the poet neva

she leans in
takes a drink of water
and begins
to read her poems.
her voice is soft
and clear, deliberate
finding the right
pause to step
towards the next
line, the next clean
word she has
carefully chosen.
she is precise.
each word a note,
each word carrying
a necessary
weight to give
balance and meaning
to the poem. no
comma or period is
wasted, or wanting.
she brings tears,
she brings joy,
and the slight
ethereal rise of
sweetness born
of age and living.