Flowing

My husband kneels before me opens my legs
and rests his head upon my right thigh

I stroke his face his beard and trace with the tip of my
index finger the shape of his nose

I caress his bald head where gray wiry hairs
fight back the test of time

I kiss his bald spot as if my kisses could make
things grow

Overwhelmed as I am by my loving feelings for him
I take a deep breath and think of love

how precious it is when one is present and
it is happening

Love
so calm like the flow of the river in the morning

The river
muddy ice at times thick turbulent waves at others
like love unpredictable

And because of this
I enjoy this time of loving breathing in this memory
to retrieve it like a jewel when the time comes

Annecy Báez is the author of "Tell Me More," "The Language of Women," and "The Structure of Silence," and holds a PhD in Social Work from the New York University School of Social Work. She lives in New York City.

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