Walking it out

Things can come clear

in the quiet steps of night

when there is time —

(a pause after a question

may take a block or even two —

the silence stretching taut between the houses

till there’s enough tug

to pull the answer up from underneath)

Things can come clear

in the dark

where a face can be averted

so exposing looks can pass by

undetected

and there is time

to regain composure,

to find the words,

and there’s time to get beyond

reflexive postures.  There’s time

to really hear, and to start over.

There’s time for the warm, quiet

language of hands

clasped through the traversing

of many streets

to make room for everything 

that needs to be spoken.

©Wendy Mulhern

November 2, 2013