The Space Between

Honor the space between leaves where sky shows through
Between vines against the fence where rough brick meets dry mortar
Between notes in a prelude where fingers poise over the keys
Between telephone rings where you can hear your heart
and you wonder who it could be at this hour

Honor the space between lovers, children, dogs you have owned
when your heart begins to tell you there is room there for one more
Between breaths
Between thoughts
Honor the vast space that electrons travel as they swarm around the nucleus

Honor the space between atoms, between dust motes
Between lives: your life and mine — that space you’re always trying to fill
Between words, where truth resides
Honor the space where a fissure has opened between canyons —
shine your eyes there on a dazzling river of stars.