this
breath
under my skin
moving
as if it had always been
known this way
a tear
on the surface
not falling
just holding
light
just out of sight
this day
warmth
ripping its way through
not breaking
making space
as if I was the place
to be held
it reached
my hands first
before I knew
what it was
my skin answered
without asking
the question
already there
the surface trembled
not from force
from recognition
didn’t follow
it moved
through me
instead
something opened
without parting
and I stayed
inside it
warmth spreading
quietly
like it had nothing
to prove
breath shifting
not deeper
just closer
staying
not because I held it
because I didn’t
before my eyes remembered how to open
it was already there
not in front
not near
just… present
here
as if the space had made room for it
quietly
without asking me
feeling came first
soft
certain
like something returning
to where it had always been
or close enough
seeing was slower
not late exactly
just…
arriving differently
like a memory trying to take shape
somewhere it didn’t quite fit
her shape
not appearing
not fully
more like something gathering
at the edge of what I was already inside
as if sight was only just catching on
to something my body hadn’t waited for
and even then
it wasn’t seeing that held her
it was the warmth
still moving
through me
not passing through
not settling
just staying
in that quiet way things do
when they’re not finished
as if tomorrow had leaned in
slightly
and left something behind
before I could
ㅤ
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Other prose and poems from me.
Nothing truly leaves — it just changes how it stays.
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All artwork courtesy of NDjin Gallery
This is beautiful 😍
Mark you always write so beautifully!!