Abide
when your eyes
swell shut
and the tears travel
inward
a river forms
and flows to the heart
to the deepest recesses
where love resides
and when you love somebody
more than yourself
they live there
in that place
wherever you go
wherever you are
they are
even if you can’t see them
or speak to them
or touch them
they remain
as they are
untouched by time
in that sacred
place
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Badge of Honor
when they
get home
from work
they close the door
and take their boots off
and put their uniform away
shower and change
and unwind
most days they don’t
take their work home
it’s routine
but there are days
certain days
they do
and they stand in the shower
longer
and close their eyes
and they see it all
and they feel it all
and there’s salt in the water
that falls
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