Work Text:
‘Someday we’ll have the world enough and time.’
Your whispered promise echoes in my ear.
And so each day as sun begins to rise,
I hold the watch you gave to me, my dear.
I tuck it in its pocket where it’s safe,
Its presence there as heavy as a brick,
And on these long and never-ending days,
I thrill and dread to feel that subtle tick.
Befuddled and bereft, I left that day,
The taste of you still ling’ring on my lips.
You could not go Above; I could not stay,
But sharper was the parting for a kiss.
Yet there is work to do to save us all,
And lacking a dark shadow by my side
Is near enough to grind it to a halt,
But I remind myself that I have time.
The enemy I fight against is pride
And ignorance and hatred in their queue.
I rather thought we’d left this all behind,
And yet we’re here once more with much to do.
They just cannot leave well enough alone,
And it’s not fair to say ‘it’s not our fight.’
This world, these people—we’ve made them our home,
And I’ll be damned before I quench their light.
And so I stare at this timepiece of gold,
Recalling all the hours that we have shared,
The years gone by, the memories untold,
Each tiny, precious moment of your care.
Then I think back upon a fateful day:
A boy—angel and demon by his side,
A moment bought with turning of a crank,
A bubble wrought in spinning wheels of time.
Could this be why you gave this gift to me?
You’ve always known when there was more at play.
Renewed, I make my plans to set us free,
And look toward the moment I will say:
“I’m back and I will gladly do the dance,”
And watch as light dawns once more in your eyes.
“Without you, I would not have stood a chance,
But though we were apart, we were allies.
This watch—oh love, you filled it with your power,
A gift when you could not stand by my side.
It was a chance: a perfect timeless hour.
You gave me hope and grace—you gave me time.”
This gift you’ve given me stays close and warm,
The feel of it familiar in my clutch.
At times when I have held it, I’d have sworn
I felt your heart beat there upon my touch.
So here’s what I will aim to do, my love:
I will fix this, and I’ll come back to you.
My home is in your arms where I’m enough,
Where we can be together, just us two.
For now, though I am here and you’re below,
I’ll hold onto this piece of all you are.
My thinker, dreamer, hoper, do you know?
My love, you are my light within the dark.
‘Someday we’ll have the world enough and time.’
Your whispered promise echoes in my ear.
And so each day as sun begins to rise,
I hold the watch you gave to me, my dear.