At Kelmarsh

The first time in
I felt I wavered
in the pitch black air.
We kept our eyes
on an arch of light.
When we looked back
We couldn't believe
how little we'd come.

Fear climbed me hair by hair.
Each unseen footfall
could've come upon anything.
The dog at our heels
reduced to
the jingle of a collar.
Her name an echo.

We got halfway,
found light, above
where a chimney reached
and showed a disc of sky.
We laughed as drips fell
blessed, where we stood
in a circle of light.

Then, turned back
keeping half for another day.
Walking hand in hand
we stretched our span
and couldn't meet brick
with our fingertips.

Outside, the air seemed dry.
The dog shook darkness
from her black coat.
We looked
and laughed,
at light.
Grateful. Changed.