04/21/2026
How Far the Heart Goes
You learn something by loving them,
the one who waits at the door,
already certain you will return.
They know you by the sound of your steps,
by the quiet shift in your voice,
by something deeper than words.
And slowly, you begin to understand
how far the heart can go
without being asked.
A hand reaches through the dark
to find the warmth of them.
A life bends itself, almost unnoticed,
around their small needs.
You would, rearrange your days,
your energy, your plans,
if it meant their comfort,
their untroubled rest.
You do not measure this love.
You do not question its distance.
It has already taken you
furtherthan you knew you could go.
And in this quiet devotion,
you are changed,
becoming more yourself
than you had ever imagined.
✍️ Rivers in the Ocean ❤
🎨 Barbara Cooney