Just

by Ronald J. Pelias

He just wanted to be held,
close, flesh to flesh,
pressing into warm,
to be still, named.

He just wanted an opening —
a head to a heart,
a hand to a cheek,
a place of telling, of rest.

He just wanted her to want him
to take him in
until the beginning and end
forget time.

He just wanted her to fill
the emptiness
lives, such as they are,
make.