A promise made so many years ago
in living grew so
intricate and rare it would have been
beyond our power to swear-so to love there.
I thought of that when I woke first
today to find you still remote
in sleep. I looked and thought
that anyone could read
there gentleness, endurance,
and good cheer, subtly accumulated,
rich year on rich year.
I counted up your courage that I
know, and wondered love how great a man can grow.