laughing at midnight (c)

we are children stretched in time's sunshine,
wearing the scrapes from our falls
running wildly, tripping with glee
we land on each other
and roll giggling in fields of forever.

still we nurse deep pangs of yearning
to be touched,
to be led and be brought
from caverns, deep secret selves,
to be known in exquisite simplicity:
we crave our future together
to rise beyond hurt and regret,
thus we lean past earnest confessions—
the apologies so lovingly accepted--
driven, always
to recapture the magic of young lovers
to sleep forever enclosed in the other,
and yet to wake, roused to the marrow
as in bright sunlight
old, damaged hearts open in hope,
when shy eyes quit their reluctance
and leap forward, gladly, to tomorrow.

thus prepared,
now gnarled and calloused hands grasp
despite the missed chances
to mount stallions of trust and devotion,
relentless (though not fearless),
committed (yet still wary),
holding together
we become those children we needed to be
past ancient frustrations
we grow our minds 'round each other,
for we've learned from our trials,
to have made our own keys
unlocked the closed portals
finally, fully
after years spent in struggle
we are these children
jumping and dancing,
soaring in evening,
eyes all alight,
in sweet giddy explosion
to be laughing at midnight.