Knowing How

The heart knows how to love—

this morning when I woke
mine was racing toward
the face of the universe

arms open wide
and ready to embrace
the unconditional
through me.

And what was I
asked for in return?

Each heart
is given the gift
to expand indefinitely,
without boundary or fear.

Here the sun still rises
and the crescent moon sets
ushering each loving day forward
toward another end

wiser and more sweet than the last.
This is what knowing how to love
becomes, the breaking of light

and offering it to the birds
one seed at a time at the feeder,
one soul at a time with each breath,

each naming of a child
as she is called
to the body of another human life

know just how
each sweet kiss of the lover
imagined,
lasts an eternity.