Trust, Heat

Trust, Heat


“Trust heat,”
my student’s poem
says. Trust, heat,
I think.
Trust and heat,
verbs and nouns,
actions and objects.
Why object?
Trust heat, let it
lead you, like a
tree turning toward the sun—
bearing fruit. Bear it
when it grows heavy
and your limbs know it—
let your muscles burn
while you think of the
sweet promise inside.

Light and heat from the
same source.
More emotional alchemy—
fear, anger, worry are
all drawn
into my soul’s strong wick.
Light seeking direction,
darkness to fill,
to illuminate.

Reignite the torch,
find your key,
let the shepherd
in your heart lead you—
a gentle nudge, a wet nose,
a familiar paw.