A Poem in Stillness

By Diksha Mishra

How do I hold it all in—

The stillness of you,

              Never truly still,

Sleeping beside me.

  Your hands drift softly,

               Floating toward me,

  In a trance.

Eyes closed,

  You turn to me,

              Moving with the ease

  Of dreams—

Your hands,

              flowing freely,

  Reaching to wrap around me,

In tune with my breath—

  Rising,

  And falling,

Which I try to hold in.

  Your fingers edge closer,

My skin flares alive

Under the warmth of you.

I do not know

How to keep myself

So perfectly still,

Breath hitched,

Chest locked,

So I never lose

The touch of you.

By Diksha Mishra