Relief

For Nick

In the heat of exasperation

I lay on my back

the pounding in my head

the sweat in my eyes and hair

vibrating to the violent coursing

of my thoughts. i cannot say

if it was my body

which needed reprieve

or if my arduous heart

was itself exhausted, in it the weight

, the shaming chatter.

but i do know in this moment

you fanned me with a cool

oil scented towel

on my tired face

and for a moment

i felt relief.