Almond tears

Her curly hair balances against her cheek-
some strands fall to shade her neck.
You can’t remember if he had ringlets,
when you two sat face to face in a tin bath;
bodies scrubbed clean then replenished with soil-
during cowboy and Indian fights.

The ‘bang’ of his voice shooting you down-
until your body collapsed in a pile of laughter.
Clasping at your belly contracting with sharp
bursts of adrenaline. How he hurt you so tenderly,
but right now the pain is rising to your throat.

Like deja vu and you remember why you fought,
these memories like the onslaught of war against your senses.
Her strength leaves you speechless,
the almond light in her eyes blossoms.
Water balancing between her eyelids like holy water;
sucking back tears a baptism of hope.