Flickers

Happiness surrounds me

in small moments--

Small moments, long moments

Joyful moments, angry moments

Hurt moments, happy moments...

... In an image of life...

The image flickers

before my eyes

replaced by its ghosts--

The ghosts of my home

My home-- the people in my heart

So I blink

I blink and grab--

Grab onto time

Grab onto their worryingly fragile human bodies

Snatch them in long hugs

and press on tightly--

-- In long hugs and small brushes...

I press close enough to hear the steady rhythm

The thankfully steady 'thump-thump' of their hearts

Of my hearts...

Taking a shuddering breath,

I smile--

And smile...

...until the moment flickers again