slippers on wood

softly she walks 

slippers shuffle on hard wood 

over the slats 

where he last stood 

she could feel him there 

still 

in that moment 

the aura of he 

gentle and kind 

tender and strong 

protecting her from harm 

swaddles her shoulders 

harboring her heart 

the part he was always 

trying to touch 

when he cared

vanilla

I trust you when you say that.

there is something so honest in your words.

they smell of vanilla –

collected from the precious bean,

dried orchid fruit scraped clean,

and placed in home churned cream.

while a standard in flavor,

its simplicity and goodness is true.