If I do something, it’s always
        90% obvious and 10% unknown.
        Fifty-fifty means you get the same chance to die
        as to survive.
        I’d never work that way.
                -Felix Baumgartner 

In the beginning, there was only a nebula,

nothing but dust and atom caught
in an eternal gypsy meltdown until

two particles, or maybe just one 
collided and clung to another’s electrostatic force
saying let’s build a world together.

They pirouetted, a tutu of matter spreading out
gathering more and more with the movements, these
cosmic dust bunnies knitted into a celestial fluffle–
gravity growing incrementally stronger.

The planetesimals, now a kilometer in size
are next to gently bump hips, the interaction
fueling experience, adding weight to creation.
Or maybe it was two fingers that faintly brushing
on the back of a phone through an exchange of numbers.

Boulders turn to hills turn to mountains turn to
protoplanets, secrets of the universe whispered
into the ears of congenial protoplanets, possibly 
melding in their vulnerabilities, unifying, magnifying.
Sometimes a piece breaks off and is lost and that’s okay
because there’s plenty of other protoplanets out in space.

The beauty continues to blossom as there becomes
nothing else to share an orbital path with. Oneness
has been achieved, a body mind and soul awakened
to stars and shattered bone collected, molded
for a thicker crust as armor, able to take a planetary impact,
all while the materials inside soften, melting in the frictions,
a fiery core. My yearning heart.

A heart that’s been slowly rebuilding itself
after so many failed attempts to fly.
A heart that feels more courageous than it ever has before.
A heart that has listened to everything
you have trusted to tell me and heard
more that you have kept to yourself.
A heart that looks at every flaw you think you have
as one more part of you to adore.
A heart that believes every challenge you
think is surely insurmountable
is just another stepping stone to be traversed.
A heart that’s taken the time to know you,
to learn what it would mean to love you,
to love all of it, this brand new world
on the verge of entering the universe,
this accretional process so close to completion 
needing just one more element to make all of it perfect.

You.
Your love,
and your faith
if you can find it
within you
to believe.