La Cariñosa
una persona muy cariñosa
wraps you into their warm presence
¡No te preoccupes! they say
waving away your apologies and shortcomings
pulling out the chair
when you shift from foot to foot
pouring the water for tea
while you search for a word of explanation
they read your face with a concerned smile
patting the azure pillow behind you
straightening the dahlia on the table
thinking quietly about
what you might need next
settling on a way that later
you’ll both be able to laugh about it all
and you know
when you cross that threshold next
you will feel the wound of a cut cord
the unspoken lack of their tenderness
like turning away from a crackling fire
and walking out into the night
