Still Holding Close Her Slumbering Heart

A Poem by Carlyn

She had been feeling especially singular lately, even in a crowd of most of Her closest friends. As usual, there seemed to be no possibility of relief in any part of the future, and it was spells like this that had Her carefully cradling Her heart and doing Her best to sing it sad, sweet lullabies until it fell into a fretful sleep.

This was no soft lullaby. This was the slow crescendo of a distant lovers’ bell choir, and it landed on the ears of Her heart and gently tapped it awake. At first, Her heart smiled to hear the music. Soon, though, it was sufficiently awake to remember its surroundings and recognized the harmonies that swam through the air. The chords resonated with the frequency of Her heartstrings and shook them, softly insisting that Her heart sing its own song.

Her awakened heart replied to the music with its dense, swaying pulse in a futile attempt to convey the warm depth of its sadness. It made promises to the music, vows of dedication and eternal patience. It pled its case with barely-voiced whispers and downcast eyes, trying to obscure the tears that threaded down its face.

She felt Her heart whispering and turned Her gaze to it, a warm rain lightly pattering on Her soul. Tenderly, She asked its attention. She reassured it of the hope for the future and certain eternal delight. Once its tears had been reduced to hesitant sniffles, She sang it the lullabies it longed to hear until it drifted off to sleep. She continued to rock Her heart, cradling it soothingly so that it would stay asleep as long as possible. She didn’t know how many more of these sorrowful awakenings it would be able to handle, but there was little more She could do.

Still holding close Her slumbering heart, She gathered Herself and invested in another few hours of sleep.