“fingers” by Rupi Kaur

“the most important conversations
we’ll have are with our fingers
when yours nervously graze mine
for the first time during dinner

they’ll tighten with fear
when you ask to see me again next week
but as soon as i say yes
they’ll stretch out in ease

when they grasp one another
while we’re beneath the sheets
the two of us will pretend
we’re not weak in the knees

when i get angry
they’ll pulse with bitter cries
but when they tremble for forgiveness
you’ll see what apologies look like

and when one of us is dying
on a hospital bed at eighty-five
your fingers will grip mine
to say things words can’t describe”

Volume “the sun and her flowers” (2017)
Publisher SIMON & SCHUSTER