Could You Love The Length Of Her Poem by Susan Lacovara

Complicated to measure
Could you love the length of her
The stretched out sentences
Inch by inch emotions
Yardstick laid to map the here and now
From the then and there

Difficult to design
Could you love the length of her
Poorly put together, but sturdy
Withstanding weight and working still
Perhaps a new coat of paint
To brighten her faded soul.

Impossible to replace
Could you love the length of her
Like weathered teak, beauty is in the grain
And a hand longs to reach and touch
Take in, with full appreciation
Smooth what edges need softening

With tailoring tools of kindness
Could you love the length of her
Hammer rough spots, nail down the dark
Lathe her longings into a whittled wonderful
A project to undertake