after a fast
i expect you to need some time
space away from my demands
space to switch out of this repair mode
camel magic science
to tantrum through my double standard,
always wanting you to be able to ingest better
and only finding a way to that by these periods of
withholding

i expect you to whimper and whine
to claw at me
to complain
to attack me for the double standard
of withholding food so many days
and then expecting you to jump right back into eating

instead you give me sleep
a thing you can’t usually give
you calm me
you gracefully process my
offerings
food
water
vitamins
quietness
you even say thank-you to
the neighbor whose mow timing
would usually wrack you at five pea em 
our prime sleeping time

your grace is astonishing
science of ancients knowing you well
better than I ever could,
you
my only companion.

this time of ours 
            is the only kind of prayer i need