Unshelter(s)

Then,
had I known I had this much time
I'd have told my former self to
stop worrying,
left the elephant in the room
where it watched me
crashing, through the rest of my years
months, days,
minutes, to stage an
un-waiting,
while we caught up.

In time, you forced me un-shelter
in the rage of years
and sadness,
and in lines of battle
make home in simple needs and wants,
find beyond to look where
light fell,
just behind
on the cracks of pursed lips and eyes,
wondering always if this one move
was right enough,
just fine enough
and was this it?
when face-to-face,
we came to see
our limits of defence.