through the small window on the stairs
that I pass on my way
up
where in warmer seasons
I look out to lilacs, safely tucked away
nests
and overhead views
of the
gardens
currently what I see is
one small leaf
one small leaf, still holding on
in late afternoon it catches
the light of the sun
as
it
sinks
lately what I’ve been feeling from
this one small leaf
is a certain kind of hope
it bolsters me when I pass
I’m not even sure why it’s this
one
small thing
but it feels kind of important
to
notice
it feels a good time to have one’s focus
drawn
to smaller things
tomorrow I tell him, is Valentine’s Day
time then to work up some words
of
love
to which he barely even registers
he’s heard me
but what I can tell you is this
what a time this is
for love
now is the time to show your love
to say I love you
I am proud of you, I value
you
now is the time for kinship, for
friendship, for
I-feel-so-lucky-
to-know-you-
…ship
for holding hands, for holding
hearts
now
now is the time to say it, to show it
and then to notice
how that one small thing
matters most
in
the world ♥