bypassed
shoulder blades and voice and other
channels of connection
numb to what could be sensed
in my physical partner, this body,
now saying this
is a yes, a serpentine yes
that takes me into the pain of holding
back – let it be, dissolve, release.

Here there’s a pause snaking its time,
exploring the patterned veins,
organs, muscles and bones,
being welcomed,
and then my core responds,
spirals down through the base
of my spine,
slides into the earth
and embraces that tree
that invited me in.