Her

I would give my life for her.
I would save my life for her.

I have never seen anything more beautiful upon this entire universe such as
    her,
singing to me
in languages from all over the world,
including hers and mine.

I speak to her of love even when I am alone
as a not-so-silent prayer of devotion.
Because I have never received greater gifts than
the love I am given
and the love I am welcomed to give.
So, even when I am alone, I am not.

She teaches me a lifelong gift of kindness
that I give even to myself now
—where once I was my fiercest opponent,
now I find a friend in my own body and within my memory.
Because she loves me, therefore, do I.
So, my body returns my friendship
even when I fear the most that it may turn away from me.
And my memory becomes a shelter to my dreams,
catching me in gentle hands everytime I fall asleep.

My own body, even when afraid, finds whimsy nearby,
because I want to play with her
    —my inner child’s best friend.
Hers and mine, children yet both, sit side by side
    and laugh!
        in languages no one else knows,
languages invented daily
like fresh bread,
like fresh breath,
friends reaching backward and forward
    to the times before we met
        and to the everafters we hope with one another.

We protect each other from our pasts
when the burden of memory seems overwhelming,
dear strong hearts for one another
for those ugly persistent pasts when we once were children
and were afraid quitely on our own.
No longer!

She laughs,
and her dimple is my sun and sky,
the purpose of my toil,
and the compass of my bright soul,
always at home wherever I am, when reaching toward
    her.

Melih Sener