circulation

to love is to understand
the complicated nature of
hearts,

that there are many chambers
and passages and paths
there are valves,
ventricles, arteries,
veins, a cycle which
seems simple because
it happens inside us
our entire lives

we are hardly aware of it
until a beat is skipped
until we hold another close
and sense a quickening
in their chest
until we press lips to pulse
and find pulse pressing back

we must forgive
its occasional tendency
to leave us confused
breathless (and also
be thankful for it)

the heart
never rests
gives everything
to life every moment

the least
we can
give it back
is patience