Heartbeats connect us to our place in the world:
one more heartbeat, one more moment on Earth.
When my father’s heart failed to beat,
my child’s heart stuttered,
each beat reminding me that I was alive, while my father was not.
My heart beats lonely, but it does not beat alone.
My sister’s song shares my sorrow,
lightening the darkness that could have overwhelmed me.
Linked by tragedy, our hearts beat together, sharing a melody
of sadness and strength, black and beautiful.
My sister’s heart keeps me connected to my space on Earth
just as much as my own heart insists on keeping me alive.
Our heartbeats give us life,
our hearts’ creations make it lovely.
Jacqueline Secor Art 