small space

we

stand

closely

side by side

I reach out for you

and take your hand inside of mine

our fingers intertwine and our palms make a small space

this space is warm in the deep snow that covers the ground of Point Hope

is warm against the icy wind that blows off the rocking waters of the Chukchi Sea

“life is in these small spaces between us,” I whisper

we stand quietly hand in hand

with the small space, and

then we smile

holding

small 

space

- Trevor Scott Barton, poems for a brown eyed girl, 2020