Warming the Cold

It’s so warm
And I, so very cold
My hands reach for the torch
Passed on to me by you
My friend--my sister; my strength
Trying to grasp hold of the handle
But my fingers are numb
And won’t open; won’t work
All feeling has left them
And they are useless
But I seek to hold this gift from you
Yearn to hold it high and mighty and proud
But alas, I cannot
Until you take my hands in yours and breathe
Your healing breath upon them
Blowing life back into them and into me
Never leaving me for a moment
You stand beside me; with me
Always, your spirit strong and comforting
Warming my own and thawing the sadness
And pain until I am able to stand alone taking the torch
Finally and grasping it hard and holding it up
With much pride and much dignity
The poetic torch that shines upon this page
And the pages of many others
Who have come before me,
And will come after
The flame burns brightly
Warming all who pass it by
And keeping my hands thawed enough
To never let it die.