We sleep fitfully
purposely half-awake
crushing together like mother and child
two warm bodies yearning for touch
“other way” our whispered cue to reverse roles
care-giver and care-taker shared leads
in our nocturnal pas de deux of old love
choreographed anew each night
to counter the aloneness of the world
today’s broken promise of eternal happiness
repeated for all tomorrows
justifying our desire
for one more dance.