Hold me.

Hold me one last time
within your strong brown arms
and red-blooded heart.

Hold me to your chest
so fierce with lovely loyalty,
warm inclusion
not yet chilled by my exclusion.

Hold me this one last time
remembering all our years
and glad times before

Shading from memory
aching days and nights alone
without passion’s touch
on skin
in heart
beneath belonging mind
longing to live more fully in this body
worthy of graced embrace.

Wrap your arms
and legs around me,
your breath
and sweat secure me.

Hold me one last time
before I go
where we cannot again
feel ourselves together
warm skin to warm
too thin.

Hold me for our love
and not our loss.

Hold me this one last time
forever.