No Need to Be Strong

As the wind whips the willow
We walk wayward between the lines
As if the endpoint were air.

It's about to snap the thickest twigs
Not knowing it will
Ignite a fire.

Now, it uproots a tree
Makes a hollow for someone.
It sweeps kitchen floors, clears clutter, short shrift.

It shelters breaths, carries songs 
And words it helps to
Form and expel from our mouths.

Oceans it pokes
Faces it strokes
Like that time on the beach.

The wind whirled the waves
And lifted your kite way out to sea
Beyond anywhere anyone could perceive.

I knew you where there
Somewhere
One breath, one air.

And yet no sign nor sight.
I could not conceive how it tossed you up
Amongst a flock of seagulls

Only to rock you to sleep
On the warm ocean's skin.
Never it pauses, such is its fire.

It may dial up or down
Hum lullabies one day
belt heavy metal the next.

Now, it's after blowing a single raindrop
Onto your forehead
Where it bears a ray and lays

Runs down to your lips
And homes on your tongue
His sibling sicker into the soil and go to sleep. 

Rest comes easy now
In the breeze we ease
Pleased as its body

Raises the steam
Wafts of coriander soup and sour cream.
You tell me about your week

Songs, screams, dreams fleshed out
By a wind
Now gentle, now artic, now good.