solstice

today stretches to full length
in the leisurely light
tomorrow begins
the imperceptible shrinking
to inevitable dark

where I have learned
there is no always
no forever
only the whisper of before
and the pounding now
insistent impatient
dancing in the long sun

leading me to this thaw
to the edge where the next step
cannot be called back
melting me in the warmth
of quilted clouds and cobwebs

like an eyelash kiss
like a moth caress
like the touch of a hand on my arm
that nearly passed unnoticed

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