Risk, Courage, and Women: Contemporary Voices in Prose and Poetry

my heart beats for you

242 my heart beats for you Valerie Bridgeman Davis One beat, two, three beats of the heart This is the part that matters, The gift of life One beat, two beats away from the truth No ruthless undertaking As we unfold a divine plan, A holy order taking over The universe The heart tells a tale of strength— Makes sense of nothing, Sense of everything Power surging, Urging the Powers That Be To sing a lullaby To each of you My heart saved my life Its strength, its will turning back An attack Beat, beat The power of life Here’s what I remember: running, breathe Rhythm, breathe Wind in my face, The grace of sure-footed power, The knowing: you’re in it for the long haul 243 And then, the rest, and restlessness, Feeling light-headed, heart racing, Tracing every memory of a heart open To new and rare experiences, The love of many people Every memory a prayer, Daring my heart to stop Here’s what I remember: breathe, beat, rhythm, beat I am fading to black; a one-ton man is on my chest, My arms, my heart hurt; I can’t feel my legs Panic in the face of companions, stricken With fear of death I close my eyes, hold my breath, A prayer: O God, my heart beats for you O God, my heart beats for you My heart beats for you One beat, two, three beats of the heart This is the part that matters, The gift of life One beat, two beats away from the truth Death is no friend of mine I offer my life to a saving, Creating divine Here’s what I remember: Breathe, beat, rhythm, beat One tech, two, three techs reporting Distorting facts: I can’t get a pulse, I can’t find a pressure—can you? No fear of death I close my eyes, hold my breath A prayer: O God, my heart beats for you 244 Risk, Courage, and Women O God, my heart beats for you My heart beats for you My heart saved my life Holding on to all that matters: life is precious/love is rare There are those, like me, who dare to live With a wide-open heart Full of power, unafraid Of inescapable pain With a heart open Without reserve, without borders To pull people in, near Give each of you a separate room, To groom you for your own power My heart beats Here’s what I remember: Fading to black Coming to life Holding my place on the planet: For my God, my kin, my loves, my friends My heart beats for you. Reprinted from My Heart Beats for You (Friendship Ring Publications, 1999). ...