subtext

the moments when a few words fail

to be enough to reveal all that needs

to be uncovered or discovered inside

of what we  already knew to be true

but were too hesitant to form the words

in a coherent enough manner for some

one other than me to follow after

like the thousands traipsing after Boone

through the Cumberland gap to a destiny

or at least to a ledge where we are now

the only ones standing staring into the stars

far across the continental reaches

of everything I needed to say to you

but my taciturn words were not enough