Breathing, Sleeping, Whispering

In this episode we have two poems - lovers far away, pining - one which offers everything and asks for nothing. The other has almost nothing left to give - a few words. Margaret Atwood and Jeffrey McDaniel on Soothing Stanzas, Season 2: Love Unrequited.Variation on the Word Sleep by Margaret AtwoodI would like to watch you sleeping,which may not happen.I would like to watch you,sleeping. I would like to sleepwith you, to enteryour sleep as its smooth dark waveslides over my headand walk with you through that lucentwavering forest of blue green leaveswith its watery sun & three moonstowards the cave where you must descend,towards your worst fearI would like to give you the silverbranch, the small white flower, the oneword that will protect youfrom the grief at the centerof your dream, from the griefat the center. I would like to followyou up the long stairwayagain & becomethe boat that would row you backcarefully, a flamein two cupped handsto where your body liesbeside me, and you enterit as easily as breathing inI would like to be the airthat inhabits you for a moment only. I would like to be that unnoticed& that necessary.The Quiet World by Jeffrey McDanielIn an effort to get people to lookinto each other’s eyes more,and also to appease the mutes,the government has decidedto allot each person exactly one hundred   and sixty-seven words, per day.When the phone rings, I put it to my ear   without saying hello. In the restaurant   I point at chicken noodle soup.I am adjusting well to the new way.Late at night, I call my long distance lover,   proudly say I only used fifty-nine today.   I saved the rest for you.When she doesn’t respond,I know she’s used up all her words,   so I slowly whisper I love youthirty-two and a third times.After that, we just sit on the line   and listen to each other breathe.