In That One Breath
Memories, oh sweet memories
Times lost to the moving hands
Yet forever scored in my mind’s eye
Do recall my sweet, think back if you might
There, beneath the vaulted hush of painted skies
Where the artists grace watched from frescoes
Gilded trumpets held by cherub angels
Saints reaching for sinners, joy overflowing
Remember how we moved beneath it
Moments of stilled breath and certainty
To see the quiet language of love expressed
Passion forever captured in it’s true form
So much that our eyes were beyond seeing
Your hand found mine as we slipped away
Laughter echoing through those sacred halls
Oh, the joy of that moment, we could not contain
A lute playing softly, somewhere in the hall
Gentle strumming of a musician’s mind
My heart drumming boldly as we ran out of breath
Yours singing of the moment of happening
Such symphony, such masterful conveyance
I swear upon all things worthy and just
Your eyes undid the careful armor I had worn
Lips whispering the codes of key makers
Smitten, yes, smitten and so much more
For a man must confess that which is true
When truth reveals that half to create a whole
We walked the garden paths under midnight stars
Marble figures leaned close to hear us pass
Roses bowed, for they understood these things
The birthing of something magical and infinite
Something time itself shall never hold mastery of
And when you turned, your mask slipped away
Your lips so near I felt their shadow caress mine
And when we embraced, the world dissolved
Not into darkness, but into a glorious display
Colors erupting, dazzling, all of everything
And I was less, but became somehow so much more
As if a cleansing, all my worries washed away
Replaced by something pure, something forever
A slow devotion, reverent, deep, and timeless
Our names scribed in ink laid gently on a sacred page
Vows, your soul and mine were meant to keep
Remember when that endless kiss gave way to speech
I whispered those same words then as I do today
I’d choose your shadow over endless light
A momentary vision of your face for a blind eternity
One breath of the same air, one gentle touch
For in your arms, I found the meaning of truth
More than any words on a written page
More than any sermon shouted to the masses
In that one breath, that embrace, that kiss
The love of a thousand lifetimes began its journey
Additional Reading
R.J. (Ralph) Schwartz is an American poet, author, website owner, and online publisher. His writing spans several poetry collections—ranging from spiritual and romantic to fear-driven explorations—and even extends into science fiction. Notable works include:
- Normal Was the First Casualty – A Collection of Dystopian Poetry
- Hope – Inspirational and Spiritual Poetry
- Things That Go Bump in the Night – Poetry of Fear and Fright
- The Lover’s Thread – Poetry for Couples
- Poetry of the Human Condition – The Ups and Downs of Modern Living
- The Secrets of the Moon (a sci-fi novel co-authored with his son Sebastian J. Schwartz)
Schwartz’s work is described as purposefully wordy, richly descriptive, and thematically grounded in nature, romance, antiquity, and forgotten histories. He writes regularly on platforms he manages, including The Creative Exiles, a collaborative venue for writers, and The Gypsy Thread, which delves into offbeat histories, pagan lore, and poetry.
- The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral - May 11, 2026
- The Spring Collection - May 8, 2026
- Faces Without Names - May 6, 2026
