This rock and this hard place
Have pressed us between.
Much smaller, much wiser,
Reminding us where we have been--
Where have we been?

I can see shadows of our closeness
Pressed on the walls of my mind.
I can sense something like the pains of growing,
Wearing us down, calling us blind.

I can sense mercy persisting, silent resisting.
And somewhere inside
I ache with affection--
Pressed down by rejection, spread out into thin.

Can I say what I want to say?
No expectation--
Why do I fear I will say what I want to say?

Know, be known,
To know be known.

Oh, why do I fear I will
Say what I want to say?

I can sense mercy persisting.
This rock and this hard place have pressed us between.

clg 01.2008