when you know whatever else it is you were loved

Quietly 

you open a book 

to let the sunshine in 

 

Quiet 

you hum a song 

that you create 

to let yourself relax 

 

Quietly 

you shed a tear 

when you let a loved one 

go to Heaven 

 

Quiet 

like bread rising 

or your grandmother 

sleeping 

 

Quietly 

when you sew 

a quilt to keep warm 

 

Quiet 

as the salt melts 

in the bathwater 

 

Quietly 

Quietly 

Quietly 

 

when you know 

whatever else it is 

 

you were loved 

 

(for Marvalene) 

 

[Nikki Giovanni {1943- } 'Quiet', from Make it Rain]