Confronted suddenly
with such fullness
I am left without words —
the place where they were
has gone liquid
and it flows around and permeates
all the pores of my perception

I don’t respond
for I am transfixed
almost clumsily
I lean into the contact

My tongue has assumed the aspect
of infants drinking
I feel the suction
against my soft palate

It’s time to fly
time to cry or cry out
time to throw my whole being
against or into the vortex
(I don’t know which)
Time for gratitude
for overwhelm, for wonder
for this Life.

©Wendy Mulhern
April 23, 2015